Maps of Music

Only One (2012)

Where the lyrics of Only One take you, and where it was really made.

Only One marked a turn away from BoA's signature fast dance sound toward a relaxed, comforting record.

Key places

Recorded at SM Studios, Seoul (2012)

Recording site Big Hit Studios, Seoul — The album's recording location is listed as SM Studios in Seoul. The pin uses a city-center coordinate, so it marks Seoul rather than the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Private company studio, not open to visitors.

Album story

Overview

• Only One: seventh Korean studio album by BoA (fifteenth overall)
• Released through SM Entertainment on July 22, 2012
• Title track "Only One" released digitally on July 22; physical album released July 25, 2012
• Follows Hurricane Venus, released about two years earlier
• Songwriting contributions from regional and international musicians, including Miriam and Olivia Nervo, SM composer Kenzie, and Kim Tae-sung
• "One Dream" first released as a collaboration with Henry Lau and Key for the audition show K-pop Star in March 2012
• Title track and "The Shadow" promoted after the album release

Background

• On July 16, 2012, SM Entertainment announced the album
• Two editions: regular and limited; limited edition had a 48-page photobook, regular edition a 24-page photobook
• Comeback show BoA 4354 promoted the album; the number is the days since she entered the industry
• Nappytabs helped with the title track choreography
• Development: the Korea Times described the record as a departure from sleek, fast-paced, beat-heavy dance music
• BoA aimed for a relaxing, comforting album that could reach the general public, even non-fans
• Electronic styles were still trendy, but her own preference leaned toward a relaxed, easygoing aesthetic

Recording

• Recording location listed as SM Studios (Seoul)

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Kwon Bo-ah, born November 5, 1986 in Gyeonggi Province, was discovered by SM Entertainment talent scouts at a 1998 talent search while accompanying her older brother.
• After two years of training in vocals, dance, English, and Japanese, she debuted in South Korea in 2000 with the album ID; Peace B.
• Her Korean label arranged with Avex Trax to launch her career in Japan, and she quit school to prepare.

Career

• Her debut Japanese album Listen to My Heart (2002) became the first album by a Korean artist to debut at number one on the Oricon chart.
• Valenti (2003) sold over 1,249,000 copies, and Best of Soul (2005) sold over a million copies in Japan.
• Her self-titled English album (2009) was the first record by a K-pop artist to appear on the Billboard 200.
• She has sold over ten million albums and has been called the "Queen of K-pop" for helping open the Japanese market to Korean pop.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Korea Times: described the record as a departure from the sleek, fast-paced, beat-heavy dance music BoA had become known for
• BoA: said she wanted a relaxing, comforting album that could resonate with the general public

Reappraisal

• Ism critic Hwang Seon-eop: found it hard to find BoA's own "human" self in her career, and called the new album notable for bringing it out
• MK News: said BoA had softened after dropping the female warrior image, while praising her wide vocal range and voice control

Records

• Gaon Album Chart: peaked at number two
• 46th best-selling album of the year in Korea, with over 36,000 copies sold
• Oricon Album Chart (Japan): number 63
• G-Music East Asian Albums (Taiwan): number nine
• Title track "Only One": peaked at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart upon release, with over 2,100,000 digital downloads
• Billboard K-pop Hot 100: entered at number 12, peaked at number 2
• Physical album: over 28,000 copies in the first six days, over 34,000 copies by August 2012
• Her best-selling Korean album with digital and physical sales combined

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The title track entered the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 at number 12 and peaked at number 2 in its fourth week.
• The title track stayed in the top 3 for four weeks.
• In 2013, BoA re-recorded the title track and "The Shadow" in Japanese; the single was released on February 27, 2013.
• The Japanese recording of "Only One" reached number eight on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
• The original album became available in the Philippines on July 5, 2013.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org

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