[TRANS] Nikkei Entertainment April issue 2014 Part 1. Note: It is very long so the prologue (history part) is omitted. All interview was conducted in Japanese in Seoul. YH: The title of ‘TREE” reflects my and Changmin’s mutual trust and our will to grow bigger as a big tree that would be standing still, even though time passes by. In the beginning, TVXQ was small but has grown bigger by absorbing nutrients such as everyone’s cheers and supports. We thought that such a biorhythm is like a tree. CM: We have rooted in Japanese land and our trunk has grown taller. We wanted to show everyone “grown up TVXQ”. This year, we have celebrated our 10th anniversary since we were born and right now we are in the middle of our growth spurt. We wanted to clearly show everyone where and how we are right now at this moment of our career. YH: Exactly. This album also expresses our hope that we will continue to spread our branches and leaves into new genres and many different directions. In these days, it is not just in Korea or in Japan, but through Youtube or SNS, TVXQ fans are able to connect to each other, are not they? We wish to connect more fans all around the world, and we hope to become a big tree so that everyone can get together under this tree. Interviewer: I initially thought that the title “TREE” meant your fans. Wherever TVXQ goes, fans are the existences that stay at their places and are waiting for TVXQ patiently. But the truth is the completely opposite. TVXQ does not expect such unconditional love from their fans. “TREE” means TVXQ’s promise that “TVXQ will become a tree that can give fruits and prosperity to their fans.” YH: Well, you could also think about the way that you initially thought. Do you know the famous picture book called, “The giving tree (by Shel Silverstein)”? TVXQ wishes to become something like that. CM: It is a story of a tree. The tree became a playmate or someone to talk to for a boy. Some time, the tree gave his branches or trunk to the boy and the tree was always besides the boy. The boy who was raised by the tree is like us, TVXQ. We also want to become like this big tree. The title, “TREE” reflects our relationship with our fans. Interviewer: The “TREE” is conceptual and seems like an OST of a movie. To compare to the previous albums containing many singles that TVXQ released before the release of each album, ‘TREE” contains a lot more new songs and it seems to have a character as a pure original album. Further, despite of its peaceful/gentle image from the title of “TREE”, it contains lyrics that are mannish, it is decorated with very piercing shape digitalized sounds, and many challenges are attempted for vocal works. How do you feel after listening to the completed album? YH: What do you think? (to CM) CM: Well, there are ballads that touch your soul and there also are enjoyable dance songs. Its a bit embarrassing for me saying this, but every year, we were able to show many different styles of us through our live performances. I feel like that we can do the same! I feel more and more confident that we really can do it, and I started to get excited about our TREE tour. Of course, we imaged about the upcoming live tour while we were recording this album. YH: We are like that every time (when we make albums). Speaking of TVXQ, it is all about live performances. This time, I had a little confidence in me when I was given the guide vocal (e.g. guide track). About the final product, I have always said, “Oh, this is great.” But when I first heard the whole album of TREE, I said unconsciously, “Oh, this is yabai, this is so very yabai” (note: yabai is a Japanese slang meaning amazingly good, dangerously good and etc). I felt that oh, this will become a legendary album by which we could send all our messages to our fans. I am telling you the truth! (laugh)
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 12:23:20 +0000
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