Singer seeks to overcome title of `next BoA`



Since Korean teenybopper sensation BoA caused waves in Japan some eight years ago, many talented young teenagers of the country have dreamt of becoming superstars in the world`s second-largest music market, Japan. Among them were Meilin (Seo Mi-rim), who started to study Japanese, in addition to her vocal and dance training, when she was a junior high student. Seo began her broadcasting career on MBC`s "Po Po Po," a popular television show to educate preschool kids when she was only five years old, and made her singing debut here in 2003 under the name of "Som2", yet her main target was Japan from the very beginning.
"There are few who recognize me as the tiny little girl who danced pretty well on TV, five years ago. But it`s okay `cause I want to become popular as Meilin," the singer, now 19, told The Korea Herald on Wednesday.
It was Tom Yoda, former chairman and CEO of Avex, the Japanese record label behind BoA, who praised Meilin. Yoda said, "She has the potential to become a second BoA."
With Yoda as her main support, Seo has released three singles in Japan, performed at major Japanese venues including Osaka Dome where she performed before 20,000 devoted fans of Korean pop last year.



▲Meilin has released her first single album in Korea titled "Meilin Story." [Lee Gil-dong/The Korea Herald]

"It`s a great honor for me to be compared with BoA, but I`m under great pressure as well, because of the nickname," said Meilin. "You know, the title of `Next someone` isn`t necessarily a good one. I just want to be remembered as who I am."
Certainly, Meilin has a long way to go to rub shoulders with a big star like BoA - the 22-year-old pop queen has released six albums in Japan, all of which have topped the Oricon Weekly Album Charts.
Off stage, as an average girl her age would probably do, she enjoys chatting with her friends and shopping in the Harajuku area in downtown Tokyo.
After the four rewarding years she spent in Japan, Meilin came back to Seoul two months ago with her first single album, "Meilin Story," which contains a few different versions of the two songs, "How about Tonight?" and "Liar." She has also been making television appearances, boasting her long-hidden sexy side through powerful yet sensual dance moves, as she sings "How about Tonight?"
What differentiates Meilin from many dancing divas is her superb singing ability. "I`ll bet you can sense two percent difference between the songs in the album and my live performance. Filling the gap is something I should work on from now."
Later on this year, Meilin will go back to Japan to record her first regular album, of which she has finished 15 songs already.
"I will always do my best, but that`s never enough. I will do it in the right direction to steal your hearts," she smiled.

By Lee Yong-sung

(danlee@heraldm.com)


2008.08.01

Dayum, she has the same double eyelid thing goin on like Boa too. In some ways they really look alike but I find BOA's look a bit more modern.