Special Interview
Where you are
CNBLUE, a four-member rock band, launched their awaited major debut with a successful nationwide tour in Japan.
Set to release their 2nd single, “Where you are” on Feb.1, they share their much fervor for the big stage!
Here’s a look into their jolly conversation, difficult to imagine from their cool vibe onstage.
Although Busy, We’re Happiest Right Now
How do you feel, looking back on 2011 with big accomplishments?
JS: So many things happened. Before our major debut, we had a concert at Yokohama Arena, and also at Yoyogi Gymnasium at the end…it was a very meaningful year.
MH: It was a year that we made the major debut in Japan, a year of beginning.
JH: We were really busy. But looking back, I think it’s quite happy to be busy.
YH: In sum, the year 2011 was JS’s year. JS made such an accomplishment (laughs).
What kind of accomplishment, exactly?
YH: He gives me massages when I’m tired (laughs). During our tours, I always use the same room with JS at hotels.
JH: Then, the person who did not get chosen by YH hyung comes to my room.
YH: But I like MH these days, too. The other day, he gave me a massage after a concert and he was very good.
In December, you had a first nationwide tour after your major debut, right?
YH: I was delighted to perform at the Zepp halls in a long time. Yoyogi had its own vibe, being a huge place. We had flaming effects when we sang “In My Head”, and it heated up the atmosphere.
JS: I thought, now we can perform at Zepp, and also at Yoyogi. I was really happy to hear that the tickets were sold out.
JH: I also really like eating various food from each region. Tebasaki (chicken wings) and hitsumabushi at Nagoya, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and yakisoba at Osaka…I like them all. I think we ate about 50 tebasaki? With MH, the two of us ate around 100 I think (laughs).
MH: We’re usually okay with most Japanese food. We even had gyutan (beef tongue) at Sendai, and tebasaki was really good!
Tell us about your second single, to be released on Feb. 1.
YH: The title, “Where you are”, is a song about a person in despair who is looking for “something” to save her/himself. When I write songs, it’s easy to both sing and play the instrument, but JH’s “Get away” requires high notes, so I’m a little worried about live performances.
JS: In “Get away”, there’s a part where four of us sing together. MH and I usually don’t sing, so it was quite fun to record together!
MH: Right. Since I like all three songs very much, recording them was fun. During our repeated performances, I get better at drumming, but I always get nervous when playing for the first time. “Get Away” was especially difficult because of the fast tempo.
You guys also sing in Japanese lyrics–how do you normally study?
All: At interviews!
JH: We don’t particularly study Japanese, but we do through interviews.
YH: While doing many interviews, we hear same words over and over, so we get to naturally remember them as well as new words.
JS: We watch many dramas, too. From long ago, I liked “Flowershop without Roses” and “Pride”. I especially watched “Pride” many times.
YH: As for me, I recently watched “Osen” starring Ms. Aoi Yu.
How do you want to spend this year?
YH: (With a straight face) I want to make it MH’s year. Last year, I often shared the room with JS, so I want to enjoy tours with MH this year.
JH: I also want to support the dongsaengs. I’m happy enough right now, so I’m just hoping for nothing bad to happen. I wish all of us good health.
MH: Yeah. Hopefully nothing will happen. I think that’s the best.
JS: As for me, although my skill’s not quite there yet, I want to write a good song. When I tried writing a song, there were so many difficulties.
YH: It’s really hard. But since everyone’s putting much effort in it, perhaps we can hear it sometime soon.
JS: I hope people who listen to my song would say, “ah, this is a good song.”
What are some shows that you want to be on?
YH: I wanna be on SMAPXSMAP! I wanna say, “I want lobster” at Bistro Smap. I laughed hard watching the YAB skits.
JS: I want to come out on Hey! Hey! Hey! or Music Station.
MH: I mostly watch movies or dramas…
JH: Not that I want to be on this show, but I like “London Hearts.” It’s really funny!
In Japan, do you go out to eat or play?
JH: We want to, but we have no time.
YH: A while ago, when we got on a taxi and spoke in Korean, the driver asked, “do you know Girl’s Generation?” So I said, “they’re very popular in Korea.” He seemed to be into Kpop and knew many artists. But he didn’t notice us. We’re celebrities, too!
JS: He didn’t know until the end. We didn’t even wear hats (laughs).
JH: It means we need to work harder.
YH: From now on, we’ll compete with live performances. (In soft voice) but I’m still hurt…
What’s your goal from now on?
YH: A concert at the Tokyo Dome. Then, the Billboard will be my goal.
JH: I want to perform many live concerts.
MH: Yeah. Release albums, perform live… I want to continue that for a long time.
JS: Right.
YH: We can do it!
How would you describe your members in terms of family?
MH: Um..though it’s hard, JS is the mom and YH the dad. JH’s my hyung but a twin brother? (laughs) Um…actually, just a hyung.
JS: I’d be the youngest? And JH is the oldest hyung, YH is the father, MH the mother (laughs). Because MH listens well to what everyone says.
YH: So I’m the father? Really? I think we’re all brothers. I’m the oldest and JS the youngest.
JS: We often say MH’s the mom and YH hyung’s the dad. But it actually feels more like 4 brothers. JS and MH as the youngest, and YH hyung really seems like a hyung.
YH: To say objectively, I’m probably a very positive and outgoing person…who always tries to smile. Because I’m the oldest, I’m a leader who tries to be nice to the dongsaengs (laughs). JS’s fun when he’s with us, but in front of others he gets shy and would not speak to them. He changes outside. It’d be nice if he could show more of his everyday self. These days, I’m into playing games on ipad. Each one of us has an ipad, and I overused mine so it’s being charged right now (laughs).
Thanks & Sorry to members
-to JH: I’m sorry I couldn’t take care of our members that much as a leader. Thanks for practicing with them when I’m not around.
MH: I like playing games, so when I’m free I usually play soccer games or shooting games. Other than that, I watch baseball or check soccer news, though I can’t do it much nowadays because of tour preparations… Now that we’ve lived together for a long time, there isn’t much I would like them to fix. If I had to point out someone… it’d be me? I really can’t stop myself from falling asleep (laughs). I want to fix that.
Thanks & Sorry to members
-to JS: I’m sorry I’m always nagging you. As rhythm instrumentalists within the band and also as same-age friends, thank you sincerely for being with me and having fun times with me!
JS: I think I’m probably a source of energy? for our members. I purposely try to fool around or make jokes to light up the mood. The difficulty of four guys living together is… JH and I REALLY have specific preference over food (laughs). But our preferences are polar opposites! Sometimes he loves the stuff that I don’t like very much. Nowaways, we negotiate and live peacefully, like “I went along with your taste yesterday, so let’s eat what I like today!” (laughs)
Thanks & Sorry to members
-to YH: As the leader who heads CNBLUE, thank you for your hard work. I want to apologize about… well, more importantly, I’m extremely happy just being with you, so hwaiting from now on! Let’s do it!
JH: It’s been 5 years since we began living together. Since four people who have totally different backgrounds live together, there were some difficulties in the beginning but I think we’ve come to adjust to one another. For example, YH hyung and I take very short time to shower but the dongsaengs take long. I sleep the latest, YH hyung a little before me, and the dongsaengs sleep early–all different. YH hyung and I have work to do, so we sleep late.
Thanks & Sorry to members
-to MH: MH, you’re really good at drumming. Thank you always for playing well. I’m sorry I’m doing my own things nowdays and not taking care of you as much as I used to.
Scans by @bluefilia
Translated by heich (inmyheich.blogspot.com)
Re-uploaded and re-posted by L@cnbluestorm.com
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