[UPDATE]
- translation
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B [Best: Best] A [Absolute: Absolute] P [Perfect: Perfect]
Having the meaning to pursuit in those values, the 6-members group, B.A.P, was formed with Bang YongGuk, HimChan, DaeHyun, YoungJae, JongUp, and ZELO. From their debut in 2012, they already have been running around the world with their first solo tour in just a year, and even showing their fame in Japan by tickets being SOLD OUT in May for their live, B.A.P, finally lands on Japan in September! We present you the interview of the group with most attention now, B.A.P!
Finally they land in Japan!
YOUNGJAE
MAIN VOCAL
1994.1.24/178cm/65kg
B.A.P who just finished their encore stage for “B.A.P LIVE ON EARTH SEOUL”, their first solo live which started in February, visited the studio, and answered interviews for us. Members who grew up more after the tour which called many reactions were immediately showing their charm in the process of photo shooting.
Starting with leader, Bang YongGuk, who joined in the process of creating B.A.P sound, exerting his talents, HimChan who has amazing entertainment talents such as MCing, DaeHyun who holds a vocal range of 7 octaves, YoungJae who supports the melody line of B.A.P, the dance master, JongUp, and maknae ZELO who got famous with his LTE (fast-speed) rap, B.A.P is a group with 6 unique members. Different from their image that pushes their wildness forward, the interview showed their true faces of the members who are around 20. Although being very serious, still blending in the innocence, they hold the Japanese version of “WARRIOR”, the debut song for Korea, calling much anticipation for their activities in Japan. We asked of their enthusiasm.
――You all had just finished your encore stage for “B.A.P LIVE ON EARTH SEOUL” in Seoul, please tell us of your thoughts, thinking back of the tour.
HimChan: I felt that fans’ heart from everywhere of the world are the same. All countries were so enthusiastic, and we were able to perform with joy and happiness.
YoungJae: Actually meeting the fans from around the world, and being able to spend time with everyone who loves our songs, was a very deep meaningful experience for me. It became a trigger for me to hope that we could see more fans from other countries again soon.
DaeHyun: For me, what’s most memorable was that we went to New York’s Times Square. I was really glad to have gone to a place where I always dreamt of going.
Bang YongGuk: It was the first tour of B.A.P, thus everything is kept as memory, and was a great experience that we won’t be able to forget.
ZELO: Even thinking realistically, it was a tour that was impossible at our age. I think it was a very wonderful experience.
―― The encore performance in Seoul was the first after HimChan got injured, yes?
HimChan: The last performance was so touching. Even the fans were crying… I was shocked that I made such a impact myself. I also took many pictures, but my camera broke down, such a disappointment…
――Was there any difference in fans’ reactions for different countries?
YoungJae: Hm. Well in America, they seemed to be really enjoying the performance, and in Southeast Asia, they were like Korean fans a lot, they screamed loudly and enthusiastically, and they seemed to be enjoying the spot. And in Japan, they seemed to be respecting artists. Whenever we do something on stage, they were watching seriously.
JongUp: Meeting many international fans, it felt weird but it was also a very memorable memory. In those, though, the last Seoul stage is still a very big impact on me.
DaeHyun: According to countries, the fans’ supports had different characteristics, and through that we learnt many things. Also, through them, I think we also improved a lot.
BANG YONG GUK
LEADER+RAP
1990.3.31/180cm/61kg
――JongUp is really good at dancing, which country did you get most response at?
Since American fans seemed to be enjoying the stage together with us, so it felt like the response was much greater there.
――The new song “BADMAN”, is a song which has meaning to be aware of many crimes in the world, and the performance is of a hero who stands against dark, but how did you come up these themes?
Bang YongGuk: When I saw crime news, I thought that the victims are usually good people. So, I thought I wanted to send a message to criminals through music, thus created a song against crime. We, from daily days, have interest in social problems, so we tend to have interest in international news.
YoungJae: We always talk about music we want to do. Since YongGuk hyung is part of composing music, he hears our thoughts and helps reflect it on our songs.
――We heard a little of this, but how was it when you performed in Japan in May for the first time?
YoungJae: Although we never did any activities in Japan, we were shocked to hear that all tickets were sold out. We were really glad that everyone, each with a ticket in hand, filled the hall for us.
――Having Japanese activities laid out in from of you, tell us what you want to challenge in Japan.
HimChan: We want to experience the difference of music between Korea and Japan.
DaeHyun: We’re also very curious of Japanese music programs, and we hope to perform in “Red and White Singing Contest” (An annual end-of-year contest in Japan).
HimChan: Actually, the previous performances at Japan, I was sick, and was not able to feel Japan as much. I hope to feel Japan more this time round.
――Not just hip hop, but B.A.P also adopted jazz and the traditional Korean Samulnori, what new genre do you all want to challenge?
Bang YongGuk: Since B.A.P likes to challenge in music that people never did, we want to learn more and work harder in order to pursuit that.
HIM CHAN
VOCAL
1990.4.19/190cm/69kg
――Do you want to adopt Japanese music too?
Bang YongGuk: Yes. If there’s chance, I think there’s a possibility. However at Korea and at Japan I think there is a musical popularity appeal, but we don’t follow the style the world flows in, but finding original styles of B.A.P and pursuit our own music.
――Then, how would you say B.A.P as?
HimChan: That is very difficult. But I guess you can say B.A.P as “It’s B.A.P!”
DaeHyun: I liked animes and comics since I was little, but I think B.A.P is Inspector Gadget. (laughs) Inspector Gadget is versatile, and always appears when he is needed. B.A.P 6 members also have talents of their own, and still can show many sides of us, so I think we’re just like Inspector Gadget.
All: Wow~! (applause)
――Who has most interest in acting, MCing, and fields besides music?
YoungJae: I think the one that has the most talent in those in HimChan. He has knowledge and MCing and acting, if he earns more experience, he would be much better at it.
HimChan: I do have experience in MC, but I haven’t been doing it for a while, so I don’t really have its instinct anymore… I’m trying to get it back.
――A word for Japanese activities?
HimChan: After Korean debut, we earned more experience and grew up a lot. I hope you can feel a much sophisticated “WARRIOR” of a different taste. Please do anticipate for us who are sophisticated with manly charm.
ZELO: We have more experience in performances now, so I think we could show a different charm than when we debuted in Korea. Please anticipate for it, and hopefully you can feel a change.
――Something that you disliked when little, but like now?
JongUp: Kimchi. When I was little, I disliked vegetables like carrots other than kimchi, but before realizing it, I was eating them. (laughs)
HimChan: When I was little, I didn’t like to go outside and play, but now I like going outside to play more. When I was little I always was on the computer at home.
Bang YongGuk: I used to dislike everything but hip hop, but now I love all music fields. I think it’s because I got old… (grins)
ZELO: When I was little I didn’t have anything I really disliked. I think I accepted everything.
DaeHyun: When I was little I could not eat most seafood, but now I can eat them slowly. When I was little, they looked somehow gross, and they tasted weird, but now as an adult I’m slowly getting used to them.
YoungJae: Rather than dislike… I think I feel differently towards my family. Since I was little I think I was loved, but now I really feel the love I’m getting. After being part of social life, I think my thoughts towards my family changed a lot.
JONG UP
SUB VOCAL
1995.2.6/176cm/66kg
――As B.A.P you all are ‘conquering the Earth’, but individually, what do you want to conquer?
JongUp: As a final goal, we want to let our name and music spread around the world. I think that that would be by final goal too. It would stay as my memory, and the music would stay as memory in everyone around the world.
HimChan: I want to conquer America. Saying the work conquer my call for some misunderstanding, but more than conquer, I want the most played music in America to be B.A.P’s.
Bang YongGuk: I want to learn art and really draw art.
ZELO: For me I want to conquer Japan. (laughs) Well, before debuting, as a TV program, we went around the world to conquer the world, but the conquering meant that we spread our music to the world. With the same meaning, I hope people could listen to our music in Japan.
DaeHyun: I want to conquer all genres of music. I want to challenge in hard rock and jazz and those music genres too.
YoungJae: For me it’s language. Now all members are learning Japanese from a teacher.
――Please tell us your childish character and your mature character.
JongUp: I never felt like I am mature…. (laughs) Since I like mischief, sometimes I make everything go by as mischief or as a joke (laughs).
HimChan: For childish, I guess every moment is. (laughs) I feel mature when I can decide more intelligently then the other younger members.
Bang YongGuk: When I go to the recording room for album discussions, I’m always the youngest, so I get errands a lot and I feel young. However when I’m with the members, I am the oldest, so I ask my younger brothers for errands… That’s when I feel like an adult. (laughs)
ZELO: I do have childish sides too. I actually am very shy, so in front of adults I think of my words before I speak which sometimes makes people think I’m shy. Sometimes people feel that I don’t have manners for I look like I act mature although I am young, so I tend to act not too mature.
YoungJae: I still have the mischievous part in me, but I feel mature when… When I was little, when I was mischievous, I didn’t stop even if I was told to, but now when I sense when the other doesn’t feel good about it, I will stop. (laughs) I think I myself got mature. (laughs)
DaeHyun: I’m similar to that too, but last time I used to continue my mischief forever, but now I act more to how the others feel.
YoungJae: But when it’s only us together, we keep teasing each other forever. (laughs)
ZELO
RAP
1996.10.16/182cm/63kg
――Who was your childhood hero (artist, anime character etc.)?
JongUp: I liked Spiderman. I liked Marvel’s Superhero comic strips, and the artist I like best is Chris Brown. I like his songs and his performance too.
HimChan: There was not something like that for me. I used to read a lot of comics, but when these kinds of questions come it’s so hard to decide…. I had many favorite characters, but when it comes to choosing just one, I don’t specially like anyone. I liked all of them.
Bang YongGuk: In Korea there are many funny animes, but when I was small, I liked “Dooly the Little Dinosaur”, and “TaekwonV”.
ZELO: I also imitated “Dooly”‘s Douner’s hairstyle, but my favorite character is “Sponge Bob”. (laughs)
DaeHyun: I read a lot of Japanese comics! When you’re small you know how you are into comics. I read “ONE PIECE” and “NARUTO”, and I loved “Dragon Ball”
YoungJae: I also liked animes a lot. “ONE PIECE” too, I liked Japanese animes. Now I still like “ONE PIECE”, “NARUTO” and a baseball anime called “MAJOR”
――Is there something you are collecting now?
JongUp: I don’t have a specific collection, but I do buy shoes quite often.
HimChan: I collect accessories and colognes.
Bang YongGuk: I recently bought an electric phonograph, so I’m collecting LPs.
ZELO: For me it’s socks. Oh, and those rare items that are difficult to get? I collect them and clothes slowly.
DaeHyun: Rather than collecting, I treasure everything around me. I don’t really collect anything specially. Oh, but I always take pictures. I also take Polaroids and collect them
YoungJae: I also like pictures, and I took them in tours too. I collect them in my collection album.
DAE HYUN
LEAD VOCAL
1993.6.28/177cm/63kg
――Recently did you get any deep impressions or got moved?
JongUp: Recently I listen to music intensely, and I found many touching songs.
HimChan: Every time I do a concert, I am touched. Since the fans’ reactions are really big, I always am touched there.
Bang YongGuk: Recently I watched Bob Marley’s old videos, and I was touched at how he did not care about the surroundings and express and do his music. I felt more motivated to become an artist that can express myself freely.
ZELO: Rather than getting deep impressions, living with members every day, I learn more things. Seeing YongGuk hyung I learn a lot, and I realize I need to do more.
DaeHyun: Recently we just finished our tour, but when we sang “Good Bye” for the last time, the pictures of the whole tour came across my mind, and I was very touched.
YoungJae: It was a long term tour, but since it was a chance to be able to meet fans from around the world, so I think such times would stay as a memory forever.
――We do think that you all are spending busy days, but if a day consisted of 30hours, how would you spend it?
HimChan: I want to do everything I used to. Walking on the streets, shopping, talking pictures, watching movies, drinking coffee… I want to do everything that I used to do daily.
Bang YongGuk: I want to spend every time on song production.
ZELO: I want to do everything I want. I used to do a particular thing, but because of the schedule, I had to sacrifice them. I hope to be able to enjoy many activities like rapping and piano.
DaeHyun: If for now I want to sleep at least for 15hous, and the other 15hours I would do what I want to, like practice, or watch a movie, or hang out.
YoungJae: I want to hang out with my members. I want to play freely if ourselves. We always spend time together, but we never went to play together, so I hope to do so.
In the interview we saw each unique personality, but they seemed to be more than just a group called B.A.P, but one whole community that come together in music and performance. B.A.P’s music that contains many elements of different genres has a charm that cannot be fit in fixed spot. A year and 7 months since debut, gaining attractions internationally, they emit talent that shines among the numerous K-POP groups. We would like to focus on how B.A.P with their unique view of the world would show their charm on Japan’s stage.
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Thank you so much. But i don't understand english. Japanese text please?;w;
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