Monday, March 03, 2008

[08.02.28][trans] Excerpts - Andy at MBC FM Park Jung Ah's Star Night 080223

PJA: Andy you've been in the business for 10 years, and you've been working really hard. You must have made quite a bit of money

Andy: Money, not really a lot. Many people seem to think that we've made a lot after releasing so many albums in these 10 years, but there's 6 of us in Shinhwa, we don't make that much.

PJA: Is that the reason for your solo?

Andy: The solo really isn't about money. I've acted in a musical in 2007, and I fell in love with singing then. I'm the type who doesn't even sing in my car and at home, but after the musical I had more confidence. Then I started going to noraebangs, and singing in the car and at home, then the idea of releasing an album hit me.

I thought, I've been rapping for the past 10 years, let's try something different, how about singing? I still find it tough now, but I work hard to make up for my flaws.

Andy: When we released our 1st album, we had this thought. Because the 1st album didn't do well, so if our 2nd album wasn't succesful either, we'd split. That's why we worked very very hard. And it was then we got T.O.P on our album. The melody sounded good and the choreography was very special too. It was THE song!

Then we decided that we'd use the song and work hard, in the end T.O.P was very well received, that's why the 6 of us could last til today. When the song reached #1 on the charts we all cried. We didn't cry on stage, well I did but no one knew then.

PJA: Why not?

Andy: Because when the MC announced that T.O.P was #1, wow my tears just rolled down. Then the music started, Minwoo hyung sang first, then Dongwan hyung, then Hyesung hyung....so by the time it was my turn the tears had dried hahaha

When we headed back to the waiting room after that, I felt quite bad because none of the other members cried, I was thinking why was I the only one who cried? Everyone was happy and we all called home.

Then suddenly I heard someone cry out "Omma~", then I found all of them crying on the phone. At that time, all the hard times we've been through just flashed past like a movie.

Andy: "Never Give Up" is the song that the Shinhwa members featured in. Once you hear it you can tell that it's a Shinhwa-styled song.

PJA: It sounds a little sexy

Andy: This song sexy?

PJA: Yeah just a little

Andy: When Minwoo hyung heard this song, he liked it and he volunteered to feature on the song. He was the first to come for recording, after that it was Eric hyung, he wrote the rap lyrics and then featured on the song too.

He really scared me. Usually when the members help each other out, we'd say "I already featured on your song, you have to do this for me, you have to buy this for me..." But he texted me before he came to the studio, saying "Get someone to deliver a pizza first, then I'll come for recording."

PJA: Eric's really adorable

Andy: Yes he is, weird but adorable. Usually you'd have the pizza first before getting on with work, but he was eating the pizza as he was writing the lyrics, then he took the slice of pizza into the recording studio and ate as he rapped. That was really strange

PJA: That's unique enough, so when we hear this song we'll think of Eric holding a slice of pizza

Andy: Exactly, he was holding the slice of pizza in one hand, and then holding his lyrics in the other, walking about the studio hahaha

PJA: Andy you look really happy....you must like Eric a lot

Andy: Nah, hahaha

PJA: Wasn't there something you said about pets?

Andy: I was on some program, and someone asked if I owned a pet. I said yes, but it was difficult to raise it, though it's very cute sometimes. He then asked me what its name was, and I said "Eric!"

PJA: Does Eric know about this?

Andy: He does

PJA: What does he say about it?

Andy: Nothing, because I cook for him, maybe he's grateful to me hahaha

PJA: I guess you're more like brothers than just members now

Andy: That's true

PJA: It's really great to have friends like that. But we've been talking about Eric this whole time.

Andy: We'll stop talking about him now, I need to promote my album!



(T.O.P plays in the background)

Andy: At first when the first album didn't do well, I couldn't even say anything to my parents. When I came back to Korea, they were still overseas so they didn't really understand the situation, they only heard that it didn't do well.

So after we succeeded with T.O.P, we received a lot of support and the song hit #1. It was then that I could finally tell my parents, "Dad, Mum I got #1." I was crying when I was saying that.

PJA: How did they react?

Andy: They were shocked and couldn't say anything. But after a while my mum told me, "Well done, son"

PJA: That must have triggered some unhappy memories

Andy: It did, I recalled the times on the airplane to Korea, and the tough times when we were still trainees.

P: Do you stay alone or with your parents?

Andy: I stay alone now. My parents aren't in the best of health, but fortunately they're better now. I hope the upbeat tunes in my album can be a source of comfort to my parents.



(Ahn Jae Wook's Friend playing in the background)
Andy: Ahn Jae Wook's 'Friend'...There was once when me and a friend, together with Eric hyung and his friend, we all went drinking at a noraebang. Eric hyung got really drunk, then he sang this song.


PJA: Do you have many friends? It seems that way to me

Andy: My friends are all married hahaha

PJA: That's early for guys

Andy: They all got married around 25

PJA: That's really early, don't you want to get married too? All your friends are married

Andy: Honestly I do. When I visit my friends and see their adorable babies, really...

When I met up with my friend once we went for drinks, but his wife called and asked him to go home early. I felt bad and told him to go home but he asked me to his home for more drinks instead. So I went, all reeking of alcohol. I went to his kid's room to see his kid, and I even took pictures. Haha



(Background music: Is It Love?)

Andy: I like this song a lot. I broke up with my girlfriend about 6-7 years ago, and I've been single since....I feel a little lonely. This song is from about 3-4 years ago? Hearing it now makes me want to fall in love again. Many people are like that, once they hear a touching song, they'd feel like falling in love, with whoever it may be. "I'll fall in love if there's a girl who appears now", sometimes this thought creeps into people's minds. I feel like that now that I'm listening to this song.

After I'm done here, I'm going to take the elevator, and the first girl that comes up in the elevator, I will.... (laughs)

PJA: Why don't you be more proactive instead of waiting for love?

Andy: I'm already trying very hard

PJA: Then are your standards too high?

Andy: No, I'm really quite a quiet person. Usually I don't talk as much as I would on a radio programme. When the 6 of us are together in concerts or programmes, I usually look on quietly.


PJA: That's because the other members say everything that needs to be said

Andy: That's true, since I don't really need to say much.

If there's a girl that I like but I can't seem to talk to her, I'll start thinking about what I can do to date her, but once there's someone else after her, I'll end up backing off. I'd be drinking and thinking that she'd be better off with the other guy.

PJA: You're a rare breed...Love is only for the courageous

Andy: You're absolutely right!


Source: IMBC, DA CAPO
Chi trans: yujin@bestshinhwa
Eng trans: midnightgirl13@shinhwabiz

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