Post by twilightelusion on Dec 20, 2010 14:51:58 GMT 8
Jo Kwon for GQ Magazine - Interview
[/u]Do you know Jo Kwon?
Jo Kwon often looks like a boy with mood swings, but at the same time he also looks like a soldier who is just back from battlefield.
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When he said it was hard, his voice was hoarse. Now when he said he was fine his voice was brisk.
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The word "tired" is written all over your face.
I am very busy. The album release, the sitcom... But I like it when I am busy.
Is there anything you would like to do in your private life?
Not really. I work out, I take care of myself... Although I personally would like to try dating, I much prefer I have some more time off from work.
Did you ever think you would have to deal with this kind of schedule at the age of 22?
Not at all. Even now I don't really grasp it. Moreover I couldn't imagined GQ would name me as Man Of The Year. I was like, "Me? Why me?"
Then who do you think create the "Jo Kwon Trend"?
Perhaps it's created by me and the public? Trend, icon, those kind of words do sound good, but before I made my debut I was probably similar to Brian sunbaenim. It's rather burdensome if I am expected to say that I created some trend. In variety shows I actually do not overdo things, it's just my real self.
You said you did not overdo things?
It's not an overdone at all. It's just me. But actually I don't even really know myself. Sometimes I also think I've gone crazy. I can't watch myself on screen. (It will be like) Ah, ah, why am I like this? It's... ah... I can't watch it.
Is there any misunderstanding in regard of the side of you in variety shows?
When people say I practice "kkap" on purpose to be popular. When people say I was atrocious. But sometimes I think, "Do I really look that way?" Why do I have to practice doing kkap when I don't have the time. I never practice it and I'm never greedy.
Actually when we asked you who created "Jo Kwon's Trend", we thought you would say, "I did".
Ah, actually I wanted to say it. When I appeared on "Radio Star" I said myself that I was a trend... It was just a modest comment a while ago. Actually I am a trend because I am that good.
Haha. Do you need a secret method to maintain a trend?
Just live happily, that's also "kkap"... But until now it still feels strange for me to say "doing kkap". It also sounds like a curse. At times I have doubts. Should I stop it now? It's not like I start it on purpose. Recently I often loose my confidence.
Why is that?
I've been very busy these days, so well... I don't have the energy to kkap... Ah, and I also think that the side of me in variety shows has to be presented in the sitcom "All My Love".
As a singer?
I, along with the other members, do it with all our hearts. Ad lib, high notes, vibrations cannot 100% convey our true feelings to people. If we can get people to think that we do sing with all our hearts, then I consider ourselves successful as singers.
On stage, beside the song, what is the thing you concentrate on the most?
Eyes. In the movie "Ajuhssi", the look in Won Bin ssi's eyes is unforgettable. But I'm not saying that I practice that kind of look. It's just that I want to get in the emotions while I sing. I also cried a lot. In most of our performances I often looked teary, that's why people said that I had quite a gap. They asked me whether I had multiple personalities.
On stage we sometimes see your emotional expression. We wonder if you get emotional because you think about the life as a trainee for 8 years. How many more years do you think you could have waited?
Exactly 8 years. Just when I reached my limit, I debuted in 2AM. I don't think I could hang in there any longer.
If you gave up then, what would you do?
Even if I couldn't be a singer, I would definitely find other ways. I think I could appear on TV shows. I could also do entertainment shows.
Do you want to be famous?
I have a strong desire for that. Why? Because I once appeared on a talent show on TV and I got the taste of how it felt. I was a trainee for several years and it was all forgotten, but I still have the urge in me. I hoped I could get many people to know me once more, I would like to show them how I have grown.
Does your success compensate for your hardship? How much of a success?
Mmm... My hardship has been compensated. On the day of my debut everything has been compensated. Those people who don't understand what I'm talking about can go and try to be a trainee for 8 years, and then they will understand. The one reason I trained for 8 years is to make my debut, that's the only reason. Naturally my dream is to become a superstar, to be popular, to receive lots of love from people, to be good at many things, but those are only my dreams. The reason I trained for 8 years is to achieve my goal and make my debut. I can't forget the happy feelings at that time. But humans are greedy. There's one time I felt much happier than when I made my debut, and that's when "Can't Let You Go Even If I Die" won #1 for the first time. I even cried.
That day we covered the scene from the audience. A fan who sat next to us was also crying just like you.
I don't know. Our fans are like that. 2AM fans come from different backgrounds, but since 2AM is an idol group, our fans are all good and kind students. It's probably because right until we debuted we have faced many ups and downs, also had tough times, and my story of debuting as a singer after 2,567 days became an issue. Perhaps after seeing me they tell themselves to be strong, to hang on. My story can even be found in the college entrance exam sheet. It said, "Look at Jo Kwon". I appeared on the same page with Kim Yeon Ah.
Not only students, but many trainees also want to be like you.
And there are junior singers who said that they wanted to keep up with my kkap and showed it in variety shows. There are more than I thought. There's Hwang Gwang Hee ssi from ZE:A, there's also one from Infinite. Looks like there's always someone among the idol groups coming out these days.
Do you have anything to say about it?
They can't do it to me! Hahaha. I've also received a lot of hostility to get to where I'm at now. I often heard people said, "He's such an annoying guy". I don't think of those people who think that way. Of course it's good. But in a show if someone challenge me with a bizarre dance, my unique snobbish expression automatically appears.
Ah, is that expression real?
Yes. Of course there are times I depend on repertory. Super hot girl groups have to appear soon. The girl groups I can imitate again. Last time I did a lot of "Abracadabra" and also SNSD's "Gee"...
Did you ever feel scared during a show? Maybe you did something wrong and regretted it.
So far I don't think so. Either in "Sebakwi" or "We Got Married" I just do it without really think about it... I only keep one very important thing in mind. For example in "Inkigayo", I have the important role to introduce the singers, I have to memorize the lines and maintain the flow. I stick to that and don't think about anything else.
Smart.
I'm not good at school, I guess I'm good at stuff like this.
Despite your dreams, goals and time, what is it that you want to do most?
Something like a school trip? I think I should try it. During my training years I couldn't go on a school trip or a retreat.
Where do you go to play with your friends in Seoul?
In Seoul I only know Chungdam-dong and Apgujeong-dong. I became a trainee when I was 13 years old and the company is located in Chungdam-dong. Come to think of it, there are a lot of neighborhood I haven't visited yet. Ah, I really want to play.
What do you want to play?
I want to go to clubs. I'll be wild. But it has to be helped with a bit of drink.
How is Jo Kwon when he drinks?
I become super kkap. I told you I'll be totally wild.
Thinking of you getting wild... What kind of girls do you want to show your kkap to?
Gong Hyo Jin Noona likes it a lot. Go Hyun Jung sunbaenim also wants to see it. Go Hyun Jung sunbaenim said that she watched the show I appeared in whenever she was depressed. I would like to shake my hip in front of her.
What if one day when you wake up you've turned into a cockroach?
Cockroach is too much. But I guess I still have to fight to live, don't I? I will be a cheerful cockroach. I will scare people, appear and quickly disappear, shaking...
Have you ever thought of a day when your popularity and everything disappear?
No, I haven't. I just hope I can keep doing this till the day I die, keep working and believe I will keep on going. I have heard that I can't go on forever. In that case I shouldn't change my personality. I will continue to live just like this.
SOURCE: GQ.com
TRANSLATION by suzelle@IAMfor2AM - 2AM International Forum
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NOTE: I didn't put in the images because it's a very long article. The pictures can be found in the image gallery.
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