BoA Pounces on U.S. Market + New Homepage

Japanese, American, Chinese and Korean press gathered at the Imperial Palace Hotel yesterday in Seoul to get the latest on BoA's entry into the U.S. music market.

BoA's Lee Soo-man - founder and producer of her Korean label S.M. Entertainment - and her U.S.-based music publishing agent, choreographer and project manager showed up to clue the press in on the diva's upcoming U.S. single and plans for the future. BoA immediately stunned reporters by walking in with a cast on her left arm.

"I wanted to look put together and pretty today," the 21-year old singer explained at the press conference. "But I fell."

The accident happened on Tuesday night after BoA and her team finished preparing for the press conference at S.M. Entertainment headquarters. On her way out, she fell down the stairs and injured herself.BoA's doctors say she will fully recover within six weeks. And her injury will not affect her work schedule. Still upbeat despite the cast on her arm, BoA was eager to talk about her first U.S. single and her upcoming full-length album. The single, titled "Eat You Up," is slated for release via the internet on Oct. 7 along with two music videos. The album will be hitting store shelves in America next year. "In reality, we started to talk about going into the American market two or three years ago," BoA confessed. "It was very hard preparing for this in secret."

S.M. Entertainment chairman Lee Soo-man, who will be promoting BoA via S.M. USA, started prepping for the pop diva's entry in 2005. With the help of their publishing agent Hayden Bell, BoA and chairman Lee teamed up with top music producers Bloodshy and Avant to work on "Eat You Up." Known for producing Britney Spears' "Toxic," which they co-wrote, the Swedish duo put their talent to work for BoA. They came out with a catchy chorus, a staccato electronic vibe and deep bass beats. In keeping with the current trend in the U.S. pop scene, the single veered away from BoA's standard R&B and hip-hop sound. To keep BoA's hip-hop flavor intact, choreographers for her American and Asian music videos infused dance moves with a few solo riffs.

Misha Gabriel, who worked with Justin Timberlake, choreographed the routine for her Korean music video. It was directed by Cha Eun-taek. Flii Stylz, known for his work with Chris Brown and Usher, choreographed her American music video. "In April, we filmed a music video in New York and in July we filmed one in Korea," said founder Lee. "So it is unusual, but there will be two music videos for the single." At the press conference, reporters caught a preview of both videos. The first, directed by Cha Eun-taek, bordered on generic, recalling Jennifer Lopez's hit "I'm Glad."

In keeping with the "Flashdance"-inspired video, Cha's version opens up in a stuffy audition room. BoA and her dancers break into the audition and blow the judges away with their dance moves. Diane Martel - the genius behind Ciara's powerful "Like a Boy" - directed the U.S. version, which, unfortunately, disappoints. Lacking the wit and humor of her recent work - N.E.R.D's "Everybody Nose (All The Girls Standing In The Line For the Bathroom" - Martel's "Eat You Up" relies on rapid cuts between beauty shots of BoA and shots of her dancing on a dusty, grey moonscape.

But there is still hope. BoA will be collaborating with rapper Flo Rida - who made it big with his single "Low" - on a remix of "Eat You Up," giving her a chance to put out yet another video. The press was also given a few sound bytes of another upcoming song, "Look Who's Talking." The addictive chorus boded well for the Asian pop princess. And with Project Manager Max Gousse - who worked with Beyonce, Jay-Z and Usher - backing her up, BoA has a strong chance of making it in the U.S. market.

Check out BoA's brand new American homepage now at www.boaamerica.com !