[News] LEE AN WANTS TO CREATE INDONESIAN SONG

BINTANG no.936 (2nd week of April 2009)

title of the article: LEE AN WANTS TO CREATE INDONESIAN SONG

* Thanks for the scan & translation, eve

LEE AN WANTS TO CREATE INDONESIAN SONG

Don't you feel long time since Indonesia had been visited by Korean Singer? That's why it's quite surprised when Lee An suddenly visited Indonesia. It is not for hold a concert, but he choosed by KTO (Korean Tourism Organization) to promote Korean Tourism in Indonesia. Mention on Lee An's name is a little odd, eventhough this is his second time visited Indonesia. This time, beside Jakarta, the owner of Album "The Birth" and "Us" also come to Surabaya and Bandung for the same event, album promotion and promote Korean Tourism all at once.

In between his activites to promote Korean Tourism, Bintang got a chance to meet and chat with Lee An at Shangrilla Hotel, Jakarta. It's fun because Lee An not only promote about the Korean tourism but he also willing to tell about his experiences and his impressions about Indonesia, including share about his full agenda activities until he can't enjoy Jakarta and Surabaya itself. "I just arrived at Jakarta, took a little rest, then have to do interviews. Tomorrow, at 5 am has to go to Bandung, and then back again to Jakarta. And the day after, go to Surabaya, and I just arrived again in Jakarta this morning. Then has to go to TV Station, and now has to attend this event. So, I can't control the schedules," share him whispered while glanced to the committee. Bintang giggled when Lee An shared like that, and suggest, "Because of that, next time come here again just for holiday, not work!" Lee An nodded. But although tired, Lee An happily answer the questions asked by Bintang.


(B) : This morning I watched you in Dahsyat. How did you feel performed in an Indonesian music show?
(LA) : Oh yes. I met 3 hosts who very funny and great, Raffi, Luna, Olga. They were funny.

(B) : I saw your fans always come wherever you go, aren't they?
(LA) : yes. They come from Indonesia and some from Singapore. They just flied to Jakarta last night. We hold a fanmeeting here. They are very nice, bring me newspapers with my article in it. I don't have time to buy it, but they bought it for me. I want to say thank you so much to them. They also send my article from Indonesia too. Even there is someone who gave me Korean-Indonesia dictionary. They said, I have to learn Indonesian language, so next time when we meet again we can talk in Indonesian.

(B) : Do you have plan to come back again to Indonesia?
(LA) : Yes, I have plan to come to Indonesia again, because I want to release a new album this year. I don't now when yet, but I want to release album in Indonesia too. Indonesian people are so nice. This time I come to Indonesia with KTO. Our main purpose, is to promote Korean Tourism. Because I work in entertainment in foreign country too, they asked me to join. I think it was a good idea. We started to work together since last year, at winter. We bring tourist groups to Korea and I accompanied them in the tour. I together with them, asked them to play ski, tought them to cook Korean food, like a tour guide. Last year we bring the tour group from Singapore, but this year we want to invite tourist from Indonesia to visit Korea.

(B) : I heard your songs use 2 languages, Korean and Mandarin, don't you?
(LA) : Yes. In my 2nd album, I tried to sing in Korean and Mandarin. Because this album released in Singapore, they can't speak Korean, so I decided to sing a few parts in Mandarin. But for my next album, I think I will try to sing one or two songs in Indonesian.

(B) : Wah, really?
(LA) : Yes. I'm very interesting in Japan and Indonesian music. But when I heard it, I only can enjoy the music, without understand the lyrics. That's why I think it will be better if there are one or two Indonesian songs in my album. With that, my audiences also can understand and feel my songs. I'm not good in languages, but I will try. All languages are hard, especially mandarin, because they have 4 different sounds. We talk with different language, but music is the same. Because music is universal. I hope I can meet Indonesian artists. That will be a big chance for me if I can meet and collaborate with them.

(B) : Beside singer, you also an actor, don't you?
(LA) : Yes. I acted in some films, but only in a few part. I'm interesting in acting too, especially at live show. Like singing and acting on the same stage. I really love it. I feel that I can show my emotion and my expression to the audiences.

(B) : Why did you choose Singapore, not like other Korean artists who mostly clear away to Japan and China?
(LA) : Exactly I have chance to clear away Singapore at 2006. Then I met people from the recording company there, and they suggested, why not release an album in Singapore? As singer, why only in Korea? I can go outside. It is correct that mostly Korean singer went to Japan. But for me, why have to only Japan? Asian countries not only Japan and Korea. Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, also countries in Asia.

(B) : So you deliberated find a place that different from other Korean singers?
(LA) : Yes, most of Korean singers like Japan, china, Taiwan more and some goes to Thailand. I don't know why.

(B) : Is it not because the music market is bigger there?
(LA) : Music market, I don't think so. If you want the market that really big, why don't you go to America? So I don't know why, and can't say is it right or not. I just do what I want to do. Beside I think Indonesia also cool.

(B) : When did you start to play music?
(LA) : Exactly, when I started to play music, my purpose was to be a producer, not singer. But when I started to produce music, many people said, Why don't I become a singer? That time I didn't feel sure. yeah is it right?

(B) : Who is your favourite singer?
(LA) : I really love Lee Sung Chool, he is a senior Korean singer. His voice is very powerful and beautiful. Until now his performance still very nice and I like it so much. He knew me and I knew him, and i really respect him. He's very nice.

(B) : Who is you favourite Western musician?
(LA) : Hmm, if it from America, so many. I like rock musician such as Mettalica, Bon Jovi. I love rock music so much. That's why I really like in Indonesia, because many rock bands here. I really want to have a chance to sing with band in Indonesia. You're very lucky because so many good bands in here.

(B) : Did you ever hear songs from Indonesian bands?
(LA) : Yes, I've heard many Indonesian songs. I like Mocca's songs. A lot of Korean people who love their songs.