Billboard Korea: T-ara's tears have become Glistening Pearls as they celebrate their 4th Anniversary

[girlsday.livejournal.com]

Eunjung's interview with Billboard Korea

Girl Group T-ara welcomed their 4th anniversary recently. Once having enjoyed top popularity, this gemstone-like girl group has suffered hurt. The arrival and departure of additional members and unconfirmed conjecture was discussed fervently. Their popularity that was not easily accumulated over the years seemed to have been destroyed in an instant. They seem to match the “5 year crisis” that idol groups commonly face in the Korean music industry where idols’ contracts [last around 5 years].

To say that they are not burdened must be a lie. After the controversy that broke out in July last year, T-ara did not respond to any Korean media interviews. Because they believed that if they silently continued their own way, one day, their fans will understand them and any momentary misunderstandings will be resolved. In this case, we are not here to pick at their scars. To talk about T-ara’s past, present, and future – something that they will have to face sooner or later – we carefully conducted our interview.

T-ara’s Eunjung who found courage to meet with Billboard Korea said “We cried a lot.” But they still continue to smile brightly.





Q: If you were to think back to the past 4 years?
A: We don’t feel like it’s already been 4 years. But it still feels like we are rookies who’ve just reached 2 years. Compared to the actual number of years, we’ve been busy with a lot of activities. Other than music broadcasts, member’s individual acting activities, sub-unit activities, and musicals, we’ve lived such busy lives that we couldn’t even sleep a lot, time just passed by in the blink of an eye. Thinking about being able to achieve today’s position and to receive our fan’s love… Our fans’ congratulations have made our shoulders feel heavier, and our sense of responsibility has grown as well. In the future, we will be more careful about every word we say and everything we do.

Q: The most memorable activity is?
A: Bo Peep Bo Peep. It was a song that showed off the charisma that only belonged to us. The first time we put on the tails on our costume and the cat paws, we really didn’t like it. We wanted to be a cool and pretty girl group, and we wondered, do we really have to do this? But it was through this song that we achieved our first number 1 and even made it to Japan’s Oricon chart. If we used this song as a starting point, all of T-ara’s other concept and music were never too over the top. It was the song that allowed other countries to know our name.



Q: From debut to now, things that have changed and things that have not changed are:
A: The way we think have changed, and we’ve become more mature. When we first debuted we did not have our own goals, we were just like kids that did whatever our company told us to do. Now, we will positively think about everything we do, and we also understand the preciousness of fate that allows us to meet even the strangers who pass by us for a second. The things that have not changed is, even though we are no longer that young, the members still love to joke and play. Everyday is a continuation of a sitcom. This is what motivates us to stand on stage happily.

Q: Thoughts about the “5 year crisis” that idol groups face
A: Our crisis seems to have come a bit early. Haha. This seems to turn out even better, it’s as if such a crisis does exist as people say. Although the sayings about members’ conflict and bullying will follow us around like labels, we think that as long as it is not true then it is fine. We won’t worry too much about it. If such sayings were true, then it would be very distressful, but the stories are all different from reality. It is not something that we can resolve even if we worried about it.



The motivation for the T-ara who has become mature.

T-ara is truly the “Korean Digital Sales Queens.” Lovey Dovey was number 1 on Gaon Chart in the first half of 2012, defeating Big Bang. In 2011, they also reached number 1 on the Annual Aggregate Digital Chart through Roly Poly. That year, their Japanese debut track “Bo Peep Bo Peep” also made it to the Oricon weekly chart.

Even when involved in endless controversies, T-ara’s music and stage performance was also recognized. “Sexy Love,” which was hesitantly released when T-ara was surrounded by a lot of rumours, and the summer track “Bikini” also charted and achieved a “long run.” Their recently released second Japanese album “Treasure Box” also charted number 1 on Oricon on the day it was released.

Q: What is the secret to popularity?
A: There is no special secret. First, we have to thank the composers who give us good songs. And also the fans and company staff who support us by telling us “everything will turn better,” they’ve given us a lot of motivation. As a result, we gained confidence. We work hard on stage to compensate for our inadequacy, these all seem to have a combined effect. When speaking about T-ara’s energy, we have also borrowed from the popularity of the retro dance and the shuffle dance. Unknowingly, our performances are able to show off “T-ara’s image” and “T-ara’s concept.” To have a defined colour and flavour, we are really happy.



Q: Don’t you feel tired to have such active overseas schedules?
A: Although getting used to the time difference is always difficult, it is the most difficult when the food doesn’t suit our tastes. In the end sleep become our best medicine. Actually, every member seem to lose weight without intentionally dieting. Like a normal girl group, we eat well and don’t pick and choose when it comes to food.

Q: What do you do when you rest?
A: Watch movies, eat good food. When we are in Japan, we often go to Harajuku but we have not been there recently because we’ve been busy.

Q: Isn’t this just the right age for dating?
A: Although the work we have now is good, we still want to date. Just like a normal university student, a romantic stroll around campus while holding hands, a date in the library. It seems like the more we are not able to do it, the more we want to do it. My ideal type is someone who has a manly side, but also the soft side of a young adult, someone who is kind and well-mannered. Appearance is not important. It’ll be great if it is someone who is able to let other people feel his charisma and charm that is unique to him.



Q: What kind of artists do you want to be remembered as?
A: The strengths of artists who have been active for 1 year and those who have been active for 10 years are different. I hope when people think about T-ara, they will smile and say “Ah they really had a difficult time then” or “They were really great then”, I hope that we can be a familiar and warm group in their memories. A group that is able to show off different styles like a chameleon. Or even to the point of getting critiqued by people “Do you have a split personality?” A group that doesn’t stop changing and is able to show and convey a message through their music.



Q: To T-ara, CCM’s present Kim Kwang Soo is:
A: The only person who can make us happy and feel tired at the same time. He has weakened a lot. He used to always lecture and scold us, but recently he asks us for our opinion and shares with us his difficulties. He has the feel of the powerless arms of a father who is growing old. His emotions are also becoming very rich and abundant, it seems like it is time for us to take care of him instead.

Q: A word to your fans?
A: Thankful. For always believing and watching over us no matter what. To be able to lay aside right or wrong and to believe and wait for someone is something that is not easy. We don’t look at our fan club as one group, but now we see each fan individually, one person by one person. They are all precious. Even for those who cannot support us as fans until the end, we won’t feel sad or resentful. We won’t forget those people who have given us love up to this day.



T-ara has become stronger, their hearts steadier. They are no longer a girl group that has an extravagant exterior, but have become a pearl that shines quietly and faintly. The beginning of a glistening pearl is also created from a wound. Famous Korean poet Jeong Ho Seung said “A beautiful gemstone can only be created with time, brimming sincerity, and the embracing of trauma.”

Source: kclalala, billboard korea, minus (for the cute pics)

6-ARA the real and true T-ara forever! There's nowhere to go but up!

Comments

[kjc48.livejournal.com]

I'm still cackling at the fact that it's 6ara again.

Congrats <3

[devilsatin.livejournal.com]

i love them!!!! i'm so glad the're 6 again just like GOD intended

[triplestacker.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is very good. They through a lot and are very strong now. I think nothing can destroy T-ara. They have so many struggle in 4 years and they will always rise again. They are going to Malaysia very soon, I am very excited. I want to see Eun Jung and So Yeon up close. I hope they will perform "I'm Okay" at Malaysia.

[somuchtrouble.livejournal.com]

Holy crap I never knew they sang I'm Okay live! Amazing I need a full version.

[sowahso.livejournal.com]

i h8 that i cant h8 these satan worshippers

they r just too perfect

i can h8 ccm tho all i want
JUSTICE FOR HWAYOUNG AND AHREUM AND PROBABLY DANI IN THE FUTURE

[bopeepdonna.livejournal.com]

classic

[0oo-daphne-oo0.livejournal.com]

Isn't Dani joining soon though?

[devilsatin.livejournal.com]

she replaced areum in N4 but they aren't putting her in the real group anymore. like how henry isn't really in super junior or whatever

[0oo-daphne-oo0.livejournal.com]

OIC. Thank you. (:

[devilsatin.livejournal.com]

it kept changing but last month when areum left they finally said they're keeping them as 6 from now on and dani is only joining t-ara n4!! i think n4 is releasing something in december tho

[oppameansit.livejournal.com]

t-ara always has the best jams/singles, but there's nothing about their songs that only t-ara could do - i feel like if another group did their singles they would do just as well

they're so pretty and yet have so little charisma, idgi. if they worked on just their stage performances they could be so amazing

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

That's the weird thing though - somehow T-ara's songs are always great or at least pretty good, while other groups with CCM just don't seem to manage to be that consistent, even when the company is spending a lot of money on them (like they were on SPEED for a while). Heck, even the songs that are vaguely associated with T-ara (Painkiller, the SPEED cover of Lovey Dovey) are good.

I don't know if it's because the atmosphere at CCM is so toxic it drives all the actually good singers away, except for the ones in T-ara, or what, but there's definitely something about them that improves the material they are given to work with.

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

I have to disagree since Davichi are very popular with their music and their songs are always charting high on digital charts. Davichi's songs generally chart better and popular among the general public than T-ara's.

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

I wasn't talking about sales... I can see your point though, since taste is subjective

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

haha I'm a big fan of Davichi's music so it could apply to both; sales and taste. ^^;

[oppameansit.livejournal.com]

They have good songs because CCM buys good songs - they don't really add their own spin on it, imo. If they were stronger performers and made them their own, they'd be fabulous. The songs are good despite T-ara, not because of them.

[miyaoo.livejournal.com]

Yes. This~

[oppameansit.livejournal.com]

also lol @ how they've shopped hwayoung and ahreum out of all the pictures, nicely done

[windygables.livejournal.com]

lol mte, it took the 3rd pic for me to realized what they'd done

[greeds.livejournal.com]

t-ara died for our sins and r ready to be reborn again as 6-ara :-)

i will pray that they mark this glorious occasion with a 2nd korean album, a follow up to their holy album, Absolute First(Best) Album.

Our original (Debut Era) Leader Eunjung is stepping up to the plate again?

[hipployta.livejournal.com]

Honestly this interview seems very honest in that 6-ara is just going to keep moving forward.

Of course I'm Eunjung biased as hell so...

That seems an apt description of CCM's CEO because I imagine after the mauling he got from the public dude should be more humble (FINALLY)

If he hadn't been an asshole and added and replaced members in a group, that was fine as is, then none of this would have happened in the first place seeing as we're back to the original group anyways

I was looking at these photos...photoshop is a bitch...both of them are gone

[yukahoo.livejournal.com]

The thing with T-ara is that... well, they have really good songs and concepts.

And despite all the harping they get about lacklustre performances I think they do pretty well, especially in their Japanese concerts. They're just glistening with sweat, dancing their asses off and pumping up the crowd at every opportunity. So props for that.

But, I have to say, it is a bit eerie how there's like no names or faces of the ex-members in the article above. It's like they've been erased.

[devilsatin.livejournal.com]

btw OP thanx for that hot gallery you linked to! it's qt how easily that non factor is edited out of pix, it's like it was never even there

[oppameansit.livejournal.com]

it.

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

Q: To T-ara, CCM’s present Kim Kwang Soo is:
A: The only person who can make us happy



lie.

[girlsday.livejournal.com]

that's not what she was saying.

[miyaoo.livejournal.com]

Hahaha

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

Overall I like how their concepts are so drastically different from each other. But my favorite song all-time from them is Wae Ireoni.

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

they look hot in the black and yellow outfits

[almightykuzon.livejournal.com]

I feel so sorry for them, with all the scandals they had last year. I almost want to stan them. lol

[skonka.livejournal.com]

Eunjung is forever hot but you can just tell there is a hidden side to her. Whether that side is vulnerable or manipulative, I can't tell, but there's a lot going on in that mind.

[uguukawaii.livejournal.com]

This is a p good article I like that its honest and brought up the bullying and problems
Get them off ccm save hyomin ect

[sowahso.livejournal.com]

also eunjung has those crazy eyes
i try to like her
but she was terrifying me in sexy loev

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

The section about their CEO... I'm glad they (now) have some power in that relationship but dude sounds pretty unstable.

[fancifury.livejournal.com]

wonderful post bless you OP! t-ara jjang!

[calzonazos.livejournal.com]

oh my god they really shopped out their two ex-members.
like not even an acknowledgement of their existence in the group? lol

[bryanxboredness.livejournal.com]

THEYRE BACK TO 6 AND I HOPE IT STAYS THIS WAY.
I love T-ara and despite tough year/year and a half, I'm excited to see them back on their feet.

Hate CCM. They need to go.