▲ From left: Bang Yong-guk, Jung Dae-hyun, Yoo Young-jae, and Moon Jong-up of K-pop band B.A.P. pose for photos at the media showcase of their new mini-album "Curtain Call" held in Seoul on Aug. 8, 2024. (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Yonhap) -- "This album symbolizes how our fans brought us back to the stage with their cheers after we had stepped off," said Bang Yong-guk.

 

The iconic second-generation idol group B.A.P, which was active throughout the 2010s, has reunited after a six-and-a-half-year hiatus to meet their fans once again. On August 8, four members—Bang Yong-guk, Jung Dae-hyun, Yoo Young-jae, and Moon Jong-up—released a new mini-album titled CURTAIN CALL, marking their return to the music scene.

 

At the album release showcase held in Gangnam, Seoul, the members expressed their excitement. "We’re glad to show our strong and beautiful bond through this music video," said the group.

 

Moon Jong-up shared the story behind the reunion, stating, "We’ve been discussing getting back together for a while, and around the end of last year, I suggested we all gather as soon as Young-jae finished his military service in May this year. Everyone reacted positively, so we started working on this project with our company, MA Entertainment."

 

▲ K-pop band B.A.P. perform at the media showcase of their new mini-album "Curtain Call" held in Seoul on Aug. 8, 2024. (Yonhap)

 

B.A.P debuted in 2012 with the hit single Warrior and quickly rose to fame with songs like 1004, Young, Wild & Free, and Feel So Good, achieving multiple No. 1 rankings on music shows. However, after releasing the single EGO in December 2017, the group went on an extended hiatus following the expiration of their contract with their agency in 2019.

 

Bang Yong-guk explained, "The concept of this album is a continuation of the last album we wanted to create during our B.A.P activities. The plan for that album has finally seen the light of day after 6-7 years." He added, "Rather than thinking of this as our last album, I hope people see it as a conceptual direction in our world. We’re open to greeting our fans with new activities anytime."

 

Due to trademark issues, the group was unable to use the name "B.A.P" and instead returned under the names Bang Yong-guk, Jung Dae-hyun, Yoo Young-jae, and Moon Jong-up. Yoo Young-jae, overcome with emotion, said, "It was challenging to use our team name. We debated whether to create a new team name, but it was difficult because we had used the old name for so long."

 

Jung Dae-hyun added, "Many fans remember us as B.A.P, and if we can’t use that name, it seemed right to meet our fans using our real names."

 

The new album CURTAIN CALL includes five tracks, featuring the title song Gone, the pre-released track Goodbye Now, Forget the Faded Days with hopeful lyrics, and Stand it All, which portrays the longing and emptiness felt after parting with loved ones.

 

The title track Gone highlights the members’ vocal strengths, capturing their complex emotions of reminiscing about their fans while facing what could be their final moments on stage. The group will also hold a fan concert titled "2024 THE LAST FAN-CON [CURTAIN CALL]" on August 17-18 at the KBS Arena in Seoul, where they will reconnect with fans.

 

"We’ve been practicing hard to perform our old songs even better, to evoke a stronger sense of nostalgia for our fans. It’s physically more demanding now, so we’ve extended our practice hours, dedicating day and night to prepare," said Jung Dae-hyun.

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]