"Only One" is a song recorded by South Korean singer-songwriter BoA for her 2012 album of the same name. Written and composed by BoA herself with additional arrangement by Kim Yong-shin and Kim Tae-seong, the pop and R&B track was released as the second single from Only One on July 22, 2012, to coincide with its parental album release. It was re-recorded in Japanese and released as her 32nd Japanese single under Avex Trax on February 27, 2013. It was later included on the track list of her eighth Japanese studio album Who's Back? (2014).
| "Only One" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Japanese single cover | ||||
| Single by BoA | ||||
| from the album Only One and Who's Back? | ||||
| B-side | "The Shadow" | |||
| Released | July 22, 2012 February 27, 2013 (Japan) | |||
| Studio | SM Yellow Tail Studio Ingrid Studio | |||
| Genre |
| |||
| Length | 3:39 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Lyricist(s) | BoA | |||
| Producer(s) | BoA | |||
| BoA singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music videos | ||||
| "Only One" (Dance ver.) on YouTube "Only One" (Drama ver.) on YouTube | ||||
On August 7, 2012, BoA stated in a fan meeting that she would be releasing the Japanese version of "Only One" in the winter of 2012–2013. She also announced that she would be translating the lyrics from Korean to Japanese herself, as she had written the original in Korean and composed the track herself. Official confirmation came on December 10, 2012, via Avex, that BoA would be releasing a new Japanese single. Reports also alluded to a new music video for the Japanese version of "Only One". A month later, the jackets for both the CD and CD+DVD versions were revealed via her official website.
Background and release
editThe Japanese single contained five different versions: a CD only, a CD+DVD, a USB Version A, a USB Version B and an iTunes version.[1] The CD+DVD version comes in a larger package (25 by 13 cm (9.8 by 5.1 in))[2] and includes music videos and a "making of" video for both songs. The USB versions use two different designs, and are limited to Soul (BoA's fanbase in Japan). The USB contains the audio track and has a 4GB capacity.
There were additional products available: an Only One: Dance Version DVD was made available for those who purchased both the first edition of the CD and the CD+DVD in one purchase. A letter set was available to Soul members who bought the CD+DVD, USB version A, and USB version B in one purchase. The letter set included clear files (all 3 types), writing paper, and a ball-point pen. A clear file was available to Soul members who bought one of four available formats (excluding the iTunes version).[3]
Promotion
editOn the day of the jacket release, a preview of the Japanese version of "Only One" was released via a QR code. The code was distributed floating on the surface of a coffee or a cocktail, redirecting the scanner to BoA featuring the Only One Cocktail website. Incorporating a QR code onto a drink's surface was an international first. The QR code was made of natural food.[4] The website also hosted astrological predictions and a contest.[5] According to Oricon, the campaign commenced in November 2012 with trials in five Tokyo cafes, but only the instrumental version of the song was available prior to January 2013. Two more cafes later ran the promotion in February 2013.[6] The seven cafes were located throughout Shibuya, Tokyo.[6]
BoA also left a promotional message video on the Only One Cocktail website: "Hi everyone I'm BoA. The song that's streaming on this site is actually my new song 'Only One.' This song is a song about separation, as though you are visualizing scenes of separation in more detailed as the lyrics progress. As I think people who have experienced such separation even only for once before will certainly be able to sympathize with the contents of the lyrics and the tune is really easy to remember, everybody please listen to it repeatedly."[7] "Only One" was used as the ending theme song for the TV program Takeshi no Nippon no Mikata and as the commercial song for music.jp.
Music video
editThe Japanese version of "Only One" has a different music video from the original Korean version, although the choreography is the same. It also includes a scene with BoA singing on the set featured on the cover. For the Korean version, two versions of the music video are released. The dance version was released on July 22, 2012, while the drama version was released three days later.
Accolades
edit| Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Female Artist | Nominated | [8] |
| Best Dance Performance – Solo | Nominated | |||
| Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
| Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Program | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Show Champion | August 14, 2012 | [9] |
Track listing
edit- Japanese CD single
- "Only One" (Japanese version) – 3:37
- "The Shadow" (Japanese version) – 3:19
- "Only One" (Instrumental) – 3:37
- "The Shadow" (Instrumental) – 3:19
- DVD track listing
- "Only One"
- "The Shadow"
- "Only One" (making)
- "The Shadow" (making)
Credits and personnel
editCredits adapted from album's liner notes.[10]
Studio
edit- SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording, mixing, digital editing
- Ingrid Studio – recording
- Studio-T – strings recording
- Sonic Korea – mastering
Personnel
edit- SM Entertainment – executive producer
- Lee Soo-man – producer
- BoA – vocals, background vocals, producer, lyrics, composition
- Tesung Kim – arrangement, vocal directing
- Kim Yong-shin – arrangement, strings conducting and arrangement
- Yong – strings performing
- Gu Jong-pil – recording, mixing, digital editing
- Jung Eui-seok – recording
- Jung Eun-kyung – recording
- Oh Seong-geun – strings recording
- Song Joo-yong – assistant strings recording
- Jeon Hoon – mastering
Charts
editSales
edit| Region | Sales amount |
|---|---|
| Japan (physical) | 11,000[12] |
| South Korea (digital) | 2,128,501[17] |
| South Korea (physical) | 2,000[18] |
References
edit- ^ "NEWS | BoA official website". Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
- ^ "NEWS | BoA official website". Archived from the original on January 12, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
- ^ "Triangle Wheel". trianglewheel.blogspot.com. December 21, 2012.
- ^ "Pertama di Dunia Mendowload Lagu di Cangkir Cappucino". jepanghariini.com.
- ^ "Tokyo stores with QR Codes floating on coffee and cocktails". qrcodetracking.net. Archived from the original on December 6, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
- ^ a b "Only One Cocktail". Archived from the original on January 14, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
- ^ "[JP] BoA releases Jap. ver of Only One via Cappuccino today!". BoAjjang Forums. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
- ^ "MAMA Nominees for the 2012 MAMA Announced". 2012 Mnet Asian Music Award. Mnet Media Corp. October 23, 2012. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
- ^ [포토엔]보아 'Only One' 챔피언송 차지 '트로피 감사합니다~' [[PhotoN] BoA 'Only One' champion song 'thank you for the trophy~']. Newsen (in Korean). August 14, 2012 – via Daum.
- ^ BoA (2012). Only One (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment; KMP Holdings. Credits.
- ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). March 6, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
- ^ a b "BoAのリリース一覧" [List of BoA's Releases]. Oricon. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
- ^ "Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay Chart". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 7, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ "2012년 33주차 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
- ^ "BoA Chart History – World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
- ^ "Digital Chart – 2012". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ 2,057,478 + 23,192 + 31,342 + 16,489
- ^ "Gaon Album Chart 2013년 3월". Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2014.