Review: BoA 私このままでいいのかな？
/With BoA’s return to the Japanese market, can she still prove that she is the Queen of K-pop?
★★★★☆
It’s been almost four years since BoA’s last Japanese album, Who’s Back, came out. BoA is now back with 私このままでいいのかな? (Am I Okay Like This?). This album includes twelve tracks and three different editions: a CD + DVD version with four music videos and a documentary; a CD + DVD version with excerpts from Billboard Live; and a CD only version. I will be reviewing both of the CD + DVD versions. Let’s see if BoA is truly “okay like this”—or even better!
BoA, for those of you unaware, is a Korean singer who has been very popular in both the Korean and Japanese music industries since early 2000. One of her biggest songs is “Every Heart”, featured in the anime series InuYasha. BoA used to be very active in both Korean and Japanese industries but lately has been practicing acting as well, so she has not been as active musically as she used to be. Her last Japanese album came out in 2014 and her last Korean album in 2015, so seeing a new album released this year was a great treat.
“Where am I now”
The title caught my eye right away, as that is literally what I thought when I read news of BoA releasing a new album. This is a mid-tempo song, not the type you’d think to start off the album, but it works very well and gives you insight into this album’s overall sound. I, personally, really like this song; it’s not my favorite on the album, but it has a catchy chorus and a great tempo.
“ありがとうサヨナラ (“Thank you, goodbye”)”
This is an upbeat tempo song. With a title like “Thank you, goodbye”, one wouldn’t think it’d be upbeat, but it has a super catchy beat. This song seems to encourage you to forget about your past love and bid them farewell. It teaches to let go. I enjoyed the lyrics and beat in this song very much, so much so that it’s up there as one of my top songs on this album.
“Crow”
When I first heard this song I thought she was saying “Crawl” at first (I don’t know why, but I guess “Crow” and “Crawl” do sound similar to me). This is another fun and upbeat song. If you are wondering why there would be a song called “Crow”, this song seems to be about sticking together like crows in a flock (or “murder”, if you wish to be that specific or macabre) and looking out for each other. That's probably the best way to describe it. It is a particularly fun, catchy song as well. Not a top favorite on this album but very enjoyable.
“Jazzclub”
“Jazzclub” is very jazzy, just as the title implies, and was one of the songs used to promote this album. The first time I heard this, I didn’t know what to think--I wasn’t officially sold on it until I saw the video. Regardless, this is a song I would love to swing dance to! It makes you want to put your dancing shoes on. And I love hearing the trumpet in this song.
“FLY (album version)”
This is the first ballad on this album; you can say it’s more of a mid-tempo ballad, as I don’t consider it a full-out BoA ballad. This is a favorite of mine. I absolutely LOVE this song! It is gorgeous and the lyrics really speak to me, and it’s a song I feel a very personal connection to. I highly recommend it. It’s one that really sticks out on the album. It also was a previous single, but I like the album version better than the single version.
“Right Here, Right Everywhere”
This is an official BoA ballad; you know it is when you first hear the piano at the start of the song. And this ballad is a beautiful one, although it doesn’t feel like a typical BoA ballad to me; this one has more of a mellow ballad feel to it. Perhaps a spring ballad feel is the best term. BoA’s winter ballads seem to stand out for me a little more than this one. However, this is a beautiful song and I highly recommend listening to it.
“Manhattan Tango”
This is an interesting song, another with a case in which I wasn’t sure how I felt about it upon first listening. It has an upbeat tempo with a 1940s-esque sound to it, definitely a song to tango to. Now that I’ve listened to this album several times, I can say this song has really grown on me. Its beat gets me right into a dancing mood and I believe her vocals mesh with this song perfectly. There are also tidbits of BoA rapping, to boot.
“Make Me Complete”
This song is entirely in English-- yes, you heard me, English! BoA’s English is fantastic, and she definitely showcases it in this song. This is a typical ballad, a beautiful one that I very much enjoy. It’s one to remember, as the lyrics are what got me to enjoy it. I think it is a song everyone can relate to.
“Lookbook”
This is my favorite song on the album. I loved it upon my first listen. It is an upbeat dance song, one that would probably incite anyone to dance and sing to it. And, oh man, as soon as I hear the chorus I have to get up and starting moving if I’m not already. Although “Lookbook” was released as a single in December of 2015, I didn’t listen to it when it came out. Too bad I didn’t, because this song is HOT. I highly recommend it.
“Mannish Chocolat”
This is my second favorite song on the album and another with an upbeat tempo, As soon as I heard it I fell in love with it. The beat is great, as is the chorus, and I love when she says “Mannish Chocolat”. This is another song that I want to dance to and it makes me want chocolate!!
“Kiss My Lips”
This is a Japanese version of “Kiss My Lips”. This song stands out the most on the album as it doesn’t fit the overall style of the album, for it’s a mid-tempo R&B sounding song. This is a personal favorite of mine as I love both the Korean and Japanese version—both are amazing. I honestly can’t decide which one I like better. Even though this song does not fit in with the rest of the album, it is a favorite of mine and I highly recommend listening to both versions. The Korean version is on the album Kiss My Lips, released in 2015.
“私このままでいいのかな?” (Am I Okay Like This?)
This namesake song is nothing short of amazing. It's a beautiful ballad about breakups, but don’t let that fool you: there appears to be much more beneath its surface. This song made a personal impression on me. The artist explores the common fear of getting hurt and encourages listeners to ask themselves “Are you okay like this?”. “私このままでいいのかな?” is a ballad I recommend to everyone; heck, it had quite an impact on me. The vocals and, well, everything about this song are beautiful and I would consider this one of my favorite ballads.
The DVD
I bought both CD + DVD editions; each DVD came with a different track listing. One DVD came with four music videos that led up to this album: “FLY”, “Lookbook”, “Kiss My Lips” (Japanese version), and “Jazzclub”.
It also comes with the “Documentary of Jazzclub”, a 24-minute glimpse detailing the making of Jazzclub and also her photoshoot for the album. I loved the documentary, as one gets to see BoA interact with all of the cast and crew. The documentary is mostly in English but features Japanese subtitles since it was filmed in New York.
The music videos run for about 20 minutes. I personally enjoy watching BoA’s music videos and can’t choose a favorite off of here; I loved them all, honestly. “Kiss My Lips” was the sexiest, while “Jazzclub” and “Lookbook” were the most fun-filled. “FLY” was beautiful and serene.
The second DVD came with live CLIPS from Billboard Live Selection. Unfortunately, this was not long (15 minutes), which was disappointing. That being said, the live songs were amazing, as BoA had a live band behind her. I also enjoyed seeing “Jazzclub” sung live. It is worth mentioning, however, that I feel like there could have been more live videos in this edition, as it felt a little lackluster compared to the other DVD.
Overall, I think BoA’s Japanese comeback is a success. 私このままでいいのかな? delivers, to both fans and listeners who are just tuning into BoA. Unfortunately, this album did not chart on the Oricon as well as I had hoped. I think it deserved to chart higher. This is a great album as a whole, one with many memorable songs. The lyrics are solid and I especially appreciate the meanings hinted within this album: the societal pressures women face. One can hear this underlying theme in the songs and I am glad, being a woman, that she is addressing these issues in a tasteful manner. 私このままでいいのかな? has just the right mixture of songs, from its easygoing, earworm-inducing dance tunes to its most heartfelt ballads, and I look forward to seeing what BoA has in store for us in the future, both in Korea and Japan. I give this album a 4 out of 5 stars.