SG Wannabe
They have become so bright that it was hard to recognize them. They no longer looked gloomy. Even before I finished the question, Can you tell me about your cattle driving singing method? they promptly replied loudly and emphatically, Nope!
We have made a dramatic change. Well, you can say that the previous SG Wannabe style was about letting out ones anger and resentment without restriction, but this time, you may put it with more restraint. However, it was difficult and even sadder. Haha, Kim Yong-joon, a member of SG Wannabe, said.
SG Wannabe which has returned with their fourth album which will hit the stores on Friday was definitely different. Unlike before, when they answered, their voices were high spirited and their faces were smiling. They used to sing melancholy songs and were often referred to as masters of the cattle driving singing method and a medium-tempo ballad group.
I heard that once singers announce their third album, they face a dilemma, whether to stick to the existing style or make a change. We were no exception. But since we were not trend setters anyway, we decided not to think or worry about it too much. And eventually, we concluded to pursue a music style that can satisfy all generations, Chae Dong-ha, a member of SG Wannabe, said.
SG Wannabe made their debut in 2004 and, thanks to the popularity of Living Life, their second album sold over 400,000 copies, topping both the online and offline charts. Unlike teenage idol singers whose fans are limited to a certain age group, they have a strong fan base from all age groups. Old female fans seem to find us very comfortable, SG Wannabe says. The secret of their popularity was the cattle driving songs or also known as melancholy ballads. However, this time, SG Wannabe, who are now often labeled as veteran singers, have taken the challenge of integrating traditional Korean music.
Traditional Korean music is not all that new to us. We added haegeum melodies into previous songs such as Living Life and My Person. In particular, my minor was Gyeonggi folk songs when I was at the Anyang Art High School. Se7en and I took classes together and often sang folk songs like Milyang Arirang and Song of the Boatman by modifying them into pop songs or R&B. Of course, we were severely scolded by our teachers, Kim said.
Arirang, the title song of their new album, is a very unique song blending pop melodies with gutgeori jangdan and sorikkun Park Ae-ris chorus. Hip-hop Eun and One Summer Days Dream, which SG Wannabe sung with Ok Joo-hyun, are also very different from their past ballad songs. Their singing style has changed as well. For instance, although The Thorn Birds is a ballad, the trade genre of SG Wannabe, it is void of the cattle driving feel.
To be honest, the singing style gets on my nerve. Once, when I was singing, I could see a dozen cows mooing on the screen next to me. It wasnt pleasant at all at first. However, once I became conscious of those things, I started to calculate my feelings without knowing it. I think what is important is feeling because the singing style is just an appearance, Kim Jin-ho, a member of SG Wannabe, said.
As much as their passion in music, they have accomplished a lot. Although it has been only three years since their debut, SG Wannabe says that they get more pressured as they continue to make headlines with words like the highest album sales and Golden Disk winner. They say that although they are very proud of their music, they often feel insecure of losing everything all at once as they have not set their final goal.
Many people think we are old. But, in fact, we are the same age as TVXQ. We have many years ahead, so our dream is staying together as a group for a long time like some foreign groups. I want to continue to be part of SG Wannabe until the day people do not have to ask what SG stands for, Kim Jin-ho said.
So I asked what SG stands for. And they replied, Well, I guess its sexy guys. Dont you think? Hehe... I could no longer find any gloomy side to them.
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