[Exclusive Interview&Photo] B.A.P's 4th Single, 'EXCUSE ME' Released!

◆ Please explain the reason why you chose new song "EXCUSE ME" as the 4th single. It was included in "BADMAN" where the title song was "BADMAN," so it was rather unexpected.

Young Jae: We performed "EXCUSE ME" on many stages in Japan, and it was a highly favorite song among Japanese fans. That's why we chose it.

◆ You mean that the determinant was Japanese fans' reactions?

Young Jae: Yes.

◆In each of three songs that were recorded this time, what aspects of B.A.P do you think are expressed?

Dae Hyun: In "EXCUSE ME"... it's a song that's really descriptive of B.A.P, with lots of fun, overflowing with confidence. "COFFEE SHOP" is a song that can reveal another side of B.A.P. "ZERO" is very much B.A.P-like and also is filled with hope. I think all three songs can be enjoyed in a natural, relaxed mood. 

◆Please tell us if there was a Japanese expression you learned for the first time among the three songs you recorded this time.

Dae Hyun: Please wait a little bit.

Bang Yong Guk: ♪Boku no jingi (= my justice) (Laughter)

Dae Hyun: The word I think I used for the first time is "tokeru hodo." (= melting) This was my first time to use such a word... there are lyrics that say, "Yami ga tokeru hodo~♪(=  as if to melts the darkness)." I have heard of "darkness" but not "melting." 

ZELO: Me too, I learned "tokeru hodo" for the first time.

Jong Up: Me too, "tokeru hodo" (Laughter)

◆By the way, your last single "NO MERCY" dazzled as No.2 on Orikon Weekly!

All members: Yay! (Applause)

◆Now that you have reached this far, the next goal would be No.1 on Orikon and moving the live concert from Arena (Yokohama Arena) to Dome (Tokyo Dome) . What do you think?

Him Chan: Of course No.1 and Tokyo Dome would be nice, but I would be happy to simply have many people listen to our songs.

ZELO: (smiles)

◆ After the interview in Japan last time, you went to London and Paris before your tour in Japan. In the land you visited for the first time, do you have any impressive episode?

Jong Up: Last time, fans in Europe cheered us just like they would cheer at a soccer game. It was impressive to see fans become united as one in their cheering.

Him Chan: That was Paris, right?  ♪Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh! (Sings)

Jong Up: Yes it was Paris.

◆In the Japan tour, members came down to the aisles in the concert hall, and fans were totally excited. Please share your thoughts on it!

Young Jae: It was really passionate. I felt we are deeply loved.

Dae Hyun: There may be surprises like this again later.  (Laughter)

Bang Yong Guk: Probably (Laughter)

Him Chan: We would keep such an event as secret!

Everyone: (each in Japanese) Himitsu! (= Secret)

◆How do you feel after finishing "LIVE ON EARTH"?

Dae Hyun: The strongest feeling, beyond anything, is nostalgia. We went around many countries and met many fans, but I miss it so much. I want to do more concerts. That is the strongest feeling inside of me.

Young Jae: The desire springing up in me is to meet many fans around the world through tours soon again.

Him Chan: Really, I can't wait to meet them again!

Jong Up: I also want to meet everyone again soon.   

Zelo: Pali Pali! (Quickly! in Korean)

◆By the way, do you guys like your own voices? How do you think of your voice?

Young Jae: Yes, I like it very much.

◆For Young Jae, when was your change of voice? 

Young Jae: For me it was around high school. Somewhere between middle school and high school.

Zelo: For me it was the freshman year of high school. And the period quickly went away. (Laughter) It was a subtle change barely noticeable. That was around 3 years ago. So my voice was changing until around the time of "Bang&Zelo. "

Jong Up: I don't know if I had the change of voice. Cos I don't really talk. (Laughter) I didn't really care about it, and it seems like my voice changed naturally. So I don't really know when it exactly happened. 

Bang Yong Guk: It seems my voice has been as it is since I was born. (Laughter) Like I had a low voice even when I came out of my mother's womb.

Young Jae: What!? (Laughter)

◆B.A.P has a reputation of possessing high sense in daily fashion.  Please share your personal key points in fashion and the fashion point for summer airport fashion.

Everyone: (looks at Him Chan)

Him Chan: Me? (Laughter) Yes, I am the fashion icon. I am fashion! I am fashion and fashion is me! (Laughter)

Everyone: Ahahaha (Laughter)

Young Jae: He is handsome so anything looks good on him.

Him Chan: Whatever clothes I wear, the handsome face gets illuminated. If there is a T-shirt I want to wear, I start by selecting T-shirt. If I have pants I want to wear, I start there.

◆Then, how about other members' fashion style from the viewpoint of fashion icon Him Chan?

Him Chan: Each member has his own original style, and I think it's great. Young Jae has a simple image. He likes grey very much. For Jong Up, sometimes it's hard to understand, but he prefers unique items. Something very flashy looks good on him. Young Guk too is simple, and looks good in black. ZELO looks good in unique style. Items that would look weird on us can become stylish on him. And about Dae Hyun's style... I don't really know. (Laughter)

ZELO: Dae Hyun's style is basically simple, but he tends to add one point whether it's color or design an item to add. Recently he became really cute! Right! (Smiles)

Other members: (nod their heads)     

◆From here are questions from foreign fans from KpopStarz all around the world.

"Is there a plan for Bang&Zelo comeback? I also want to see Daehyun-Youngjae." (LA)

ZELO: Thank you. But there is no plan for "Bang&Zelo" in the future. I was a student when we did "Bang&Zelo," so the theme was "students" for many people to feel related. So our contemporary young fans could find common points.

It will not be now, but when I become older, if there is a chance to have "Bang&Zelo" comeback, I would like to do songs that can relate to people even in such age.

Young Jae: Daehyun-Youngjae? (Laughter) I consider our activities as B.A.P most important, so there is no plan for that.

◆ "To global star B.A.P, what do you think is the reason for your international popularity?" (London)

Him Chan: We do music and performance that highlight the masculine aspect, so perhaps our powerful performance caught the hearts of many fans.

◆"Among members, who developed the most since debut?" (Italy)

Him Chan: All members grew and matured, but ZELO really grew up! I have known him since his childhood, so he grew much taller and also matured as a man.

ZELO: Honestly even I don't know if I am still growing taller. But when I took a shot in Brazil and measured my height, I was surprised that I had grown taller than before! (Laughter)

◆To Bang Young Guk, "What do you think of the fact that your lyrics and charitable spirit are reaching the hearts of worldwide fans?" 

Bang Young Guk: I am always thankful. I hope that B.A.P songs can give strength not just to our fans, but to many hurting people. That would be my great joy.

◆"If B.A.P is to perform, what kind of drama or movie do you want to take part in? Who do you want to act with?" (Poland) 

Him Chan: A movie with B.A.P as the main characters. Something like that. And perhaps a movie that develops?

◆ When we collected questions for B.A.P this time, there were so many responses from Poland. Do you have any special connection? 

Everyone: (Each says) We have never been there.

Young Jae: Oh, but when we held a concert in America, fans we met in our hotel's store gave us many letters, saying "fans in Poland wanted the letters to be handed to you." Even though we haven't been to Poland yet, we can feel that we are loved by many people.

Dae Hyun: (In Japanese) Sono tori desu! (= Exactly) (Smiles)

◆This is also from Poland. "Do you have any talisman or special habit that makes you confident in concerts?" 

Dae Hyun: When we go onto stage, LED light lights up and we appear from there. In such moments I always pray. Even though I don't believe in any god or religion, I pray, like "May today's stage go well" or, when some trouble comes, "Please let everything go well." Then I go on to stage, then after it's over, there is a sense of satisfaction.

◆What do you do when you have a bad day? Do you have any way to improve your mood? (Poland)

Young Jae: For me, when something is not going well, I do not touch that issue but try to look for something new that seems possible for me. That's how I encourage myself and recover my confidence. 

Jong Up: When things don't go well, for example when it's simply suffocating, I go for an exercise. That's how my mood can change.

Him Chan: (To Jong Up) Like that, you become like the main character of "Slam Dunk." (Laughter)

Jong Up: Aha (Laughter)  

◆Lastly, please share your message with worldwide B.A.P fans.

Him Chan: (Looks at Bang Young Guk)

Bang Young Guk: Him Chan, you can go for it.

Him Chan: If it is to meet fans who always wait for B.A.P concert and for us, we will go anytime. I hope we could continue to hold good concerts from now on. Let's make good memories together. We love you!

(text:kiyori matsumoto / photo:akiya uchida / translation:nanase yamaguchi, hannah wong)

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