Warm Songs for Winter Nights
by Kyle
‘Best of Asia’ BoA has returned with her 2nd mini album Starry Night, ahead of her 20th debut anniversary next year. A gift to her fans, Starry Night is largely a winter affair, offering new 6 tracks designed to keep you warm all season long.
Title track ‘Starry Night’ features BoA duetting with R&B crooner Crush against a lush mid-tempo backdrop, with lyrics penned by both artists envisioning a blanket of stars.
‘Black’ is a sparse, syncopated number with an assertive second-verse rap and dreamy flourishes throughout detailing the start and end of a relationship, while ‘Butterfly’ is a slinky, sophisticated groove set to a jazzy piano riff.
‘I Don’t Mind’ keeps the bluesy momentum going with its vampy beat and instantly catchy hook, rounded out by BoA’s pleading vocals calling for attention. Things only get funkier on ‘Think About You,’ a bouncy R&B cut with a breathy, staccato chorus and a soaring bridge.
Closing track ‘Dry Flower’ is the perfect bookend. Written by BoA back in 2017, its lyrics about longing for an ex-lover contrast the bright, uplifting chorus and peppering of horns, leaving the listener with a feeling of warmth and renewed hope.
With production coming from frequent collaborators Kenzie, The Aristocrats, Shaun Kim, and The Stereotypes, it is nevertheless BoA’s impressive pipes that are the center of attention here. Masterful but never showy, emotive and nuanced, the vocal arrangements and melodies on Starry Night compliment a singer who in her 19th year is still a ‘Girl On Top.’
BoA The 2nd Mini Album Starry Night comes with a CD, Booklet (80p), Poster (1 of 2), Postcard (1 of 2), and Photo Card (1 of 4). Pre-Order today on SM Global Shop.
