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This article, unlike the usual news report, tell us more about their thoughts and hurdles the members went through while producing the album. I am glad that eventually after going through all the hurdles/difficulties, they have produced such a wonderful album, although it is just a 'mini' album but the contents are solid and wonderful. I am now looking forward for the full official album, I believe it will be much much better than this, as you know usually we will keep the best for last! ^__^
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Credits : omj@cbs.co.kr + SS601.com + (English Translation) xiaochu @ Quainte501.com
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Idol group SS501 (Kim HyunJoong, Heo YoungSaeng, Park JungMin, Kim KyuJong, Kim HyungJoon) has shown their best in each of their own fields of activities such as drama, unit activities and musical. They have reunite again after 1 year 7 months for their mini album ‘REBIRTH’.
SS501’s comeback has garnered a lot of attention from many fans thus the album received enthusiastic response as soon as it was released. The music source (mp3) was released at 00:00hrs on 20-Oct, despite the late time, many fans downloaded it. Fans were also enthusiastic towards the album that was released on the same day. SS501 also got into high positions in search engines on 20-Oct.
This album is new in many ways as compared to SS501 previous albums. Instead of having the trend of powerful dance music that idol group uses, their title song ‘LOVE LIKE THIS’ is a pop song with refined melody.
The different feel in this album is due to the incorporation of a new producer. Steven Lee, who previously produced for Japanese group KAT-TUN, V6, German group US5, etc, has produced this album. Title song is composed by Steven Lee and overseas musicians Drew Ryan Scott and Sean Alexander.
Mixing is done by Ken Lewis who preciously participated in albums of singers such as Usher, Kanye West, John Legend, etc.
Leader Kim HyunJoong explained “The music is very different from what SS501 had previously. We put in a lot of effects in order to produce this new album. Member Park JungMin said “We had responses such as ‘So SS501 is also able to sing such songs’. The album is very near to what we had expected it to be.”
Kim HyungJoon said “We are sorry for our fans that we came back with only a mini album instead of an official album. However, this album has been done to close perfection so it wouldn’t disappoint fans’ expectations. We are preparing for our 2nd album.” Making the fans anticipate to it. Their company DSP Media followed up to say that SS501 has already finished recording about 3 songs that were not included in this mini album. They have not decided to include these songs as a repackage album or to include in the official album.
The members who have matured in their musicality, helped in this album by contributing their own thoughts. Kim HyunJoong explained “We produced this album while having a lot of discussions with the staffs. We don’t have much pressure even though the staffs are foreigners. We were surprised as this is our first experience (with working with foreign staff). The result of it is an album with Korean pop style.” Kim HyunJoong added “Because we were greatly involved in this album, our affection for this album is even greater than the rest of our albums. Rather than to follow the trend, we made the album thinking to make a trend with SS501’s own unique style.”
Kim KyuJong said “’REBIRTH’ is an album where there is high involvement by our members. It is an album that was made with our concept.”
In this album, they included one song for their fans called ‘Green Peas’, which SS501 members wrote the lyrics by themselves. This song is like a return gift to their fans that have been supporting them for a long time. Kim HyungJoon also helped with the lyrics for track 4 ‘Obsess’.
Kim HyunJoong said “We will remove ‘idol-like’ feelings through our music. We have transformed into matured men.”
They have changed not only in their music, but in their appearance too. With the release of this album, they also showed photos of their transformation, filled with masculinity.
Park JungMin said “We have changed a lot in our dance, song and appearance. With the determination to be an ‘artiste’, we made anew from the beginning to the end.”
In fact, SS501 met with many complications until the album was finally released. The song that they was supposed to use as title song was known to be a plagiarized song only after they have finished recording and thus had to redo the album from scratch again.
Members said that it is indeed the case. The members bought a song from a local agent selling foreign composed song in August, and was to use it as their title song. However while recording the song, the original song and melody that they heard sounded like another song.
Park JungMin explained “We thought that it was weird that the melody kept changing. On our way back after finishing our concert in Japan, we heard a similar song on board our flight. It was then that we knew that the song was already released in USA.”
At that time, SS501 has already finished recording the title song. When they realized that the song was a plagiarized song, they had to find new songs for their album again.
And the worse thing is that member Kim HyunJoong paid 8 million won for the song himself. Even though the money was retrieved back, he was almost being swindled off with. For SS501 who had not had much malicious gossip like such since their debut, was almost involved in plagiarism.
To be followed by Interview 2........
