CNBLUE at Excite Music Interview

                

“Lady” sounds like a dance music from the 70’s. What kind of image did you have in mind when you started composing this, Yonghwa san?

YH: I started working on Lady sometime in March or April. I aimed at making a song with a taste of oldies and at the same time meeting our style. Considering today’s music trend of going back to the oldies, we wanted to follow that wave. Initially, there were two types of rhythm line but we ended up with this discotheque style. I had trouble choosing which rhythm fits better because the other one had a more rock sound.

MH: That version sounded nice but very difficult to play. I think the current version is simpler.

JS: I still think this song is one of the most difficult songs to play. While I was recording the bass part, I tried to communicate (with others?). It took longer than expected. It was quite a challenge to finish recording this song and yet, it was so fulfilling when I was done recording.

YH: It took us till 5 in the morning!

JS: The rhythm was really difficult.

JH: I thought it was a great song from the first time I heard it. It is different from our past songs because it sounded stylish and trendy. I also found the rhythm of guitar very interesting. The lyrics were a bit different than our past songs and fit the melody well.

What did you focus on when you were writing the lyrics, Yonghwa san?

YH: The melody has a slightly y image and I wanted to match the lyrics to it.

JH: We also tried to sing it in such a way since the lyrics is so y.

YH: Most of the songs we have released in Japan had themes of dreams and such. I wanted to change it this time.

Do you mean you wanted to challenge something new?

YH: Not that I intended to challenge, but it ended up this style of music since I just followed what I felt like making these days.

I see. It was “lady” at the time when you are longing for her from afar and then changed to “baby” when you got closer to her. It was impressive that you described the beginning of the relationship with the contrast of just those two words.

YH: As you mentioned, “lady” and “baby” are both used in the chorus. While I was writing the lyrics, I thought it would sound great just to hear those two words even if you’re not focused on listening to the lyrics of the song in its entirety. I also thought it would fit the image of the song’s theme perfectly.

Do you mean you chose the words that can be felt intuitively without having to go to great lengths to explain it?

YH: That’s right.

MH: I got really curious what he is going to write about as soon as I heard the song. Then, he pulled out something really different from the past that fits the melody so well. I am always amused to find interesting points of this song’s lyrics or theme or whenever Yong Hwa writes new songs.

So, where do you feel joy when you play this song as a band, the charm?

JH: The song’s melody is really good and I enjoy playing the cutting rhythm of the guitar.

                                          

The 2nd song in the album, “Don’t Care” has a comfortable rhythm, how did you come up with this song?

YH: I think this song gives you a warm feeling. I made it in an instant while I was playing acoustic guitar. I didn’t have much trouble creating it. It sounds almost same as in its initial/demo stage.

JS: It is very simple. I thought it would be better not to change it so much from the original. I was happy to listen to it after recording because we were able to retain the original feeling.

The lyrics tell you to believe in yourself. The phrase ‘I have my fans to support me’-is it correct to assume that Yonghwa san is trying to show how you feel?

YH: Yes, that’s right. I wrote the lyrics really fast.

The key words of “Lady” were “lady” and “baby”. In this song, I wonder what you meant by “I” and “You”. I don’t think it means just the relationship of two – “I” and “You”

YH: Right, it contains the message that one is not just living on his own and he should be grateful to the people around him.

JH: Yonghwa is playing the acoustic guitar in this song. I tried to record electric guitar as well with rough sounds and distortion, but we thought it didn’t fit and does not sound good. In the end, we was erased it.

That’s a little disappointing.

JH: It was! Well I kind of knew it might not work and discussed if “Is it better not to include?” with the staff and members. We decided to do it saying “But we never know if we don’t try”, and recorded it – it was a waste of time. LOL!

But it shows that you are trying all possibilities thinking to of ways to make the songs better?

JH: Right, we found out the acoustic sound goes well in the end.

MH: I believe the point of this song is brass part. You can easily remember the melody of that part. It’s such a nice song that recording went smoothly. The sounds were great.

YH: The drum sound was especially great!

The 3rd song “Monday” is a cheerful song that incorporates elements of reggae. Although it is about depressive feeling of Monday morning, it is sort of humorous and not truly hating it.

YH: The background of the lyrics is, although we are in different situation now, I know that for a lot of people like office workers, Monday is the start of the whole week and Sunday night is a little depressing. In Korea we have a program called “Gag Concert” by KBS, broadcasted on Sunday night. Each time I hear the ending theme back when I was student, I was like “No, school week starts again tomorrow”.

JS: Yeah, it was like that during school days.

YH: That is how I wrote the lyrics..thinking of that feeling.

I feel the song has encouraging effect to think positive when you feel blue. Were you aiming for such an effect?

YH: I guess so. I also included the word ‘time machine’ hoping I wish I could go back and forth in time.

Please tell us how excited you are about participating in Summer Sonic 2013 and Rock in Japan Festival 2013 this summer.

MH: I feel a lot of pressure. There will be so many band and many drummers in different colors. Among them, I feel pressured on what I can do. I try to be relaxed and think that we can just play our own music.

YH: I am so looking forward to it. It’s going to be an interesting experience and because we have had a lot of live stage, I believe we can do well.

JH: I am happy to join. I only play with pleasure and have fun as usual. That’s all I want.

JS: I also feel I am going to have fun. It is my first time to watch or perform in Summer Sonic 2013, so I am happy and Rock in Japan Festival 2013 will be outdoors. We’ve done outdoor performance in Niigata and it had its own appeal, so I am looking forward to it. I am so happy to perform as 4 of us and hoping a lot of people can listen to our music and come to our live concert.

Source: Excite Music Japan
Translation: [email protected]
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