I was so busy that I forgot about BoA's Lookbook. I knew that it was supposed to come out around this time (and as of the time this post comes out, the single was released yesterday in Japan), but with singles/albums being announced two months in advance in Japan all of the time, it is easy for me to forget about songs. Then I figured it would be a ballad song because of the time of the year, so I figured I would listen to it eventually, but wouldn't rush to listen to the song.
Then yesterday (as of the writing of this post, [I know, what a fucked-up timeline for a scheduled post]), I listened to it for the first time. This was the BoA that made me become a fan.
I have a fairly rigid schedule while I'm out traveling for work, but this song ruined my schedule yesterday. Instead of studying, I just studied BoA's hot ass. Then while waiting for my flight in the airport, I kept on watching the music video. I watched it the whole time I was eating at a restaurant. Even after I left, I was still listening to it instead of studying.
Then the thought dawned on me: This is way too good to be a pop song produced in Japan. There are some good producers in Japan, but they were either good 10-15 years ago or they don't produce pop music (that often). I dug deeper and this song was produced by the same European team that produced SNSD's Paparazzi, the last good title track SNSD released in any country.
The song has an addicting electronic melody without having too many of the bells and whistles that many EDM songs have had in the past few years, such as an overly dominating bass or any random warbles and garbles. I like how the song keeps it frantic pace throughout the short version of the music video, as it compels me to keep listening to the song. I have not found a longer version of the music video, which is a shame, since this is BoA's best song in Japan since Bump Bump in 2009.
This song also demands a dance MV since this is one of BoA's best choreographies in Japan since Bad Drive.
Lookbook, along with Shout It Out, should be BoA's MO in Japan from here on out. She can focus on her artistic side with her Korean music, but I would welcome more jams like this from BoA in Japan.
I mean, Japan's pop industry could use some good songs, too. BoA would be the perfect person to release a pop song worth a fuck in Japan.