[Interview] Daesung @ ORICON JP

:: 31 July 2013


Ending his grand solo tour, D-LITE released his first Japanese solo single ‘I Love You’! For this piece of work, he perfectly covered Yutaka Ozaki’s classic song that is rich with emotions. He also added in colors belonging only to D-LITE perfectly. We do not need to explain much about the song, what’s attracting our attention is the MV!! Daesung has talked much about this MV!

Facing countless covered versions of ‘I Love You’ brings stress and worries

ORICON: D-LITE’s first Japanese single comes from Yutaka Ozaki’s classic golden song ‘I Love You”!
D-LITE: Be it in Japan or Korea, ‘I Love You’ is a very famous song. There are also many versions of his song around which brings to me added stress. When covering it, I feel worried as well. However, Mr. Seiji Kameda who was also my producer for “D’scover” is producing this song and also world renowned violinist Hakase Taro’s collaboration, I was able to finish recording this song in enjoyment. Although previously it was an album and it’s a single now, it is still a challenge for me to convey my message and thoughts to listeners with only one song.

ORICON: At the same time, there are many people who carry memories of this song.
D-LITE: Because of this, it has become a precious song. This is exactly why I have to seriously convey my thinking using the song.

ORICON: When did you complete the recording?
D-LITE: In the midst of my tour, I completed it at the start of June.

ORICON: Your previous album was also recorded during Bigbang’s world tour, you mentioned previously that there were some problems for you to go on the tour and also record for your album. How about this time?
D-LITE: Totally fine! As it is only one song, it did not feel bad! (laugh)

ORICON: This time round, D-LITE’s voice left all of us a sincere and warm impression.
D-LITE: About this time, the recording environment was very good, Hakase Taro’s violin was also exceptionally beautiful! After listening to Hakase Taro’s violin performance, I felt very touched. I thought, because I had this mindset and mood during my recording process is what made me finish my song using the shortest of time. Also, Hakase Taro is a gentle and interesting person, his charisma is huge too. The time we spent together seemed to be fleeting moments.

ORICON: Which sentence in ‘I Love You’ is your favourite?
D-LITE:  In “Singer’s Ballad”, I like the sentence “Ah~ singing isn’t a difficult thing”. After that, it also left me the same impression that singing isn’t difficult. For this time, the entire song lyrics is so beautiful and splendid. When performing it, I was working hard to emphasize on “Even when facing the trials by the world, this love will only still belong to both of us”.

ORICON: So, your MV this time has also made headlines.
D-LITE: (quietly pondering) Ah…… Yes……. (laugh).

ORICON: There are so many areas we would like to understand.
D-LITE: Then please cut your story short (laugh).

ORICON: Fans who initially felt uneasy for your expression and acting skills went “Eh?!” when halfway through your video. There are some shocking scenes in the MV right?
D-LITE: Yes… I guess so…? (pretending to be blur)

ORICON: Then, we shall ask that question later on. Let’s talk about when this MV was filmed and where was it.
D-LITE: The day we finished recording, I went back to Korea and we finished filming everything in 2 days. Then I headed back to Japan immediately to continue with my tour. Although there are a few places we went for filming, they were all located within a distance of 10 minutes from YG office. The scene at the tunnel was shot at somewhere further named Uijeongpu.

ORICON: At the start of the MV, in the tunnel, drenched D-LITE was singing with an expression that seemed lost.
D-LITE: Ah, however, the rain is fake (laugh). However, because it was filmed during midnight, I was a little sleepy. That’s why my expression did not look really good (laugh).

ORICON: Then, you caressed your girlfriend’s long hair at the sickbed and you gently pulled the blankets up for her. That left us with a lasting impression, then you…….
D-LITE: That~ Are you going to talk in detail? I still feel a little embarrassed ><

ORICON: Sorry. This time round it’s an MV with a designated story plot. D-LITE has also showed us his acting skills.
D-LITE: Ah~ Acting skills…… I don’t have any.

ORICON: How can you say that, your acting was good.
D-LITE: I did not act in a very long time, I feel so strange. Lucky for me, the Korean actress acting with me was guiding me along gently which saved me.

ORICON: After that there was a scene where you broke the glass using a fire extinguisher, it totally showed your manly side in gentle D-LITE.
D-LITE: Um, yes (laugh). It’s a real fire extinguisher so it was so heavy! But because it is glass, I can only do it once, if I don’t do it well, I am unable to use this scene for my MV. So I did it carrying a “I must not fail” mindset.

ORICON: What does this scene represent?
D-LITE: It means that I will succeed even if I do it again!

The scene that left the deepest impression for us in the MV

ORICON: When looking at D-LITE’s different but sincere expressions, I felt like I went a step closer to knowing you. If D-LITE were to pick the most memorable scene, which one would it be?
D-LITE: Definitely the kiss scene (suddenly upright) That’s because I prepared so much for it (laugh)

ORICON: Thank you for your answer which was what we were expecting! What preparation have you done for this kiss scene?
D-LITE: The day before filming I started brushing my teeth every 5 minutes. I have to be prepared! (laugh).

ORICON: Doing your full preparation to welcome the filming. Then, how was the actual filming? Is it fine even when there are NGs?
D-LITE: There wasn’t any NGs! Filming ended in about 30 minutes..

ORICON: Wow, so awesome!!
D-LITE: Actually, I wanted to film a little longer… Ah~ I’m so sad (laugh).

ORICON: Saying things like this will make fans sad oh.
D-LITE: Just joking (laugh)

ORICON: Did you feel nervous?
D-LITE: Definitely nervous, but rather than nervous, I felt more pressurized as I had to finish filming in 2 days. Thus I kept thinking that I had to faster finish up filming but with quality.

ORICON: What happened? In the MV, you know that your girlfriend has a serious illness so you composed ‘I Love You’, you did not show your sadness, but you did many things for her, creating memories belonging to only both of you. What will D-LITE in real life do if he meets something similar?
D-LITE: Firstly it would be the hospital… I will switch her to the hospital with the best doctors (laugh). In the MV, didn't she work hard to let me see her healthy self because she didn't want me to know she was ill? However, her illness may become worse and lastly, both parties have to end up in a painful state. But I will be unable to accept my broken heart so I have to do my best to cure her sickness. I am different as compared to my MV.

ORICON: Let’s continue the topic just now. As you saw your girlfriend gazing into the glass which holds the bridal gowns, you broke the glass in a rash and you wanted to satisfy her wishes risking your own safety. Will you do that in real life too?
D-LITE: I will definitely not do risky things. But once I know what her wishes are, I will satisfy her within my own means. In the MV, because I do not have any money, I can’t buy it for her. I did that action in an act of desperation. I would never do that in real life, I will buy it immediately and give it to her as a present.

ORICON: If, you do not have money?
D-LITE: I will still give her a present that has a meaning filled with all my heart. What’s most important is not the present itself, but the thought of it. Anyway, if the person is materialistic, I believe she will not get along with me too.

ORICON: After this tragically beautiful song, you have added some special songs as your bonus tracks. Live versions of original songs “Wings”, “Try Smiling”, “A Big Hit” and “Look At Me, Gwisoon!” that were all performed during your solo tour. If you say that ‘I Love You’ is quiet and gloomy, then your bonus tracks are generally all more happy and cheerful, in D-LITE style.
D-LITE: “Try Smiling” was my debut song in Korea so it might be more difficult for them to understand since it is in Korean. I guess if everybody could see my previous photos or watch my live, you might be able to understand the concept of the song better, so I shown some photos that I personally selected. But I have been regretting it since the Kobe’s first performance till the final performance (laugh).

ORICON: Although you say you mind it, but it has already been past half a year anyway.
D-LITE: Time really flies. If only I can experience what I have experienced in these half a year with Bigbang, that would be best! It’s not just me; all the members have matured through their solo activities. All of us want to bring these results and show it to our Japanese fans during our dome tour that starts in autumn!

ORICON: It is an unprecedented 6 dome tour set by overseas artists!
D-LITE: Ai ya~ We are just luckier (laugh).

ORICON: No no. It’s not just about luck, coming to this step is definitely not just because of luck.
D-LITE: We will still work hard even in the future. We will work hard to bring good songs for everyone and to present the perfect stage for fans! I thank those who can make it for our concert! Lastly, please listen more to ‘I Love You’, support me more oh~!


Source: ORICON JP
Translated by: nakedae@SMILE HOLIC www.dsholic.com

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