[Hot! Debut Diary] Teen Top - Dancing Boy Changjo!

“When I was in fifth grade I watched the music program and when I saw dancing singers I wanted to follow them, that’s when I began my dance training. And through a talent show I cooly reenacted DBSK ‘O’ and my friends cheered for me.”

“On sixth grade, after school in empty classrooms, at the empty lot in front of my home, simply at my cultural center’s classroom, etc, everywhere where I could dance, I tried to make new dances matching a song, I tried to make more awesome choreographies.”

“One day, noona was watching a video concert of Usher and I could feel the delight that I couldn’t feel before, so I was decided to become a singer like Usher. Because there wasn’t a lot of auditions in his city, I nagged noona to bring me to Seoul to see the auditions.”

When he went up at Seoul he kept on failing at the auditions. But Changjo didn’t give up easily. “I was watching the auditions at Seoul and I praticed until I made a cool dance, until I successed at the part I couldn’t before, when I came to see the auditions I remembered the other people’s dances, to make the songs fit better with the dance I modified it and I doubled my pratices.”

Changjo’s mother told to Changjo who always failed at the auditions to give up and to focus on his studies when he was in first year of middle school.

His little cousin who liked dancing and practiced with him implored him to take him to see the auditions. He didn’t have the heart to refuse his cousin’s request so he went to the audition as the last one. That’s how he applied to the Lotte World public audition with his cousin.But unfortunately his cousin failed at the preliminary round, Changjo went to the final and in the end he was the youngest male participant to win and tool the opportunity to become a trainee at the same time.

“I have to go to school on week, at around 10 I finish practicing and I take the last train at 11 and I come back at Chucheon.” Changjo who had long distance travel and always had to hurry to not be late. When he could stay at the dorm on week-ends, he stayed late at night at the practice room to repeatly practice until he mastered one by one each little moves. “I danced like this some times over 10 hours a day I even had my toenail off, I got blisters every time I dance, it was really painful, later on I’ll have to remove the callus on my feet.”(laugh) Changjo who had to go in one month, excluding 4 times, to Seoul from Chucheon every day and lost 6 kg.

“If I didn’t become a Teen Top member I think I would be studying hard to become a bodyguard” (laugh)Changjo has a 4th degree belt of Jeet Kune Do and Taekwondo. Since he was young he wanted to become bodyguard so he began to do sports, and did some Jeet Kune Do and Taekwondo.

“Even now wen sometimes there’s a dance I created I don’t like, when I’m worried about something, when I can’t think of a good choreography, or when I get angry, I release stress by doing some Jeet Kune Do and Taekwondo.”

Dancing Boy Changjo said “As for Teen Top’s ‘knife dance’ I want to do a new choreography so Teen Top can show a new one” and while laughing ” I think it would be good if we could create a dance with some Keet Kune Do and Taekwondo moves”

Source : Asia Economy Daily

Translator : BGSS2Maknae@6TeensOnTop.com

[Hot! Debut Diary] Teen Top - Lovelove Lovely Ricky!

At home he’s a maknae, since he has an older brother. When Ricky went to elementary school, he saw some pretty girls and handsome guys on TV, he had an idea, “After you appear on TV, you will become someone handsome like that! So I want to go on TV too.”

Through his Mom’s support he went to an acting school, and after a year, appeared in a cameo on SBS’s “Land”. This was Ricky’s first time standing in front of cameras. When he was in 4th grade, he acted in MBC’s “내 친구들의 세상” (My Friend’s World) and EBS’s “방학생활” (Holiday Life), and accumulated some acting experience.

However, the reason that child star Ricky got a lot of attention, was because of his appearance in Seo Tai Ji’s MV “Human Dream”.

After filming ended, Ricky was invited to Seo Tai Ji’s concert. He attended the concert with excitement, and noticed that a live concert was so different from filming. Since then, he wanted to become a singer and stand on the same stage as Seo Tai Ji.

After deciding to become a singer, Ricky continuously practiced his singing. He spends 3-4 hours everyday practicing. He will keep practicing until his voice becomes hoarse.

One day, Ricky’s blood bother participated in a singer selection. When the selection organizers saw me, they asked “Did you not star in that Tai Ji ‘Human Dream’ Music Video when you were younger? Do you want to try participating in this?”

Although he wasn’t prepared to participate in this, Ricky delivered a confident self-introduction followed by an individual performance of a drama scene. After the performance, he was supposed to perform a song. But because he was too nervous and tense, his voice broke a little.

Although that situation and opportunity arrived completely unexpectedly, but discovered how hardworking other trainees are. Also, came to understand why not every trainee can become a singer. Also during dance training and practice time, Ricky is always practices two or three times more than his friends.

As the last day of evaluation to choose Teen Top’s members come they still didn’t begin to worry about who’ll be first. At that time Ricky had to go frequently to the hospital because of his throat ‘to prevent the voices changes’, so he couldn’t properly take the vocal lessons.

He didn’t even know the dance basics and had to practice while growing up, his friends, the dance teachers and every people around couldn’t help but be surprised. And on the day where they announced who were Teen Top’s members, when Ricky heard his name a thousand emotions crossed his mind and he shed tears of joy.

“When I was praticing as a member of Teen Top, I was the most sorry to my hyung on the fact that because of my voice changes we couldn’t properly share our lyrics part. And because I was so sorry I practiced even more my dancing.”

Source : Asia Economy Daily

Translator : BGSS2Maknae@6TeensOnTop.com

[Hot! Debut Diary] Teen Top - Emotional Voice Niel!

He was dreaming of becoming a football player but when he saw the child actor Yoo Seungho in the movie ‘The Way Home’ when he was in 4th grade he became interested in acting. Because Niel’s mother was supporting his son who wanted to become actor he was able to receive a training at a actor’s school.

In 5th grade he passed a full-scale audition and began in the drama Children’s Chorus.

When Niel heard Michael Jackson’s Ben at the radio he began to fall for Michael Jackson’s beautiful voice.

Since this time he wanted to become a singer like Mickael Jackson, who can make the whole world become one. So he began to go at a singing academy. While he went to this singing academy and also studied the singing basics.

One week-end he went with his family at the amusement park. At this amusement park there was a small open-air stage, they were in the middle of a public audition, he peeked into the reception desk and he filled the participation form he was half curious half expecting.

He was so nervous that he couldn’t even remember how to sing. And then he asked at the audition office if he could make another try at the public audition. While thinking of how he lost the opportunity that was so hard to get he thought about give up on his dream to become singer.

But one day a call came at the office. “You have a pretty voice and your songs are full of emotions, I’ll give you a chance”

Niel who has ‘More special lips than look’ said “In the past I was embarrassed about my thick lips and people teased e a lot about it but now people remember me thanks to my lips, fans said that my lips were the point of my charm, now I have more confidence about my lips.” as he innocently smiled.

On last April, Niel heard from MTV’s production crew that his voice “reminds of young Michael Jackson’s voice”. He said that it was the happiest moment he had from when he began singing. ‘I want to sing a song that can make the whole world become one like Michael Jackson’s rich music’.

Source : Asia Economy Daily

Translator : BGSS2Maknae@6TeensOnTop.com

[Hot! Debut Diary] Teen Top - Rascal Rapper LJoe!

In America he was called ‘Joe’, so L.Joe added his Korean last name ‘Lee’ to make his name.

L.Joe dreamt to become a singer since his childhood days. “On elementary school, Jo PD’s ‘friend’ her by chance my rap so he became interested.” Then L.Joe added while thinking of the past “Even if we emigrated in America I had a great interest in rap, and with my foreign friends who liked rap too, we used to gather and pratice it.” “‘I declared that ‘to achieve my dream to become singer I’ll come back in Korea’ but my parents showed a strong opposition, and after one month of trying to convince them, I came back to Korea without my mother knowing, I only had the consent of my father.”

L.Joe who came to Korea was interested into the Department of Theater and Film at the art middle school, to enter it he first registered at a acting academy.

When I came back in Korea I thought that everything would go smoothly “Seeing that I failed at various auditions, it felt like the way to become singer was growing longer and longer.” I was sorry towards my father who trusted me and sent me in Korea, and to my mother who didn’t know I came back.”He added: “I was worried about weither I should come back in America, but the I saw that their was a public audition at Lotte World, I thought that this one would be the last one and I applied.” And then he won the prize and that how L.Joe had the chance to become a trainee.

Now at the company, L.Joe still remember a friend that watch the preliminary round of Lotte World public audition with and that he cheered for. At the preliminary round place he met this friend, they introduced themselves and greeted each other, this friend’s name was ‘Park Jinyoung’. But in the end this friend was sadly eliminated at the qualifying round.

“From when I was young I heard that my body was weak and One day because of dancing my legs were really painful so I had to go to the hospital to receive a physical therapy.”

The doctor said “If you want to continue dancing you have to get a knee surgery”

“After hearing that I had to give up on my dream to become singer it felt like the sky was collapsing”.

“Then I praticed the choreography only the upper part of my body until the lower part won’t hurt anymore.”

Everytime he was tired he listened to a song he made for himself ‘Call Me Gangster’ and he would feel determinated again. “The first song that I made was ‘Call Me Gangster’, this song gives hope and says that I’m the best.”

That’s how he left behind these hard times and finally became Teen Top’s rapper, his father and his mother who stayed in America now understand and are reliable supporters.

L.Joe smiled shyly and said “When I listen to my song, I feel that it gives me hope and courage to realize my new dream, I want to rap”

Source : Asia Economy Daily

Translator : BGSS2Maknae@6TeensOnTop.com

[Hot! Debut Diary] Teen Top - Power Voice Chunji!

“In 2nd year of elementary school, while watching a music program, I made the decision that I’ll become like an American singer who can move people through a song and can receive love from everyone.” Since then Chunji got ready little by little for his dream to become singer.

“To become a singer I have to sing well popular song and to sing well I thought that I had to listen to music a lot, I could even sing blindly a song I never heard” Chunji smiled while remembering about his past memories. He entered middle school ad Chunji thought that there was a limit at practicing by himself.

He revealed that for extracurricular activity he took vocal lessons. “I only had one lesson a week, it was a short time but while learning vocalization’s basics I thought that I was getting closer to the song.

When graduating in 3rd year of middle school, he sang Ne-Yo’s ‘So Sick’ at the concert that was held every year at the school, it was his first time singing in front of many people and he got this opportunity.

After entering in high school, he eargerly wanted to learn how to sing so he entered a vocal academy. On the days where he didn’t have any lessons, he was going to the practice room to repeatedly practice the things he learnt and each month he had a vocal battle with the others students, he showed a competition in good faith. And he said while laughing: “At that time I just thought that I absolutely had to win but now that I’m thinking about it again through practicing with friends, we could learn from these friends’ strong points and it seems that it was a good occasion to correct our weaknesses.”

Thanks to the recommendation from the academy he entered back then he got an audition’s opportunity. At the academy they recommended to Chunji to sing a ballade at the audition since his voice fits it well, Chunji was really worried about the song he was going to choose, he said “By singing ‘So Sick’ in front of many people for the first time I got the chance to enter this audition.” and smiled while saying this “I will never forget Ne-Yo’s ‘So Sick’, it gave me a chance for a new beginning and another opportunity for a challenge, it’s a special song.”

He revealed that, like his surname ‘Power Voice’, his name means that his voice can make the sky and the earth resound.

Chunji who had to suffer from two hard moments to become a Teen Top member. He told us the story of his hard trainee period.

Chunji who was reminescing of his past memories said: “My dancing skills were lacking more than my singing. I promised that I’ll work harder than the other trainees and I became trainee.”

He told us about that time that: “After becoming a trainee I asked for some help again and again to the other trainees, I followed them, I learned and understood I spent more than half of my training at dancing.”

“But at every end of month evaluation I couldn’t get good marks because of my dancing skills that weren’t improving, since the low results kept coming, joining the team was quite uncertain.” Chunji was shivering while revealing these sad memories.

And to make things worse he couldn’t take more time for his practice and lessons because he couldn’t fail at school. He revealed everything about the critical situation: “In a state where even my entrance in the team was incertain, I didn’t easily changed school on 2nd year of middle school, I had to work a lot more than my other friends so I couldn’t give up on the training.”

He added: “At the end of month evaluations I kept on having bad results, and I worried a lot about the school transfer. Leaving my friends was sad but I thought that if I give up on my dream I won’t be able to do anything so in the end I changed school.”

“Because of the school transfer and the dance I couldn’t give up on my dream, I even reduced my sleeping time to do dance practice. And since my dancing wasn’t improving as I wanted I released my stress by singing loudly.” He showed us his passion, he pursued his dream until the end.

Source : Asia Economy Daily

Translator : BGSS2Maknae@6TeensOnTop.com

[Hot! Debut Diary] Teen Top - Charismatic Leader C.A.P!

“Because I had no older or little brother, but only 2 sisters, I loved playing together with friends. As a child, I loved listening to rap. At the time, it was all I would listen too.”

CAP was influenced by the meaningful lyrics from Eminem’s rap. It was a wonderful charm to CAP and he immediately had dreams of becoming a Rapper. His friends had the idea of b-boying and wanted to rap with him. So together, they formed a small b-boy crew. They called a lot of students to join them at youth training centers for b-boy training.They also practiced everyday at school.

Up until Secondary School, he decided to audition to become a trainee. Because of practicing every day, a sprained foot and an injured back, it all went to a good cause. He was qualified to become a trainee. In addition, he practiced everyday from morning to night in a practice room.

One day, he was checking his e-mails, he saw that he received an e-mail from the company he’s in today about a b-boy and rap video he made with the friends from his club.

“The content of the mail he received back then was : “On the rap video you showed a lot of potential, we would definitely like to see you at the audition”. I remember that at this time I was still in middle school and I like rap.”

“After the audition’s preliminary the company told me to go to Lotte World public audition, I passed the preliminary round and reached the finals. I made the promise to work hard.”

But he was still in middle school and had to do an excessive dance training and have lots of memories of being injured because of that. He learned everything again from the movement basics, and everytime his body couldn’t follow his greed to practice, he released stress by exercising.

“At first I did 100 sit-up, then 200, 500, I was always increasing it. When I saw my muscles growing little by little by exercising, I also gained more confidence, so I began to be greedier into making muscles.(laugh)”

“I was originally a major in designing but when I began to rap my dream changed. These days I couldn’t draw a lot since I was designing rap.” “Since this day, I, of course began to write lyrics to make my rap but I also designed my rap’s style.”

Source : Asia Economy Daily

Translator : BGSS2Maknae@6TeensOnTop.com