22 BoA

In her 22rd birthday, today, I just want to create a short post about her 8 years career =D

After being discovered at the age of 11 and 2 years of FULL training, BoA Kwon (Kwon BoA or 보아 집) made her debut in 2000 in South Korea. From the first moderate successful album in South Korea, she has now turned into one of the most recognized female singer in Asia. During 8 years of career until now, she has released :

5 Korean albums (4 of which went to #1),

3 Korean mini-albums,

6 Japanese albums (all went to #1 making her one of the only 2 female singers in history to top the album chart in Japan for 6 consecutive times),

2 Japanese compilation albums and

2 Japanese remix albums in addition to

more than 30 singles.

14 years old BoA

2000 August (Debut) - ID Peace B

2001 Jumping into the World

2002 No 1, Listen to My Heart, Miracle

2003 Valenti, Atlantis Princess, Shine We Are

2004 Love&Honesty, My Name

2005 Best of Soul, Girls on Top

2006 Outgrow

2007 Made in Twenty

2008 The Face

In the age of just 22 today, she already has recorded around 250 songs in Japanese, Korean, English, and a few in Chinese, plus being an 8 year veteran singer and maintaining her status as 'diva' in Korean, like the people called her so.

Featuring Westlife in "Flying Without Wings"

got "Most Influential Asian Artist" at MTV Asia Award 2004

with Avril Lavigne at the "Over The Hedge" premiere on May 21, 2007

receiving "Young Contemporary Artist Award" from the Ministry Culture and Tourism, October 2007

AnyBand concert in late 2007

PERSONAL OPINION

In regard of her success in both South Korea and Japan, I always considered her as a very unique person since she already got her peak of career even before reached the age of 17. While other teenagers are still struggling to do homework or preparing for exams, she can record 3 albums in one year (each 3 in 2002 and 2003) which turned into million copies. Being too busy, she even refused to play as the main role in popular TV serial Princess Hours ‘Goong’ (and finally the main role was given to Yoon Eun Hye).

And finally what will happen happened soon. In December 2007, she stated that she no longer enjoys working and prefer study overseas (I heard she plan to America). At that time Korean fans were longing so much for her new Korean album as she had not released any for 2 years (and 3 years till now), all hope for her comeback. Most agreed as her career in Japan was declining (and even worse this year) and I agreed if she either took a break to study or made a comeback to Korea first. But surprisingly this year she said that she wished to be a world renowned singer in Europe and America. And soon her record label announced her debut schedule in U.S. Well, I can just wish her all the best for her career. Since she already got all in her teens age, I hope she still has a great motivation to be better.

2008 October US Debut "Eat You Up"