[08.09.08] [News] Andy likes his concert to be like going to the noraebang with fans
Shinhwa made their debut in 1998 and rose to the top of popularity rankings within a few years. Each Shinhwa member has not only been active in music, but also in drama and variety as well, each of them showing their own unique personalities and talents. Separate yet together, they have stayed active in showbiz even until today. Among the 6 Shinhwa members, Andy has been unusually active in his 10th year since his debut.
At a recent fansigning event at a Seoul university, many female fans queued for hours just to get his autograph and to get a glimpse of him. Although it was raining for the whole day, throngs of fans still crowded the venue, happy just because of Andy's bright smile.
Starting off with Shinhwa, now Andy has established himself as a solo singer. This is of course not to say that Shinhwa is calling it quits, but they are all active in their own right in the music world. Andy is just temporarily casting off the identity of Shinhwa member and filling the world with his songs.
No matter what, variety shows had an important part to play in contributing to Andy's success. Being part of MBC's We Got Married has given him the image of the perfect gentleman, who is constantly being thoughtful on the show. This has earned him the support of many female fans, and the show has a part to play in maintaining his popularity, despite having already been in showbiz for 10 years.
"Yes, it's been 10 years," Andy says, "There was once I was at an event and we were being arranged according to our showbiz ages, and I was a little embarrassed because I was the third. Looking at the younger artistes, I really could feel the amount of time I've spent in the industry. I'm very grateful to the seniors for treating me really well, but I don't know why, I feel a little sad sometimes."
However, Andy still seems to be somewhat awkward in front of the camera. When our photographer tells him to smile a little more, he widens his smile, but the corners of his lips are trembling. "I still can't get used to taking photos, it's so embarrassing."
He should have accumulated a lot of experience after standing in the spotlight for the past 10 years, but he still feels rather ill at ease, which is a little surprising. "I don't like to have my pictures taken. I'd much prefer taking pictures. Maybe I just got tired of being photographed...so now I want to take photographs instead." I ask him jokingly if the photographs he takes are of himself, Andy says no with a wave of his hands.
I want to know if he is really what we see on We Got Married, as sweet and caring. Andy answers carefully, "I'm actually not comfortable around strangers or people I don't know well. Although it's gotten better, but I'm still very quiet. I probably will say that I'm not exactly sweet and caring, but I've improved from before. Now I will just say no to the things I don't like to do. And because I've been on more programmes, I'm less introverted than before."
"Occasionally I would take a look at the news, and I would find interesting things." Andy says with a playful look, "For example, most articles about me are always talking about AnSol, and people would ask 'What are they really like? What is An-sobang like?'. Or sometimes they would post pictures of me sporting an ahjumma perm." He seems to be having some kind of silent, but still fun, interaction with his fans.
But Andy candidly talks about the comments that have caused him much hurt. When he just started out in his solo activities, he read things like this, "Will Andy succeed as a solo act? Eric: Success as an actor; M Lee Minwoo: King of live performances; Shin Hyesung: Heavenly voice; Junjin: In between albums and variety; Kim Dongwan: Great acting skills; what about Andy?"
"I got upset thinking about what I've achieved these 10 years. And I decided that I needed to do something with myself." He isn't specific, but it's clear that he was really hurt. But with Andy becoming a top entertainer now, it seems that this is his answer to the fans. He has expanded his range from the small screen to the musical stage, to great reviews, and is what they would say "daebak" on variety shows now too.
"I'm surprised by the great response towards Andy, and not Shinhwa's Andy. I suddenly can see that people do think of me too, but I've started to feel the pressure from the attention. Haha..." He laughs heartily, and it's almost hard to see that he's someone who has been in the industry for so long.
"I was upset when I thought my efforts weren't being recognized, but I was wrong. Suddenly the spotlight fell on me. Honestly that was the moment I was waiting for (laughs), and I told myself I had to work harder." By virtue of the two musicals Music In My Heart and Polaroid, his fear of the stage has subsided greatly too. Although there are still times that he forgets his lines, he says, but that also helped him in his improvisation and ad-libbing skills. He smiles shyly.
Success as a singer and an actor, everything seems to be working out for Andy. "Although I still need to work on my acting, I still want to challenge myself. Because we can't have NGs in musicals, I've learnt a lot. But that's not all. Movies and dramas are recorded on film, and they have their own charms."
But first Andy has the fans who have been waiting for him to answer to. He will be holding his solo concert on 6/7 Sep. "I used to have a serious case of stage fright. I overcame that through musicals, and also through a series of small concerts I had. The first solo concert is a step in my ambitions. Furthermore I've neglected the fans in Korea, that's why I planned on holding this encore concert", explaining the rationale behind this concert.
Andy says that it's more important to make people feel comfortable rather than to strive to be perfect. "Isn't it like that? That atmosphere where you're having fun in the noraebang. For my fans, I prefer to create the feeling that they're in a noraebang with me, and not for me to present something to them." He says he has a surprise in store for his fans this time.
"Honestly I picked a very difficult song. Although it's really a song that's not suitable for me at all, but it's a song that I can sing together with the audience. People have high expectations of me, and I'm nervous because of that. If I can't present the results of my practice, I'll be a little upset."
Andy says he hopes to be like Tsuyoshi Kusanagi of Japanese group SMAP, a multi-entertainer who is active in many fields of entertainment. He started off as a singer. Now he's not only active on television, but he has also stepped onto the stage of musicals. Andy continues to be active on variety shows, and is determined to find his niche as a solo singer.
Andy, who will be holding his solo concert at Dom Art Hall on 6/7 September in Seoul, doesn't seem to be someone who has been in showbiz for 10 years. But what hasn't changed is the love of the fans who have stayed with him for the past 10 years, and the love Andy has for his work. Andy's road ahead looks set to be paved with sunshine.
Source: newsen&oceans
Chi trans: jojoyu7@shinhwachina
Eng trans: midnightgirl13@shinhwabiz
[08.09.08] [News] Andy: Musicals and concerts are equally difficult
At his pre-concert press conference, Andy was asked about the difference between acting in musicals and holding concerts. He smiled and said, "There are of course many differences. At a concert, I am the focal point of the audience and they're only looking at me, but for musicals there are many characters, and the audience will not just focus on me."
"There is no room for NGs in musicals but in concerts, NG situations are extremely common. I've learnt how to deal with them though. Both have their pros and cons, but I do feel that both are equally difficult."
He added, "At first I doubted if I could really be part of a musical, and when I eventuall did, it was amazing. I think in no matter what you do, confidence is the key."
"I'm planning to take part in my third musical at the end of the year. I'm slowly developing dreams for the musical stage. I hope for your support."
Source: asiaeconomy&oceans
Chi trans: jojoyu7@shinhwachina
Eng trans: midnightgirl13@shinhwabiz
[08.09.08] [News] Andy: I was too shy to invite guests for the concert
"Guests? I was too shy to call anyone."
Andy held a pre-concert press conference on 7 Sept at 5pm, and when asked who his special guest were, he said "I didn't make many phone calls to invite people. I'm naturally shy, so I didn't want to ask anyone."
He added, "I once jokingly said that I was going to hold a concert and asked if anyone wanted to come. There were some who said yes and there were some who said they would try their best to turn up, depending on their schedules. But because everyone is busy with work, I didn't want to trouble them to make time for me."
"This concert will be something like going to the noraebang with friends, and I hope to present a stage that is sole Andy's."
He ended off by saying, "Many fans came on the 6th, I'm really grateful for that. Many people were worried if the concert would be successful, and I'm even more spurred on to make it succeed. I'll try my best to make it perfect."
Source: asiaeconomy&oceans
Chi trans: jojoyu7@shinhwachina
Eng trans: midnightgirl13@shinhwabiz
Post time 8-9-2008 03:23 PM
tak puas nengok dia...
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