CNBLUE will release their 2nd album in Japan ‘What Turns You On?’ on Aug 28th. They will be also released ‘Lady’ ahead of this album. In this summer, they have lots of live in Japan like Zepp tour and Summer Sonic. ‘Lady’ is a disco tune song that has a mature atmosphere, but it contradicts with their public image that is serious and good young man. Which is in fact their true figure?
Everyone says to us do not get a tattoo (Laugh)
—Before an interview, Yonghwa, you have got tanned, haven’t you?
Yonghwa: eh… why everyone asks me so …? Actually since I play golf recently, I’ve tanned. I didn’t get it on purpose, so I wonder why everyone asks me so.
—Eh? You said you play golf, right?
Yonghwa: Yes. I think it is better to learn as early as possible
—…Well, What is it for?
Yonghwa: Because there is an image that adult plays golf. And I heard that it is good for posture fixing. I take the lesson as possible as I can only when I have time. Recently the number of young people playing golf has grown in Korea.
—Oh, I see. By the way, I am asking about your new single ‘Lady’. Is this a song for Japan?
Yonghwa: No, it is not. We don’t stick to in which country we would release it. We have a stance that we offer a song when we made at the time to release. This time, I had composed another ballad song but it is not like for summer, so I chose ‘Lady’.
—This song has mature atmosphere and it has dance tune.
Minhyuk: A rhythm sounds like disco. I think our live performance is going to be excited with this song. I am also excited to play a drum.
—There is an image that disco is sleazy in Japan. But your Japanese fan has an image that CNBLUE is a good young man and serious rock band.
Jonghyun: It is true. Our image for fan is “GENTLEMAN”… Since everyone has such as an image, so we have to be so …
—Huh? Are you meaning that this is not true in fact?
Jonghyun: Oh, no, no (Laugh). If we did bad things, our image would get damage even though there is such a good image for us. So inevitably conclude that we have to be a GENTLEMAN as an image that everyone have.
Yonghwa: An image of good young man and GENTLEMAN fit with our image (said it firmly).
Jonghyun: So we are looked at with such an image in Korea.
Jungshin: In fact, we are not outstripping the image.
Yonghwa: We are always (with a proud face) “serious people”.
—Huh? Is it true?
Yonghwa: Yes. Because the leader (=Yonghwa) is like that!!
Jungshin: (in low voices) Too much to say.
Yonghwa: (Glance at Jungshin).
Jungshin: (in low voices) oh, just a kidding.
—If you are so serious people, I think that the image of the disco is unexpected.
Yonghwa: Yes it is, that’s correct (admit openly, everyone laughed). So it goes like that. Since ‘Lady’ is the sexiest song we ever released, we get a disco image on stage.
Jonghyun: We do our best to get the atmosphere of disco, but when we walk off the stage once, we turn out to be serious people.
—Umm. You artfully dodge our question …
Jonghyun: No, no. Actually we are told that we are serious people from FNC staff and people who are close to us, not only by fans.
Yonghwa: So, I play golf.
Jonghyun: Members escape to some sports.
—Don’t you go a disco or night club in your free time?
Jonghyun: Totally not.
—Are you sure?
Jonghyun: We might think that we are telling you a lie (Laugh) but absolutely not.
—But you think you want to go there, don’t you?
Yonghwa: It is going to cost money …
Jonghyun: I think we wanted to go there when we were around 20 years old though; we have been so busy and couldn’t go. Even if we were here now, we have no idea what do we do… (Laugh) And since now we are doing KFHI (Korea Food for Hungry International), we want to be a good model for everyone.
—There is an image that CNBLUE = Serious people and good young man, in both of Korea and Japan. Do you think what a catalyst is?
Jonghyun: No idea.
—Is it FNC’s plan?
Jonghyun: No, it is not.
Yonghwa: It might be because we often wear a suit.
Jonghyun: Yes! It is it!
Yonghwa: Since we have worn a suit from the beginning, our image might be serious. Actually, when we wear a suit, we look so cool (Laugh)
Jonghyun: We didn’t have free time at all at the beginning of our debut. And now, even if we had it, we have no idea how to play because we have not been to play. So we do some sports.
—That’s why you play golf or muscle training.
Yonghwa: Well, I think public image is made by fans or everyone, not by us. Now, CNBLUE = Serious people and good young man, GENTLEMAN. It is okay for us now.
Jungshin: And people have an image for us the rock band that a tattoo does not match (Laugh). Everyone says to us do not get a tattoo.
Jonghyun: Not only tattoo, I had had three piercing holes in my ears but now I never have them.
—Even if you say so, in fact you might have lots of tattoos on your back (laugh)
All: No, no.
Yonghwa: But, kkk (awless smile). My back is absolutely full of tattoos.
—Wow, shows us!
Yonghwa: I am sorry. It is a secret between you and me. (*just kidding all (Laugh))
I thought that the impression when we listened to this song is important.
—Well, can I hear about a song ‘Don’t Care’? What kind of theme did you make this song with?
Yonghwa: This is the song that I want people who think that oneself are alone to hear this song. Don’t worry because I have family and friends … I wrote such a message.
—You wrote this lyric by replacing the fans and you.
Yonghwa: Since I am in this position, I could write this lyric. We have ‘the fan’ that is kind of special position for us, not only family and friends. Because I have the special privilege which general people don’t have, the existence of the fans come out in my head naturally. We have not had such a song that was expressing directly the connection with the fan and us, I wanted to write about this connection.
—Can we ask you about the sound of this song? Why did you make this such as an acoustic sound?
Yonghwa: Since the original was so. About a guitar, we used acoustic guitar only but at the time of recording, Jonghyun put the electric guitar sounds.
—The bridge was played by the brass horns, it is very impressive.
Yonghwa: Most of the songs have rap or the guitar solo part after chorus, but this song has the brass horns. This is the point of this song.
Minhyuk: Since I love that part, I attached my mind about the tone of my drum when I recorded it. I listened to it many times; I thought the sounds that fit with this song’s atmosphere.
Yonghwa: This song is not fancy but I thought that the impression when we listened to this song is important. So as Minhyuk had said, we cared about even one tone of the drum.
— As a result, it turns out contrasting song from ‘Lady’ that has fancy and digital sounds.
Jonghyun: It seems to have a style like Europe or England.
Yonghwa: Actually, there are some points in this song. Since it has a violin tone in the bridge, we can feel Oriental atmosphere. Depends on a person who listen to it the impression would be different.
Jungshin: There may be the people thinking this song to be a sad song. The bass line is simple in this song. If ‘Lady’ has an atmosphere such as digital, ‘Don’t Care’ has acoustic sound. So I feel this one seems more “band sound”.
—‘Monday’ is a song that was made from Yonghwa’s delusion of his specialty?
Yonghwa: Yes it is. The office worker would feel happy on Friday and they would also feel hard on Sunday night, and then greet Monday morning. I imagined like that and wrote this lyric.
—Your world tour will be continued after Zepp tour in Japan. What do you look forward to?
Yonghwa: A dinner with staff after live. I look forward to eat local food.
—Do you drink?
Minhyuk: Since we are tired after a live.
Jungshin: Not too much drink.
Yonghwa: We only drink the first one glass.
—You are serious people even in such as situation.
Yonghwa: Sure!!
—Don’t you think you want to break down that image?
Yonghwa: More than 20 years, we are the same like this, so we can’t. We will stay like this now and in the future.
What is a color of CNBLUE’s personal plane?
—You told us your epic plan that after you conquered the world in your world tour, you will buy your personal plane, and whenever you want to eat Sushi, you would come to Japan using that plane. If it came true, is the body of your plane blue?
Yonghwa: No, Black!
—Eh? Why?
Yonghwa: Because the spots are not easy to notice. (Everyone laughs) The inside makes black not to become dirty.
Jungshin: But If it was all back, it would be hard to see by people, isn’t it?
Yonghwa: It is okay because I make it highlighted block!
—When this plan would become real?
Yonghwa: Since this time’s world tour is our first time one, it might be around next world tour (Laugh)
6th single by super band who works on a worldwide level takes Japan in Summer by storm. They came back to Shukan Josei.
CNBLUE who had released creative style in each song released 6th single ‘Lady’ in Japan. This is the groovy song that has an element of disco and dance music to their conventional hard rock style.
“When I heard this song for the first time, I thought it is so stylish. It has good melody line and impressive guitar cutting. So please hear it well.” (Jonghyun / 23 years old)
“This song has a strong rhythm so it is good for live performance. I am looking forward to sing this song with fans” (Minhyuk / 22 years old)
All songs in this single were composed by Yonghwa. The theme is summer.
“This single turned out to feel like the coolness as a whole. ‘Lady’ is the song that is a man confess to a woman he loves. You may feel a sexy feeling a bit for this song. ‘Don’t Care’ is the song that I want to give to fans and our friends. ‘Monday’ expressed the pressure that a holiday is over and Monday begins. We don’t understand much this pressure though. (Laugh)” (Yonghwa / 24 years old)
In his summer, they are taking part in some Rock Festivals like ‘ROCK IN JAPAN’ and ‘SUMMER SONIC’. Hot summer is just starting!
“Don’t miss the bass line that I play! Let’s make great live together” (Jungshin / 21 years old)
CNBLUE was holding Zepp tour released the 6th single “Lady”. They looked back over their school days and talked about how they spent holiday or summer vacation this time.
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Made it with imagining we play it in live concerts
-Your 6th single “Lady” was complete. Please tell me a main point when listening to ‘Lady’. Jungshin: I’m in charge of the bass, so the point is my bass line (laugh). It took from 9 pm to 5 am for recording this song because we thought many things back then. I have played as I think that we will liven up when we play it in this tour since recording. Rhythm makes us high itself and sound is ‘Bang bang! (With high tone).
All: (laugh)
Jungshin: I only imagine that we enjoy concerts with audiences, I become exciting.
Jonghyun: Yonghwa hyung made this song, it’s really good song! I love it!
Jungshin: I love it, too!
Minhyuk: Me too (laugh)
-About “Lady” loved by all, please tell me the episodes of production, the creator, Yonghwa-san? Yonghwa: I made this song in March or April this year to try to harmonize old style and current style. In reality, I could make it more difficult, but I made it with imagine we play it in live concerts. That’s why this song became simple without complicated sounds I piled up first.
Jungshin: But playing is so difficult.
Yonghwa: Just it’s simple by and large; I dared to use difficult phrases to give importance sounds one by one.
Jungshin: It was hard for me….
Yonghwa: “Lady” was complete early at almost same time as “Don’t care” and “Monday”, but after we finished mixing it, we corrected the latter half of this song or corrected some when bass part recording, and put the correction up. So we took more time for recording.
Jungshin: During my recording, Yonghwa hyung was there all the time. I finished recording at 5 am, Yonghwa hyung had worked until over 6 am. I’m really sorry for him for sleepiness.
-Then, what did Jonghyun-san and Minhyuk-san do? Minhyuk: I finished my recording then, so though I send him yelling support ‘Keep it up, Jungshin~’ in my mind, I was sleeping at home (laugh)
Jonghyun: Because of his shooting of drama, Jungshin was recording the last. I always do it later than him. I relaxed at home with feeling achieved recording.
Yonghwa: If they had been then, they would have had nothing to do (laugh)
Jonghyun: No doubt we might become in their way (laugh)
-What are contents of lyrics? Yonghwa: In the lyrics, a man approached a woman earlier. (The lyrics express a man who approached a woman he falls in love at first sight and his feeling that bursts into flame at once.)
-Are these about you? Yonghwa: (immediately) No (laugh). Our songs hadn’t had such Japanese lyrics. I imagined that the lyrics suit the atmosphere of this song in my mind.
-What is a main point when listening ‘Don’t Care’? Yonghwa: This song is also simple, but in contrast to strong sound ‘Lady’, it’s impressive acoustic warm sounds.
Jonghyun: This song contained a lot of guitar parts at first, but we were cutting sounds as ‘Lady’, finally, some guitar parts are cut (laugh). But an atmosphere of the song is very good.
Yonghwa: In the lyrics, we are blessed and supported many people and fans, so we happily live. Because, we’ll also live from now on as we appreciate them. And everyone who is listening this song doesn’t live alone. You’re all right because we are close to you. This song directly expresses these feeling.
-We are given strong brave. I’m sure that fans have same thought. Yonghwa: I hope so.
-Next, please tell us a main point when listening ‘Monday’. Yonghwa: We aren’t working with periodic schedule, but I suppose that most students and workers feel a gloom like ‘I have to go to school (office) tomorrow~’ at Sunday night, so I wrote them as lyrics.
-Were you so when you’re students? All: Yes, we were.
Yonghwa: There is a national program ‘Gag concert’ at 9pm~10pm on Sundays. At the ending of this, I was persistently said ‘Go to bed soon because you go to school tomorrow’ by parents.
Jonghyun: It’s the worst (laugh)
Yonghwa: So ending song stirred up our bad feelings (laugh)
All: Tattata~tattatata~ (started to sing)
Jungshin: What’s a name of this song? (All thinking)
Minhyuk: (he searched by iPhone) It’s ‘Part-time Lover’ by Stevie Wonder! (played back at it)
All: Oh yes~!
Yonghwa: Bands play this song live every times, although it’s really good song, our imagine…
Jungshin: Time slot is bad (laugh)
-Indeed. By the way, how did you spend on Sundays back at your schooldays? Jonghyun: I would go to the church with friends and go home after lunch. ( I’m really curious if he’s really Christian)
Jungshin: I played with friends, anyway.
Yonghwa: Me, too.
Minhyuk: I used to go to the public bath in Sunday morning once in two weeks. After then, I played with friends.
Yonghwa: My family ate ramen as breakfast. Mother wants a rest in Sunday, so we made do with instant noodle different usual (laugh) But I’m glad because I like it.
Jungshin: Ah~ I want to eat ramen.
Minhyuk: I want to eat ramen, too!
Jonghyun: Yeah! Me, too! (Well, CNBLUE’s the most fav topic, FOOD!!!)
-All of you love ramen. Jonghyun: I look forward to eating ramen when we come to Japan.
-I see. You are active from morning even in Sunday. Minhyuk: I had slept until 10 am.
Yonghwa: Talking of Sunday, it starts from 10 am,
Jungshin: Oh, it’s ‘Surprise’!
Yonghwa: I go out after I watch the TV program.
Jonghyun: ‘Surprise’ is also popular program all Korean know. If we don’t watch ‘Gag concert’ and ‘Surprise’, we can’t join others’ talk when we go to school Monday.
Yonghwa: And ‘A farm of animals’ , ‘Sunday rounds off’.
All : Oh there were~!
How they spent summer vacation back in their schooldays……
-Now, Japanese students are during summer vacation, how did you spend your summer vacation back in your schooldays? Minhyuk: I went to my friends’ house and slept over or played.
Yonghwa: Didn’t you go to catch cicadas?
Minhyuk: No, I didn’t. And I sometimes went to school and played soccer there.
Jungshin: Did you get sunburned?
Minhyuk: Yes, but I was in almost friends’ house, so I didn’t become so black.
-How about you, Jonghyun-san? Jonghyun: I’m a marine man. There is the sea 30 seconds from my house, so I swam with friends every day, went home and eat lunch, and slept… such days.
Jungshin: Did you get sunburned?
Jonghyun: A little. But my skin became only red, turned white soon.
Jungshin: Ah~ I envy you.
-Jungshin-san is interested in sunburn from some time ago (laugh) Jungshin: My skin becomes black immediately, moreover, doesn’t turn white. So I really envy them (the other member).
-How about you, Yonghwa-san? Yonghwa: There are many mountains in my home town, Busan. There is a mountain behind my house, so I climbed it with my father. He plays rock-climbing. He climbed even Himalaya.
-That’s full-blown. Yonghwa: He came back to home a year later.
-Then, how about you, Jungshin-san?
Jungshin: I changed hair color during summer vacation.
Jonghyun: He was a bad boy (laugh).
Jungshin: No, I’m not (laugh). I couldn’t do so when I go to school, so I had my hair dyed gaudy only during summer vacation.
Jonghyun: He was a punk (laugh).
Jungshin: No, I’m not (laugh). It’s expensive to go beauty parlor, my hair can’t be dyed as I expect, so we dyed hair with my friends each other.
Yonghwa: Ah~ I long for those days. We do so by ourselves, brow and ears become dirty (laugh).
Jungshin: But we gradually knew the trick because we did so every years! Dye, dry, dye, dry, we do like it; we can dye hair deep color.
Yonghwa: Also, cheap coloring agents can make more gaudy, such as ‘Yang Kuei Fei’.
Jungshin: Ah~ there was! It’s 300 yen!
Jonghyun: It’s the cheapest!
Jungshin: But I used it when I put my hair back previous color at 2 days ago new term starts.
Jonghyun: He was a punk as I expected (laugh).
Jungshin: No! (laugh)
-Well, please summarize, Yonghwa-san. Yonghwa: Jungshin is a punk (laugh).
Jungshin: Even Yonghwa hyung…… (Looked at Minhyuk)
Minhyuk: I’m okay with either (laugh).
Yonghwa: Anyway, this summer is hot because we hold tour in Japan and appear ‘SUMMER SONIC 2013’. We want to show ‘Lady’ at live concerts as soon as possible. Let’s liven up together~!
Hello, this is Jonghyun. The final performance of this tour at Zepp Namba has ended today. This time, since our distance in each venue was so close, we could feel your hot feeling directly and we did our best! How do you think? We are so sad to finish this tour but we’ll do our best to live up to your expectations, now and future. See you again!
Yonghwa: Everyone who is watching excite music! Hello, we’re CNBLUE!!
Jungshin: I’m Jungshin in charge of bass.
Jonghyun: I’m Jonghyun in charge of guitar.
Yonghwa: I’m Yonghwa in charge of vocal and guitar.
Minhyuk: I’m Minhyuk in charge of drum.
Jungshin: Excite thing these days…
Yonghwa: What’s?
Jonghyun: We are holding world tour these days.
Minhyuk: It’s the best ‘excite’ for us.
Jonghyun: And Zepp tour will start soon, so we’re looking forward to it. (Zepp tour already ended yesterday at Osaka) Yonghwa: On July 31st, our single “Lady” will be released!!
(Clap)
Minhyuk: Lady~
Jungshin: Lady~
(Laugh)
Yonghwa: Please listen to it.
Minhyuk: Our Zepp tour will start from July 24th, so please look forward to it.
Yonghwa: Everyone, please support our “Lady”!! That’s all,
All: CNBLUE!!
Yonghwa: Thank you!
Interview with CNBLUE
Disco tune in CNBLUE style, keyword is ‘lady’ & ‘baby’
Their new song “Lady” is a disco tune that has nostalgic vibe as if CNBLUE made to revival. This song expresses a rise of heartbeat at the moment love starts and a relation of “you and I” that is deeper by dealing with meaningful words. The attraction of this song is like adult and different from their previous singles. An impact of refrain that the word “lady” sticks in sharp is strong. Even if we only listen to the song once, it makes us imagine an exciting party. They are visiting not only Asia but also Europe, North and South America, Australia as world tour (for sure I’m still waiting for FNC releases the rest of their world tour schedule for Europe and North n South America, though I’m not sure I can attend it either >< ) and holding Zepp tour in 5 cities in Japan side by side, moreover they will appear SUMMER SONIC 2013 and ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2013, They are energetically active as a band. CNBLUE advances next stage with new killer tune this summer.
Excite: “Lady” recalls ’70s dance music, what imagination did you start to make the song with, Yonghwa-san? Yonghwa: Maybe I composed ‘Lady’ last March or April. I wanted to write a song which fits with our imagination such an old (mature) (maybe Yonghwa means that he’s trying to make a step for CNBLUE’s image and shown their maturity) atmosphere. I feel there is a lot of music that recurring from the old days to these days, so I thought we’ll try such music.
Minhyuk: At first, we had 2 types of rhythm about this song. Now disco rhythm only has one key, we considered a lot which rhythm we use.
Yonghwa: Another sound is a bit more rock style.
Minhyuk: It’s also good, but for playing is very difficult. The recent rhythm is simplier.
Jungshin: Nevertheless, I feel this song is difficult among our (previous) songs. When recording bass, I kept in mind I communicate much (discussing the tune with other members), but it took more time than I had expected. This song is challenge for me. When I finished recording, I felt satisfied ‘I did well!’
Yonghwa: We had been recording until 5 am!
Jungshin: Yes, rhythm was very difficult.
Jonghyun: I have felt ‘good song’ since I’ve listened to it for the first time. Different from previous songs, this song is fashionable and trendy, rhythm of guitar sounds interesting. Lyrics are different from ours usual and fit the melodies.
Excite: When you wrote the lyrics, what were you conscious of? Yonghwa: The melody is sexy, so I wrote lyrics like you see right now.
Jonghyun: Lyrics is so interesting, we just sing as it is.
Yonghwa: Many previous songs have a theme like “dream”. But I changed this time.
Excite: Do you mean you wanted to challenge different things? Yonghwa: This song is a result that we tried to make music that we recently had wanted to do rather than challenge.
Excite: I see. “Lady” at the part of the chorus is that he longs for, and changes “baby” at the other part which he approaches her. It’s vivid and impressive that the beginning of love is drawn by only contrast of 2 words. Yonghwa: As you’ve said just now, “lady” and “baby” are in refrain. When I wrote the lyrics, I thought that even if everyone doesn’t listen to other parts well, it’s interesting enough to listen to only “lady” and “baby”. It’s just like the theme of this song.
Excite: Is it important for you to choose words which everyone can intuitively feel the attraction without long explanations when you write the lyrics? Yonghwa: Yes, it is.
Minhyuk: When I listened to the melody of this song, I felt very interesting “What kind of lyrics will he write?”. So he made interesting lyrics and different from previous songs, I thought the lyrics are just suit with melody. The songs written by Yonghwa-san always have pleasure like “What is interesting point of his next song? What will be a theme?”
Excite: Well, what is the attraction or pleasure for you when you play this song as a band? Jonghyun: This song has good melody, but I think the point of this song is cutting rhythm of guitar. I’m fun and enjoyable playing this song.
Excite: The 2nd song “Don’t Care” also has comfortable rhythm of guitar. How was this song born? Yonghwa: This song gives warm feeling. It was born when I played acoustic guitar, I easily came up with it. The result is almost same as a demo.
Jungshin: This song is very simple, so I thought it’s better not to change the first atmosphere of this song. So I felt relieved because the first atmosphere remained when I listened to it after recording.
Excite: The lyrics are like telling oneself “Believe in myself”. I felt that Yonghwa-san’s feelings are obediently expressed from the phrase. May I take such mean?
Yonghwa: Yes you can. The lyrics completed as soon the same as the melody.
Excite: The keywords of “Lady” are ‘lady’ and ‘baby’, in case of this song; I’m interested in what ‘I’ and ‘you’ point at. I felt they don’t simply express the relation of ‘I’ and ‘you’…? Yonghwa: umm… human doesn’t live alone, so let’s live as we appreciate around us, I suppose there is such mean.
Jonghyun: Yonghwa played the acoustic guitar in this song, but except it, we did recording with the electric guitar, too. He played with distortion, but it doesn’t suit the song. It wasn’t used after all.
Excite: That’s a little bad.
Jonghyun: I think so~ (laugh) But just, we had thought it doesn’t suit, so we discussed with staffs. But we decided to do ‘No one knows the result, let’s try once’, so did recording… that time was wasteful (laugh)
Excite: But it means that you always think the way to make songs better and you are trying several ways.
Jonghyun: Yes. We prefer this song like acoustic as expected, so it finally became so.
Minhyuk: I think it’s good that important parts of this song. Everyone may memorize only they listen to the part. We finished good recording soon because the singing was good. The entire sounds were also good.
Yonghwa: Especially drum sound was good!
Excite: The 3rd song ‘Monday’ is lively and contains reggae element. The lyrics are about depression in the Monday morning, but it seems not serious disgust. I like such humor. Yonghwa: About the back of the lyrics… It’s not our case now, for example, office workers feel depressed in the Sunday night because Monday is the beginning of a week. In Korea, there is a TV program ‘Gags concert (KBS)’ broadcasted every Sunday night. When we were students, we heard ending song of it and we once felt ‘Oh I’ll go to school from tomorrow!’
Jungshin: Ah I would feel so~.
Yonghwa: That’s why; I remembered my feelings in those days and wrote the lyrics.
Excite: I felt this song makes our gloomy feelings happy and cheers us. Did you aim at such effects?
Yonghwa: Yes I did, I suppose. I wrote the word ‘Time machine’, it includes my wish ‘If only I could freely come and go among time’.
Excite: You’ll appear ‘SUMMER SONIC 2013’ and ‘ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2013’ this summer. Could you tell us your enthusiasms? Minhyuk: I have a lot of pressure. Many bands appear on those festivals, so there are characteristic drummers. I have pressure like what should I do in them? But I’ll try with easy mind like ‘We’ll show our music!’
Yonghwa: I’m looking forward to it. I’m sure that it becomes enjoyable experience because we have held many lives until now, so we can surely do it well.
Jonghyun: I’m happy we can appear it. I’ll enjoy it with all my might as usual! Only that.
Jungshin: My feeling is also like going to enjoying myself. We’ll appear and watch Summer Sonic 2013 for the first time, so I’m looking forward to it and I’m glad. And Rock In Japan Festival 2013 is outdoor live, isn’t it? We have held concert outdoors in Niigata, Outdoor live has its own attraction as expected. I’m happy that we can be on the stage together. I hope many people listen to our music and come to our concerts.
[NECESSARY ITEM]
Yonghwa (Guitar & Vocal) Sunglasses
Whenever and wherever I go, I bring sunglasses. When I look tired or pale, I feel it’s better to wear it. I bought one I have now at Apgujeong in Korea. The points when I choose it are color is black and it can cover my face well. I’m given it as a present, so I have about 20. I use it that fits clothes.
Jonghyun (Guitar & Vocal) Mobile phone
I use mobile phone for everything. I surf the internet, basically listen to music with it, I can do nothing without mobile phone. Even if new type is on sale, I don’t change new one soon, in the case of fashion, too. I’m not interested in such things so much (laugh) I changed because I’m given it this time. Previous one is bigger than present one, this is just size and very useful. Connection to the internet is rapider than a laptop, I can take a picture with it. I use it when recording songs.
Minhyuk (Drums) Mobile phone
I recently began to use this mobile phone. I’m given it by the company that is a sponsor of CNBLUE’s world tour. Mobile phone is really important. Because there is a chatting room for us and we always talk several things. I listen to music and surf the internet with it. It contains sound sources we haven’t released yet. I often play a game with members. We are deep into a game “Everyone’s marble”, which we use 2 dices and buy a plot. In the case that I buy a plot, the truth is that I have to pay money by myself, but when I win, others have to pay it. Finally, a person who have most money and plots wins.
Jungshin (Bass) Mobile phone
When I have free time, I look at several things at the internet. I often listen to music. It contains music sources we haven’t released yet, so I listen to it to prepare a recording. It’s really serious if I lost it! I recently save a script of drama and read with mobile phone. It’s handy because I can expand to read. It’s hard to carry a script… This phone is just size and has useful functions, so I like it. The game I’m deep into is “Everyone’s marble”, but I read a script more than playing game these days. I’m busy because of shooting of drama, tour, etc… They’re interesting for me!
CNBLUE is going to release their 6th single “Lady”!
CNBLUE is going to release their 6th single on July 31st. This single was composed by Yonghwa (Vo.) is a modern and rock tune with disco sound. We interviewed them about their recording, their feeling for this song’s lyric and Zepp tour in Japan that will be started from July 24th.
—EMTG: This time, “Lady” was composed by Yonghwa. This song has a modern and rock tune with disco sound.
Yonghwa: I composed this song that was mixed nostalgic and modern style. When I heard old dance music, I realized that there are many good songs. I think the recent music style is returning to the old one, so I made this song.
—EMTG: What do members think about this song?
Jonghyun: When I heard this song for the first time, I thought this is stylish.
Minhyuk: I thought it was a good song for live. At the beginning, this song had two types of rhythm. After all, it turned out to be the song that has one key of disco type but it was also good and simple.
Jungshin: As Minhyuk had said, when I choose one of these, I said I prefer to a disco sound one because everybody can enjoy.
—EMTG: When you recorded this song, what were you careful about?
Minhyuk: I thought about how I connect this groovy and bouncy rhythm to the performance. And I took to segue into the next part.
Jungshin: We took a long time to record because my bass part changed suddenly and I recorded while arranging. But I enjoyed and did well.
Jonghyun: I also enjoyed recording, since this song has an enthusiasm and a bouncy guitar part.
Yonghwa: About singing, it has an enjoyable rhythm; I had a fun to sing.
—EMTG: The lyric has mature atmosphere that is like a man approaches a woman.
Yonghwa: There was no final straw but I thought it fit into the atmosphere of this song. So I wrote this kind of lyric.
—EMTG: The man looks like active person for love. How about you compared to this man?
Jungshin: I am not an active person such as this man. So it overlapped me and got satisfaction when Yonghwa-hyeong sings this song.
Minhyuk: It’s depends on the situation, sometimes I am an active man but sometimes I am not.
Jungshin: Do you? Cute boy (laugh)
Jonghyun: Me too. It depends on the other person.
Yonghwa: If I love someone, I express that. Since I wrote this lyric, I might alike this man who is in the lyric. (Laugh)
—EMTG: “Don’t Care” is a song that dedicate for fan.
Yonghwa: I made the melody first, and then suddenly I wanted to dedicate this song to fan.
—EMTG: How was your recording?
Minhyuk: Recording ran smoothly since this song is good. I personally felt we were doing pretty well on this song than ever. When I was playing drum, I felt good.
Jungshin: Since this song is simple, I played as that. I drank 3 or 4 cartons of chocolate milk while recording.
Minhyuk: Did you make up a story?
Jungshin: No, I didn’t. It’s true! (Laugh)
Jonghyun: At the first time, this song had an acoustic melody. We added some arrangements and a strong sound that has a distortion. The recording took 3, 4 hours but finally we turned it back. (Laugh)
—EMTG: “Monday” is an imposing song that has reggae rhythm.
Yonghwa: Yes it is. At first, I made this song with acoustic guitar but there are many songs with acoustic that I made such us for Juniel, I played this song with electric guitar instead.
—EMTG: Do you have imposing episode about this song’s recording?
Yonghwa: (He glanced at Jungshin) I wonder Jungshin say how many chocolate milk he drank. (Everybody laughs so hard)
Jungshin: Specifically, I don’t have one, though; this song’s temporally title was “Raggae”. (Laugh)
—EMTG: Jonghyun-ssi, was it hard to play this reggae rhythm with stroke mode?
Jonghyun: No, it wasn’t. (Laugh) I like this rhythm.
Yonghwa: It was a little bit hard for me. (Laugh)
—EMTG: Well. Zepp tour that you are going to five cities in Japan will be started soon. Please give us your short message.
Minhyuk: Now we have a world tour, but we prepare a set list only for Zepp tour, so you can look forward to it.
Jonghyun: We will do our best also this time. Let’s make a good live together.
Yonghwa: We prepare songs that you have not heard yet and new songs.
Jungshin: As Yonghwa-hyeong said, we prepare the old songs that you want to hear, and new songs etc… The past arena tour and world tour were energetic rock style performance but about this Zepp tour, we are going to do more soft. It’s not that it is boring performance. So I want you to come to our performance.
Jonghyun: Jungshin, your message is so long… (Everybody laughing so hard)
Since I casted in the drama in Korea, I really don’t have lots of private time. But when I get some time, I do walking to get refreshed and listening music. Oh, I really love a chocolate milk recently! (Yonghwa said “No, Chocolate milk is mine!! *Yonghwa is chocolate milk lover and that is common knowledge for fans). Well… That will be mine (laugh)
Kang Minhyuk (Drum)
— A food to survive in summer
Loach pot
— What are you addicted to, recently?
A radio control car. I play it with Yonghwa-hyeong and Jonghyun-hyeong at night. Even though it is radio control car, the speed can reach to 80 km/ph and can run on the glass or rough road. Only Jungshin doesn’t have it, he doesn’t want to do things same as everybody, even game.
Jung Yonghwa (Vocal and Guitar)
— A food to survive in summer
Chicken soup (samgyetang)
— What are you addicted to, recently?
I started to play golf. Because If I started it now, I think I can have a lead from the people who are in the same age. And I heard that it is better for getting a correct form. (He showed us the practice swing and received a rave by members.)
Lee Jonghyun (Vocal and guitar)
— A food to survive summer
Eel
— What are you addicted to, recently?
Mixed martial arts. At the beginning, I like to watch and wanted to do it. Now I have been going to gym in Korea, I have got some bruise. (Jungshin said “Since you are very well to do it, you can turn out to a martial artist”). Oh,no, It is just a hobby!
This is the refreshing song perfect for live.
— What about the song “Lady” ?
Yonghwa: I composed this song. This is the refreshing song that was mixed nostalgic and modern melody, and perfect for summer.
Jonghyun: The tempo is good for live!
— What about “Don’t Care” ?
Yonghwa: About “Don’t Care”, the melody is an acoustic, and I put the feeling of gratitude in this lyric.
Minhyuk: When I heard this song, I could relax. I want to hear it again and over again.
Yonghwa: About “Monday”, I made this song thinking of people who is office worker and students.
Jungshin: I empathize some phrase in this song. I think it is the song that has an interesting atmosphere.
— Now you have the world tour. Do you have any interesting episode?
Jonghyun: It was a first time to have a live in Australia for us. We have been to Melbourne and Sydney though, we were happy to hear all ticket was sold out.
Jungshin: Even though there is a long distance between the Australian fans and us, they know us and came to our live. I thought it was awesome to expand the culture.
Minhyuk: As a memory of Australia, we have a funny episode (laugh). We went to eat Aussie beef steak though, the steak was served well-done. Because the staff heard from somewhere “Korean likes well-done steak ”. The Steak was a little bit firm for us, so we could only eat a little. We were so sorry .
Yonghwa: This was an expensive restaurant…(laugh)
Jungshin: We were very sorry even I remember that now. Well, If we could have our live in France, I want to eat a real and fresh baguette.
Yonghwa: Then does that mean that the baguette to eat any place other than France is not real? (laugh).
Jungshin: Oh, no! It is not meaning so.(laugh)
Jonghyun: Since we will have Zepp tour in Japan from this month, we are looking forward to go various areas in Japan. Especially, I hardly wait to take crab and beer in Hokkaido!
Jungshin: We were talking about the food so far, (laugh) Because it is so close between the fans and us in every Zepp venue, we can feel our feelings directly. We are certainly looking forward to having Zepp tour.
Yonghwa: We will also appear in Summer Sonic and Rock In Festival Japan!
Jonghyun: It is the year that we have lots of live in overseas including Japan. We are supposed to be cooler CNBLUE getting things one by one. We will do our best!
<The episode of interview>
We had an interview in a happy harmony. About a story that Jungshin doesn’t want to do things same as everybody, (Ref. Minhyuk’s column), Yonghwa said “Jungshin hate us~!?” , and got a hearty laugh by members. Jungshin denied it desperately ^^. And during talks about Minhyuk mumbled “I am Cancer” ( *Crab is KANI and Cancer is KANI-ZA in Japanese). But Nobody reacted to it (laugh). Minhyuk said in sadly “everybody ignored me again~” and then it cracked up members. These 4 people are so close as a real brothers.
CNBLUE will release a single just like the summer, ‘Lady’ on July 31st. About this ‘Groovy CNBLUE’ song that has disco atmosphere, we threw ‘Lady’ questions associated from the lyrics at them.
As a part of world tour, CNBLUE hold Zepp tour in Japan this summer. Moreover they will appearat summer festivals. They release a groovy dance tune ‘Lady’ as if we begin to dance in the summer live. A party at night, A lady is made a target, she is already mine… We set the song that is the sexiest in CNBLUE songs as a theme, probed into their private.
‘Lady’ is the word that fits the song the best.
– New song ‘Lady’, did you make this song with awareness that this is released in Japan? Yonghwa Not especially. I’m not particular about where the song will be released. I release completed songs at release season.
– Were you aware of the single released in summer? Yonghwa: Yes I was. In fact when I was writing a song like ballad, but it doesn’t suit summer, so I omitted it this time.
– What is a theme of ‘Lady’? Yonghwa: When we go to summer festival, everyone dances and livens up the atmosphere, like club. I wrote with such a portrait. We will play at summer festivals this year, this song is like disco and we can feel coolness, so it’s just like a summer.
-What is the root of this title?
Yonghwa: ‘Lady’ is the word that fits the song the best.
– How do you feel after you play it? Minhyuk: This song is fun. While playing we’re liven up because rhythm of this song is disco..
Jonghyun: In fact I didn’t make songs for a while after I made ‘Blind Love’ though I already start to make again. I felt something is lacking, so I was studying music. In the mean time, I left songs making to Yonghwa. Then he completed very good songs. When I listen to ‘Lady’ for the first time, I felt it’s groovy song. It has sexy atmosphere, too. It is like summer, isn’t it?
Yonghwa: Because this song is cool and fresh.
Jonghyun: I felt the disco song like it also suits summer. Rhythm is good, isn’t it?
Jungshin: Mwo? 3 members *except JS*: hahahahaha! ‘Mwo?’
– What, what is it? Jungshin: I say ‘Mwo’ from a habit before I start to talk. I’m being made fun of it by members (wry smile)
Jonghyun: ‘Mwo’ is Korean, ‘Nani?’ in Japanese.*’What?’
in English*
– I see (laugh) How do you feel after you play ‘Lady’, Jungshin? Jungshin: Just like other members had said, I felt it’s just like summer. There were originally two versions about rhythm in this song. The other one is a little difficult.
Yonghwa: We felt guy while listening its one, but the playing is complicated.
Jungshin: And another one is now disco rhythm. This song became groovy because rhythm was decided this version. That’s why I’m looking forward to playing it at live.
Perspiring on the nose is the sign of ‘I love you’ (laugh)
– Well, I’ll ask you from lyrics of ‘Lady’. At first, what kind of ‘Lady’ that appears in front of you, and you feel ‘I want you’? Yonghwa: If she is so cute, I might think too much and feel much pressure (laugh) the best person is who agrees with each other. I guess Minhyuk’s thought is so, isn’t it?
Minhyuk: Yes. Most important thing is her personality. First when we’re directly meet, whether we can understand or not, it’s important. And I like a person who has pure eyes.
Jonghyun: Mine is feeling *his important point*
Yonghwa: It’s just a feeling~~ (suddenly started to sing ‘feeling’)
Jonghyun: If our feelings coincide, I can understand her without doing nothing.
Jungshin: I…… I like a person who is whiter than me.
Yonghwa: Such people are many! (laugh)
Jungshin: And a person who agrees with each other, and…
Jonghyun: Despite his appearance, he has lofty ideal. He is most particular of all.
Jungshin: Because I’ve not kept company with so many women, I become so too much.
– Then, if you meet a ‘Lady’ whom you felt ‘I want you’, how do you approach her? Minhyuk: I catch her soon.
3 members: whew~~ (laugh) how manly!
Minhyuk: Oh why? I catch her as my girlfriend.
Yonghwa: I don’t understand him well. If I feel positive, I approach her, but if I don’t feel so, I don’t by the situation or atmosphere at that time.
Jonghyun: Feeling is important for me, so if I like her, she should like me. Special approach doesn’t need. It’s rare only one side like her, isn’t it?
Yonghwa: Really? I don’t think so~ (laugh)
Jungshin: I can’t approach someone at all.
Yonghwa: In case of Jungshin, his perspiring on the nose is the sign of ‘I love you’ (laugh) (All were staring at Jungshin) Look~, hahahaha, he is just sweating on his nose.
Jungshin: No I’m not! (laugh)
Minhyuk: Jungshin sweats on his nose only when he sees a picture of hot food.
Yonghwa: Human tells his mind with words, Jungshin can tell his mind with his nose without speaking! (All burst out laughing)
Jungshin: So, when I meet you, I’ll say ‘Annyunghaseyo~’ (covering his nose with his hand) from now on. (All laughing hard)
Yonghwa: Shall I buy any deodorant for nose? (laugh)
Jungshin: (laugh) By the way, my answer to the question is ‘I can’t’. I couldn’t talk with women well before. I can do it now as might be expected. But I guess I can’t do anything if there is a woman on my heart in front of me. – So, who is the activist to woman all of you? Jonghyun: I think such person is no one among us.
-Well, who changes a sexy man in the night, not on the stage? Yonghwa: Firstly, a man doesn’t feel other man sexy, I don’t know it well.
Jungshin: We’re not sexy, only noisy men in the night.
– Who is the sexiest on the stage? Yonghwa: (immediately) No doubt, it’s me!
Minhyuk: Yes, he is. His action one by one,
Jonghyun: Sexy.
Yonghwa: Ah~ Sexy moving like that naturally appearance, hahaha (laugh) I usually hide all the points.
Jonghyun: hehehe (laugh) I see. I think everyone who works hard is sexy. But Jungshin is all in sweat when he plays bass hard, so this point is uncool (laugh)
Jungshin: What!?
Jonghyun: But okay. Jungshin hascute (smile)
-‘Lady’ is groovy music, do you sometimes go to a club and spend the ‘party’ night? All: No, we don’t.
Jungshin: Not club, we dance in a house or car, don’t we?
Yonghwa: A car leaps because of it (laugh)
Minhyuk: We’re listen to music which makes us dance and we move.
-When you play ‘Lady’ at summer festivals or tours, members and audiences will become like a party. Yonghwa: Let’s dance hard!
The 6th single “Lady”, All 3 songs in the single are mainly written and composed by Yonghwa, it’s quite Yonghwa’s world! At first, about ‘Lady’, it was completed by fresh rock tune.
Yonghwa: I was conscious that it will be released on summer.
Minhyuk: We want to listen to lively rhythm in summer, don’t we? This song has speed and power like summer. I’m sure you can feel coolness.
Jonghyun: That’s why many rock festivals are held in summer. Summer of rock.
From the lyrics, I find a man who leads woman like ‘Follow me’. Is your experience reflected it?
Yonghwa: To write lyrics, we depend on our own experience at any rate. It may be contained a little, but not 100%.
So, may I catch this song as love song?
Yonghwa: Yes, but I didn’t take priority over love lyrics. The lyric was born beyond my thought I want to put suitable lyrics on melody.
Jungshin: I feel the lyrics fit the melody. How should I put it in, the speed of melody linked with the feeling dashing for a lady well? This is a fresh love song.
The expression ‘like summer’ appeared many times, what kind of situation do you feel well-matched if you listen to this song?
Yonghwa: (He was thinking with humming refrain) Listen in the beginning of a hot day!! I’m sure we forget the heat and become refreshing day!
Jonghyun: In the car. It’s the best to listen to it during driving. It sounds good we listen to it driving along the coast.
I’ve thought this song is just for driving. All of you have a driver’s license, don’t you?
Jungshin: Yes, we have. Recently, I drove to Hangan (A large river in Seoul) with Yonghwa hyung. We drove to the riverside, parked a car and took a walk. We went back to home as we drank coffee in a car. It’s in Seoul and near places for us, but I felt it was fun to drive with favorite music all the way. I’m glad if you listen to the songs in such a situation.
Er, did you drive, only by two men?
Yonghwa: (wry smile) Is it strange!? Well.. We’re often drive only with men.
In term of your age, it’s a little wasteful in my opinion… (laugh) It’s relieved for fans.
Jungshin: Don’t catch it suspicious!!
Of course (laugh). I just felt you’re close too much.
Jungshin: Oh, that point (laugh)
Also this MV expresses a sensation of a band well. What do you think when finishing the MV?
Yonghwa: Well, it is worked out a visual plan and even only playing scene is nice enough.
Minhyuk: Especially, the lighting is good. I’m satisfied with the point that visual and stimulating effect combines the speed of song and playing well.
Jungshin: We are putting on the costume that we put in on MV today. People who haven’t watched it yet, please check it out.
The second song ‘Don’t care’, it’s also written lyrics and composed by Yonghwa. The lyrics is your proud English, the contents are nice!
Yonghwa: I made this song around spring. I was conscious of melody and lyrics that suit an acoustic guitar with my message ‘Look out around you more’ for people who live busy alone every day.
A little negative lyric on minor cord and the lyrics with strong will when cord changed, melody and lyrics linked well. I feel that lyrics were written in advance, but composing was the first, isn’t it?
Yonghwa: Yes it is. ‘Don’t care’ is revision ‘I’ from ‘I don’t care’; I think my own feeling appears ‘I’ in the lyrics. I send my messages to listeners or myself. A wave of my usual feeling may links with melody and lyrics.
Other members, what part do you feel sympathy in the lyrics?
Jonghyun: ‘You don’t know the beauty of life’, I think our ‘beautiful life’, and how to live is just now. Though we have hard time in our own way, I think its beautiful life to recognize that we are blessed now than to sigh over that only good things or only hard things happen.
Jungshin: Originally, the lyrics were like 1 kilometer, a few kilometers…
Jonghyun: What’s it?
Yonghwa: Ah, that’s episode (laugh). We were wondering that Jungshin and I write the lyrics together, but I quickly completed it by myself (laugh).
Jungshin: Hyung said ‘let’s write lyrics together’, we discussed many ideas. ‘This is interesting’ ‘How about it?’ like these. After that, I wrote as hard as I can. The distance between separated her and I am a few kilometers, I can’t see you anymore… maybe a theme like that, the title might be ‘3 kilometers’… I showed hyung my lyrics with full confident…, but he said ‘I already wrote’ (laugh). I was really shocked although my idea was good!(All members burst out into laughing)
Yonghwa: Really, your idea was good. I’ll use it soon.
If it became lyrics, atmosphere is quite different.
Yonghwa: If his lyrics became this song’s lyrics, the second song also were love song.
Minhyuk: I prefer Yonghwa hyung’s lyrics though (laugh) But, new melody may be born based from Jungshin’s idea.
And the third song ‘Monday’ is also written lyrics and composed by Yonghwa. The title is Monday, but relaxed acoustic melody is comfortable as if we want to listen to it on Sunday. Meanwhile, I agree the idea of lyrics that everyone feels lazy in Monday morning, too.
Yonghwa: Thank you. The theme of this song is a dilemma frompeople who have to get up at the same time every day like a businessmen or students.
Theme is different, but in term of a dilemma in general public, it is a little similar with the idea of the 4th single ‘Robot’.
Yonghwa: Yes, a dilemma is deplored in Robot, but this time is milder.
Also, I like your sense that you use the keyword ‘time machine’ as a stuff of flight, not the scene talking about a dream (laugh)
Yonghwa: Such people can’t enjoy with all their hearts on Sunday night, so I guess they want to fly from Sunday night to Friday night by time machine.
By the way, today is Monday, what time did you get up?
All: about 10:30 am?
Minhyuk: in case of work, we often get up at six or eight like the lyrics. Especially in Japan.
So, could you get up early when you were student like the lyrics?
Yonghwa: I don’t remember how I get up back then. If I were told that return to the past, I can’t get up early like then every morning again! (He suddenly talked with Busan accent)
Which were you got up by, an alarm clock or your parents?
Yonghwa & Jungshin: By my mother.
3 members: Minhyuk, you had got up by yourself, hadn’t you?
Minhyuk: Yes, I set an alarm and tried to get up by myself. But only when I can’t get up, my mother came to get me up.
Jonghyun: I got up by myself because my parents went to work from early morning.
Jungshin: Jonghyun hyung regularly gets up even if his sleeping hours are short. He seems a light sleeping.
Jonghyun: I’m jealous with you because you can sleep anywhere.
Jungshin: Yeah, I seem to be able to sleep anywhere (laugh)
Yonghwa: You can sleep for hours deep like for 10 hours.
In term of your work, the day may be unrelated, if I dare to say, what day does you like the best?
Jungshin: Wednesday. Friday is said ‘burning Friday’, so there are many cars and people everywhere. People are full up from the afternoon on Saturday and Sunday. But, official workers work hard on Wednesday, so people are fewer crowds in the town.
Yonghwa: No, Monday is the least crowded. But I like Sunday! I’m free in Sunday night because I go home earlier for next day. Others care about next day, but I needn’t care.
Jonghyun: Although others have a day off, we sometimes can’t have it on Sunday. My friends and I don’t agree our day off.
Yonghwa: Another reason I like Sunday is because many favorite variety programs are broadcasted. Even if I don’t do anywhere, I really enjoy only watching TV on Sunday (with Busan accent)
Jonghyun: Even if I sleep because of tiredness, I wake up when TV program starts. (with Busan accent)
Minhyuk: I don’t like Monday and Friday morning because roads got choked. I like ordinary days when there aren’t so many people in the town.
As I see your lyrics, I feel your imagination is amazing. You write different themes by yourself for third parties. Especially, these days. Perhaps did you like reading when you were a child?
Yonghwa: I didn’t read so many books back then. I was told that read book by parents, if I finish reading a book; they gave me pocket money or allowed to go to play, so I kept it up. I’ve been not good at keeping sitting to do something.
Then, how was the imagination born?
Yonghwa: My parents like to make me learn several artistic things (with Busan accent). I went to learn what other children don’t learn, the instruments, arts, since I was young. So I always got A at art record. I think I was influenced by parents. Just it may be my nature!? (All: burst into laughing)
Jungshin: I know, hyung (laugh)
Now, finally summer tour. You’ll play 10 concerts at Zepp in 5 cities this year. Please tell us your enthusiasm.
Yonghwa: Talking of live, you may imagine speeding, but for a change this time, I suppose you can enjoy with relaxing. ‘Soft’ concept.
Minhyuk: We’ll tour with different construction from World tour’s and one in Japan. We wanted to change definitely.
Jungshin: The arena class venue and live house like Zepp, both have different attractions. Zepp have good acoustics and rapid feedback, so I like the size of Zepp. We will be able to show the contents that we couldn’t show or realize at arena tour last year. In a word, I guess fans and we will feel sympathy at the live.
Zepp tour is from the end of July to the middle of August, you have summer festival, and World tour starts from the end of August once again. Aren’t you confused with such busy schedule?
All: We got used to it.
Yonghwa: I can enjoy even on that situation. Before, we have done different activities in Korea and Japan, so I can switch in my head.
Jungshin: I feel this is one of the growths. It should be not easy to fit different contents of each tours. But we tried, we could. We had worries ‘can we do it?’ and we felt reality ‘If we do, we can do it’. We’ve repeated these and we come here.
For example, you play some songs both of Japan tour and world tour. Next to A is B in Japan tour, but next to A is C in world tour, in that case, have you ever nearly taken B for C?
Jungshin: I’m not that fool.
Jonghyun: Yes, I have.
Jungshin: Ah…. The fool is here (laugh)
Jonghyun: We sometimes change the set list during the tour, but I’ve forgotten it. In the new order, I had to start to play for first, but I forgot… I’ve experienced such thing once or twice. When I concentrate, I tend to make mistakes. I put set list in front of my foot, but I didn’t check it and only looking at guitar, so such accident happened. It may not happen now. I make sure to check.
Jungshin: We are busy with lives like now; I’m worried about other members’ condition more than mine. Especially, I’m worried about Yonghwa hyung’s throat state. Yonghwa and Jonghyun hyungs always work their bodies harder than me, so I’m sorry for that.
Yonghwa: I’m sorry!? We’re vocalist. So, sing instead of us, Jungshin. (laugh)
Jungshin: I just take back what I had said (laugh)
And you will appear at the festivals such as SUMMER SONIC for 2 consecutive weeks in August. You have festivals among the tour, how will you use them properly?
Yonghwa: We are working out a secret plan just now.
Minhyuk: I think each set list are important because of the difference that outdoor venue or indoor. We can show all of us at solo concerts, but we must show our music for short time at festivals, so we discuss a lot of ideas.
Jungshin: When we’re appeared at the festival in Niigata, I remember it was really fun outdoors. It was so hot, but audience is also hot, so we become hotter each other with music! There is such atmosphere. We will attack with the feeling like then at outdoor festival this year. Famous bands in the world such as Metallica, Linkin Park appear at Summer Sonic, so I’m looking forward to seeing them and I feel strange that the fact we’ll compete with them. Honestly, I’m looking forward to it, but I’m uneasy that many audiences come or not.
Yonghwa: Jungshin, is it so important who play at the same time with us? We only concentrate our live. We play our live with all our hearts if there is even only person in front of us…. We will try with such minds. Honestly, I want many audiences to come (laugh) (gahh he’s so strange, he seems doesn’t agree with Jungshin’s opinion but in the end he agrees LOL)
That’s CNBLUE! Every band come with such minds, so we can enjoy the difference with solo live. I’m looking forward to it! By the way, you continue world tour lives by now; you’re the first Korean band that holds large scale world tour like this. Since you visit the world, did your visions have change?
Jonghyun: We’ve got a lot of ‘the first as Korean band’ since before. We feel ‘why so many?’, I appreciate the surrounding at first.
Jungshin: We dont feel superior to that; I wish we become a good model or aims for our junior bands.
Minhyuk: Of course it’s not only our efforts. I don’t know how much supports of staffs who give us such chances and fans who come to see us. Wherever; we don’t have conceit, I want our fans to see us and want to send other people. For it, I think it’s effective to visit many places and hold many lives.
You come here as third-years band since you’ve debuted, where will you go from now?
Yonghwa: I always say, our goal is to rank 1st at billboard chart. I feel we are getting closer and closer to it. I’ll keep saying until it’s realized.
Jungshin: There is a big senior band ‘YB’ in Korea. YB held tour in America a few years ago. I read a book about it. I felt an incentive from full their feelings. We want to try to tour in America like them someday!
Yonghwa: Our tour in only country is more times in Japan than in Korea, so we’ve studied many things in Japan. We can make the most of it surely, so we will be deeply moved if the day that we use our experiences in America comes!
CNBLUE will release their Japan 6th single “Lady” on July 31st. We let them talk about this single, which is like the summer and contains a title song that is a rock number like them (cnblue), and a world tour is going on now. And the theme of this column is the Korean ‘A test of courage’!
Special column “Scary experience”
– In hot summers, like this year, it’s standard to do a test of courage and feel fear. Have you ever done it?
Jonghyun: It’s named ‘Guts test’ (in comparison of Japanese, words are a bit different, but the meaning is almost the same). I did it when I was a student.
Yonghwa, Minhyuk, Jungshin: I’ve never done it.
Yonghwa: Do people usually do it during summer vacation? It isn’t an extracurricular lesson, is it? I’ve never done it.
Jonghyun: Oh? Have you never done it? I’ve done it once or twice.
– We usually do it during a school trip or training camp in summer.
Minhyuk: Ah~ But we’ve never done it.
Yonghwa: If we’re belonging to YMCA or Boy Scouts, we might experience it. But we’re generally don’t do it. Where did you do it?
Jonghyun: I did it with some friends at the temple on the hill in the night. It might be different from a test of courage; we did a game in who goes back the fastest after he touched the wall.
Jungshin: In Japan, do people always do it? How to do it?
– In Japan everyone has probably done it, I think. When we are students, a pair of both sexes walks on a dark mountain path. Also, after we become adults, we drive to a haunted place.
All: It sounds interesting~! We want to do it.
Jungshin: Shall we try to do it? At the place we’re going to for the tour, for example.
Yonghwa: Hey.. Do you think it’s fun for only men to do it? (laugh) If there were girls, we might shriek..
Minhyuk: If only men do it, they shout or cling to someone..
Jonghyun: We become sultrier. (laugh)
– So, in relation to scariness, do you watch horror movies? In Korea, many horror movies are released in summer, aren’t they?
Jonghyun: Yes, I like them. We sometimes watch a movie together, but I can’t go on watching it because of noise.
Yonghwa: Anyhow Jungshin is noisy. He always shouts at scary scenes, so I can’t concentrate on the movie. Moreover, I get more scared because of his shouting.
Minhyuk: He holds my knees.
Jonghyun: Minhyuk, you have a habit in which you muttering while watching a movie.
Yonghwa: Yeah, Minhyuk is the person I don’t want to watch a movie together with the most, haha.
While watching a movie, he talks to me about the expression of the story. What will happen next? or Look, look! And so on.
Jungshin: Yes, even watching a love story, he says the boy and the girl will surely become so.
Jonghyun: Yonghwa hyung watches a movie without saying any words. When we shout, he freezes alone (laugh).
– Then, who is the biggest coward out of all members?
Jonghyun: I once had no scary things at all. It was okay to ride most of the vehicles in an amusement park, such as a roller coaster and watch horror movies. But since I became a adult, they are getting scarier for me.
Yonghwa: As much as, you have a right youth’s mind now (laugh). I’m more scared for cockroaches than horror movies. But Jungshin can catch them very well! (All members bursted into laughing)
Jonghyun: I once was calm about cockroaches, but now I’m scared.
– Touring so much, you stayed in many hotels, not only in Japan, but in other countries. So… it happens.. Appeared or not. (About a ghost)
All: We don’t care about it!!
Minhyuk: I’ve never thought about it, if anything, I try not to not think about it.
Yonghwa: Because we’re men, we aren’t scared for such a thing. All members have never been tied down and have never experienced it.
Jonghyun: But we’re tired and fall asleep fast, so we may have no time to feel it.
Minhyuk: What we are most scared of, is the human, isn’t it?
Jungshin: Yes, ‘A usual person’ is the scariest.
Yonghwa: There are more scary experiences in reality after all. It’s the best if they don’t happen. We rather want to be excited than scared, in the summer!
*Editor’s note: as usual, we could dig up alot of things about Lady, Don’t Care and Monday plus how hilarious them, that is the reason I always love their Japanese interview.
ps: personally I’m really wait for Yonghwa composed song based on Jungshin’s lyric 🙂
They’re a quarter capable rock band. The origin of CNBLUE is “Code Name BLUE”.
They tried for holding concerts or street lives over 100 times and did music activity as ‘music knight-errantry’ around Shibuya and Shinjuku.
They released their 6th single, groovy and danceable rock number ‘Lady’ on July 31st.
– Tell us the highlight of the new single, ‘Lady’! Jungshin: I’m looking forward to playing the song ‘Lady’ at the live. I’m in charge of bass, so please listen to the bass lines. Jonghyun: I’ve felt that this is an elegant song since I listened to it for the first time. Melody is good and cutting of the guitar is also really good. Yonghwa: All 3 songs are like summer. They’re cool songs. Please listen to it. Minhyuk: Some parts have strong rhythm. Rhythm matches all over this song. I want you to listen to all over the song.
– What parts of the new song is different from previous CNBLUE’s songs? Yonghwa: Previous our songs released in Japan are all hard rock style. ‘Lady’ contains disco and dance style more than previous songs. In this the point of view. It’s different from CNBLUE’s style until now.
– Tell us about the lyrics of new songs!!
Yonghwa: ‘Lady’ is the song that he confesses to a lady. The lyrics are a little sexy. (About the lyrics of ‘Don’t care’) Don’t care is the song that we give it to our friends and fans. (About the lyrics of ‘Monday’) Jonghyun: The song contains pressure that a weekend ends. We put everyone’s pressure that Sunday passes and Monday comes into his song.
– What stage are you going to make ‘SUMMER SONIC’ or ‘ROCK IN JAPAN’? Jonghyun: It had been our dream. We went to watch SUMMER SONIC in 2009, but we can go to play our live this time. We’re feel honored. We’ll make good live with you and enjoy to play.
– Tell us your enthusiasms to advance into the world in future? Minhyuk: It is the first world tour for us this time, so we finish it well and we’ll work hard to give a lot of our songs to many fans in many countries. It’s the best things we work hard. Yonghwa: I want to play at Tokyo Dome (All laugh) I want to hold live at Times Square in New York. It isn’t decided yet.. please support us (All laugh)
– Tell us your process from now and your friendship. Why do you succeed now? Yonghwa: Our teamwork is good. We have nice personality. I think it’s the reason. Jonghyun: We understand each other. Although I forget how many years, we’ve lived together. We’re like family rather than members. We’ve persevered.. Yonghwa: We have much passion about music.
– Give a message to fans!! Jungshin: We hold Zepp tour from July and appear on rock festivals in August, so please look forward to it! Jonghyun: We’ll meet at live! Yonghwa: Please come to Zepp tour and lives and listen to new song ‘Lady’. Thank you. Minhyuk: Please support this single ‘Lady’ and look forward to our activities from now. Thank you.
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