[translation] Only One JP Interview : Natalie Part2

In Korea, people kept asking me "Is this from your real experience?" (LOL)

──What kind of breakup do you want to portray in the lyrics?

I think usually couples kinda know beforehand they have to breakup. Of course, there are sudden breakups too but I wrote the lyrics imagining a scene of a girl meeting her boyfriend to break up after their feelings toward each other have turned a little cold. She still likes him (or they still like each other. The Japanese is ambiguous here -noshadow31) but continuing this relationship is not gonna be good to anyone. In Korea, people kept asking me "Is this from your real experience?" (LOL)。

──I was about to ask too (LOL)

It's not from my experience but I also think one must have some kind of experience like this to be able to write such lyrics. (LOL)

──In the lyrics, the last chorus part starting with "itsunohika.. (Some day..) is the main focus. It portrays an image of a woman experiencing different loves in life, making this song a mature love song.

I also like this part very much. Actually when I first wrote the Korean lyrics for this song, the chorus parts all have different lyrics but Mr.Kim (the song arranger) said "It would be difficult to sing." so I changed all chorus parts to be the same except the last part where I refused to change.

──I see. There was such behind story.

If there's no part about after-breakup, then it'd just end with no result. Doesn't everyone continue on with a new love leaving the old love as memories? It might be hard to start a new love right after a breakup, but I think as time goes by, all will become good memories no matter if it's good or bad at the time. So I want to end the song like I'll probably have a new love, and I may become faint from your memory but that love that we had was beautiful, wasn't it? 。

──If all the girls can think like that after breakups, guys must be happy. Or rather, they probably wish for that (LOL) 

That's right. Guys don't forget first love and lost love.

──They say girls write new loves over old ones.

Yes. Once it ends, we're like "OK, next please!" (LOL) But I don't forget though. I've lived more than 20 years and have both bad and good memories but surprisingly, bad memories can become funny stories later like "Ah that stupid thing did happen.."

──Totally understand that

Stories told over drinks are mostly bad memories too. (LOL) Such as failure stories or stupid things I did. Like "That relationship failed because of that.... ahaha" (LOL) 

Lyrical Hiphop + Couple dance

──「Only One」choreography was done by NAPPYTABS? 

I thought if we were to create dance for this song, I'd love to have NAPPYTABS who I've worked with in the movie 「COBU 3D」choreograph lyrical hiphop style dance for me. They're a couple expecting a child. Since the mother is pregnant, I was not sure if they'd accept the offer. So I was thankful when they replied "Since it's BoA's job, we will definitely take it." and the dance came out really cool. 

──The story and emotion in the lyrics are expressed through the dance.

In lyrical hiphop genre, each phrase in the lyrics is expressed through dance or movement. NAPPYTABS are very good at couple dances and they do both couple dance and lyrical hiphop dance. They work for Madonna and Jennifer Lopez too so they're very good. They're the first to create dances telling stories.

──There are elements that can be found in Japan's kumitaisou (ต่อตัว), ballet and jazz dance.

Right. They use hiphop as the base. The last part has hand movements between the dancers and me. Lyrical Hiphop has been in the trend for years and are well-known among pro-dancers but there're not developed as products/works much.。

──Especially in a POP MV like this. Couple dances are also hard to see in Japan. 

Right. Since it's a breakup song, I'd llike to insert a couple dance in the middle of the song. I think NAPPYTABS has pulled out what I can do best as can be seen in the MV. Listeners probably haven't seen me dancing like that before, so I think they will find it refreshing. 

Pressure and Happiness felt by Artist BoA

──「The Shadow」is also from the Korean album 「Only One」but written in Japanese. What kind of thoughts did you have while writing the lyrics?

This song is about the pressure and happiness felt by artist BoA. Standing under the light, you'll see shadow. For me, that shadow can symbolize the fans, listeners or even paparazzi. Of course I'm happy singing under the spotlight, but the shadow born from that same spotlight can sometimes give me a big pressure, sadness and pain. But me being able to continue working as an artist is actually because of the support and interest from fans and the other so-called shadows. So the shadow also gives me great happiness as well. They give me power to continue making music. That's what I wrote about. 

──In the song, you also sing 「kawarukotowa waruikotojanai (change is not a bad thing)」

Shape of the shadow changes according to time and the Sun movement. I thought of that while writing that part.

──Shadow length also changes with seasons. It even changes during the day.

Right. So it's not just my standing position that changes, as time passes, you guys who look at me also age and change. Generation/era also changes. I'd like to convey that my artist image changing is not really that unnatural. I sang about that kind of change in the song.

Translated from http://natalie.mu/music/pp/boa02/page/2
Note: Isn't this interview amazing, especially The Shadow part? Spread the word around so that all her fans can understand her thoughts. >_<