Hallyu Pier w/ B.A.P - Another Story

[swhyeon1991.livejournal.com]

Part 1

When asked, “A Japanese term you know or a phrase you like in Japanese?” 

Himchan: “Okite kudasai (Wake up).” I sleep often during Japanese lessons…ㅋㅋAlso, “Aitai (I miss you).” 
Zelo: “Hajimemashite douzo yoroshiku (Nice to meet you for the first time. Hope you’ll treat me well).” 
Daehyun: “Oishii (Delicious).” 
Jongup: “Peko peko. Onaka ga peko peko (Hungry. I’m hungry).” 
Youngjae: “Gohan (Rice).” 
Yongguk: “Konbini ikimasho! (Going to the local store!).” It’s because we only have small stores nearby our dorm.ㅋㅋ

<Himchan>

Q3. How did you become a singer? 

Himchan: I used to really like music since I was younger and I was originally studying traditional Korean music to major in it, but I also had interest in varieties and other genres so through being introduced to someone who worked in the industry, it was the beginning to starting up my path towards this career choice. In traditional Korean music, I played the drums. I’ve also collaborated with a Japanese shamisen artist as the school I attended was affiliated with a Japanese art academy. I’m still a student, but I’m currently taking a break. 

Q4. Your flaw? 

Himchan: You can see it right in my face and that’s being honest. Although I do think that I want to remain as an honest person, I just wish at times I can maintain a poker face. There are times where my emotions show exactly on my face. 

Q5. What would be your role if B.A.P was a family? 

Himchan: (Thinkin, says in Japanese) Ah……nuna? (Huhk, is it nuna?) Ah, mom! I cook the best (In Korean). Because my mom is a chef, I can make anything, ranging from jjigae (stew) to fried rice, any basic foods. I’m a very family-oriented man. 

<Jongup>

Q3. How did you become a singer? 

Jongup: I started dancing as a hobby when I was in my 1st year in middle school and I liked dancing, so I started off with a comfortable feeling but in that time, I ended up going on a big competition. At the time, in standing on stage, I was able to feel the charms of the stage and that’s how I chose this path. Right now, I’m going to an arts high school and I’ve been a trainee in the company for 1.5 years.

Q4. What would be your role if B.A.P was a family? 

Jongup: I would be the 2nd youngest son. Going according to the age ranking ㅋㅋ 

Q5. What did you think when other members were having personal promotions prior to debut? 

Jongup: I was in awe and glad in seeing Zelo promote despite him being just a child. My mood was lifted and my anticipation grew in being able to start B.A.P with such a member. 

<Youngjae>

Q3. How did you become a singer? 

Youngjae: There was a talent show on a school trip and at the time, the cheering of my peers was great when I sang on stage. That was how it all began. In order to make that dream on the stage become my job, I thought, “Let’s become a singer.” I raised my dreams of becoming a singer by starting up in studying music and I continued to fall for the charms of music and began to love it truly, raising my passions and eventually becoming a member of B.A.P. At first, I was preparing as a trainee for about a year under a different company but the debut didn’t seem to be nearing any time soon and I was introduced to our current company. It took roughly about a year to debut under the current company and there wasn’t much difficulty in my trainee days during this time. Aside from that, I was more pressured at the thought of being equipped with the precise talent or having apt personality which made me think, “I have to take responsibility.” 

Q4. Your weaknesses and flaws? 

Youngjae: Weaknesses? Hrm…weaknesses…I don’t have. (Oh~~! Everyone clap!) Flaw is…being slightly shy. 

Q5. What would be your role if B.A.P was a family? 

Youngjae: Himchan hyung said that he thought he was the mom, but…I’m the mom. Himchan hyung is the cute and bright magnae. ㅋㅋ Yongguk hyung is the dad, I’m the mom, Daehyun is the eldest son as Jongup and Zelo are the youngest. Himchan is a child who doesn’t have a complete grasp of things and doesn’t have exact judgment. ㅋㅋ I watch over them all. 

<Daehyun>

Q3. How did you become a singer? 

Daehyun: I was watching TV when I was younger and I really wanted to become a singer. When declaring our majors for the appropriate high school, I thought, “I want to work my goal in becoming a singer” so I applied for applied music. Even after that, I went to a music academy and took up an audition for B.A.P and was qualified, leading me to become a member. I was practicing in the academy and I once entering the company, 6 months prior to our debut, I was the last member to join. That’s why up until debut, there was no time as I had a lot to do and I just tried my best. There wasn’t any time to be distressed or feel tired. 

Q4. What would be your role if B.A.P was a family? 

Daehyun: I’d be the eldest son, Himchan hyung as the mom, Yongguk hyung as the dad, and although by age, I’m the eldest son but by the aura presented, I’m more of the middle son? (Youngjae said that he was the mom….ㅋㅋ) No, never. Of course, Youngjae has subtle, feministic features to him surely…….but he’s not the mom.ㅋㅋ 

Q5. What did you think when other members were having personal promotions prior to debut? 

Daehyun: I didn’t get jealous.ㅋㅋ They were promoting as a prelude to this team and I was cheering hard for them. If I were to do my solo promotions, I want to do a duet with a female vocal. I used to practice doing duets often at the academy I attended and I know the fun from it, so I want to try it out. 

<Zelo>

Q3. How did you become a singer? 

Zelo: I was a kid who enjoyed coming home to play after school ended and when I came home, I’d either beatbox or dance in front of my mom’s dressing table mirror. One day, I found out there was a filming for a cable TV program nearby our house and my friend was apparently going to appear on it so I begged him by saying, “I’ll give you my gaming card so please let me appear too.” It was a secret from my mom though. I tossed my backpack when school ended and left the house without a word, but…..my mom wore sunglasses as she secretly followed me out, finding out to see her son dancing and rapping on stage..ㅋㅋSince then I raised my dreams of becoming a singer. I rapped and did beatboxing since 5th grade and I also started dancing officially then. I made my debut under the company in a year. (I saw your Youtube video of when you were in elementary school~) Ah~ ㅋㅋ That was when I was still young, so I had a lot of baby fat on my cheeks..ㅋㅋ 

Q4. What is your advantage and disadvantage? 

Zelo: Advantage is being young, but being able to do various things as I can even play an instrument. Disadvantage is severely sleep talking….. (Everyone’s been talking about it.ㅋㅋ Are you ever aware of it?) Yes…I am aware of it. 

Q5. What would be your role if B.A.P was a family? 

Zelo: Just a cute magnae.ㅋㅋ A magnae who’s loved the hyungs. 

<Yongguk>

Q3. How did you become a singer? 

Yongguk: Going back to middle school, I was doing hip hop underground and as I became an adult, I was introduced by seniors of our company, Untouchable hyungs, to the company and I ended up joining. Since then, I was preparing for B.A.P and had the opportunity to do solo promotions then. I prepared for B.A.P for roughly a year but personally, I’ve prepared for debut for about 6 years. 

Q4. Your advantages and disadvantages? 

Yongguk: I think my advantage is having more experience in music than the other members, but the disadvantage is that I’m lacking in cuteness that the dongsengs hold…ㅋ (That’s not true. You’re cute!) Arigato gozaimasu (thank you) ㅋㅋ 

Q5. What would be your role if B.A.P was a family? 

Yongguk: I am the role of the “F. A. T. H. E. R.” ㅋㅋㅋ Among the members, I’m the oldest and I tend to be the one giving the dongsengs advice or talking to them about respect because I’m in the position to tell them things as well as teach them things, so that’s why I’m the father. 

Q6. What is B.A.P’s charm that only they hold? 

Yongguk: We’re a group with diverse charms, from cute to masculine, all the members hold the two. Is us being all blond a charm too?ㅋㅋ All the individual members of B.A.P having strong characters of their own is B.A.P’s charm.

Part 2

”All 6 members like Japan. It was the country that all of us voted as 1st in wanting to visit. I’ve had a personal case where I’ve gone once before,” is what Yongguk had said. They were then asked “Where do you want to go or what do you want to do in Japan?” 

Zelo: “I want to go shopping.” 
Daehyun: “I want to eat ramen.” 
Himchan: “I want to go shopping too.” 
Jongup: “I want to go to Harajuku or Shinjuku. I want to also by items that are designs only found in Japan.”
Yongguk: “Everyone’s really interested in Japanese fashion. Also, there’s a big CD shop there, right? I want to go shopping there.”
Youngjae could not be asked because he was in the middle of the photo shoot. (lol)

<Himchan>

Q4. If you could change bodies with any other member, who would it be? 

Himchan: Zelo. Because he’s cute ㅋㅋㅋ I tend to do a lot of skinship and I would always be affectionate to Zelo….but Zelo doesn’t like it, so I want to know why..I want to confirm why. I want to see the image of myself through Zelo’s eyes. 

Q5. The member to cause trouble in the dorm? 

Himchan: Is it…me? No..not dirtying the dorm. I just don’t clean.ㅋㅋ It’s because I cook, but I don’t clean after my mess. I make another person clean it up, like to the dongsengs, “Clean it up for me.” ….ㅋ 

Q6. How long was your trainee years? And any difficulties? 

Himchan:For me, around 1.5 years. It was difficult not being able to see my parents in having to dorm. But we all pledged that “We won’t see our parents” until debut, so I worked hard. 

Q7. What kind of artist do you want to be? An award you’re aiming for?

Himchan: Hrm…I want to be an artist that “paves their way.” Instead of choosing to be something, I want to be the kind of artist that makes their own way. If this were a puzzle, then we’ve only fir 1 piece of the puzzle. And when we’ve matched them all, I want to promote in becoming an awesome picture. I really think that way. 

<Jongup>

Q6. If you could change bodies with any other member, who would it be? 

Jongup: Zelo because he’s tall. I want to try the air that’s high up where he is. 

Q7. The member to cause trouble in the dorm? 

Jongup: (Looking at the members) Me. There are a lot of members who like being tidy and I don’t organize correctly, so I receive some criticism. Since we’re living in a dorm together, we have to be clean! 

Q8. What kind of artist do you want to be? An award you’re aiming for?

Jongup: I want to try even more new things and right now, although it hasn’t been long since we’ve promoted as B.A.P, I always want to be a member that can take part in the choreography or the production of a song. 

<Youngjae>

Q6. If you could change bodies with any other member, who would it be? 

Youngjae: Zelo. He’s a kid with a lot of talent and everyone is affectionate towards him, so I want to abuse that privilege.ㅋㅋ I think it’s be fun to live as the magnae. 

Q7. The member to cause trouble in the dorm? 

Youngjae: (Glancing at the members for a moment…then coolly, he says) There’s no one in particular that strikes as “This person!” 

Q8. What kind of artist do you want to be? An award you’re aiming for?

Youngjae: This is my dream..but I want to show people through a song that I wrote the melody of in topping it with the words I’ve wanted to say. 

Q9. Do you want to try anything in particular when it comes to solo promotions?

Youngjae: I want to try singing a song alone and also doing collaborations and featuring in a song to sing with other artists. 

<Daehyun>

Q6. If you could change bodies with any other member, who would it be? 

Daehyun: Himchan hyung. He’s cool and good looking, so he’s popular with females. I want to be able to embrace all the popularity of females. (But Daehyun, you’re also referred to as the “Wonbin of Busan,” no?) Ah~Ah~Yes~ㅋㅋ 

Q7. The member to cause trouble in the dorm? 

Daehyun: The two members in the magnae line. I always wake up earliest and these two (Jongup and Zelo) really don’t wake up!! I wish they’d wake up a bit earlier. 

Q8. What kind of artist do you want to be? An award you’re aiming for?

Daehyun: I want to become an artist they can’t forget for a long, long time. For example, even if we don’t promote for a while, I want to become an artist that people still say “That person is an awesome artist” about. I want to become an artist that has people listening to their music. 

<Zelo>

Q6. The artist you first started liking?

Zelo: I didn’t really have much thought when I first started rapping as I’d say things like, “So cool~ I want to make money and return the favor to my parents~” when seeing idols. It was just up to there. Right now, artists I like are Eminem and Kanye West. 

Q7. If you could change bodies with any other member, who would it be? 

Zelo: Yongguk hyung. I compose lyrics too, but Yongguk hyung composes lyrics and produces, so I want to experience what Yongguk hyung produces. I want to participate in music making. 

Q8. The member to cause trouble in the dorm? 

Zelo: (Looking at the members briefly…) I like them all. There’s no one especially that causes trouble. I just wish they’d organize their “laundry.” 

Q9. What kind of artist do you want to be? An award you’re aiming for?

Zelo: I want to become the best artist in all areas. Not only in producing, but ranging from composing to fashion even, I want to be a multiplayer in being able to do everything. Right now, I’m not in a hurry though as I want to slowly raise my talents which I find important. 

<Yongguk>

Q7. If you could change bodies with any other member, who would it be? 

Yongguk: Hrm…Youngjae. I had a long time being a trainee and I’ve had experience in being the youngest, but I’ve never been the middle child as I’m the oldest out of B.A.P. That’s why I want to be Youngjae. I want to know the stress, sufferings, and worries of being in between hyungs and dongsengs. 

Q8. The member to cause trouble in the dorm? 

Yongguk: Himchan. He’s too orderly. With his extremely orderly personality, the other members tend to receive stress from it, so I wish he’d just have some ease and live roughly a little. 

Q9. What kind of artist do you want to be? An award you’re aiming for?

Yongguk: I want to rap about the story of a human being. Before, I used to like gangster rap (example of artists are ICE-T, 2pac, 50 Cent, etc. who’d have provocative and attacking lyrics) but lately, I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve become an adult, but I want to rap that holds humanistic values. Although B.A.P is an idol, I want to surpass the stereotypes of being an idol and make something full of messages. In order to do that, I’ll study harder and become an artist that can lead their dongsengs. For the future, I hope B.A.P can be a group that can make any kind of music. 

Source: YUMI @ TS-ASIAN (JAP to KOR) [1, 2] & HEODANG @ TUMBLR (KOR to ENG) [1, 2]

Comments

[violetrosie.livejournal.com]

I love them

[supplanter.livejournal.com]

lol, daehyun insisting (again!) that himchan is more attractive, everyone wants to try being a giant maknae, 2/3rds picking food-related phrases but not zelo XDDDD

This is a pretty great interview!

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

I’m a very family-oriented man.

Honest, looks like a Fox and he can cook. Himchan you flawless man.

[clayray3290.livejournal.com]

B.A.P x Food is the new OTP of OTPs, yo.

Daehyun doing a duet with a female vocal would be fantaaaaaastic. I wonder with whom? (The obvious choices would be Secret, but other than that) I saw someone else shipping Daehyun x Suzy, and ever since then, I'm all for it.

Also, Yongguk, you are such a grown-up. So into politics and economics and now wanting to write about humanistic values. And lololol Himchan's crush on Zelo. And I really like how Youngjae described his journey of wanting to be a singer - you can tell just by the way he words it how this really is his dream. Also, Jongup is so precious wanting to try breathing the air up there where Zelo's head is.

[purring-feline.livejournal.com]

Our babies!

Bonus points to Bang, good luck with the breaking of idol stereotypes!

[already.livejournal.com]

Interesting interview, it gives you some insight into their personalities and the dynamics within the group. lol at half of them wanting to become Zelo the maknae and Zelo himself wanting to become Yongguk.

Himchan is a child who doesn’t have a complete grasp of things and doesn’t have exact judgment.
lmao Youngjae i love you a little more for that statement alone

[http://users.livejournal.com/___varying/]

Zelo is such a great kid - can totally see how the rest would dote on him.
Snorting at Himchan's reason for wanting to swap bodies with Zelo.

[xkeirafanx.livejournal.com]

Himchan is the representative of all Hyungs and Noonas that perv on Zelo.

[http://users.livejournal.com/___varying/]

ikr. We live vicariously through his excessive affection xD

[xkeirafanx.livejournal.com]

He eases a lot of the fans tension xD

[nobodyelse-care.livejournal.com]

More reason for me to love B.A.P!

[weerainbow.livejournal.com]

This was a really interesting interview. I'm finding myself really loving these boys the more I get to know them. They seem to have good attitudes and I like that they enjoy their diversity and seem to use that to benefit their team. I also love the fighting over who gets to be the mum ROFL!!!
They get more and more respect from me the more I hear them talk about their goals and how they think about their music.

[cairistiona.livejournal.com]

Guk-ah, I love you. <3 I don't know why, but I thought Himchan was older than you, but no.
I love the way they talk. They're so cute. <3

[engraved-16.livejournal.com]

Himchan: I tend to do a lot of skinship and I would always be affectionate to Zelo….but Zelo doesn’t like it,
hahaha this much is very obvious and amusing :))

pshh daehyun, all the girls like you :P

and aww zelo sure is loved by his hyungs ^^ im surprised he hasn't abused his power yet :3

[swhyeon1991.livejournal.com]

ikr :c judging zelo tbh

[engraved-16.livejournal.com]

haha ikr! who wouldn't want himchan being all over you

but then again, maybe its so frequent zelo's annoyed xD

[xkeirafanx.livejournal.com]

God Himchan, I love you xD
Youngjae couldn't be a better middle child, he's really outspoken and roflmao, everyone wants Zelo but Zelo only wants Yongguk, can I die? xD

The self-shipping priorities in this group are amazing. Daehyun and his teasing, competitive side comments on Youngjae, wishing he was as attractive as Himchan. Himchan perving on Zelo. Zelo being clingy, admiring baby at Yongguk. Yongguk basically stating he's married to Himchan. Jongup the innocent and clueless boy... xD

[http://users.livejournal.com/zeroseven_/]

i really liked daehyun's answer for what kind of artist does he want to be. a lot of answers are either, "we're aiming for this award & that award", "we just want to try our best in everything", but his answer indicates his wanting to be recognized for talent, to have longevity & to be well-liked. i like i like.

[marsheumallow.livejournal.com]

these boys are too cute, srsly. i'm really loving them; i can't wait for all the music they will bring us in the future.