BoA - 7th Korean Album "Only One"

This new Korean album in 2 years after "Hurricane Venus" is special in many ways. Firstly, it's the first time BoA's self written/composed song "Only One" is chosen as a title song for album promotion and it's a mid-tempo song to boot! Secondly, BoA co-produced this album and has many says in what and what-not to add in the album. (Sure she has produced her Japanese album "IDENTITY" before but anyway.) Thirdly, it only has 9 songs and if you deduct the 2 instrumentals and previously-digitally-released "One Dream", you're left with only 6 tracks. But as the Queen herself said "Quality over quantity" :)



1. Only One

My most favorite track out of the whole album. As the queen penned this herself, having her brother directed both versions of the MV made this truly a Kwon family work. Having her brother willingly worked for free explains why SM allowed 2 versions of the MV.

"Only One" is a breakup song detailing the feeling of a girl who still deems her lover as her only one but yet cannot take the fact that his heart does not belong to her anymore. What options does she have but to let him go?

The Drama Version mv follows the lyrics verse by verse. Make sure you check out the ENG SUB version to fully appreciate the MV.

And if you've ever seen and appreciated BoA's "Eien" PV, you're in for yet another "why-dance-that-hard-for-such-a-slow-song?" choreography created by the famous NAPPYTABS who have worked with BoA for the hollywood movie "COBU 3D".


Dance Version MV



Drama Version MV starring charismatic Yoo AhIn ( click for ENG SUB Version )



2. The Shadow
The lyrics written by BoA is about herself and her fans, worded as "the shadow" here. The atmosphere is rather dark. BoA said the lyrics portray her life as a singer realistically. Fans suspect It's confirmed that this was supposed to be the title song before it got replaced by "Only One" (at the suggestion of Lee SooMan himself). That's why "The Shadow" has both an MV and a nice choreography ready for promotion.

3.네모난 바퀴 - Nemonan Bakwi (Hope)
The famous "Square Wheel" song which is the origin of this blog's name. It's a sad ballad of a wheel that cannot turn because for some reason, it was not born round. Not giving up to fate, it slowly moves itself up the hill, losing bits here and there along the way with the great hope of turning round one day. BoA needs to sing this song live!

4.Not Over U
A song closest in genre to "Hurricane Venus" album. It has a nice beat and a good choreo. Fans suspect BoA was supposed to promote this song together with "The Shadow"; hence, the investment in the choreography for this song. Too bad BoA didn't have much chance to perform it. (In fact, up til now, she only performed "Not Over U" once on her comeback show "BoA 4354".)

5.The Top
A cool song and it's with a message too! The song gives out a warning to modern day people who step on others to get higher without realizing that there's nothing up there and in fact, nobody can reach "The Top" anyway because it doesn't even exist! .

6.Mayday! Mayday! (너에게 닿기를 간절히 외치다)
Another beautiful ballad in the album. The Korean titles means "Desperately calling out to you". The heroine here is still not over her only one but she tries hard to move on by keeping telling herself she's ok now. Then she starts to fly with all her might but she's too weak and ends up having to call Mayday for help. She keeps calling Mayday until she falls...

7.One Dream (Feat. Henry Of Super Junior-M & Key Of SHINee)
Theme song of the audition show "SBS KPOP STAR" that BoA appeared as judge on and gained new recognition to the point that news articles wrote "Korea has rediscovered BoA!". The song is lovely and BoA's voice really shines in it.

8. Only One (Instrumental)

9. The Shadow (Instrumental)

I love this album to bits, despite it having fewer tracks than I would have liked. >_<