My Name is the fourth Korean-language studio album (seventh overall) by South Korean recording artist BoA, released through SM Entertainment on June 11, 2004. BoA promoted the album with the singles "My Name" and "Spark", the latter of which is a Korean-language cover of "Keep My Cool" (2002) by Luis Fonsi. The album saw BoA's transition into a more mature image in comparison to her previous records.
Commercially, My Name debuted at number one on the monthly MIAK album chart for June 2004, and was the 11th best-selling album of the year in South Korea with sales of 192,000 copies. Her first foray into the Chinese market, the overseas version of the album was released on August 12, 2004, and includes remakes of two of her songs in Chinese and an alternative cover. At the 2004 Mnet KM Music Video Festival, "My Name" won the Music Video of the Year award.
Composition
The album's title track, "My Name", is a dance song with urban influences and was regarded by observers as BoA's transition into more mature concept.[1] The following single, "Spark," is a Korean-language cover of Luis Fonsi's "Keep My Cool" from his album Fight the Feeling (2002), and likewise showcased BoA sporting a more masculine concept. In September 2004, BoA released a music video for the ballad track "My Prayer"; it consists of snippets of BoA's life as a trainee in addition to behind-the-scenes footage of her promoting her previous albums.[2]
The last song of the album, "We", is a ballad that incorporates Korean traditional music instrumentations from the daegeum, sogeum, and haegeum. It was used as the ending song for the Japanese version of the movie Taegeukgi, which was released earlier that year in February.
Critical reception
Lee Min-hee from IZM praised the album, writing that the record showcased BoA growing "into a more sensual and sophisticated woman", at the same maintaining her originality while exploring new sounds and musical styles. Lee added that although BoA was only 17 at the time, she possessed the "maturity and energy of an adult artist".[3]
Commercial performance
Commercially, My Name achieved success in South Korea, peaking at number one on the MIAK monthly albums chart for June 2004,[4] and sold over 201,000 copies by mid-2005.[5][6] It placed number seven for highest sales of the year. The album was further released in Japan on March 26, 2008; however, it failed to chart on the Oricon Top 100.
^"보아 성숙한 여인 변신 어번 댄스풍 4집 발매" [BoA transforms into a mature woman with urban dance styles for her 4th album]. Herald Economy (in Korean). Naver. June 14, 2004. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
^"보아 '4분33초 뮤비에 담긴 성공스토리'" [BoA 'success story in 4 minutes and 33 seconds music video']. Star News (in Korean). Naver. September 23, 2004. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
^"2004년 총결산 가요 음반 판매량" [2004 Domestic Album Sales]. Recording Industry Association of Korea. 2005. Archived from the original on December 30, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
^"2005년 – 상반기 가요 음반 판매량" [2005 First Half Domestic Album Sales]. Recording Industry Association of Korea. 2005. Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
^보아 뮤직비디오 페스티벌 최우수 작품상- m,net km [BoA wins Best Picture at Music Video Festival – m.net km]. Herald Pop (in Korean). December 4, 2004. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021 – via Naver.
^2004.06월 – 가요 음반 판매량 [2004.06 – Sales volume] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on August 16, 2004. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
^2004년 가요음반판매량 [2004 Album Sales Figures] (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
"2004년 총결산 가요 음반 판매량" [2004 Domestic Album Sales]. Music Industry Association of Korea. 2005. Archived from the original on December 30, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
"2005년 – 상반기 가요 음반 판매량" [2005 First Half Domestic Album Sales]. Music Industry Association of Korea. 2005. Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
^"[새음반]파워풀 섹시댄스… 보아 4집 앨범 '마이 네임' 발매" [[New album] Powerful sexy dance ... BoA's 4th album 'My Name' is released]. The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). Naver. June 10, 2004. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
