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Kanki

Member Since 11 Jun 2008
Offline Last Active May 20 2022 11:38 AM

#2994860 [ARTICLE] SNSD's 10 Secrets

Posted by Kanki on 08 October 2010 - 01:34 PM

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10 secrets so you can know SNSD better

9 member group SNSD is one of the pioneer members of K-POP girl units. They debuted in Japan about a month ago and are quickly preparing for the release of their 2nd single and here are their “10 Secrets”.

These personal testimonies are from staff members.

1. The life of 9 members living together

Since their debut in 2007, the 9 members of SNSD have been living together in a high class apartment in Seoul. Since there are only 5 rooms they were divided as follows: “Yoona (20) & Yuri (20)”, “Jessica (21) & Sooyoung (21)”, “Hyoyeon (21) & Seohyun (19)”, “Sunny (21) and Taeyeon (21)” and “Tiffany (21)”. (Korean Music Staff)

The girls will be coming back to Japan with their 2nd single “Gee” which will be released on the 20th. This fall, the SNSD whirlwind will blow in once more.


2. The order of morning showers…

“Since their young girls around 20, they live together like a large family, so to decide the order of morning showers they do “rock, paper, scissors”.” They also have a system everyday for meals. The “rule” is that in the morning the first member to wake up makes breakfast and the last one has to clean everything up. Although you could say, the late riser is regularly Jessica. She’s always the girl in charge of cleaning up (Haha)” (Korean female reporter)


3. They put names on their underwear!

The members decide things by majority rules. “Since the 9 members have similar body types, there is a rule that says they must definitely write the initials of their names on their underwear. Also, they are not allowed to be in romantic relationships according to their office, so there is an unspoken agreement that if a member likes someone, they have to hide it. This seems to be a scheme so they can try and solve who the date is (Haha)” (The previous mentioned reporter)


4. A routine that strengthens their bond!

One of SNSD’s charms is that they dance powerfully and perfectly together. In order to increase their bond, it’s routine that they hold each others’ hands and talk for 5 minutes every day.


5. Beauty & Diet methods…

The girls stretch out their slender legs and let out an involuntary sigh--.
A Korean beauty writer states, “It seems they don’t particularly limit the food they eat. They pay more attention right before a new song is released when their exposure is high, but consistently around every 3rd week they order pizza and they go back and forth to the sundae (sausage) shop.”
“Seohyun is enthusiastic about eating habits and beauty. She doesn’t eat instant food or fast food at all. Since skin cells rejuvenate at night, she tries to get to bed by midnight.”
She thoroughly takes care of herself and it’s her true personality, it seems she’s called a “model student”. Intense dancing and a well-regulated lifestyle delivers great legs!?


6. Spending time with members on the holidays

SNSD are close friends. They often spend time together on their vacations.
“In their private time, they are very ordinary girls. They go to amusement parks, and enjoy shopping and going out to eat. When they go on trips they regularly wear caps and a mask to “disguise” themselves, but fans still recognize them.
One time, the girls went to an amusement park with no make-up on and fans took tons of pictures of Sunny, Hyoyeon, Jessica and Tiffany. Their company got angry and told them, “Next time you go out on a trip, wear make-up!” (Haha)” (Previously Mentioned Reporter)
There are also days when the members bond and go to bars together. Tiffany disclosed this on a Korean TV program, “The members who are the worst drunks are Sooyoung and Jessica. Sooyoung becomes hot-tempered and Jessica becomes a “telephone demon” (Haha)”


7. The member with ‘superhuman strength” is Yoona

The number one (strongest) is the group’s “center” and popular member, Yoona. She may look frail, but she’s actually famous for being the group’s strongest.
“She completely defeated a male talent, that she was co-starring, with at arm wrestling, among other things. This power is certainly boyish. When the group has to travel, Yoona’s job is to carry the heavy luggage.” (Previously mentioned program’s staff)


8. Jessica’s “troubling” habit

Jessica is called the “ice princess” by fans because of her cool image. Her troubling habit is, once she’s asleep she doesn’t get up.
“When we’re filming, 2 hours had passed and Jessica hadn’t appeared, the staff started to really panic. We even considered filing a police report, but once we searched the house again, we found her with a toothbrush in one hand sleeping in the bathtub. (Haha)”
On their days off, she can sleep for more than 16 hours. When it seems too late, the members toss her out of bed, and exclaim that “Sleeping Beauty” has woken up.


9. ”Leader” Taeyeon’s troubles

Taeyeon was selected as leader because she is the oldest member. The pressure caused her to sleepwalk for a period of time. At that time, Sooyoung spoke to the Korean media.
“When Taeyeon sleeps, she solves math problems. Even though she’s alone she greets someone. In the middle of the night she would also start using her phone, it was scary.”
Naturally, Taeyeon doesn’t remember any of this, but the members told her about her sleepwalking and her actions in the middle of the night.
At the end of last year, Taeyeon appeared on the variety program “Strong Heart” and confessed, “I’m retiring from being leader. I’m a timid person, so I can’t lead.”
At night, during our “discussions” the fellow members criticized me, so I locked myself in my room.
“Because of that, our group decided we wouldn’t have a leader, so right now we don’t have a leader.”

[TL Note: Taeyeon is STILL SNSD's true leader, but now she doesn't have to burden everything alone. All members help her out~]


10. Pranks are Yuri’s hobbies

According to the members Yuri’s bad reputation is because, “She acts completely different around guys and girls”.
She is extremely mischievous and is famous for being the “most mischievous” member in SNSD.
“At their dorm, she tied all of the members’ shoelaces together and ran away. She hid a toy cockroach in Tiffany’s bed and made her cry. She often makes them angry (Haha)
She’s unique during “disputes”. When she’s angry at a member, she writes a memo on why she is upset and then reads it off to the member. Also if the other party objects to the memo, she expects it and has answers written down for that as well. It’s interesting” (Previously mentioned program staff)



Translated by: Kanki@Soshified.com
Source: [LINK] & graphy777@Twitter
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#2905955 [ARTICLE] Nikkei Entertainment Magazine /w SNSD Interview

Posted by Kanki on 08 September 2010 - 07:30 PM

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Since the beginning of this year a K-POP boom has started. Girl groups, in particular, are having their major debuts one by one and more and more big names are arriving. One of these names is “SNSD”. The 9 member girl group debuted with NAYUTAWAVE RECORDS which is under Universal Music. In Korea, men and women of all ages know these girls, they’re the nation’s girl group. Up until now, they were supported in Japan by their passionate core fans.

On August 25th, these girls performed their Showcase Live at Ariake Coliseum where more than 20,000 fans were invited (through 3 performances). They have had virtually no exposure in Japanese media, but the DVD with the invitation enclosed was sold out. Just through the power of the net and word of mouth, these girls were able to attract customers. It’s possible when they have their major debut that their popularity will be better than the rest. Girls like KARA and 4Minute came first, but we wonder how the surviving girls will battle. The industry has noticed this.

SNSD’s characteristics are different from idols, they have singing skills and they dance in perfect order in their dance formations which has 9 people; a large number. In addition, another point is they have model-like figures. As a matter of fact, to show their value, many music companies wanted them and thus a battle on who got them happened. Before the K-POP boom there were rumors. Media who suspected the rumor rushed to S.M. Entertainment Japan for answers. However, before SNSD’s major debut SM did their best to keep SNSD’s information (regarding the debut) under a veil.




First Interview in Japan

This time, Nikkei Entertainment, a Japanese Magazine Media, are the first to take photos of the girls. We had an exceptionally long 2 hour interview. All SNSD members met at an unknown place and were able to share what was currently on their minds.

On a summer day where the sun’s rays were reflected in the afternoon, the 9 SNSD members met at a studio in Seoul’s exclusive residential district Gangnam. The girls who had finished getting their hair and make-up done at a salon, arrived in civilian clothes. Every member greeted us with a smiling face as they entered the studio. Though it was expected they would head back to the waiting room, the girls instead lined up in front of the reporters. The girls said in skilled, high-toned, Japanese “We’re SNSD. It’s nice to meet you.”

The same Korean company that created the stars BoA and DBSK, S.M. Entertainment, will bring in their 3rd star, these girls who have become popular. We ask how much they have studied Japanese artists and its market. S.M. Entertainment has said that SNSD will not be localized like BoA and DBSK. As expected, we wonder what SNSD has their eyes on in Japan.


Interview


— Tell us what was on your mind when you found out you would be debuting in Japan.

Taeyeon: I was filled with things like, “Finally, this time has come.” In 2001, when I was still in elementary school, I watched BoA, a senpai from my company, debut in Japan. [Note: Senpai is the same as sunbae/senior.] It was a good significance and had a large impact on me. She is skilled at dancing and singing and her Japanese is also fluent. My dream of, “I want to become someone like BoA” has came. SNSD’s trait in one word is “Energy”. We certainly want everyone in Japan to feel that force when the 9 of us stand on stage. Everyone, how was it?

Jessica: As SNSD, each and every member has individuality, so we have a unique lineup and maybe that makes us a complete girl group (that can do various things). I think that’s also unusual in Japan. So, I want people to definitely know of our charm.

Tiffany: I often use this metaphor. All of the SNSD members are like raw materials like grains, good quality fruits, or sweets. They’re delicious by themselves. However, when you cook all those ingredients together, you create a cake or dessert called “SNSD”. In that moment, it’s much more delicious. I want to be able to supply our fans with a wonderful flavor.

Yoona: That’s right. Teamwork is definitely our strength. If we don’t sing and dance together, then we aren’t successful. Up until now, teamwork has been a part of SNSD. If we show that to Japan, I believe everyone will certainly come to love us. I’m filled with a feeling of nervousness and excitement.



— Though you’re at the top in Korea, don’t you feel a little confused and pressure advancing overseas?

Sunny: We’re not. We embrace activity overseas. We can’t always show a new SNSD. Right now we have to part with what we possess and everyone understands that. We all like the new challenge. Rather than pressure, we feel the opposite. This is an opportunity that we’ve come across and we look forward to it. In a little while we will become absent from Korea. However, we’ll still be shown on the Korean media and you can find us on the net too. Everyone look at our Japan debut favorably and please cheer for us. It feels like we’re going to Japan with everyone. I’ll be happy if more people become SNSD fans in Japan.

Tiffany: In Japan, SMAP is popular and has been around for more than 10 years and is still going. I think that’s really amazing. There aren’t really any groups in Korea who have continuously been around for so long. SNSD has been around for 3 years now and I want to aim at being like SMAP.



— In places like Tokyo’s clubs, SNSD’s choreography can be seen at dance events. Powerful dancing, a distinctive characteristic of Hyoyeon, has also been noticed.

Hyoyeon: I’m happy people have been anticipating it. I surely think that Japanese fans who watch the dances with a discerning eye will also be able to train themselves to do it. I still want to challenge it more.



— Sooyoung, your Japanese is good. I think for this debut there are various activities that you are expected to do.

Sooyoung: (In Japanese) Yes, I feel a lot of pressure. Since I hate doing things that aren’t perfect, I don’t just want to communicate well in Japanese, I want to become more perfect and master it. In order to do this, after this, I’ll need to increase my use of terminology. Right now, the members study Japanese with me every day. It’s heartening and I’m thankful.
SNSD is a multi-talented group, and from the beginning we have had an aim to advance into overseas markets. Before our debut, we were prepared for overseas activities. At the heart of SNSD’s activities, if given the chance in Japan, I think it’s possible for us to do dramas, movies, MCing, and variety shows. We also came with those lessons before we debut.

Tiffany: Sooyoung has shown us various Japanese entertainment works. Starting with that, we have a bigger part of us that is interested in Japan. Besides, Sooyoung isn’t only skilled at Japanese, she also has the power to make people laugh when she talks. Like Sooyoung, I can also make people laugh, I want to become an amusing person.

Sooyoung: On the contrary, Tiffany’s family is from America, so I’m jealous that she can speak fluent English. I also have a dream that SNSD will do activities in America, so these days I’ve began studying English. Even though I should be doing my best at Japanese right now… (Haha)



— You’re on the edge of your Japan debut. Don’t your family and friends from where you’re from express worry and anxiety?

Taeyeon: My family said, “Finally!”, they were anticipating it. Originally, it’s my parents who wanted their daughter to focus on world activities.

Jessica: My family and friends know they won’t be able to see me as much when I go to Japan and they express how they will miss me, but mostly they just cheer me on.

Seohyun: My parents are very proud of us for advancing to Japan. They have cheered for me saying, “Do your best to become an artist in Japan that everyone certainly knows.”

Tiffany: People around me are warmly cheering. My fellow members, up until now our spirits keep lifting, we’re excited. We’re also doing our best with Japanese.

Yoona: Yeah, as expected we don’t have the language ability. I think if we’re even able to communicate more skillfully, we’ll get more self-confidence and be able to be even more skilled, but… BoA senpai and DBSK senpai were the first to persist in speaking Japanese. If it were proper for this interview, I would also do my best at speaking Japanese. Since I can’t right now, it’s really mortifying. Moreover, I heard that Japan has a lot of fans, but honestly we’re still overwhelmingly unknown, so first SNSD will begin preparing activities so they can get to know us.

Taeyeon: First, we have self-confidence, and right now it is important for SNSD to show that we’re cool. When we debuted in Korea, there were many girl groups that had a strong image or sexy image. We came out with a natural and relaxed image. We experienced love from people in elementary school to people of old age, regardless of gender. This time again, we’ll cross the border with energetic and powerful performances that are our forte. I believe that a more broad layer of people will come to love us.

Everyone: That’s right.



— Taeyeon, you hit SNSD’s concept right on the head and out of the group I get the feeling you are the one with the most charisma.

Yuri: That’s right. Taeyeon’s birthday is the earliest (Haha)

Taeyeon: Certainly, when we accomplish something as a team, I’m often the one out in the very front.

Hyoyeon: Taeyeon also has wonderful vocals. She has a transparent voice and when she sings we all clearly feel it.



— Do you want long promotions in Japan?

Yuri: Since we’ve worked hard to start our Japan activities, I would like to stay here as long as possible.

Hyoyeon: Yeah. I heard a lot that Japanese variety programs are interesting programs, so I would like to try and be on one.

Sooyoung: In Korea, fans are anticipating our return home after we succeed in Japan, so I want people in Japan to listen to our music as much as possible, I want to sing forever.

Seohyun: On the contrary, we can’t say that we will go home after trying a little and things don’t go smoothly.

Sunny: Right now, none of us are taking it lightly and saying, “We’ll only go to Japan for a little bit.” All 9 of us talk together about our worries and weak points. We back up each other so we can climb over this together. That’s why, right now we’re mostly anticipating this rather than being worried.



— You all really seem like a family and sisters. What is the secret to your united hearts/bond?

Yoona: Since we’re all humans, we all are individuals. Previously we disagreed on trivial things, but before our debut we came to know each other. We talk about things while they’re happening. For example, concerning choreography, even now we have opinions that collide with one another. But, if the individual has a good suggestion, we ask how we can make it SNSD-like, how do we put it together. We’ve grown accustom to operating like that.

Jessica: For example, we ask “How can we make this song look cool” and we discuss how it fits SNSD’s concept. We bounce ideas off one another, we’ve become really skilled at doing that.

Yoona: For simple things, we go with majority rules. Since there’s 9 of us, if you get 5 votes you win (Haha). Hyoyeon is the best at collecting votes. When we’re deciding on a menu what to eat and she knows she goes, “I want this! Everyone else, you also want this!” and decides for us. On dancing and singing practice start times she also goes, “Since I think O is a good time, everyone lets meet at O!” Everyone just goes, “Okay.” (Haha).



— What did you think when you heard you would be debuting in Korea as 9 members back in 2007?

Sooyoung: Before our debut we were all friends, so on the contrary, if we had to be in separate groups and battle one another I think that would have made us sad and lonely. We were anxious and when we heard we would be in a 9 member group, we were happy. Honestly, when we debuted we went to every broadcasting station and greeted them. Since there were 9 of us, the loudness of our voices differed. The staff members said nice things like, “Since there are 9 of you, you all have an amazing power.”



Seohyun, since you’re the youngest, aren’t you nervous about the debut?

Seohyun: I’m not nervous at all.

Sooyoung: She receives a lot of love from the big sisters. It makes me jealous.

Seohyun: I’ve always wanted an older sister, so when I received 8 at once I was very happy.



— Do you guys fight at times?

Sooyoung: Of course. Mostly about trivial things (Haha). During those times, especially when someone doesn’t say “Sorry”, when we all get together to eat we make peace with one another. It feels just like a family.



— On August 25th you had your showcase live at Ariake Coliseum, but where do you want to put your next mark?

Tiffany: A country-wide tour! BoA senpai and DBSK senpai went all over Japan and it made be very jealous… I would like to have an enjoyable concert country-wide in front of lots of fans.

Sooyoung: Me too, we got to meet many people the other day at our showcase, and I want to meet even more local people.

Yoona: Well, sometime I want to perform at the Tokyo Dome.

Sooyoung: I’d like that too. And also Osaka Dome.

Tiffany: As for me, it’s still a really big dream, but I want to run towards the mark! I don’t know when that will be, but I want to do it in the shortest time possible.

Yuri: Aside from the capital, I want to visit other places. Small scale (performances) are also good, so I want to focus on our Lives. [Note: Lives here means concert, not their personal lives]



— Do you also want to make your mark at the “Japan Record Awards” and “Kohaku Utagassen”? [Note: Kohaku is a huge deal in Japan. It’s an annual singing contest held on New Year’s Eve where Japan’s top artists are INVITED to perform for either the red team or the white team.]

Hyoyeon: Honestly, I want that. But, perhaps we’ll leave other marks. Right now, I want a variety of challenges. Since I’m very greedy (Haha)



Translated by: Kanki@Soshified.com
Source: Nikkei Entertainment Magazine
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