BoA to debut in the States
A friend drew our attention to this recently: it seems after a successful music career in both the Japanese market and her native Korean market, BoA and her newly-formed, subsidiary label of SM Entertainment, SM Entertainment USA, have their eyes on the US market. With “Eat You Up”, the label plans to launch BoA across to the States.
There are two versions of the “Eat You Up” music video. The one we saw initially, the one directed by Cha Eun-taek is one cool music video. It focuses around a dance audition whereby BoA and accompanying dancers barges onto the dance floor to bring down the roof, and blow the large panel of judges away with their routine (rather fitting don’t you think?—since it’s probably what BoA is hoping to do with her music in the US market). Having not really seen many of her music videos, we never knew she could dance so well. The mix of special effects in the video are really great to watch too, especially during the part when she brings down the chandelier above her… This video actually reminds us a little of Britney Spears and her style actually.
The other version of the video is the U.S. version directed by Diane Martel. It’s rather different from the Korean version; it portrays a more sexualised image of BoA—the dancing is still there, but there’s more flying hair, short leather dresses, and suggestive shots relating to sex and sexual desire. In terms of matching imagery to the lyrics, it did make much more sense than a dance audition. Still, it’s curious to think why such a version had to be made for the US. Is her barging in the audition room, the special effects, and the dancing not enough to catch viewers’ attention—are they saying BoA can’t make it in the US market without sexualising and objectifying herself?
As for the song itself it is quite catchy. Her voice reminds us of the Danish-Norwegian band, Aqua. They were quite a hit in the late nineties. Will she make it? With some good marketing, maybe. If only they’d air the Korean version; they’d get to see how great of a dancer she is and just how cool the overall look and theme of the video is.
Another thing, the “Eat You Up” lyrics seem to have a bit of a demon/vampire-feel to it. Maybe BoA could find herself a demon/vampire television series or film and get herself on their soundtrack to get a bit of exposure there too.
Well, guess it’s best of luck to BoA, eh? The song’s quite good and so is the Korean version of the video.