JYJ in Berlin – Unreleased Interview.
On the afternoon of the 4th, two days before JYJ’s concert in Berlin, I had an interview with them. Although unable to be used on the broadcast, there were a few good words and so I record them here instead.
It is the final world tour of this year. What aspects will you appeal?
Junsu: The current tour is not new, it is the extension of the worldwide album. There is nothing particularly changed on this tour. Instead, we were able to stand [on the stage] with the European dancers. He is a famous entertainer in Spain (Rafa Méndez). He is someone who can do acrobatic acts in dancing with the passion that befits Europe. He molded such dances into the concert. If there are points that are different then those are it.
To be contrasted with collaborative concerts from other agencies, this is the first solo concert in Europe. You said that the difference was that there could be a narrative—what does that mean?
Junsu: A concert planned by an agency is one in which many artists come out and sing their representative songs and then finish. But JYJ can show a variety with talk and conversation. From there, it is different. There is a story that dance songs and ballad songs give. But when singers merely sing their own songs and then get out, then when transitioning from dance to ballad it can be unnatural. It is different in that regard. Looking at it from another angle, it is not to post the title of the agency but rather a concert that puts the team’s name on the stake in the foreign land of Europe. In just looking at the fact that we made the first stride in Spain and Germany which were untraveled (by Korean artists), it is meaningful.
In coming to Europe do you actually feel the heat of the K-pop?
Jaejoong: I wonder if the heat/popularity of K-pop as we know it has not been exaggerated. In Thailand, Japan and China, if one merely walks the streets the music of K-pop flows out. One can commonly observe the selling of the albums. In fact, in Europe, barring perhaps the vicinities of the concert venue, it is difficult for any star to truly feel that heat. Currently, it is the stage in which the market called K-pop is just beginning. The fire is about to be lit.
As the manias who (are kind enough to) like K-pop become more numerous, in Korea they call it the “K-pop storm.” And since it does storm as such [one] wishes to know about K-pop.
As for our case, it was a solo concert and thus it was small in scale. It was a concert that did not have proceeds. In truth if proceeds are not created [one] would decide that there is no next concert. Because the next concert can only come about if there are proceeds. But [we are not like that because] we are performing while looking to the future.
How was the response of the audience of Spain?
Yoochun: When you look at a fan from a nation, you can see a bit the nation. I began to see the culture of Spain. Unlike the passion from Asia, it was powerful. Seeing that, I felt that I wanted to perform in this country. I think the feeling would increase as the stage becomes bigger.
Junsu: The fans brought forth [from us] such a strength. When we finished, it seemed that we had exerted beyond the strength that we could muster. It became possible that a strength that could never come about if we tried to do it could be brought forth.
When you perform in Europe like this, it seems that you may feel that you are doing good by your country?
Yoochun: The thought is not that [this is happening because] we are great—it is a responsibility, yes, but it feels as if the roads that we must venture towards seem to open. Seeing it in another way it is a concert about which we are not made to be satisfied. As for the European concert we wish to show a side that is honest and without exaggeration. We want to have the mindset that will not be embarrassed on articles that read “we are so hot in Europe like this.”
Jaejoong: Among the stars of Asia, how many artists are there who can have their first concert in Europe and show a stage that is honest and devoid of exaggeration on a small stage. Even if one were not able to finish successfully there can be a mind that wishes to say that it was successful. What I am saying is that I don’t want that.
What do you mean when you say the “roads that we must venture towards”?
Jaejoong: When we performed in Japan, to a single performance about 200,000 persons came. When we stop four times—two times in Osaka and two times in Tokyo – almost a million persons come. As one perform on such a large scale, even we begin to have conceit due to the mind that is satisfied—such as “where is the next stage that is even bigger”, “where else can we climb even further.”
If an artist has no goal, that is suffering. As you feel so—and you have a small-scale concert in another country and you see the empty seats in the audience, instead of a dejected heart, more goals seem to form.
Junsu: In Japan also we had no choice but to start from the bottom. Later as we felt that our popularity began to solidify more and more, in the end we were able to even achieve a grand slam. In Europe also, it is the right beginning to perform in this manner.
Isn’t it difficult being unable to go on Korean music programs?
Junsu: When we hear words that disregard us as if we lack popularity, my heart hurts. My heart hurts that they, in order to prove themselves right, debase us in ways such as lowering the number of our fans and such.
How do you feel that the future with the members that are separated will go?
Yoochun: When I was young, looking at the broken-up teams such as Seo Taeji and the Kids and Sechs Kies, I thought—Is it difficult to come back together?
It was difficult.
Because it is not something that only we five can do.
It is difficult to give you a definite answer.
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