Shinhwa Interview is flawless as ever

[erisinia.livejournal.com]

“If you want to maintain your group for a long time, think of the group you’re in as your ‘nationality’ and just don’t give up till the end. Through that, value is born and you can receive applause.” (Kim Dongwan)

Group Shinhwa is returning back to the music industry on the 16th, along with their 11th album “The Classic”.

Debuting in 1998 with their 1st album “The Resolver”, they’ve been busy moving all over the stage and being known as the icon for “synchronized choreography”, these 6 men have, before we knew it, hit their 30s. It is their 15th year.

It is 1 year and 2 months following their 10th album “The Return” released last March, which broke their 4 years break. Their desire is to release an album and have a concert once a year.

Met with Shinhwa recently in a cafe at Shinsadong, Gangnam.

”Now we’re no longer ‘idols’ but we want to continue on till the 6 of us become ‘George Clooney’ and show a sophistication on stage. I’m looking forward to what kind of charm we can show in future.” (Eric)

“Even during the member’s individual birthday fan meeting, what the fans ask about first is Shinhwa. When we’re coming back. It was amazing that the fans want to guard over the friendship of the 6 of us even more.” (Andy)

The title “longest running idol” have, at some point of time, become natural for them, and they frankly talked about their thoughts on their 15th debut anniversary. However, as compared to the pride infused into their 15 years of hard work, they look forward even more to the road they are to take. They especially felt that from “big sunbae” Cho Yongpil, who swept the music industry recently.

Shin Hyesung spoke maturely, saying, “Looking at Cho Yongpil sunbae, it made me rethink things again”, adding “It isn’t that we’ve become ‘sunbaes’ having reached our 15th year, but that we’ve still got a long way to go. Instead of being satisfied with things now, I’d like to be receiving love from many people for a long time”.

Junjin added, “Yang Hee-eun sunbae said ‘having sung for 30 years, I know think I know a little’” and “similarly, for us to fully appreciate performances.songs.entertainment industry, I think there is still 15 years left.”

Under the name of “Shinhwa”, they offered up their 20s and have gained an ease that comes along with the time they’ve spent together.

Kim Dongwan, who consecutively worked on the album and filming for KBS 1TV’s daily drama “Cheer Up Mr Kim”, also felt this way when he looked at member Lee Minwoo, who was deeply involved in the producing of the album.

“I complained too when the drama filming was done in the nick of time. If it was the past, (Lee Minwoo too) would’ve been frustrated, seeing how he patted me on the back and continued recording, of course I was thankful. He didn’t use to be like that last time, time has made a person more empathetic. (laughs)”



Despite their solo activities clashing with each other’s various military duties, the 6 coloured “puzzle pieces” stayed together and I was curious about their secret to longevity.

“We’re people who place importance on promises. Calling it ‘loyalty’ seems a little transparent. In the early stages, we really clashed often. However, while quarreling, we learnt how to be considerate and give way at an early age.” (Eric)

“There is no special secret. We just somehow came to this step. I don’t want to tell the hoobaes ‘you can’t split up even if you hate it’.” (Kim Dongwan)

Shinhwa pointed to the preparations for last year’s 10th album “The Return” as a time where they became more unified.

Shin Hyesung explained, “After separately going through military service, and while talking about having new Shinhwa activities, it brought us even closer together.”

“It was a pity seeing groups that promoted together splitting up. That made us bare our hearts even more to each other. It became a chance for us to become even closer.” (Kim Dongwan)

The 11th album “The Classic”, which will be released on the 16th, contains a total of 10 songs, including the title song “This Love” and “Hurricane”, “New Me”, “I Gave You” which Lee Minwoo wrote the lyrics for.

“On the album, there is no ‘Shinhwa’ written on it. You can feel it’s Shinhwa just by looking at the cover. ‘Classic’ seems to be a term that describes us.” (Eric)

A great many famous composers participated, such as Sweden’s Samuel Waermol, Robert Vadadi, Kim Dohyun, SBS TV’s “Good Sunday - K-pop Star 2’s” top 3 Andrew Choi etc.

Electronic dance song “This Love”, with a dreamy introduction as it’s feature, was a work by Britain’s composing team, Andrew Jackson, who produced last year’s 10th album’s title song “Venus”. Perhaps that is why it feels the same as the earlier work.



The members say “Musically, it is an extension of ‘Venus’”, but while acknowledging it, they stressed that the choreography is 180 degrees different from the earlier work. “Voguing Dance”, which borrows from model’s walking on the runway, is the point.

“I think that addictiveness is the most important in a song. That’s why I tried choreographing the dance to be addictive too. In the past, in ‘Brand New’ or ‘Venus’, we filled up the stage with many dancers, now, I want to give a feeling that just the 6 of us alone can fill up the stage.” (Lee Minwoo)

“The choreography is a reversal. To the extent you’d think ‘is it ok to do it to this extent on stage?’. It’ll either be a success or a failure. Because it’s a dance made by looking at fashion pictorials, it is possible that the line or pose is hard for men to express, and it can be a shocking challenge to Shinhwa, who has sought masculine choreography.” (Eric)

Some fans might miss the strong dance songs which exuded masculinity, such as “Wild Eyes”, “Perfect Man”, “Your Wedding”, etc. However, they shake their heads saying, “There might be fans who’re looking forward to synchronized choreography but the thought that ‘we can still do this even though we’ve aged’ seems to tie us down to the past.”

“There is a charm that only this age has, and there are performances that can only be shown at this moment. Pondering over that was the work this time round. If, up till last year, what we showed was ‘we’re still well and alive’, then this time it’ll be a ‘if you’re going to beat us, then try it’.” (Eric)

Credits: Original @ Yonhap News, translation by malpabo@tumblr

Comments

[wittedxfate.livejournal.com]

i am excited skajdfhaklsjdlsdfa
shinhwa ahjusshis werking it!!!!1


then this time it’ll be a ‘if you’re going to beat us, then try it’.
omg goosebumps all over ide

[jjang-intae.livejournal.com]

This article made me love them even more <3 All 6 of them are such perfect human beings and it's amazing how loyal they are to each other ;u;

[celira]

I don't know much about these guys, but mad, MAD props to them for sticking it out well into their 30s. I hate sometimes how the music industry (in all countries) seems to just run through people out of their 20s and dump them on their asses after. now where is the BEG comeback mmmmmmmkay

[chloe1910.livejournal.com]

Really respect that this group could stay strong and so close after all these years.

[imienazwisko.livejournal.com]

flawless ahjusshis are flawless

[pancakeonmyhead.livejournal.com]

honestly, i wasn't even a fan of them until they released venus last year
like, i knew of them, but not much about them bc i was only just getting into kpop when they were all enlisting
but srsly tho, they've made a new fan out of me through their last comeback and shinhwa broadcast, i have so much respect for them and i really wish i'd gotten into them earlier

[kazu-kumaguro.livejournal.com]

negl I think Venus is a crap but stan them so hard since Shinhwa Broadcast.
that show should never ever end.

[weerainbow.livejournal.com]

Nicely said boys! :)