Hello there, STARCAST readers! It’s the season where we can already hear ‘All I want for Christmas is you-♬’ on the streets!! Time has flied so fast and it’s already the last month for this 2016.(ㅠ_ㅠ)
For the ones who would be excited for this Christmas! For the ones who will be all grown-ups next year! For the ones who would be making new plans for 2017! (>_<) I have prepared the B-cuts of B.A.P’s 2017 Season’s Greetings for you to start this New Year delightfully!
Shall we go see them? Let’s GO GO!
What kind of photos would be in B.A.P’s 2017 Season’s Greetings??
B.A.P’s 2017 Season’s Greetings was made in the concept of ‘Travel’. The best travel among all is staying in your own rooms and sleeping up late!
Yes, Youngjae’s foot is the best meal for late breakfast (*^^*)
As they were playing jokes to each other, these playful boys started the pillow fight♪
B.A.P’s Helping Hands, a non-profit charity group led by fans, has raised over $26,000 since January 26, surpassing the original goal of $25,000. The group is teaming up with a non-profit organization called Pencils of Promise to build a school in Ghana for children in need.
The idea of building a school came from none other than Bang Yong Guk, the leader of B.A.P. Well-known for his charitable activities, Bang Yong Guk has led B.A.P’s efforts in donating books, funds and other necessary items to those in need. He stated that one of his goals was to build a school in Africa in B.A.P’s name.
Fans from all over the world decided to make his dreams a reality by starting a donation fund with Pencils of Promise. Bang Yong Guk is aware of the project, and was even given the opportunity to name the school as the “B.A.P Town School.” Though the goal of $25,000 has been met, B.A.P’s Helping Hands will be taking donations till their deadline of December 26 to provide additional resources.
Over the years, K-pop fandoms have become more involved in charitable causes to have a positive impact in the name of their favorite celebrities. From planting trees to building schools, K-pop is helping to make the world a better place.
Congratulations to B.A.P’s Helping Hands and BABYz for accomplishing such a fantastic goal!
Hello STARCAST viewers! The hot trendy boy group B.A.P who recently received ‘Best Korea Act’ prize of ‘2016 MTV EMAs’ along with top 12 records in Worldwide iTunes Album Chart, Top prize of Billboard World Album Chart, and ‘Best Celebrity Prize’ of ‘2016 AAA’ is finally here for BABY fans! STARCAST heard B.A.P members prepared something very special unique for their beloved fans! Can’t you smell something very sweet here? Well, then it’s time to check out what B.A.P has got here!
Jongup with new hair style is holding something.
What’s that? Oh, it’s sweet churros♡
Some mysterious churros car appeard in front of MBC on November 12.
It was B.A.P who prepared churros for their beloved BABY fans to celebrate November 11, which means ‘Sweet Day’ in Korea! (>_<) Yay!!!
B.A.P said they feel so full whenever they see BABY fans eating something yummy.
That’s why they decided to come up with sweet churros!
BABY fans are waiting for B.A.P’s handmade churros one by one!
Thankfully, over 500 BABY fans gathered to cheer B.A.P up! (T^T)
South Korean boy group B.A.P has topped Billboard's World Album Chart with its latest album "Noir".
The five-member group has taken the top spot on the World Album Chart, which indicates the popularity of international albums for the fourth week of November. With this achievement, B.A.P became the first South Korean artist group to conquer the World Chart with four different albums.
Meanwhile, three more K-pop artists – Black Pink, BTS and EXO-CBX, had their albums placed in the top ten of this week's World Chart. Billboard lists top-selling world music albums on weekly basis, ranked by sales data collected and analyzed by Nielsen Music.
Hi there, STARCAST readers! Finally, B.A.P of the most handsome + blockbuster class + action scenes that made our BABY to stay up all night has finally revealed the ‘SKYDIVE’ MV of their 2nd official album ‘NOIR’!! (Scream for joy) (>_<)
Raise your hands if you weren’t able to sleep by watching their MV all night!!! (I’m one of them) My eyes are red right now but it was definitely worth watching.. (ㅠ_ㅠ)
That’s why! I’ve prepared the behind cuts of ‘SKYDIVE’ MV just for you! You excited? Excited?!
Then, shall we go at once? GO GO GO! (^ㅠ^)
Hi there, STARCAST readers & BABY!
On our last STARCAST, ‘WHO IS X?’, we’ve guessed on who could be the X among B.A.P members. And today, as you’ve already watched the characters’ trailers, we’re going to analyze and figure out each character of B.A.P members who revealed their extreme MV of Noir! (^_^) You guys excited?
As you stayed up all night by looking at the charismatic looks of B.A.P in extreme action trailers, I’m going to show the unrevealed pictures just for you (+_+)
Shall we check on them?
Their group shot which makes you think of eerie background music. This is their concept for their new official album that will satisfy BABY! (>_<)
Hello, STARCAST readers and eternal BABIES of B.A.P! After I’ve introduced B.A.P’s fan meeting full of fun, I’ve prepared totally different pictures of B.A.P this time! (+_+)
The comeback news of B.A.P which made the heart of BABY flutter that let you stay awake through the nights!! And it’s their studio album !! Oh my gosh! So I’ve brought you the B cut teasers of B.A.P’s 2nd studio album!
By the teaser of ‘WHO IS X?’, you’ve all heard that the story is full of tension by finding out about X, right? I’ve heard that BABY transformed into detectives to find out the culprit through the revealed teaser! Who could be this X?! Shall we meet the candidate? (@_@)
[WHO IS X? Candidate 1]
The solo teaser of our BANG-leader!
The ‘city guy’ looking leader is the candidate NO.1 for X
He looks also handsome in B cut. We just think that he couldn’t be the culprit through this picture.
Because he’s handsome, we need to forgive him although he is the culprit (+_+) Definitely!
They always put their best face forward, but even idols encounter difficult emotions behind closed doors.
On the October 28 broadcast of MBC’s “Duet Song Festival,” Lee Suk Hoon, Han Dong Geun, Kim Jo Han, Ailee, K.Will, and B.A.P’s Daehyun battled it out to try and be crowned the champion of this episode.
The fourth pair up, Daehyun and his 19-year-old partner Jang Hye Su performed their own rendition of Kim Gun Mo’s “Beautiful Goodbye.” Despite the fact he was still recovering from a sore throat at the time this was recorded, Daehyun gives it all to put on a beautiful, heartfelt stage with his partner.
Following their performance, the idol reveals that he actually had a difficult time while preparing for this stage, but he wanted to be the best partner possible for Jang Hye Su.
“I practically lived in the practice room and was there all the time for over half a day. I actually fell into a little bit of a slump because I was so concerned and stressed about singing. My confidence fell, and at one point I even thought that I hated singing,” Daehyun confesses.
Holding back his tears, the singer continues on, “While I’m a little sad about today’s stage [because of my throat], I will put all my efforts into putting on the best performance one day.”
B.A.P will be next to travel through MBC Music's popular idol travel variety show, 'One Fine Day'!
The boys will be heading off to Hawaii for this season's show, and for a change from the program's original format, MBC Music will be selecting one lucky fan to travel with B.A.P! Fans can enter from August 30 - September 6 through MBC Music's official website. Filming is set to take place in September, with the show airing sometime in October.
Hello. On the last weekends! Have you enjoyed B.A.P’s encore concert?!
Concert idol B.A.P’s concert as known as there is someone who never seen it but no one just saw it once because it’s so fun!! I guess there will be many B.A.B.Y who watched all the concerts until the last one as they saw the first one. My memory is still remained in the last weekend!
I have prepared extract of B.A.P’s encore concert for those of you who would not sleep properly while feeling sad about B.A.P’s encore concert has been finished! 100% guaranteed fun! Let’s watch together!
Making B.A.B.Y’s hearts flutter from the first photo! The in-ear headphones are waiting for B.A.P who would go up on the stage soon.
Hello. Guys! B.A.P have finished world tour concerts in 16 countries for 32 concerts successfully and they have encore concert in Seoul for this weekend (August 6 and 7). I brought B cut photos for B.A.P’s new song ‘That’s My Jam’!! Are you looking forward for it?
As you saw it from the trailer released before, the colorful hair colors suit B.A.P boys so well, wasn’t it?! B cut photos are rarer than A cut photos! Let’s have a look at them right now!
As promised, B.A.P will be releasing a brand new song with the successful completion of their world tour, 'B.A.P LIVE ON EARTH 2016 WORLD TOUR FINALE TRUE AWAKE!!'!
They've just released a serene group teaser image for their upcoming 5th single album 'PUT'EM UP', posing together on a beach with pinkish clouds in the background.
The single album will contain a total of 3 songs, with the title song "PUT'EM UP" being a trendy, EDM genre.
Boy group B.A.P has decided to air their world tour finale LIVE through Naver V app.
B.A.P′s agency TS Entertainment stated on July 26, "The last day of ′B.A.P LIVE ON EARTH 2016 WORLD TOUR FINALE TRUE AWAKE!!,′ which will take place on August 6-7 at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium, will be broadcast live through Naver V app."
B.A.P′s Seoul concert will be broadcast through V LIVE′s premium content V LIVE+ and this will mark V LIVE+′s 3rd premium content broadcast following EXO and BTS.
The B.A.P LIVE ON EARTH 2016 WORLD TOUR, which toured through 16 countries with a total of 32 concerts, will end with a finale that can be viewed everywhere around the world.
Expectations are especially high for the Seoul finale concert as B.A.P will perform a new track for the first time, members will perform solos and a new duet will be unveiled.
In response to the LIVE broadcast TS Entertainment stated, "B.A.P was able to perform 32 concerts in 16 countries because of the support of all the fans around the world. We decided to broadcast the concert LIVE so that fans who were able to and unable to attend the world tour can experience and remember B.A.P′s performance together at the same time.
Hello, everyone! B.A.P who had concerts in United States, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Finland, United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Russia, (not finished yet!) Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand (take a breath), Nagoya, Osaka, Bangkok and Singapore, finished the World Tour concerts at the last city, Tokyo! B.A.P who finished long and big run of world tour successfully is surely amazing! (Let’s wipe our tears here)
This STARCAST is completed with plenty of B.A.P members behind the concert! How would B.A.P look like off the stage rather than onstage! You already look forward for it, right? Then, starts right now!
‘B.A.P LIVE ON EARTH 2016 Tokyo AWAKE!’ in JAPAN @ Tokyo International Forum
In the concert place where rehearsal is held! Zelo showing off attractively tall height. What is he looking at?
Releasing their 1st Japanese album in March this year, B.A.P have kept up with their momentum and released their 5th Japanese single “FEEL SO GOOD”. This track is the Japanese version of a song previously released in Korea, and is a pop song that showcases the exhilarating emotions felt towards a girlfriend in a funky rhythm. To commemorate the release of this “FEEL SO GOOD”, Kstyle have interviewed B.A.P!
On this day, we interviewed them before they appeared as guests for the first episode of our new show “Kstyle LIVE” on LINE LIVE. We asked them about their thoughts on “FEEL SO GOOD” and as well as live performances.
Different from the “attacking” image that you have for previous songs, “FEEL SO GOOD” has a pop-sounding taste to it. Please tell us honestly how it was like to actually sing it.
YJ: When we stand on stage with this song, we get really happy too. I think it’s a song where the bright energy comes out naturally from within us. JU: Since it’s a bit different to the styles that we’ve previously shown, I was careful about the change in image we had. As Youngjae hyung said, since the song has a good beat to it, we can perform it with a happy heart. It’s a favourite of mine.
Hello everyone! United States, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Finland, United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Russia (take a breath), Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand (take a breath again), Nagoya and Osaka! B.A.P on nearly the end of the world tour is back! Our ‘concert idol’ who is doing great for big run of world tour, arrived at Bangkok and Singapore this time! If Nagoya and Osaka episode emphasized high quality photos, then this Bangkok and Singapore episode consists of various features of the members and event photo is hiding, so please pat attention! Then, starts right now.
[ STEP 1 ] ‘B.A.P LIVE ON EARTH 2016 THAILAND AWAKE!’ in Bangkok @ Thunderdome
The place overcrowded even before the concert starts in the sunny is?! Bangkok.
No wonder out B.A.P’s popularity is..☆
This place is where rehearsal is held! Short talking time!
Hello everyone! United States, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Finland, United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Russia (take a breath), Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand! B.A.P heading towards to the end of World Tour is back!
Where is it this time? It is Japan! To meet Japanese B.A.B.Y, B.A.P came to Nagoya and Osaka, Japan! In particular, there are lots of high quality photo for this concert held in Japan! Are you all ready to save? Then I’m inviting you to the HOT concerts in Japan!
[ STEP 1 ] ‘B.A.P LIVE ON EARTH 2016 JAPAN AWAKE!’ in Nagoya @ Nagoya Congress Center Century Hall
Followed by America, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Finland, England, Poland, Germany and Russia...! (Take a breath) B.A.P presented majesty concerts in Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand is back.
For the B.A.B.Y who are thinking ‘It’s now time to see STARCAST as Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand concerts finished...’, spend exciting Friday with B.A.P is the answer! As there are too many pretty photos, I’ve prepared a selected photos. Let’s have a look at them!
[ STEP 1 ] ‘B.A.P LIVE ON EARTH 2016 TAIWAN AWAKE!!’ in Taipei @Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center
Maybe Daehyun is Dae Honey because he has voice as sweet as honey. It is so my type from the first photo at the concert held in Taiwan!
Since the release of their 4th single “EXCUSE ME” in September 2014, 6-membered K-POP group B.A.P have released their 1st full album “Best. Absolute. Perfect” after approximately one and a half years on March 30. This work which is titled exactly like their group name is overflowing with their confidence. It’s a given with their previously released singles, but the highlight is the inclusion of 3 coolest new songs; B.A.P are finally restarting their activities in Japan!
―― It’s been 3 years since you’ve debuted in Japan, what’s something memorable from these 3 years?DH: The most memorable has been releasing our 1st full album. Instead of releasing songs that we’d already released in Korea till now, this album has original Japanese tracks, so that alone makes it more meaningful. I’ll be happy if everyone loves the album YJ: In these 3 years, I think we’ve had many chances to meet the Japanese fans, and since there were the concerts too, we’ve had the chance to meet everyone through various events, and that is very memorable. JU: Personally for me, I love Japanese anime a lot and was able to come in contact with Japanese culture in these 3 years, so I think there’s something that I’ve gained from there.
―― As the leader, Yongguk-san has been leading forth the Japanese activities, when you look back at it, how were these past 3 years?YG: We receive a lot of support from the fans in Japan as well, so thanks to that, I think we’ve done well in these past 3 years. That’s why I’m very grateful to all the fans. Japanese promotions differ to Korean activities in some ways, so it always feels like we’re doing something new. We’ve also been able to experience something new from challenging things.
―― Could you elaborate?YG: It’s hard to put in words, but there’s a different atmosphere between the Japanese and Korean music market. However, we had already planned to perform our Japanese activities with our own style. So as a result, many people in Japan too were able to accept us for what we fundamentally are, and that is what makes me appreciative. I’m deeply touched that they’ve accepted us.
―― Earlier in the interview, Daehyun-san mentioned that “Best. Absolute. Perfect” was one of the most memorable things in these past 3 years. It’s your first Japanese album, and also released after a long while. Please tell us your thoughts now that it’s been completed.DH: Before the release of “Best. Absolute. Perfect”, various teasers were released and many fans loved them, and for one, I was surprised at that tremendous response. We’ve always said that “it’s a song that shows off B.A.P’s colour” for our past singles, but I think this work is the simplest expression of ourselves. And so, I can confidently ask you to take a listen to it.
―― I believe the Japanese fans also follow your Korean releases, but I think they can understand B.A.P even further with the release of “Best. Absolute. Perfect”.DH: I think so too. Not only the fans in Japan, but Korean fans are looking forward to it, and I think everyone globally is happy about it too. HC: Globally! You went far didn’t you (laughs) DH: Yes (laughs). I think people from many countries will be happy about it, so I want to perform it at as many places as I can to everyone. ZL: Especially since this isn’t a collection of the songs we’d released in Korea before, and is our first full album that includes original Japanese songs, so I think it’s an album with special meaning. The included tracks were recorded a little while ago. When I hear them now, I find areas where I think ‘I should of done it like that instead’.
―― That’s a proof of your growth.ZL: That would be nice if that’s so.
―― Since you said that you recorded it a little while ago, does it mean that “Best. Absolute. Perfect” overlapped with the production of your 5th Korean album “CARNIVAL” released on February 22?DH: No it didn’t. YG: Actually, the recording was completed for these new songs before the release of “MATRIX” and “CARNIVAL” in Korea. So we were able to work earnestly for the [extra] time that we had.
―― I see. For this album, “NEW WORLD”, “KINGDOM” and “BACK IN TIME” were the 3 tracks composed as original Japanese tracks, with “NEW WORLD” acting as the intro to the whole album.HC: It’s exactly as you say, in conjunction with the release of this first full album, I think this is the track that leads people into it. It’ll be nice if everyone likes it. DH: This song hints that this will be an album that goes from this point forward doesn’t it. If you listen to them in order, I think you’ll be able to feel our aspirations and intentions. ZL: “NEW WORLD” was composed by a Korean, but it’s penned with Japanese lyrics as a original Japanese track, so I wonder how it’ll feel if we produced it with Korean lyrics. The song itself will have a new feeling right? It has a peculiar atmosphere, is unique and cool.
―― It feels like you’re stepping into a new world with “NEW WORLD”, and then finding a new kingdom with “KINGDOM”.ZL: That’s right. DH: It is our first full album so we wanted something very B.A.P-like. The Japanese fans like our strong concepts, so the 1st and 2nd tracks “NEW WORLD” and “KINGDOM” were born.
―― It’ll be fun to watch “KINGDOM” live wouldn’t it.HC: I’m in charge of the monologue in English for the intro. I’m not very good at English, but I identified with the need to endure in order to fulfill wishes. ZL: The raps were high-speed raps in every song, so I felt perplexed many times when we first started our Japanese activities. I’ve listened to “KINGDOM” over and over since it was finished, but since my Japanese isn’t that good, I’m worried if I conveyed the meaning across properly or not.
―― What about “BACK IN TIME”?HC: There’s a behind-story about this song’s production. The members loved this song, and instead of including it in this album, there were talks to release it as a single. However in the end, we included it in the album. All of us really love it, so I truly hope everyone can give it a listen.
―― B.A.P originally has a manly image, but your “mature manliness” has increased even more with the new songs.HC: We’ve aged a little bit haven’t we (laughs). DH: The album photos and posters were actually taken 2 years ago. You can enjoy both the 'before’ in the photos and 'after’ in us. Himchan was so handsome 2 years ago (laughs). ZL: There are 13 tracks to the album, but the concepts change depending on the song. Especially the 3rd track “BACK IN TIME”, is a very cool piece even if you don’t move and just perform it sitting still, whilst “NEW WORLD” and “KINGDOM” are songs that I want to show off with a performance that is unique to B.A.P. It’s an album where I can think up various arrangements and expressions for. YG: We, B.A.P, have expressed various messages through songs till now and sang songs that allow you to feel our charisma, and I think that these 3 songs will be the same. Rather than from a single place, I want the listener to feel our message entirely. JU: Our intentions are included in the lyrics after all.
―― The Japanese version of “CRASH” matches well with the Japanese lyrics, I only hear the Japanese version’s “suki dayo” instead of the “neol gidaryeo” from the Korean version now.DH: The Korean lyrics “neol gidaryeo” has the meaning of “I’m waiting for you”, but in the Japanese version it’s “I like you”. The words “I like you” are very good words, and through the whole song it comes up right at the end too, so just the words ‘I like you’ alone leaves you feeling very happy. I can convey the things I want to say to the fans through the songs so that’s very nice.
―― From April, you’ll be going to various places like America, Canada, Mexico and Europe for your world tour, and in Japan too in June. Please tell us your thoughts towards the tour.DH: We experience changes as we go on tour, so I think we can show a more matured side when we come [back] to Japan. YG: Right now I’m very excited and looking forward to it. It’s been a very long time since we had a world tour, and my anticipations are rising about the various things we can learn at the various places we visit during this tour period. I’m also looking forward to releasing more good music in Japan for everyone to listen to.
――Between the world tour and Japan tour, will the contents differ?YG: Yes. I think fans each country have their own preferred musicality and songs, so I think it’ll be nice if we alter it a little whilst touring. For us too, rather than performing the exact same concert over and over, I think something with a little change is better.
―― Since your debut in Korea in 2012, 4 years have passed. What are your goals for B.A.P in the future?YG: B.A.P will continue to pursue the music that we want to do. Not being chained to one area, we’ll constantly challenge and search for new things. By doing so, we’ll become closer and closer to “the music that we want to do” that we thought about when we debuted. Also, I want to have the chance to meet the fans as often as possible. Through our performances, I want to have many people listen to our music, and by meeting the fans, we also receive a lot of inspiration, so from now on too, I want to let everyone listen to our music with even more performances.
B.A.P, releasing their awaited Japanese 1st album! “I feel like we’ve gone back to where we belong in no time”
B.A.P will release their new album “Best. Absolute. Perfect” on 3/30 (Wed). In this awaited JAPAN 1st ALBUM, there are 13 tracks, containing 3 original Japanese songs including “KINGDOM”, as well as other representative tracks from their Japanese singles. Furthermore, B.A.P will be conducting high touch and fansign events for the first time at Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka as album release events.
After a break of approximately 1 year, we’ve gone to interview B.A.P who are finally making their comeback! They talk about their Japanese holiday and practice during the break, thoughts about the new album and fans, and about the “B.A.P” who are starting once again.
― You’re having a proper comeback now, but you’ve already held a fanmeeting in Japan at the end of last year. How was it?
DH: It’s been a really long time since we’ve met the fans, so seeing them at a close distance made me very happy. Firstly, we met the Korean fans during the comeback showcase in November, and then then also the Japanese fans during the fanmeeting after that, and since we went straight into album promotions afterwards, I felt that we were able to fit back into where we belonged straightaway.
― I heard that you came to Japan during the break.
DH: We all went to Okinawa together.
DH&HC: Oki Oki Okinawa!!! (laughs)
DH: For 3 nights and 4 days, we stayed at a very nice hotel….. We also ate lots of good food.
HC: Like…. Okinawa’s famous beef yakiniku was delicious.
― Other than the holiday, did you do anything [during the break] to improve on your singing or dancing and such?
DH: I went back to Busan, and performed lives and such at the entertainment school I studied at before. We each did something about music, so I think we all polished up on our sensitivities and was also able to prepare for the album recording straightaway.
YJ: I borrowed a small practice studio in Daechidong and and practised singing. I practised alone so I was lonely and it was a bit tough (laughs).
DH: Ah, in Sinchon, there’s this guesthouse-like practice studio where young trainees dorm and practise. I spent around 2 months there.
HC: Ah, I went there too. Sinchon.
DH: Ah, did you?
DH: Everyone would sleep and wake up together, eat together, and the laundry and toilets were for communal use. At there, how should I say this…. I felt like I learnt a lot about life (laughs).
YG: I went on holidays here and there. I went to Tokyo and Osaka by myself, Okinawa with the members, I also went to Pattaya, Germany, Czech Republic and Austria and such.
HC: I also went to America and Mexico with my close friends, and to Japan as well. Although I went to Osaka with my family.
YG: During then I was in Tokyo. I was in Japan in the new year of 2015.
HC: On new years, we were both in Japan and texted “happy new year” to each other (laughs).
YG: When I took the train in Tokyo, a fan noticed me and asked “Yongguk?”. My cap was low on my head and I wore a mask too, but apparently they recognised me from my mole on my nose (laughs).
HC: Someone also asked me “Himu?” when I was in Osaka. When I said “no” in Japanese, they said “you’re lying”, and I admitted it easily (laughs).
YG: I immediately said “yes”.
JU: I… since we’ve been busy with activities since debuting, I don’t think we had much time to enjoy and experience normal things. I went on holidays and spent time with family, and played to my heart’s content.
DH: I also went to Jejudo with my family twice.
― Seems like you went on holidays, did self-initiated practise and spent memorable times. As the leader, what are your thoughts on starting promotions again Bang Yongguk-san?
YG: Being able to promote again as 6 feels different to before and being able to do what we wish to makes me happy and it’s very good.
― Your 1st Japanese album “Best. Absolute. Perfect”, as the title conveys, is full with B.A.P’s charm and has perfect and wonderful content.
YJ: Wishing that this will be one of our representative works, we used our group concept as it is for the title. In addition to our previously released singles in Japan, the Japanese version of “CRASH” and 3 original Japanese tracks are included as well in this album that we’d planned and produced to be released in Japan right from the beginning. The lead track “KINGDOM” is a very exciting song, and “BACK IN TIME” is also a favourite of all the members, so it’ll be nice if the Japanese fans like it too.
― I felt like “BACK IN TIME” has an especially Japanese-like melody.
HC: This song was composed by a Japanese person. I like “BACK IN TIME” so much that I’d continually pushed for it to be the lead tack, but “KINGDOM” is a very good song that doesn’t lose out to it.
YJ: If “KINGDOM” is a continuation of the image that we’d shown till now, then “BACK IN TIME” has a revolutionary feeling to it.
HC: From the title “Best. Absolute. Perfect”, it’s our 1st Japanese album crowned with our group name, so we wanted something heavier for the content.
― The original Japanese songs will be broadcast to the world from Japan.
DH: I want to do more and more of this. If there’s the chance, I want to try it in not only Japanese, but in English and other languages as well. I think the members think the same way.
― From the songs you’ve already released in Korea, how do you choose them [for the album]?
DH: It’s a collection of songs that the Japanese fans like
HC: We chose the songs that had a good response when we toured around Japan.
YJ: We wanted to include original Japanese tracks when we debuted in Japan, but I think there are many people who liked us after seeing our promotions in Korea. So we decided to first introduce the Korean songs that they were familiar with already with Japanese lyrics, and I feel like meeting the Japanese fans with original Japanese tracks after showing what we were like gives it another layer of meaning.
― What songs do you like in the album?
YJ: For me it’s “BACK IN TIME”. When I first listened to the music only, I felt that the melody and lyrics were refreshing, and even after recording it, I felt like it was a fun song so it’s my favourite.
DH: For me it’s “KINGDOM”. I think I did well in the recording, and along with a refreshing atmosphere, I think it shows off some B.A.P-ness.
JU: Same as Youngjae hyung, it’s “BACK IN TIME” for me. I thought it was a good song whilst recording it, and the Japanese composer was also present during the recording so we asked many questions and was able to get along well. He’s called SUNNY BOY, and it’ll be nice if he’ll read this interview (laughs).
HC: It’s still “BACK IN TIME” for me since I like this style of song after all. When I first heard it, I thought “this is good”.
ZL: It’s also “BACK IN TIME” for me, but even though it’s a style that B.A.P hasn’t tried before, I think it’s perfect for B.A.P. It’s a good song, so I was able to push through during the recording, and I was addicted after listening to it.
YG: I like all the songs. Instead of choosing which song I like, since it’s our first Japanese album, and contains songs that we’d released in Korea as well as original Japanese songs, I think it’ll be good if the listeners of the album choose their favourite.
― It seems like you will have high touch and fansign events after the album release. You don’t have high touch events in Korean right?
YJ: We have fansigns in Korean, but since a high touch event allows for direct contect with fans, there’s an image of us exchanging energies. High touching is fun, and I’m also happy to meet the fans. I think the fans feel the same, so I’ll be happy if we can enjoy the event together.
― Starting with the concerts in Korea on 2/20, 21, you’ll be beginning your world tour from now right?
YJ: In this tour, we’re preparing so that our new songs from the Korean comeback (“Young, Wild & Free”, “Feel So Good” etc) and solo stages can be performed. There are also EDM arrangements for the songs. There’s a lot of parts where we can have fun with the fans, and since the concert this time has grown in scale, I think that we too can enjoy the concert in a new way.
― What sort of songs are there for the solo stages?
YJ: I’ve prepared a song cover, Daehyun-kun and Himchan hyung have rearranged our own songs, I think we each have a performance that highlights our own style. Jongup-kun and Zelo-kun have prepared an original dance performance.
― With this album, you’ll be formally restarting Japanese activities. Could you please leave a message for the Japanese fans who’ve waited so long for you?
YJ: We’ve also heard that they’ve waited very long for us, and I too want to meet the Japanese fans as soon as possible. We’ll be having a tour as well, and events are being prepared too, so it’ll be nice if we can meet more often and become closer like friends.
