"Eat You Up" is a song recorded by South Korean recording artist BoA for her twelfth studio and debut English eponymous studio album BoA (2009). It was released on October 21, 2008, in the United States and October 16, 2008, in Japan as the lead single from the album.
Background and Release
The song was written by Danish songwriters Remee and Thomas Troelsen, with production handled by Henrik Jonback. "Eat You Up" was BoA's first attempt to enter the Western market, particularly North America, following SM Entertainment's announcement of their U.S. subsidiary label in September 2008. The track was first played on Japanese radio stations Tokyo-FM and JFN 38 Station on October 16, 2008.
Composition
Musically, "Eat You Up" is an electronic dance song (electropop) with elements of R&B and pop music. The composition makes use of synthesizers and keyboards processed through a reverse filter, with drum machine overlays. The song has a length of 3 minutes and 13 seconds.
Critical Reception
The song received generally positive reviews from music critics. Critics praised its electronic and dance-infused composition and commercial appeal. It was ranked at number six on Spin magazine's "21 Greatest K-Pop Songs of All Time" list, number six on BuzzFeed's "21 Greatest Korean Pop Songs Ever" list, and number two on Allkpop's seven greatest North American debuts list.
Commercial Performance
In the United States, "Eat You Up" charted on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, peaking at number eight and remaining on the chart for 12 consecutive weeks. It is BoA's only top-ten single on any U.S. Billboard chart. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the song sold over 28,000 units in the United States as of May 2009. The single was not eligible to chart on Japan's Oricon Singles Chart due to its digital-only release format.
Music Videos
Two music videos were produced for the single: a North American version directed by Diane Martel, and an Asian version directed by Eun Taek Cha. The North American video features BoA dancing on a deserted planet with intercut scenes in a high-rise building and a snow globe setting. The Asian video depicts BoA and her dancers interrupting a ballet recital in a large house, causing escalating destruction. Both videos were choreographed by Misha Gabriel and Flii Stylz.
Track Listing
CD Single
- "Eat You Up" (DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious Main Mix) – 7:27
- "Eat You Up" (DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious Instrumental) – 7:29
- "Eat You Up" (DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious Dub) – 6:39
- "Eat You Up" (DJ Escape & Johnny Vicious Radio Edit) – 3:38
- "Eat You Up" (King Britt Main Mix) – 6:21
- "Eat You Up" (King Britt Radio Mix) – 3:04
- "Eat You Up" (King Britt Instrumental) – 6:23
- "Eat You Up" (King Britt BG Vocal Mix) – 6:20
Digital Download
- "Eat You Up" – 3:12
Charts
| Chart (2008–2009) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) | 8 |
Legacy
"Eat You Up" is recognized as one of the first songs by a Korean artist to be produced and written by Western producers, and has been cited as a contributing factor to the Korean Wave (Hallyu) movement. Despite its critical recognition, BoA's attempts to break into the North American market did not achieve sustained commercial success.
