2PM is back with its second full-length album, "2PM Vol.2: Hands Up". From left: Chansung, Nichkhun, Wooyoung, Junho, Junsu and Taecyeon. [JoongAng Ilbo]
Popular boy band 2PM is exciting fans across Asia with the release of their second full-length album, "2PM Vol. 2: Hands Up", last week.
The JYP Entertainment group has already swept music charts with their title song, "Hands Up", beating out songs from the hit show "Survival: I Am a Singer".
In their latest incarnation, the group's six members have shed their image of "beastly idols" - think buff guys ripping off their shirts to send girls into a tizzy - in favor of a more mischievous and playful side.
"Many people think of us as 'beastly idols' because of our beast-like performances that involve ripping off our shirts", said Wooyoung, a 2PM member. "We wanted to move away from that image and show our different appeals and charms in the new album".
Fans of 2PM can look forward to two tracks on the album that were written by the members themselves: Junho penned the lyrics for "Give It To Me", highlighting his rapping abilities, and Junsu wrote the lyrics for "Hot", which features robust, electronic beats.
An interview last week at Banyan Tree Club and Spa in central Seoul seemed more like a reality show, with 2PM members joking around with each other.
"Each of us was busy taking part in dramas, hosting TV shows, and other television programs", said 2PM's Taecyeon. "However, we are most excited when we are working together and when we gain energy from each other".
Wooyoung said that their producer, JYP Entertainment CEO Park Jin-young, advised them to enjoy performing but remain humble. "Whether we are idols or singers, the most important element in our performances is our singing abilities, and we hope to improve such abilities to show that we are professionals", Wooyoung added.
Junho said the new album provided them with an opportunity to go back to the basics. "Since we mainly focused on performances and dance in the past, we wanted to go back to when we first debuted and perform refined yet pleasant songs", said Junho.
The group is also hoping to expand overseas, with much of their focus on debuting in Japan, though they said that they didn't let others' success get to them. "Instead of comparing ourselves to other idol bands, we want to show our improved selves to fans by practicing harder and by learning new skills", said Junho.
But 2PM members didn't hide their envy of SM Entertainment's successful Paris concerts. "Whenever a Hallyu [Korean Wave] star succeeds in the overseas market, we keep our hopes up in debuting internationally and think to ourselves that we can also succeed globally", said Chansung, the group's youngest member.
The pop stars will also have their own reality program, "2PM Show", which will air on SBS ETV starting early next month. "We want to show how we really act and joke around in informal atmospheres on our reality program", Junho said.
By Kang Hye-ran
Source : joongangdaily.joins.c...
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