Ahnu

T-ara's Tears Have Become Pearls




Girl Group T-ara welcomed their 4th anniversary recently. Once having enjoyed top popularity, this gemstone-like girl group has suffered hurt. The arrival and departure of some members (Hwayoung and Areum) and unconfirmed conjecture was discussed fervently. Their popularity that was not easily accumulated over the years seemed to have been destroyed in an instant. They seem to match the “5 year crisis” that idol groups commonly face in the Korean music industry where idols’ contracts [last around 5 years].

To say that they are not burdened must be a lie. After the controversy that broke out in July last year, T-ara did not respond to any Korean media interviews. Because they believed that if they silently continued their own way, one day, their fans will understand them and any momentary misunderstandings will be resolved. In this case, we are not here to pick at their scars. To talk about T-ara’s past, present, and future – something that they will have to face sooner or later – we carefully conducted our interview.

T-ara’s Eunjung who found courage to meet with Billboard Korea said “We cried a lot.” But they still continue to smile brightly.

Q: If you were to think back to the past 4 years?

A: We don’t feel like it’s already been 4 years. It still feels like we are rookies who’ve just reached 2 years. Compared to the actual number of years, we’ve been busy with a lot of activities. Other than music broadcasts, member’s individual acting activities, sub-unit activities, and musicals, we’ve lived such busy lives that we couldn’t even sleep a lot, time just passed by in the blink of an eye. Thinking about being able to achieve today’s position and to receive our fan’s love… Our fans’ congratulations have made our shoulders feel heavier, and our sense of responsibility has grown as well. In the future, we will be more careful about every word we say and everything we do.

Q: The most memorable activity is?

A: Bo Peep Bo Peep. It was a song that showed off the charisma that only belonged to us. The first time we put on the tails on our costume and wore the cat paws, we really didn’t like it. We wanted to be a cool and pretty girl group, and we wondered, do we really have to do this? But it was through this song that we achieved our first number 1 and even made it to Japan’s Oricon chart. If we used this song as a starting point, all of T-ara’s other concept and music were never too over the top. It was the song that allowed other countries to know our name.

Q: From debut to now, things that have changed and things that have not changed are:

A: The way we think has changed, and we’ve become more mature. When we first debuted we did not have our own goals, we were just like kids who did whatever our company told us to do. Now, we will positively think about everything we do, and we also understand the preciousness of fate that allows us to meet even the strangers who pass by us for a second. The things that have not changed is, even though we are no longer that young, the members still love to joke and play. Everyday is a continuation of a sitcom. This is what motivates us to stand on stage happily.

Q: Thoughts about the “5 year crisis” that idol groups face

A: Our crisis seems to have come a bit early. Haha. This seems to turn out for the better, it’s as if such a crisis does exist as people say. Although the sayings about members’ conflict and bullying will follow us around like labels, we think that as long as it is not true then it is fine. We won’t worry too much about it. If such sayings were true, then it would be very distressful, but the stories are all different from reality. It is not something that we can resolve even if we worried about it.


The motivation for the T-ara who has become mature.

T-ara is truly the “Korean Digital Sales Queens.” Lovey Dovey was number 1 on Gaon Chart in the first half of 2012, defeating Big Bang. In 2011, they also achieved number 1 on Gaon's Annual Aggregate Digital Chart through Roly Poly. That year, their Japanese debut track “Bo Peep Bo Peep” also made it onto the Oricon weekly chart.

Even when involved in endless controversies, T-ara’s music and stage performance were also recognized. “Sexy Love,” which was hesitantly released when T-ara was surrounded by a lot of rumours, and the summer track “Bikini” also charted and achieved a “long run.” Their recently released second Japanese album “Treasure Box” also charted number 1 on Oricon on the day it was released.

Q: What is the secret to popularity?

A: There is no special secret. First, we have to thank the composers who give us good songs. And also the fans and company staff who support us by telling us “everything will be better,” they’ve given us a lot of motivation. As a result, we gained confidence. We work hard on stage to compensate for our inadequacy, these all seem to have a combined effect. When speaking about T-ara’s energy, we have also borrowed from the popularity of the retro dance and the shuffle dance. Unknowingly, our performances are able to show off “T-ara’s image” and “T-ara’s concept.” To have a defined colour and flavour, we are really happy.

Q: Don’t you feel tired to have such active overseas schedules?

A: Although getting used to the time difference is always difficult, it is the most difficult when the food doesn’t suit our tastes. In the end sleep become our best medicine. Actually, every member seemed to have lost weight without intentionally dieting. Like a normal girl group, we eat well and don’t pick and choose when it comes to food.

Q: What do you do when you rest?

A: Watch movies, eat good food. When we are in Japan, we often go to Harajuku but we have not been there recently because we’ve been busy.

Q: Isn’t this just the right age for dating?

A: Although the work we have now is good, we still want to date. Just like a normal university student, a romantic stroll around campus while holding hands, a date in the library. It seems like the more we are not able to do it, the more we want to do it. My ideal type is someone who has a manly side, but who also has the soft side of someone young, someone who is kind and well-mannered. Appearance is not important. It’ll be great if it is someone who is able to let other people feel his charisma and charm that is unique to him.

Q: What kind of artists do you want to be remembered as?

A: The strengths of artists who have been active for 1 year and those who have been active for 10 years are different. I hope when people think about T-ara, they will smile and say “Ah they really had a difficult time then” or “They were really great then”, I hope that we can be a familiar and warm group in their memories. A group that is able to show off different styles like a chameleon. Or even to the point of getting critiqued by people “Do you have a split personality?” A group that doesn’t stop changing and is able to show and convey a message through their music.

Q: To T-ara, CCM’s present Kim Kwang Soo is:

A: The only person who can make us happy and feel tired at the same time. He has weakened a lot. He used to always lecture and scold us, but recently he asks us for our opinion and shares with us his difficulties. He has the feel of the powerless arms of a father who is growing old. His emotions are also becoming very rich and abundant, it seems like it is time for us to take care of him instead.

Q: A word to your fans?

A: Thankful. For always believing and watching over us no matter what. To be able to lay aside right or wrong and to believe and wait for someone is really something that is not easy. We don’t look at our fan club as one group, but now we see each fan individually, one person by one person. They are all precious. Even for those who cannot support us as fans until the end, we won’t feel sad or resentful. We won’t forget those people who have given us love up to this day.


T-ara has become stronger, their hearts steadier. They are no longer a girl group that has an extravagant exterior, but have become a pearl that shines quietly and faintly. The beginning of a glistening pearl is also created from a wound. Famous Korean poet Jeong Ho Seung said “A beautiful gemstone can only be created with time, brimming sincerity, and the embracing of trauma.” It is time for the future of T-ara, who will soon enter the US market, to catch the eyes of the public once again.



Original article: http://www.billboard.co.kr/?c=v&m=v1&idx=37066
Translated by via Chinese Subs by TCN: http://tieba.baidu.com/p/2556657897

[EXCLUSIVE] T-ara N4 Los Angeles Meet & Greet - 151 Pics! (05/14)







For the rest of the images: http://www.tiaradiadem.com/forums/gallery/album/2023-t-ara-n4-fan-meet-greet-at-vlado-footwear-la-052013/

CREDIT: Jokerstorm2 + tiaradiadem.com

hey diadem staff!
i've noticed that the calendar barely gets updated. i'm sure many people would love to see it updated as it would be very convenient to see what upcoming activities t-ara has.
i know t-ara's fancafe updates t-ara's schedule every week, and t-arafan.com keeps a nice schedule as well, but i'm sure many people don't know how to browse those websites as they are in korean.
it would be great if you could make the calendar user editable (if that's possible) for we could add in their schedules, i believe only staff can add in events atm. i know i personally check their schedule every week on their k-sites and i'm sure a few others do as well so it wouldn't be that difficult to update it whenever a new event is revealed.
if you decide to do this, it should be fairly simple to come up with a few rules such as to label the events, [bROADCAST], [REC], [RELEASE], etc and to cite a source if you are adding a schedule.
I think an updated calendar would be very nice because t-ara is always doing something and it's hard to keep track (and i don't think there's a good website for checking t-ara schedules in english)
cheers,
Chesskid1

Whatever happened, I'm tired of trying to reason with people who doesn't want to accept the fact that idols are not perfect and the past is the past. I'm glad that I've found a nice community here where I can have harmless jokes and constructive conversations.
As for people who once claimed they were T-ara's fans but no longer because of the scandal, I don't feel it's a loss to the fandom. I just hope they could have left quietly, but it's so lame that some people even turn into antis. Long story short for them: MYOB.

130514 Official T-ARA Fan Meet & Greet at Vlado Footwear
For the rest of the images: http://www.tiaradiadem.com/forums/gallery/album/2018-t-ara-n4-meet-greet-event-at-vlado-la-052013/

*** For the rest of the images: http://www.tiaradiadem.com/forums/gallery/album/2018-t-ara-n4-meet-greet-event-at-vlado-la-052013/ CREDIT: Mark Udiabas of Koreaboo.com ©2012 Koreaboo + PacificRim PhotoPress + lillianwongkw + Dognybba + tiaradiadem.com

ugh... what the hell did I just wake up too. I was sleeping normally... fine... at 11 pm. And all of a sudden, I woke up fifteen minutes ago at 3 am in the morning for no reason at all. Casually checked my twitter, and WHAT!? And found this!! Omgod! It was my woman senses... telling me that something horrible was going on... smh... smh...
I enjoy his music. But I don't support him as a fan. I can see this going one or two ways... Maybe netizens will turn around and be like, "oh no we have to protect our girls from his evil grasp!?" or "birds of a feather... flock together...."
This is really so random. And how is dani and chris brown "acquaintances!?" Someone EXPLAIN!!!!
oh gosh... this is so utterly... interesting. There is a part of me that is thinking... that nothing is going to happen from this and that ccm jumped the gun on this one... ahhh... CCM! WHY YOU NO GIVE OUR GIRLS AND THEIR FANS A REST! we're tired fighting battles... T_T let us refresh....

That's one funny picture, Jiyeon is laughing at Hyomin who is mad at Eunjung. Although girls look pretty serious on pictures (hint: tired)

oh god, eunjung when she says "T-ara N-Poor!" sounds so kidlike and cute!!! XD
she sounds like a little boy! XDD

Really 11 options? 0 to 10?
I thought the options are only: a] super awesome, and b] super awesome?

I can understand yours and other people's concerns about this aspect in the fandom. It's been released very recently now. Give it some time at least before jumping to any conclusions. It's okay to ask, though the timing is rather premature, if you ask me.
Granted that there's antis still waging a civil war with the fandom, and the antis are still losing badly, especially to the lyrics to this song alone. I believe the fandom is still occupied fighting the antis, which is taking up their time to voice their immediate support. In addition to the comebacks of other artists, which also takes some more time to do a comparison to our T-ara N4, will slow down the need to express support A.S.A.P. Not too long ago, Secret just released their comeback, and the media/talk shows are not holding back to begin the dissection, pathological analysis, applied methodologies, and the after effects of each active artist now. The summer has already begun, so naturally, things are going to be quite interesting in the Top spots from here on end of this year.
I don't agree with the international fans being unable to expand understanding within the fandom back in South Korea, given how I, and a few others, were able to successfully diminish the hatred to a few fans back there, not to mention the amount of support from the international community who supported and still support the fans still fighting the good fight over there, during the start of this civil war, and entering the restructuring phase now, where former antis are returning to being fans again gradually.
I agree, it'll take some time, but it sounds about right, especially for a sub-unit size now, and the continuation of fan support all over the world, including T-ara's dearly beloved home of South Korea. I believe things will get better from now on.

I know this is a sensitive topic, but I was curious and hope that we could have a good and mature discussion on this matter.
Are there Queen's in Korea? And if so, where are they?
Conversation start itself! Go!
Okay, fine. I'll start somewhere. So as I was monitoring the commentating on the youtube videos of the newly released subunit group of N4, (yes I know, how brave of me, lol) I noticed that there was a lot of love from their international fans. I saw tons of viet-queen's, thai-queen's, american-queen's (<--- we need to come up with a catchy name), the occasional sweet treasures, and others that I forget to mention.
However, when I see a korean commentator i always get nervous for the likelihood of them being an anti. And it sucks for me because I don't know what they're saying. yeah i can google translate it, but that can only do so much. And most of the time, they are...
So, where are they? I worry for our girls fighting alone on the war-front, and that being at their home country of South Korea.
I know I shouldn't take it to heart and that anti's only make a small percentage, but I worry for our girls' safety and mental health.
How long is this public ostracizing gonna last? And is there anything we can do as international fans to appeal to the Korean mass, since we can't go there and like parade around in T-ara-ness?
Or is it that all we can do is put our faith and trust in our girls and hope for the best?
Until then, I'll stay positive! but just expressing my worries here...
What do you guys think?

I'd like to think that a good portion of those views are from me, lol. :wub: :wub: :wub:

I loved it! It was what the kind of awesome i expected and more! that weird traditional korean flute thing sorry i don't know what it's called sax? gave it an interesting and energetic twist to it at the end! love it! Reminds me of the crazy mess of bo peep bo peep's weird end of the year performance, lol. Now that was messy! I loved taewoon's part too. I like it when they show some family bonding in groups~
just pure love for n-4!!
Lots of eye candy in the dance version! Love the harlem shake addition. the REAL harlem shake.
Love all the oddities of our girls in the drama version! Love you dork Hyomin! Jiyeon and ahreum were hilarious. Eunjung twirling behind jiyeon in the locker scene! XD love it~
My favorite part is the beginning. Hyomin's so boss!! and then taewoon comes in and u're just like oh PARTAY PEOPLE! I have to admit i was surprised that his part was so long though. O.O but i liked his rapping! and then the chorus and then Hyomin's verse. gah I love it! and then ahreum's part although it was a little. It gave a highlight to her since it was sort of the bridge. I notice ccm does this a lot sometimes. I tend to not like it, but I liked it this time around. lots of emotion and showed her range in singing. thought Jiyeon's line of screw off was weird at first but AWESOME when u find out what she says! lol, that's right! haters! and then i already talked about the ending with the whole traditional korean instrument added a nice touch to it.
The only thing i'd say that was lacking... is that the ending. I didn't want it to end!!!! lol! <3 <3 <3
update! i forgot to mention how oppa eunjung was in both! XD

I loved it! It was what the kind of awesome i expected and more! that weird traditional korean flute thing sorry i don't know what it's called sax? gave it an interesting and energetic twist to it at the end! love it! Reminds me of the crazy mess of bo peep bo peep's weird end of the year performance, lol. Now that was messy! I loved taewoon's part too. I like it when they show some family bonding in groups~
just pure love for n-4!!
Lots of eye candy in the dance version! Love the harlem shake addition. the REAL harlem shake.
Love all the oddities of our girls in the drama version! Love you dork Hyomin! Jiyeon and ahreum were hilarious. Eunjung twirling behind jiyeon in the locker scene! XD love it~
My favorite part is the beginning. Hyomin's so boss!! and then taewoon comes in and u're just like oh PARTAY PEOPLE! I have to admit i was surprised that his part was so long though. O.O but i liked his rapping! and then the chorus and then Hyomin's verse. gah I love it! and then ahreum's part although it was a little. It gave a highlight to her since it was sort of the bridge. I notice ccm does this a lot sometimes. I tend to not like it, but I liked it this time around. lots of emotion and showed her range in singing. thought Jiyeon's line of screw off was weird at first but AWESOME when u find out what she says! lol, that's right! haters! and then i already talked about the ending with the whole traditional korean instrument added a nice touch to it.
The only thing i'd say that was lacking... is that the ending. I didn't want it to end!!!! lol! <3 <3 <3
update! i forgot to mention how oppa eunjung was in both! XD

[13.04.29] T-ARA N4 "전원일기" Music Video (Dance and Drama Ver.)





cr: coremidas

Oh my God Hyomin... DONE WITH LIFE.

I picked Hyomin because...

source: falling-u.com
If you have a comb for your bracelet, then you should probably be high on the 4D list. Only way of being "more" 4D is to start styling it with hairspray.

ooooh... dangerous love... i like it. it's so my style. I like soyeon's and areums too, but i didnt hear areum... =\ i hope they give out official teasers for their solos too! kyah! excitement!!! <3 <3 <3


oh my god!!! it'll be oober awesome if dangerous love had an epic rap with hyomin and eunjung. miss those days when they were the main rappers.

Kyahhhhhh!!!!!! Yes!!!! Loving all these good news. Eunjungs Mcing, hyomins in a movie. Would love to see more of jiyeon's acting, besides that of a bad guy... Yay!!!! 2013 bring em back!

=( why cant they just put it all on one cd?? i dont want ten songs of banisuta... WHYYYYYYYYYYY???

=( why cant they just put it all on one cd?? i dont want ten songs of banisuta... WHYYYYYYYYYYY???

I'm reading some of these posts... And honest to say I'm disappointed... I don't want to lock these girls in voiceless cages. Just because u r a celebrity doesn't mean u're not human. =/

Honestly the other two girls should get more heat because of their comments. But of course... =_=

Anti's and little tween girls will always find a way to hate just about anything. Even though we aren't really sure what really happened they will always assume and go all butthurt over the smallest things. It sometimes boggles my mind, and makes me wonder why they would care so much about kpop idol(s) lives as if it were their own. That and the fact they they don't even like the idol they are bashing.... worries me....what kinda people are behind those computers.
But anyways,These doesn't really concern us that much, I mean it'll probably effect the baddies of the anti T-ara world. Pretty sure our fangroup will stay strong.....unless some gets all butthurt over this article and starts to bash on T-ara lol. (still making me wonder)

Cr: Gif credits to Hyominfangirl @ tumblr

Honestly the other two girls should get more heat because of their comments. But of course... =_=