Girls on Top (album) explained

Girls on Top
Type:Studio
Artist:BoA
Cover:Girls on Top - BoA.png
Recorded:2005
Genre:
Length:44:50
Language:Korean
Label:SM
Prev Title:Best of Soul
Prev Year:2005
Next Title:Merry Christmas from BoA
Next Year:2005

Girls on Top is the fifth Korean studio album by South Korean recording artist BoA, released through SM Entertainment on June 23, 2005.[1] A repackage of the album, titled Moto, was released on August 17, 2005. The record saw a continuation of BoA's image change that began with her prior album My Name (2004); Girls on Top sought to portray a "mature and self-confident" image with themes expressing female empowerment. In Japan, a special edition of the album including a DVD was released by Avex Trax on March 26, 2008.

Commercially, Girls on Top peaked at number three on the monthly MIAK album chart in South Korea and entered the album charts in Taiwan and Japan. To promote the album, the title tracks "Girls on Top" and "Moto" were released as singles with accompanying music videos. Similar to My Name, the album also received an overseas version including a Mandarin version of the eponymous lead single, "Girls on Top". An English version of the song was also recorded and included on BoA's self-titled debut English studio album BoA (2009).

Background and release

Girls on Top was released as BoA's fifth Korean studio album on June 23, 2005, and showcased a change in BoA's image and musicality compared to her previous releases, which largely consisted of lighter concepts and feminine visuals.[2] The title track "Girls on Top" was promoted as the main single and contains themes of female empowerment.[3] BoA's "bohemian" look on the album cover art aimed to represent "freedom and depth", while the visual for "Autumn Letter" (shown at the end of the music video for "Girls on Top") showcased BoA in traditional Korean fashion, weaving the "idea of Korean womanhood" into her music.

A repackage of the album titled Moto was released on August 17, 2005, and contained one new track "Autumn Letter", a cover of Kim Min-ki's 1993 song of the same name.[4] A Hong Kong and Taiwanese edition of the album containing a Chinese version of "Girls on Top" was released a week later on August 25, in commemoration of BoA's 5th anniversary of debut. In Japan, a special edition release along with a DVD was released by Avex Trax on March 26, 2008.[5] [6] An English version of "Girls on Top" was included on BoA's US debut album in March 2009.[7]

Composition

"Girls on Top" is a dance and hip-hop number with lyrics revolving around themes of female empowerment and countering male chauvinistic expressions. IZM compared the song's production to that of Usher and Ciara, and felt that the change in styles unveiled a new side of BoA's musically. The publication added that the remake of Kim Min-ki's "Autumn Letter" offered a "feeling of gradual maturity". "Moto" is a R&B and dance number and contains a fast-paced hip-hop rhythm produced by Kenzie, who also composed BoA's "My Name". "Do You Love Me?" is an acid pop number while the song "Garden in the Air" was inspired by the hanging gardens of Babylon. "Can't Let Go" is a R&B ballad containing backup vocals sung by Kangta while other songs such as "If You Were Here"', "Love Can Make a Miracle" and "Breathe Again" are lyrical ballads.[8]

Reception

Commercially, Girls on Top peaked at number three on the monthly domestic Music Industry Association of Korea (MIAK) album sales chart for June 2005, selling 52,558 copies.[9] The album sold a total of 112,954 copies by the end of 2005 and was ranked the 14th best-selling album of the year in South Korea.[10] In Taiwan, the album peaked at number 12 on the G-Music Combo Albums chart and number 3 on the G-Music J-pop Albums chart. In Japan, it peaked at number 153 on the Oricon Albums Chart in 2008.

Covers and usage in media

Girls' Generation covered "Girls on Top" along with "My Name" during a special stage on November 10, 2007. Shinee made a performance of the song during a MBC Star Dance Battle on October 4, 2009, and renamed it "Boys on Top".[11] Oh My Girl and WJSN performed parts of the song at the 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards.[12] It was performed by Team China on the dance competition television show Stage K in 2019.[13] On July 31, 2020, Baekhyun of Exo released a remake of "Garden in the Air" as part of BoA's 20th anniversary tribute project, titled SM Station: Our Beloved BoA.[14] The release peaked at number 83 on the Gaon Digital Chart.[15]

In 2022, SM Entertainment debuted supergroup Got the Beat as part of a project group titled Girls on Top, which was named after the album and single.[16] The group consisted of BoA herself alongside members of Girls' Generation, Red Velvet and Aespa.[17] At KCON 2023 in Los Angeles, Everglow and Lapillus performed a joint stage and covered "Girls on Top".[18] A remix version of the song was performed on the girl group survival show Universe Ticket.[19]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for "Girls on Top"
YearAward-giving bodyCategoryResult
2005Mnet KM Music Video FestivalBest Female Artist[20]
Best Dance Performance
Date! class="unsortable"
Music CampJuly 16, 2005[21]
July 23, 2005[22]
M CountdownJuly 28, 2005
InkigayoJuly 17, 2005[23]
July 24, 2005[24]
July 31, 2005[25]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2005)Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[26] 153
Taiwanese Albums (G-Music)12
Taiwanese East Asian Albums (G-Music)[27] 3

Year-end charts

Sales

RegionSales amount
Japan3,000[30]
South Korea113,000

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Girls on Top. dead. https://archive.today/20131201102436/http://www.melon.com/cds/album/web/albumdetailmain_list.htm?albumId=304317. December 1, 2013. December 1, 2013. Melon. LOEN Entertainment. Korean.
  2. Web site: 당당하게ㆍ우아하게…보아가 온다 . Proudly and gracefully... BoA is coming . Herald Economy . . 14 December 2023 . ko . 2005-06-21.
  3. Web site: 보아 '남성 우월주의 거부' 5집 앨범 발매 . BoA releases 5th album 'Rejecting male chauvinism' . . . 14 December 2023 . ko . 2005-06-23.
  4. Web site: BoA Vol. 5 - Moto / Girls on Top . December 1, 2013 . . Korean, English.
  5. Web site: Girls on Top [Special Edition]/BoA ]. December 1, 2013 . . Japanese.
  6. Web site: My Name(Special Edition)(DVD付) [CD+DVD] ]. December 1, 2013 . . Japanese.
  7. Web site: BoA by BoA . December 1, 2013 . iTunes CA . Apple.
  8. Web site: Eom . Jae-deok . July 2005 . Girls on Top Album Review . 2023-12-14 . . ko.
  9. Web site: ko:2005.06월 – 가요 음반 판매량 . 2005.06 – Sales volume . http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/kpop_200506.htm . https://web.archive.org/web/20050814021349/http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/kpop_200506.htm . August 14, 2005 . May 13, 2021 . Music Industry Association of Korea . ko.
  10. Web site: ko:2005년 가요음반판매량 . 2005 Album Sales Figures . http://www.riak.or.kr/chart/riakpdf.asp?hit_year=2005 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171014133613/http://www.riak.or.kr/chart/riakpdf.asp?hit_year=2005 . October 14, 2017 . October 24, 2020 . Recording Industry Association of Korea . ko.
  11. Web site: 2009-10-05 . 샤이니, 걸그룹 돌풍에 위풍당당 승부수 '보이즈 온 탑' . SHINee, a majestic match for girl group sensation 'Boyz on Top' . 2023-12-14 . Newsen.
  12. Web site: 2018-12-16 . '2018 MAMA 홍콩' 우주소녀, 세계 무대도 섹시+파워풀 '압도적 존재감'…차세대 한류돌 인증 . 2023-12-14 . Hankook llbo . . ko.
  13. Web site: 2019-06-16 . '스테이지K' 왕중왕전, 트와이스·아이콘·슈주 팀 4강 진출…비아이 통편집 [종합] ]. 2023-12-14 . Xports News . . ko.
  14. Web site: 2020-07-27 . BoA to celebrate 20th anniversary of debut with remakes of her classics . 2023-12-15 . . en.
  15. Web site: July 26 – August 1, 2020 . ko:2020년 31주차 Digital Chart . Week 30 of 2017 Digital Chart . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20201108115745/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?serviceGbn=ALL&termGbn=week&hitYear=2020&targetTime=31&nationGbn=T . November 8, 2020 . March 27, 2021 . . ko.
  16. Web site: 2021-12-27 . K-pop girl supergroup to feature stars from Aespa members to BoA . 2023-12-14 . South China Morning Post . en.
  17. Chan . Tim . January 3, 2022 . Meet 'Girls on Top:' K-Pop's New Female 'Super Group' . live . Rolling Stone . https://web.archive.org/web/20220104010415/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/girls-on-top-k-pop-group-members-1277952/ . January 4, 2022 . January 8, 2022.
  18. Web site: 2023-08-22 . 에버글로우, '케이콘 LA 2023'에서 컴백 포문 . Everglow kicks off comeback at ‘KCON LA 2023’ . 2023-12-14 . Sports Dong-a . . ko.
  19. Web site: '유니버스 티켓' 승급-탈락 희비 쌍곡선 . . . 14 December 2023 . ko . 14 December 2023.
  20. Web site: November 27, 2005. 보아, '...뮤직비디오 페스티벌' 축하공연 후 실신. May 29, 2021. Sports Chosun. ko. Naver.
  21. Web site: 2005-07-16 . 보아, 순위 진입 2주만에 '음악캠프' 1위 차지 . BoA takes first place in ‘Music Camp’ just 2 weeks after entering the rankings . 2023-12-24 . My Daily . . ko.
  22. Web site: 2005-07-23 . 보아, '음악캠프' 2주 연속 1위 . BoA, 1st place on 'Music Camp' for 2 weeks in a row . 2023-12-24 . My Daily . . ko.
  23. Web site: 2005-07-17 . 보아, SBS '인기가요' 뮤티즌송 수상 ; '음악캠프' 이어 1위 . BoA, SBS 'Inkigayo' Mutizen Song Award; 1st place after 'Music Camp' . 2023-12-24 . My Daily . . ko.
  24. Web site: 2005-07-24 . '걸스 온 탑' 보아, SBS '인기가요' 2주 연속1위 . 'Girls on Top' BoA takes first place on SBS' 'Inkigayo' for 2 weeks in a row . 2023-12-24 . My Daily . . ko.
  25. Web site: 2005-07-31 . 보아, SBS '인기가요' 3주 연속1위 . BoA takes first place on SBS' 'Inkigayo' for 3 consecutive weeks . 2023-12-24 . My Daily . . ko.
  26. Web site: BoAのアルバム売り上げランキング. Oricon. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130602094148/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/270150/ranking/cd_album/. June 2, 2013. August 5, 2022.
  27. Web site: G-Music J-pop Chart – Week 38 of 2005 . G-Music . September 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20051001040211/http://www.g-music.com.tw/GMusicBillboard3.aspx . zh . September 29, 2005 . October 1, 2005.
  28. Web site: http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/kpop_200506.htm. ko:2005.06월 – 가요 음반 판매량. 2005.06 – Sales volume. Music Industry Association of Korea. May 13, 2021. August 14, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050814021349/http://www.miak.or.kr/stat/kpop_200506.htm. ko.
  29. Web site: http://www.riak.or.kr/chart/riakpdf.asp?hit_year=2005. ko:2005년 가요음반판매량. 2005 Album Sales Figures. Recording Industry Association of Korea. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20171014133613/http://www.riak.or.kr/chart/riakpdf.asp?hit_year=2005. October 14, 2017. dead. October 24, 2020.
  30. Web site: オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 . Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree' . . subscription . November 1, 2014.