SCANs of the mag // cr: sunyebaidubar
http://yfrog.com/0dorazj
http://yfrog.com/bbh1inj
http://yfrog.com/gh7bj
http://yfrog.com/bfluccj
http://yfrog.com/nsdlq1j
http://yfrog.com/mt0oowj
http://yfrog.com/0412zfj
Intro: In 2011, there were 67groups made their debut in Korea. 40 of them are girl groups. There’s almost a new girl group making debut every 2weeks.
The new waves are coming quickly, the speed of elimination is getting quicker, who can escape from the 5-year-only life?
The Wonder Girls, SNSD and KARA who lead the hallyu wave are passing their first 5-year since their debut to be the Korean’s best 3 girl groups. The formula of success and their past will be disconstructed now.
The main part of the interview:
In 2009, the song ‘Nobody’ made the Wonder Girls to be world-famous. It was good for them being on top, but then they left their safety zone entering the US market which has a bigger influence yet more suspicious.
They’re not doing magnifying, just appear on a small piece of the newspaper. Even the planned English full-length album is just around the corner…Finally, the album is confirmed to be released this year, the new single ‘Like Money’ found the American hip hop king, AKON to be featured. WG also went back to the concert stage after 3 years.
This time the 5 girls starts again after being well-equipped. The Wonder Power is coming again.
Q: The planned US full-length album is being postponed again and again. Waited for more than 3yrs, and you’re not even promoting in Korea, will you afraid of the decreasing of popularity?
SUN: We are so understand that popularity can’t last forever, so we didn’t afraid of losing our position in Korea when we enter the US market. But we received support from K-WFs continuously when we were there. We’re truly thankful for that.
YENNY: Sometimes in case of grabbing a higher target, you have to give up sth. We had strong wills to accept this challenge.
YUBIN: We won’t decide to promote overseas if we first afraid of the position in Korea. During the time of waiting, we were nervous, and it was a hard time. But for work, we’ll do our best and we will learn to enjoy at the moment. We learnt a lot in the US, it made us to grow up so much.
SOHEE: To me, promoting in the US is much more fun than being nervous. Cuz it’s a brand new experience.
LIM: I was so nervous when starting, but feeling excited about this unknown trip.
Q:The English album will be released soon, also you’ve made your debut last month in Japan. To master different languages, accepting difference between cultures, the most unforgettable thing is…
YUBIN: We’ve waited for this English album for so long. What we care the most is the pronunciation, so we keep learning and practicing so hard. I think it’s much happier that we can be close with fans despite of different lang than being famous.
YENNY: Yup, the hardest part is pronunciation. The difficuly of singing in English scores 8/10. (I’m) currently learning Japanese and Spanish.
SUN: It was hard at the beginning, but it’s getting better as (we) keep on practicing and learning.
SOHEE: (I’ve) taken Chinese class before and currently learning English and Japanese. I’ll try my best to learn the local language wherever we are.
LIM: In Japan, the most unforgettable thing is that many Japaneses wear weird clothing on the streets at daytime, that’s funny! They’re all sensitive at fashion and dressing with personal styles.
Q: Being in the US market for a while, when compared to Korea, what you love about the US market? What’s the difficulty?
SUN: The entertainment ‘system’ is different in both places. In Korea, rookies make their debut through TV programs to let the public to know them. Through tour is the way to strengthen your music career in the US. What I love most of the life in the US-especially in Manhattan, is that we can experience different cultures closely. Being in a country but you can try foods around the world…I can now understand why the US is called the ‘melting pot’ (That means it combines various cultures in a place.) Fun things including visiting Broadway to enjoy shows too.
SOHEE: It’s fun and fresh for me to tour the whole country for promotion.
LIM: US artists go on radios to promote, it’s different from Korean artists that go on TV music programs.
YUBIN: We also had chances to be the opening acts for concerts in the US. What we had learnt in the US can’t be experienced in Korea.
YENNY: Koreans treat the relationship between FDs and among families importantly, but Americans fight for freedom and showing off their own charm. However, it’s easy to understand.
Q: Tell us your experience about the collaboration with AKON about the song ‘Like Money’?
SUN: What surprised us is that he pays so much time to prepare for the performance.
YENNY: I’ve heard that AKON will prepare much for showing off different sides of himself for different shows. For a singer like him, we learnt a lot.
LIM: We’ve always been AKON’s fans, so the first stage to perform ‘Like Money’ is the most unforgettable.
SOHEE: We’ve had a meal with him when we were performing in Korea. He loves Korean food!
YUBIN: It’s surprising to know that he enjoys different spicy foods. I’m happy to work with him.
Q: YENNY and YUBIN worked for the production of the mini-album ‘Wonder Party’: YENNY composed ‘R.E.A.L.’ and ‘Girlfriend’; YUBIN wrote lyrics for ‘Hey Boy’. What will you want to challenge in the future?
YENNY: I’m hoping to try musicals, dramas(She means the one in the theater). Being a radio DJ will be fine for me too.
LIM: I’m hoping to write a autobiography called ‘The growth of a girl’!
YUBIN: I’m hoping to continue writing lyrics, keep on rapping. It might be fun if I can try acting.
Q: Being a group for 5yrs, the most wonderful moment is…
SUN: I think it’s unforgettable for every moment. We’ve just celebrated our 5th anniversary and 2000th days after debut. At the moment, I think it’s thankful that I can celebrating that day with members.
YENNY: The happiest and nicest moment, of course, it was the moment with fans at the concert.
SOHEE: I personally think that the days in the US is the most fantastic one. It was hard though, we had many great moments.
Q: There must be moments when you have different opinions for you 5 girls, right? What’s your tip to communicate with others peacefully?
SUN: Of course there are moments like that. When we can’t figure out a opinion, we’ll discuss that whose is the best, whose should be adopted. The best way is to be honest to each other, forgive each other and respect each other. Fortunately, we know each other very well that we know everyone’s common target is to do our best.
LIM: We don’t really have ‘real’ fights, we’ll learn to forgive each other.
YENNY: The best way is to consider in each other’s way.
SOHEE: Another way is to have meals together! Our choices for food are the same!
Q: How do you feel holding a world tour after 3 years?
YUBIN: We can finally hold a concert in Singapore! We’re very excited cuz we’ve been there a few times for different events in the past. We all love Chilli crabs, we’ll eat every time when we are there. Talking about Singapore, I’ll think of Singapore Sling and peanut too, ha! Moreover, I’m hoping to swim on top of the Marina Bay Sands.
The formula of success:
40% – A tailor-made dance song
It’s not accidental to be successful. Their road has been planned in detail in advance.
JYP planned a musical trilogy for the Wonder Girls just as they’ve made their debut. The first album in 2007, ‘The Wonder Years’ contains styles of the 80s from its names and songs. Not to mention that JYP produced the album by himself but some other Korean producers like Shinhwa’s Cheung Chun Ho, Kwon Tae Eun helped to produce different dance songs.
The title song ‘Tell Me’ stays with JYP’s ‘She was pretty’s Pop Disco movement and lead the heat of dance songs in Korea.
Afterwards, the 2nd project in 2008, ‘So Hot’ lets the Wonder Girls to be ‘Korea’s Little Sisters’. The 3rd project ‘Nobody’ even attacked overseas like a atom bomb. The repeating melody goes in everyone’s mind and be so unforgettable.
This method ‘keep repeating’ keep on to be using: ‘Like this yo like this’ which has been repeated for n times(That means many many times) in the new song ‘Like This’. With no doubt, it once again lets everyone to be dropped in Wonder Girls’ music.
40% – Cute retro dance moves
Policemen, prisoners in the Philippines…Everyone around the world, despite of ages, gender, skin color, religions, was attracted by the ‘Nobody’ virus. Everyone couldn’t wait to imitate and upload to Youtube.
The dance moves had a important impact on the group and the song’s success. It’s simple yet entertaining, simply using your fingers to move. You’re fed up of it? It’s okay, the next song, ’2 Different Tears’ and ‘Be My Baby’, let you continue to dance.
The recently released, ‘Like This’ though isn’t retro, but its American electron hip hop melody with its fun dance moves let people wants to stand up and dance.
20% – International influence
The song ‘Nobody’ ranked 76 on Billboard Hot 100 when they first reached the America. Billboard.com picked them as one of ’21 under 21′ (21 great people who are under 21) too. It lets them to step to be world-recognized.
Even they’ve been silent for a while, the CB song ‘Be My Baby’ MV views reached World’s 1st within 9days after its release. The song ‘Like Money’ gets major American websites’ critics’ nice reviews. These 5 girls are still fighting so hard to maintain their position of World singers.
-The little pink box is an ad of Wonder World Tour in Singapore.
——————————————————
Sorry if there’re mistakes or mistranslation, I’ve done my best!
