They have released three full length CDs, one EP and one single. They are most widely known for the song "Duvet", which was used as the theme song for the anime series Serial Experiments Lain. As a result, they are fairly popular among anime fans worldwide; in particular, they performed in a live concert at the anime convention Otakon in 2000.
Their first full-length album was released in Japan in 1998 and titled "The Race Of A Thousand Camels." In 2001, the album was released in North America under the name "Twilight." It contained extra songs not found in the initial Japanese release.
After long delays by Pioneer's record label, bôa set up their own record label, "Boa Recordings", in 2003 and began recording their new album, "Get There", released in February of 2005.
The band is currently on hiatus until further notice.
(Note that bôa is not to be confused with the Korean pop artist BoA.)
bôa was formed in 1993 by original drummer, Ed Herten. Ed had played in several bands including "Delirious Groove", from whom he recruited Paul Turrell (keyboards) and "Draggin' Bones", from whom he recruited Alex Caird (bass). Ed had also been to school with Steve Rodgers, who soon joined bôa on guitar and vocals.
"Fran", an early song penned by Ed and Paul, had a chorus which lent itself to a female vocal. Steve's sister, Jasmine Rodgers, then just 16 years old, was persuaded to record a vocal on an early recording. This happened a number of times until Jasmine was eventually persuaded to become a full member of the group.
bôa actually started out as a funk band and soon recruited Ben Henderson, who had played in the band "Doctor Sky" with Alex, on saxophone.
1994
After several months of intensive songwriting and practicing, bôa played their first gig at "The Forum" in London. The gig was the first of many great live successes (and a few early disasters!)
In summer 1994, Ed left the band to concentrate on his studies, but remains a good friend of the rest of bôa to this day. After a couple of drummers were tried out but, for one reason or another, didn't work out, bôa found themselves with a gig to play and no drummer. Alex persuaded the drummer of yet another ex-band, "Chapter 6", Lee Sullivan, to help out. Lee's debut was a great success and he soon became bôa's permanent drummer.
Ed's laid back feel had worked perfectly with bôa's early funk songs. However, Lee brought a more powerful, rocky feel to the band and the songs naturally followed suit. Consequently, saxophone became somewhat surplus to requirement and Ben switched to guitar.
1995
This was a good year for bôa - they played many successful gigs including a short tour of the South of England which ended in two performances at the Glastonbury festival, where they were chosen as the focus of a TV documentary about the festival that was shown on the London art/music magazine show, "Shift".
The members of bôa were so pleased with the way the band was going that Jasmine delayed studying for a degree, Alex dropped out of his and Paul quit his full time job as a computer salesman (he didn't like it much anyway!) and moved to the spiritual home of bôa, the incredible town of New Malden.
1996
A relatively quiet year for bôa in which they received considerable interest from British record companies but no actual offers of deals. Salvation came in the unlikely form of an offer of a deal from Japanese company, Polystar Records, which bôa signed.
In December, bôa went into Red Bus Studios, London with producer Darren Allison (who has also worked with Skunk Anansie and The Divine Comedy) and recorded three songs: "Twilight", "Deeply" and "Elephant".
1997
Production of the bôa album was delayed by Polystar but the remainder was recorded in September at "Monnow Valley Studios" with producer Neil Walsh. It was mixed at PWL studios (Manchester) in November by Neil Walsh and Jason Barren.
1998
The bôa album was finally released by Polystar in the second half of the year under the dubious title "Race of a Thousand Camels" (inspired by a dream of Jasmine and a computer game written by Paul). Jasmine and Steve went to Japan to promote the release with some TV and radio appearances though the rest of the band were not invited by Polystar. Polystar also failed to fulfil contractual obligations to release the album in America and Europe. The song "Duvet" was released as a single.
1999
Despite to this day owing money to bôa, Polystar finally did something to help rather than hinder the band when they secured the use of the song "Duvet" as the theme tune to Serial Experiments' anime "Lain". This led to DJ Wasei remixing "Duvet". The show won several awards in Japan and has become hugely popular with anime fans around the world, most notably the USA. This web site suddenly became inundated with notes of appreciation for the song "Duvet". Paul and Alex wrote to Pioneer-USA, distributors of Lain, and discovered they too had received many enquiries about bôa.
Meanwhile, bôa were working with producer Stuart Epps and recorded some new material including an acoustic version of "Duvet" and the song "Drinking". The "Tall Snake E.P." was released in Japan featuring all three versions of "Duvet" and two songs ("Little Miss" and "Two Steps") than had been intended as B-sides of further promotional singles in Japan that Polystar had failed to release.
2000
Ben left bôa to concentrate on his other band, "Moth", in which he plays with his wife, Tina.
2001
bôa's debut US album "Twilight" was released on March 27th 2001. bôa played a mini-tour of Los Angeles in April and hope soon to perform a promotional tour. They are well on the way to completing a second album. The future looks bright....
Paul Turrell
Sadly, after much soul-searching, Paul has deciced to leave the band in order to pursue other interests. We wish him all the best and ask you all to wish him congratulations for his wedding to Jai-un and further congratulations for their forthcoming little one!
In August, bôa were tempted away from songwriting for a moment when they were invited to play at the Animefest in Dallas, Texas where they were treated to a fantastic audience and good Texan Beer, all in all a good one.
2002
bôa were scheduled to record their second album for Pioneer but due to a series of re-shufflings in the record company the album has been delayed for the moment. bôa, however have enjoyed writing more and more songs, only stopping for a break in June when Alex went to Australia for a couple of months travelling and Jasmine went to the Far East.
In September bôa supported Bad Company on their UK tour playing in Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester, London, Birmingham,Sheffield, Nottingham and York. The tour was brilliant and bôa are back in gigging mode and planning many for the next year!
2003
BOA record the new album in Southampton, England. The album is entirely self-funded and the band set up a record label, Boa Recordings.
2004
The album is then mixed and mastered and finally titled Get There!
2005
Boa have finally accomplished what they set out to achieve.
Originally, this was just a simple wish like all bands to record the next set of songs that all musicians feel compelled to write. However, like all bands again, Boa met with a series of delays and eventually decided that doing it on their own would be the best course of action.
As a result, a record label, Boa Recordings was set up and Get There was recorded, mastered and is out on the 1st. We wish to thank all of you for waiting so patiently and supporting us so marvellously.
Welcome
bôa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Interesting Facts ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It would be heard by me
If you felt it, felt it in your heart
If your mind inside was like mine
You would find and see me
You would be welcome in my dreams
You would be welcome...
Nothing to say this is what I tell you
Happiness is as freedom
It is welcome
If you saw this,
You would know this is the truth
All of your hopes inside are lonesome
Without me, inside of you
I feel the world calling - I will wait for you
Oh, how you are dear to me
If you knew this you would see, this is the truth
You would be welcome to my dreams
You would be welcome...
No man can save the world, it takes a woman
No woman can save the world, it takes a man
Welcome...
You'd be welcome
No man welcome
No woman welcome
Mmm no woman, no man
In Boa's song "Welcome," the vocalist voices a longing for someone to express their true thoughts and feelings to her. She suggests that if someone spoke candidly and openly, she would be receptive and welcoming. The lyrics "If you said it, and said it clearly, It would be heard by me, If you felt it, felt it in your heart, If your mind inside was like mine, You would find and see me" illustrate this idea. Boa is emphasizing the importance of honesty and vulnerability in relationships, indicating that it leads to intimacy and connection, despite the risk of disagreement.
The following lines mention the word 'happiness' and imply that it equates to freedom. Boa further highlights the importance of being honest with oneself, and if one spoke their truth, they would know what freedom or happiness means. "Happiness is as freedom, It is welcome, If you saw this, you would know this is the truth." The individuals' hopes and desires are incomplete without each other, and Boa conveys her desire to wait for the other individual to feel the same way she does, and when they do, they would be a part of each other's dreams.
The last verse of the song remarks that neither man or woman can save the world by themselves, implying that both need each other. Boa further repeats the phrase 'welcome' to indicate that everyone is welcome in her life, and the world can only be saved if everyone, regardless of their gender or identity, works together.
Some interesting facts about the song "Welcome" by Boa include:
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
If you said it, and said it clearly
Your words will come across loud and clear when expressed without any ambiguity
It would be heard by me
I would listen to you with an open heart and mind
If you felt it, felt it in your heart
When your feelings are genuine and heartfelt, they will be recognized
If your mind inside was like mine
When our thought processes align, we can easily understand each other
You would find and see me
We would be able to connect and form a bond
You would be welcome in my dreams
You would be accepted and cherished even in my subconscious
We have argued till we are black and blue
We have engaged in heated debates and reached no resolution
Nothing to say this is what I tell you
I have no further comments to make regarding our argument
Happiness is as freedom
Freedom and happiness go hand in hand with each other
It is welcome
It is always welcome and appreciated
If you saw this,
If you could experience this yourself,
You would know this is the truth
You would understand that this statement is an undeniable fact
All of your hopes inside are lonesome
Your desires and aspirations remain unfulfilled when you are alone
Without me, inside of you
You need my presence in your life to feel complete
I feel the world calling - I will wait for you
I sense that the universe has something in store for us, and I have faith in our future together
Oh, how you are dear to me
You hold a special place in my heart
If you knew this you would see, this is the truth
If you possessed this knowledge, you would realize that this is an indisputable truth
No man can save the world, it takes a woman
Men alone aren't capable of resolving the world's problems; they need the help of women
No woman can save the world, it takes a man
Women alone aren't capable of solving the world's issues; they need the assistance of men
You'd be welcome
You would be greeted with open arms
No man welcome
Men aren't rejected, but their effort alone isn't enough to save the world
No woman welcome
Women aren't shunned, but they also can't change the world on their own
Mmm no woman, no man
A single person can't fix everything; it takes a united effort from everyone to create true change
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aly
on Twilight
i love this song sm