credit to maruSyume

name NAKAMARU YUICHI nickname YUCCHI, YUU, MARU birthplace TOKYO, JAPAN birthdate SEPTEMBER 4, 1983 zodiac VIRGO siblings 2 YOUNGER SISTERS height 176cm blood type O special talent BEATBOX favourite colour GREY, BLACK, WHITE favourite fruit STRAWBERRY addicted to CHOCOLATE favourite sports SOCCER currently studying at WASEDA UNIVERSITY for HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND ENVIRONMENT SCIENCES

Tuesday 25 January 2011

ARENA 37°C - KAT-TUN



Part 1 - New single “CHANGE UR WORLD” interview
An interview about the feelings inside the long-awaited song!


“I think it would be good if this song gives the input to change something”

'There was this spontaneous feeling “It's time to attack!”'

---This time's single, “CHANGE UR WORLD”, has a hard rock sound, it's very cool.
Ka: Thank you. This time we ended a big tour, composed by the “Arena tour” from May to June and the “World big tour” from July to August, and soon after we started working on it, so I think that, emotionally, this fact had a huge impact. We started working on it maintaining the feelings of the live tour.

---There was something like “we want to do this kind of song”, or about the image you wanted to have?
Ko: There was this spontaneous feeling “It's time to attack!” inside of us. We also thought that even the fans wanted to see finally a “it’s time to attack!” version of KAT-TUN. I think that this time the song became a very KAT-TUN-like one, that allows very easily to understand our “attacking side”.
U: The image is “KAT-TUN returning to their starting point”. Especially compared to the song before, “Going!”.

---There was something that you were conscious of during the recording?
Ka: (*) The hook [during the bridge/chorus] is high and was difficult. But on the opposite side, the A-melody is pretty low. This means: we dance during the intro and after that there's the A-melody, and promptly appears the high part. For this reason, we are pretty conscious of that part and we sing giving a nuance.

---This means that you pay attention to those points even during the recording, since during the lives there are dances and choreography.
Ko: Because from the beginning we're a group that started doing lives, before recording CDs. Even when we record an album, we choose the songs keeping an eye on the live. For this reason even when I record the rap I want a “live sensation”, so I always sing moving my body.
U: For me, I don't care about the mike's booth, I put the mike stand and I sing leaning on it.
Ka: Following the song, when there's a mood song the stadium illumination becomes darker or I sing wearing sunglasses. In my case, I enter too much into the song and sometimes it almost happens that I think “The clothes are different!” (laughs) So at the end, since during the recordings I become really sensitive, I end up paying very much attention to small things like that [T/N: he’s referring to the difference between hook and A-Melody he noticed]. While recording a song long barely 4 minutes, to be honest, there are lots of emotional ups and downs.

---While keeping in mind the live performance, there are little details too. The charm of KAT-TUN's music is that has both such a daring side and an accurate side.
Ka: This because we don't think about everything beforehand, but we try to do most of it it after we have arrived at the stage. In my case, I decide the harmonizations on the spot, or I sing trying different wordings. (**) On the spot I listen to the staff's requests, and I continue adding my own point of view. For these reasons, it's as if, while continuing asserting ourselves, on the scene we become one entity and create [the performance].

---I understand. Then, changing topic to the lyrics, they have a strong message in them.
Ka: I think that maybe [the message] collected into the released song. This time is important that the meaning of the lyrics is understood.
Ko: This was something that we strongly wanted. Or better, up until now the important thing was how good was the feeling at listening, or the sound itself, instead of the meaning of the words. But if there are people who are inspired after hearing the lyrics, it means there are people who are encouraged by them too. With that spirit, we slowly began to think we wanted lyrics which can be listened.
J: Even regarding the PV, this time the contents are in accordance with the message of the lyrics. So I think that [this song] became a product where what has to be conveyed was adequately conveyed.
U: I think that the chorus line “Let's try to change this world” (kono sekai wo kaete miyou ka) is good. Since I suppose that in the present times there are really lots of people who aren't satisfied, we address to those people. I think it would be good if this song gives them the input to change something.

“We have united many different points of views; it took time, and I think that the “KAT-TUN style” came up”

---I thought that the line “I won't let anyone decide how far I can go” (doko made ikeru ka nante dare ni mo kimesasenai) is very KAT-TUN-like. There are times/parts that you are singing to yourselves?
Ka: There is quite a large number of that kind of songs. Or better, they fit the circumstances of that moment. Of course at the end we add our opinions too, but the composers look at the “us” of that period and write the lyrics. We read the lyrics and often even ourselves think “Oh, that's right”. For example “REAL FACE” that Suga Shigao-san wrote for us: it has the image of “always aiming at the risky point, at the limit”... That image which refers to us, united to many different points of view; it took time, and I think that the “KAT-TUN style” came up [T/N: in CUW song].
N: This is a song that raise our feelings too, when we read the lyrics.

---This time the single is released in 3 different versions. One of the two limited editions contains “GIRLS”, the song of Taguchi-san, Nakamaru-san and Tanaka-san.
Ko: During the tour there was a proposal from Taguchi, “I want to try to do a reggae-syle song”. I listen to reggae songs, but I've never done a reggae-style rap up until now, so I thought it seemed interesting.
N: Taguchi divided all the parts of the song. When I went to the studio, I thought he was a real director (laughs)
J: Half of it was because I was excited (laughs). But it isn't normal to direct the members' singing. It was a very good experience.
Ko: Nakamaru and I already did a song together, but it was the first time we had a “3 people pattern”.
J: I look forward to sing it live!

---Beside that, the coupling song of the regular edition, “NEVERxOVER”, sings about the character of each member using the rap.
Ka: Koki wrote about the members watching from an objective point of view. But it really hits the right spots!

---[The song] includes parts written as jokes, but you can feel the love towards the members.
Ko: If they were only praises, it would have been sickening, and it would have been the same doing just the opposite, so I reflected a lot about a balance, it was a desperate struggle.

--- Who was the most difficult to write about?
Ko: Myself. It's gross to praise oneself, right? But I didn't want to write bad things about me either (laughs)
N: But when [we listened to] the demo Koki created, it was obvious that he was all fired up just for his part (laughs)

---”NEETMAN”, Ueda-san's song which is the coupling song of the other limited edition, is a song that was performed even during Ueda-san's solo tour.
Ko: From the members' point of view, it's a very Ueda-like song.
U: It's a song that reflects my private life self. My friends said “That's clearly about you”.

---About the contents, is it an aid song for NEETs?
U: [The contents are] “NEET people have a core made of 'the idea of being NEET'!”. (***)

---This single is rich of so much variety. What do you want the listeners feel listening to this single?
Ko: Since there are lots of song types, I think it has become a single that presents KAT-TUN. I'd be glad if even people who haven't listened to KAT-TUN up until now will think “KAT-TUN are interesting”. Simply, I think “This single became a very amusing one, isn’t it?”.

---I'm sure that fans want to hear this song live very soon.
Ko: I'm happy. But we haven't decided something yet.
Ka: We have recorded them, but there are songs we haven't sung all 5 together yet. After the lives are planned, we must start practicing.
J: Regarding that, we're really looking forward to do them live too. At the end, lives are incredibly fun. By the way, we have done many lives up until now, but even every time something changed, because we like to leave everyone astonished with surprises too. The live performances that are filled with all those things, for us KAT-TUN are really important places, so we want you to listen as soon as possible [these songs] there.


Part 2 - About things you want to “CHANGE”
We asked what they want to change about their own character and tastes, and which changes (or evolutions) they want to make!


---Picking up the title, there's something you want to change? For example your own personality, or your tastes?
J: For me, since the gum of the sneakers I usually wear came off, I want to change them with a new pair (laughs)
Ko: If we talk about that, the back of the leather-soled sandals that I always use peeled off, so I want to reupholster them.
U: I want to change the car's battery. It's already finished...
---Those are unexpectedly ordinary answers... (bitter smile)
Ka: We're really very ordinary, as you can see. Even though we're wearing black clothes (laughs)
---How's Kamenashi-san?
Ka: I'm a kitchen knife.
All: *roar of laughter*
J: Because it's really common (laughs)
N: There's something that I've recently changed. I bought a new bed. As expected, bedding is very important. Up until now I didn't worry too much, I simply thought that it's good enough if I can sleep. But I've listened to other people’s opinions, I realized they were right, and I dished out the money.
---Because there are different types, following the person, or the pillow's height.
N: For this reason I measured the feeling of sinking, for example.
U: At the end, you decide the comfort if you can rest your backbone or not.
Ko: But if you get used too much to your bed, you won't be able to sleep to the hotels we'll stop by during our tour, right?
----By the way, among the members, there's something you want them to change?
Ko: This question is a bit... If we start talking, we won't stop (bitter smile)
N: Since before, we were bugged by member's trivial things, but recently we became able to think that “a person is a person”. We respect both the good and the bad parts.
---This is a mature point of view.
Ka: Because he's 34 years old (laughs)
N: Yes, yes. And Ueda has my same age.
U: Don't involve me in your discussions!





translations credit to iside89

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