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| yna@yna.co.kr 2024-07-29 16:53:59
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- For the first time, South Korean band CNBLUE and Japanese rock band UVERworld will join forces for a collaborative concert.
The event, named "Unlimited Challenge," will take place on the 27th at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium. The unique joint performance aims to showcase an innovative and diverse stage, reflecting the concert's title which signifies 'limitless challenges.'
Jung Yong-hwa from CNBLUE expressed his excitement during an interview at FNC Entertainment's headquarters on the 26th, stating, "It’s meaningful to introduce great bands during a time when band music is receiving much love. We hope to continue collaborating and creating our own stories through future performances."
UVERworld, a six-member rock band formed in 2000, is renowned for their theme songs for popular anime such as "Bleach." Known for their unique lyrics, they have a solid fan base. They held 90 concerts across Japan in 2022-2023, and performed at Nissan Stadium, Japan's largest concert venue, last July. This marks their first performance in Korea.
Jung Yong-hwa described UVERworld's music as heavy metal with warm melodies and meaningful lyrics. He highlighted lead vocalist Takuya's ability to infuse personal experiences into his lyrics, making their songs particularly engaging. Takuya mentioned, "While my bandmates find it easy to write music but hard to write lyrics, I feel the opposite. I believe my passion for writing lyrics resonates with the audience. For this concert, we will display Korean-translated lyrics on the screen while singing."
The idea for this joint concert arose by chance. After meeting at a concert and bonding over shared interests and approaches to performances, Jung Yong-hwa proposed the idea, which Takuya readily accepted. Takuya revealed, "I am a fan of CNBLUE and have attended their concerts in Japan. When the proposal for a joint concert came, I accepted it immediately."
The bands recently held their first joint concert in Yokohama, Japan. During the performance, UVERworld covered CNBLUE's "You're So Fine." Takuya noted, "I was impressed by CNBLUE's live performance and decided to cover 'You're So Fine' because I liked the melody and lyrics. We aim to deliver an even better rendition at the Korean concert."
Reflecting on the collaboration, Jung Yong-hwa stated, "Watching UVERworld's performance changed my perspective on approaching the stage. I learned the importance of delivering a compelling visual performance." He hinted at a potential surprise performance during the upcoming concert, adding with a smile, "We might or might not present something special."
Both bands expressed their satisfaction with the joint concert and hope for more opportunities to collaborate in the future. Takuya shared his vision for future performances, saying, "I admire Jung Yong-hwa's talent as a composer. I would love to collaborate by singing songs he has composed."
Jung Yong-hwa emphasized the significance of this collaboration, especially since CNBLUE has primarily done solo concerts throughout their decade-long career. He sees this collaboration as mutually beneficial and looks forward to creating more such opportunities.
Celebrating their 14th anniversary this year, CNBLUE is excited about the growing appreciation for band music in Korea. They aim to continue evolving and supporting upcoming bands with their new music and upcoming album.
Jung Yong-hwa concluded, "We have worked hard to overcome the barriers and challenges associated with being a band. Now, it feels like those barriers are gradually lowering. We believe that as we grow older, our music will mature as well, and we are committed to helping guide and support the next generation of bands."
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]