Introduction
Based on the album, , that was released in March, they are currently holding their national tour, which will be attended by 250,000 people. During the tour, they announced that their new single, , will be released on 1st July, and the song’s preview has been released. Sure to be a big hit, this sad love song is the continuation of the popular single , which was released last year.
Besides this, it has been decided that the encore and final performance will be held in the Tokyo Dome on 4th and 5th July; their first time performing there. Just like the album, a more mature Tohoshinki with fantastic dance moves, excellent vocal abilities and hot dance stages will be presented during the Live.
Tohoshinki Special Interview
Following last year’s , it’s another sad love song this summer. The song, destined to be popular, has been completed, and from the 5’s vocals, you can hear their thoughts… thinking of their most important “You”.
— <Stand By U>is a sad love song. I thought at first that this year’s Summer single will be a light-hearted Summer song, so I was a little surprised.
CM: You thought that it would be a single similar to <Summer Dream> right?
JS: But last year, the song that we released, <Why Did I Love You>, was a mid-tempo song~.
–Because last year’s release was <Why Did I Love You>, so I thought this year’s would be a light-hearted Summer single.
YC: bu~~~bu~~~ (imitating a police siren?!) Your expectations are incorrect (laughs). But <Stand By U> and <Why Did I Love You> are both mature, mid-tempo songs.
YH: It’s different from the songs Tohoshinki have sung so far, and the male lead’s age is also a little older than that of <Why Did I Love You>.
JJ: Although <Stand By U> and <Why Did I Love You> are both songs about breaking up, if I compare and place myself in the male lead’s shoes, the feeling that the female lead in <Stand By U> is “too much” is more, as she didn’t even say goodbye before she left. To experience this kind of break up, the sadness is doubled I guess.
–But maybe the female lead didn’t have a change to say goodbye before leaving?
JJ: But from a man’s point of view, no matter what the situation, I would want to know the reason. There are some men who are unable to forget even after the break up – there’s that kind of feeling.
JS: Although he really felt like crying, the male lead repressed his feelings and did not cry. It made me feel like it’s very real. This male lead is a mature man, no matter how hurt and how sad he is, he does not shed tears.
YC: I think the lyricist, as a man, put these kind of indescribable feelings into the lyrics, as there are some men who no matter how much they miss the other, are not able to verbalise it.
–The part Changmin sings “I can’t continue this difficult journey forward holding on to these sad feelings~~”, it’s trying to say that you hope that the male lead can let it go, even if it’s just a little, right?
CM: Yes. Although he won’t be able to forget his girlfriend, he can make changes to his emotional state. When we were recording the song, not only did we want to capture the man’s heart-broken feelings, but we wanted to capture the change within that as well, so we took extra care when singing.
JS: In order to show the reality of the feelings, we sang it many times.
YH: These kind of lyrics, because of the feelings and the way we sing it, it will make the performance of the song different as well.
JS: It’s because the feelings are real, that’s why it will move you; singing the lyrics just as if we were speaking it.
CM: That’s right, the lyrics are quite realistic. For example, hoping to see her name appear when the phone rings, I’m sure everyone has experienced that in real life.
YH: When you see a back similar to your girlfriend’s and it reminds you of her, that’s very real too! So, not just for men, but women who have experienced a sad love as well as a break up would be able to understand that feeling too.
JJ: No matter how old we are, this is a song that we can keep singing; that’s how real the lyrics are and they also represent a man’s heart at the same time. Our experiences in future will also definitely coincide with what the lyrics represent.
YC: If there’s a chance, I’d like to sing an “answer song” that shows the female lead’s feelings.
CM: That’s not a bad idea.
YH: It’s a fresh idea, a Tohoshinki break up song that shows the female lead’s point of view.
–Before the <Stand By U> CD hits the stands, you’ve performed this during your Live tour. How does it feel to sing this during the Live?
CM: I hope that we can show everyone the true meaning of the lyrics. To be able to show the depth of feelings.
YC: I hope to tell all the women in the Lives that the men they loved in the past could still hold the same feelings, and have not forgotten them.
JJ: For this song, men and women will feel differently towards it. I could tell by seeing everyone’s expressions while singing it during the Lives.
YH: On the men’s faces, you can see the “Yes! It’s that feeling!” expression. Maybe they didn’t even realize it themselves.
JS: The females will have the “thinking of the past” expression. Maybe they didn’t realize it too. (Laughs)
YH: When singing this song, we would look at everyone’s expressions carefully, so everyone, please be careful! (Laughs)
JJ: Actually, for the 5 of us, our expressions change too. As we gradually feel the depth of the lyrics, it’s as if we become the male lead, having been dumped… so please look carefully at our expressions too. (Laughs)
YC: The male lead of this song is not just the 5 of us, but also everyone listening to it.
–The second song <Tea for Two> is as if the male lead in is about to find new love. Finally finding a new relationship, ready to be released from the pain.
JJ: This is a love song full of sweet happiness.
CM: It’s a song full of happiness, emulating that which a pair of lovers experience together.
JS: “No matter how much I love you, I’m afraid it’s not enough” – This kind of male lead is superb.
–“Your presence makes me strong, yet weak at the same time” – This line is really great!
YC: When we were in our teens we thought there’s nothing to be scared of when it comes to love, therefore the teenage us who can’t really understand, would not have been able to perform this song.
JJ: As a man, I’m envious of the male lead. Envious that he has someone worthy of loving so much.
JS: When singing this song, the feeling is warm and touching, even the pain slowly fades away…
YC: Isn’t that <Forever Love>’s lyrics?
JS: Ah, I’ve been found out? But it’s really really really true~~~ It’s with this feeling that I seriously sang this song.
CM: Junsu really keeps saying “really”.
JS: I really really think this way~~
YC: I hope that this story will one day become <Tea for Three>.
–If the 2 of them get married and have children, the family will grow…
JS: I hope that these 2 will always be happy!
–Well, lastly, how about everyone share their feelings on being able to stand on the stage of the Tokyo Dome?
JJ: Previously, we appeared as special guests in Koda Kumi’s Live at the Dome. Although we only sang one song, we felt really great, and we’ll never forget that feeling. If we can feel that way just singing one song, to have our own concert at the Tokyo Dome, the feelings must be even better! I’m really looking forward to it!
CM: As artistes who are trying to grow in Japan, to be able to perform at the Tokyo Dome has been our dream all along. Working so hard for this dream and finally achieving it, we’re really happy. To stand and perform on such a huge stage in the Dome, we’ll make sure to deliver and not let you down!
JS: If we keep working towards our dreams, never giving up, it will definitely come true. I want to stand on the stage and do my best dancing and singing.
YH: Now, we are full of confidence. We’re also considering a new performance, we hope to have a performance that can only be accomplished within the Dome, and hope that through this, everyone can witness Tohoshinki’s new charm.
YC: It’s such a huge arena, there’ll be 50,000 people attending, and I hope to send Tohoshinki’s songs to each and every one of them. So, please cheer for us! Let the Tokyo Dome resound with the voices of Tohoshinki and you!
Source: [heyjj]
Translation credits: mandasoh@iscreamshinki.net
Please do not remove without full credits.