Winner Talks YG Power, Ranking No.1 with Debut Album and More

[babyonions.livejournal.com]

The Winner members opened up to share their thoughts on the great success of their debut album.

Having released its first full length album 2014 S/S on August 12, Winner ranked number one on nine music charts in Korea as soon as the album was released, proving that their time spent waiting and preparing was not wasted.

Sweeping across all daily charts, Winner’s title Empty even topped the weekly chart, beating out other new songs in the competitive world of K-pop.

In a recent interview with Newsen, the Winner members all expressed that they didn’t expect to win first place with Empty and even rank in top 10 with Color Ring and Don’t Flirt.

Kang Seung Yoon said, “I didn’t expect at all to rank number one with our debut song. As a new group, I just wished that we would enter the charts. I really didn’t expect such a great response.”

About receiving the spotlight as soon as it debuted, Kang Seung Yoon said, “I think the company’s power played a major role. We also appeared in WIN and Winner TV. It helped that we gained popularity through different programs prior to our debut.”

He continued, “The fans waited for us for so long. The fans’ support also helped us out a lot. More than anything, I’m content that such satisfying results came out for the songs that the members worked on over many nights. From the public’s point of view, it could have been a big twist. YG Entertainment’s new boy group in 8 years came out with lyrical songs instead of dance songs and performances so it could been a big twist. We had many chances to spread our name so I never think, ‘This result was possible because Winner is amazing,’ or ‘We already achieved this much as soon as we debuted.’ We were able to receive a lot of love thanks to many fortunate opportunities and situations. Instead of thinking that we did it, I’ve been reminding myself to feel grateful and to work harder next time.”

Song Min Ho said, “I agree with Kang Seung Yoon. I definitely think the company had a lot to do with it. That’s why I feel more proud to be a part of YG Entertainment. Due to the exposure to the media, we were able to spread our name to some degree and gain fandom, which led to a greater public interest in us.”

Lee Seung Hoon said, “I really think the company played a big role. It’s to the point where I could say that we just went along with the company’s power. I think this is the reason why so many aspiring celebrities want to enter a big company, like YG Entertainment. We also went through a lot of difficulties before we entered the company.”

Last October 25, Winner won the final competition against Team B in Mnet’s WIN, being selected as the latest boy group to debut out of of YG after eight years, following Big Bang.

Pushing its debut date to ten months later, the Winner members spent many nights in the studio, training, writing their own songs and constantly discussing with producer Yang Hyun Suk to make their best final product.

Thanks to the other YG singers, such as Big Bang and 2NE1, Winner was able to get the experience of performing on big stages through their dome tours overseas.

About this, Lee Seung Hoon said, “The company taught us how to learn, instead of how to do. We learned how to hunt, instead of how to eat. We got priceless experience by watching the senior singers’ stages and performing on stage with them.”

Nam Tae Hyun shared, “Of course, the company played the biggest role in our activities until now but I think this is the real beginning for us. Instead of thinking that there will come a time for Winner to stand on its own, I think that we began standing on our own at this moment. We’ve prepared many things until now and we will work hard so that we won’t feel embarrassed to have the title of ‘Winner,’ as one of the artists of YG.”

It is Winner’s rule to have confidence but not arrogance.

Lee Seung Hoon said, “We were worried and talked about the possibility of becoming arrogant as singers. I decided not to forget our original intention and to not change.”

Kang Seung Yoon said, “We have no room to be arrogant. We ranked number one once but if we rank number two with our next album or don’t make it into the chart at all, then we won’t be able to handle the situation. Instead of settling for the current moment, we think that we have to return with better music next time so we have no room to be arrogant. We’ve been constantly working on new songs when we have time in between our schedules. We will maintain this attitude as we promote as singers.”

mwave

Humble bbs <3

Comments

[babyonions.livejournal.com]

I'm just gonna leave this (http://www.blockbintl.com/index.php?/topic/4695-int-140823-segment-from-winner%E2%80%99s-interview-about-block-b/) here, if you want to cry today or something...

[kjesta.livejournal.com]

I just saw that on tumblr, and I'm considering if I should post it on omona.

[babyonions.livejournal.com]

Post it, it's adorable and it makes me cry (I'd post it but mods will kill me lol)

[hippodameia.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I knew what it was but I clicked it anyways. Those two hit me right in the feels. It kinda seems like they respect one another. I like that.

[bunica1990.livejournal.com]

Awww KSY <3


OT, but can someone tell me who Seunghoon and Jinwoo (idk???) are? They're the only 2 I have left to memorize.

[babyonions.livejournal.com]

In the first pic, Hoon is the last one (one on the right) in the first row and Jinwoo is the last on in the second row :)

[bunica1990.livejournal.com]

So Jinwoo is the guy who looks scared and Hoon is the one with the diva dance moves?

[forgedeternally.livejournal.com]

Seunghoon's in the suit with that ribbon in place of the tie, and Jinwoo's the one in blue. :)

[bunica1990.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

Jinwoo:

Hyung but looks the youngest
Gets lost easily
Ships himself with Minho
Loves watching and enacting drama scenes
Can pose like a mofo






Seunghoon:

Is a master choreographer
Incredibly dumb
Ships himself with himself
His legs are longer than the nile
Is the real Hyung-nim of the group

[babyonions.livejournal.com]

*ships himself with Onion
Everything else is accurate

[bunica1990.livejournal.com]

Thank you! This is really helpful!!

[kjesta.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that! As a BBC I feel a certain obligation to know at least a little about Winner.

[canxi.livejournal.com]

They'll do well.

[kaninasan.livejournal.com]

so humble omg

[mintymoop.livejournal.com]

i'm glad they're being so humble, i know the members are naturally but it helps me worry less about cranky k-netz coming for them for being ~arrogant~ or whatever other reaching complaint they can come up with

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

ksy is really well spoken.

can we get winnertv season 2 please?

[ckino (from livejournal.com)]

Yoonie is very thoughtful and mature. I feel like he have a very interesting view about life. I really like reading whay h3 said in interview.

Winner members seems like they come from a very difficult background. Does yoonie have a father? Was he comes from a single parent family like taehyun? How about mino?

[mintymoop.livejournal.com]

yeah, his parents divorced when he was really young iirc. i always forget how old he is because he seems so mature

[ckino (from livejournal.com)]

Awww...how about jinwoo?

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

Minho's father is around. Taehyun is from a single parent family and Yoon's mother had him late but I'm not sure if they ever talk about his father, he's not around though.

[ckino (from livejournal.com)]

Yoonie is very matured for his age. I wanna pat his head eveytime i read his interview. Maybe it's just me but his kindness projected through his mannerism and through his smile. I feel happy looking at his smiling face :')

[princetabi.livejournal.com]

On Superstar K or Kpop Star he was 17 years old (I forget what the show is calld) and he said his parents divorced when he was young and he hadn't seen his father in 9 years. He also said his mom began drinking heavily at one point and that was when he decided to pursue a music career so that he could make her proud and feel better.

[princetabi.livejournal.com]

I'm so proud of them :') It was a really good idea to promote them pre debut with Winner TV and WIN because so many fans genuinely like them as people and know who they are and how hard they work so its easy to wish them all the success

[hellodee16.livejournal.com]

I really think the company played a big role. It’s to the point where I could say that we just went along with the company’s power. I think this is the reason why so many aspiring celebrities want to enter a big company

yup, and your success will be seen as unfair~ just for that...