B1A4 naver interview "From 'Paper-dols' to Super Rookies with 130000 Fans"

[in-noctem.livejournal.com]

If you were to decide a singer’s popularity on the age group of their fans, B1A4 (Jinyoung, Baro, Sandeul, CNU, and Gongchan) have made a definite standing in the 10’s~20’s age group, which is the average age for fans of idol groups. 

Since they aren’t ‘national’ singers that people will know of if you just mention their name, their popularity among the public may be low, but their growth levels can definitely be felt.

The member amount for their fancafe has passed 130,000 people, and they sold 8000 tickets in 5 minutes for their first solo concert, which took place at the Olympic Park SK Olympic Handball Stadium last month.

They recently shot a commercial for the schoolwear brand, ‘SMART’, with Miss A’s Suzy, and they currently have 6 other contracts that are signed or being discussed, which include clothes and chicken companies.

Representatives of various entertainments that house rivaling groups stated, “They measure the fandom level based on how many fans come to watch the music program, and how loud their cheer are. Between the newcomers that came during these 1~2 years, B1A4’s is the best.”

B1A4 released 3 singles and a full-album in Japan last year, rising the 2nd place on the Oricon charts. At Japan’s ‘Gold Disk Awards’, they received the ‘New Artist of the Year’ award along with the ‘Best 3 New Artist’ award. They will also have 4 performances at the end of this month in Kobe (5000-6000 seats) and Yokohama (10,000 seats).

The last time we met B1A4 was at their Bangbae-dong company office (WM Entertainment) in November after they had finished promotions for their third mini album.

After debuting in April 2011, they have released 3 mini albums, a full album, and a repackaged full album in 2 years, making a total of 5 albums. They also had hit songs like ‘Baby Goodnight’ and ‘Tried to Walk’, which received the love of girl fans.

However, they who have rose up as ‘Super Rookies’ shyly smiled, and added, “We still have a long way to go.”

“Since we don’t do a lot of surfing on the internet, and just practice with each other, it’s hard to feel it. Although we can slightly feel it when we go to music programs, it’s not something that happens everyday, and when we go down the countryside rest areas during schedules, people can’t tell who we are. That’s why we decided to work harder. When we were filming the commercial for the school uniform brand, ‘SMART’, it was quite a new feeling. Haha.” (CNU)

B1A4 were teased at the beginning of their debut for their name coming from having 1 member with the blood type B and 4 members with the blood type A.

Baro laughed as said, “We were teased with things like ‘are they a new type of copying paper’ with ‘paper-dols’, and being called ‘blood-dols’ because we had relations to blood types. On one live broadcast, an MC introduced us as ‘B1F4’, and there were reporters who wrote our name wrong as A1B4. As we gained more fans, there were various nicknames given to us such as ‘sprout-dols’ and ‘live-dols’.”

As I look at the members, there isn’t really anyone who stands out as a ‘flower boy’ or ‘statue man (T/N: a man with perfect features that it resembles a carved statue)’, or someone who shows ‘funny skills’ rowdily.

When I asked what the secret behind their popularity is, they replied, “I think it’s our friendliness.”

“Although we grew since our debut, we don’t really have good looks. Haha. We’re all from the countryside, and we don’t really dress ourselves up in front of the camera, so many people probably think of us in a friendly way. Our teenage fans say that we’re like the oppas next door.” (Jinyoung, Sandeul)

Continuing on, Baro added, “Since the members all combine well in roles, we don’t have any reason to argue. Fans say that the charismatic Jinyoung hyung is the ‘dad’, and that CNU, who cooks well at the dorms and cleans well, is the ‘mom’. We usually hold a conversation where we compliment and lecture each other, but we talked from midnight till 9 AM one time. We have good teamwork, and all the members don’t drink or smoke, so we take good care of themselves.”

Along with their friendly and sincere image, Jinyoung’s composing skills add onto that, strengthening their artist image. Since their debut, Jinyoung has placed his personally composed songs in the album, and starting from the third album, he personally composed the title songs.

Jinyoung explained the positive points, “Since we make it, I think our team’s color is shown well. When we receive a song, we normally pick out the members’ parts, and practice. Then the members can understand it well, and we talk about songs that would fit us while making it.”

Sandeul’s vocals and Baro’s rapping skills have recently garnered attention. They won a round on the ‘Kim Bumryong special’ on KBS2’s ‘Immortal Song 2’ last month. Sandeul has experience from winning national song festivals such as the ‘Ulsan Youth Song Festival’.

Along with their growth, the company’s actions towards them have also been upgraded.

Jinyoung proudly said, “When we debuted, we only had 1 bathroom in our dorms, but now we live on the 10th floor of an apartment that has 2 bathrooms.”

When I asked, “Was it a good choice to become a singer?”, Baro and CNU emphasized, “I’m happy to be able to do something that I enjoy” and, “Friends of my age go to university, and prepare to start working. My friends get envious that I have a dream.”

I asked them about their goal. Opposed to the confident dreams that most idol groups say which is to become a world star and hold a world tour, they shyly expressed their dreams.

“We had our first concert in Seoul last year, so I want to do a national tour and visit the countryside.” (Gongchan)

“Since it’s a goal, I can think big, right? There are fans of many nations on our Youtube channel. I want to become a group that receives love overseas as well, so if I were to largely create a goal, it would be to hold a world tour.” (Jinyoung)

source: naver, trans by hyejin @ b1a4trans

I had no idea they moved dorms! :D And I like Jinyoung's idea of a world tour.

Comments

[erisinia.livejournal.com]

omg i just finished a post for that giant-ass inkigayo interview, I was so scared this was it and my work was for naught lol!

werk it mabies! altho smh at "we don't really have good looks"

[in-noctem.livejournal.com]

LOL the length was the very reason why I posted this one instead

[epona.livejournal.com]

Is still being considered rookies two years after debut something to brag about?

[erisinia.livejournal.com]

wow rude

honestly though, I think Korea considers groups to be rookies until everyone in Korea knows who they are, no matter how many years they've been active. (poor UKISS ㅠㅠ)

[sky-fish7.livejournal.com]

Jinyoooouuung!!! Here comes your Fan from Europe! XD visit me with your WORLD Tour! Lol

Thanks a lot for sharing tthis interview! I'm happy to read about those 5! They are just great and so talented! I wish them all the best!

[in-noctem.livejournal.com]

For some strange reason it slipped my mind they'd moved dorms despite it being shown on Hello Baby I think?

The living room does look like Infinite's but the bedroom not so much. I wonder if a lot of apartments there (maybe in the same district) have similar layouts?

[fabledlamb.livejournal.com]

Lol, whoever wrote that article sounds like they're totally surprised at B1A4's success. Because, you know, they're all so average looking and everything. I might be totally off but maybe it's their music that people like and that sets them apart, not their lack of a 'statue man'? (And if they're basing their opinion on the group's looks then I'd say they aren't less pretty or cute or whatever than other groups, wtf.)

[falling-empress.livejournal.com]

omg oppas don't drink? omooooo i wanna marry them all =)