The 6 membered group BEAST had debuted in 2009. They are a "hot idol" for sure, but compared to DBSK or Super Junior who debuted in 2004~2006 their actives are lower. BEAST can not say that they surpass the amount time they were active for, the number of hit songs, the amount of people who recognize them. However if you look at their activities now, they are non-stoppable. BEAST had performed with 4minute and G.NA performed in London, England and Brazil under the brand title United Cube. They were the first Asian artists to perform at the Brixton Academy in London and their performance in Brazil make the record as the first kpop performance in South America.
This new year, they will be even more unstoppable. Starting February, they will be opening a world tour titled 'Beautiful Show' which will make 35 stops in 14 counties and 21 cities. The world tour will be taking place in USA, Canada, London, Spain, Germany, Japan, China, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, and more countries in Asia. In addition, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil are being considered for the 'Beautiful Show' tour and this raises potentials of the world tour growing. BEAST's Yang Yoseob stated "It feels like we have become the Korean representative," after touring Europe and South America in December.
"At first when we were going to Japan and China we just thought 'Let's do well', but after visiting London, Spain, Australia, and further places we realized the power of kpop. We had country pride and we felt proud to be representing Korean music. It got to the point we felt like the country representative with the Korean flag on our hearts." The "main vocal" Yang Yoseob, who takes care of the team with his vocal abilities, is the most natural member. He had a long trainee period and that has given him the most time to prepare for the actual thing.
Yang Yoseob became a trainee in JYP Entertainment in his freshman year of high school. However, for JYP Entertainment which was aiming to prepare 2PM and 2AM at the time, had a different route for Yang Yoseob. He became the vocal of the metal genre school band and prepared for debut again through a program titled 'M Boat' which Gummy, Big Mama, and Wheesung debuted through. He got rid of his stage fear by holding a concert every Monday in a small concert booth located in Seoul. Through this method he got used to the habit of preparing very well for his stages. In addition, in order to show two songs every week, he practiced even more. He able to join BEAST through a recommendation from fellow member Lee Kikwang. Yang Yoseob had met Lee Kikwang two years later again in Seoul Ahhyun High School after first meeting him in JYP Entertainment.
"When I first dreamed of becoming a singer, I dreamed of becoming like Sung Sikyung. I became an idol when I wasn't confident in dance. But still, as I auditioned for BEAST, I didn't make the judgement that the path of idol wasn't for me. I could be in an idol group and still sing and be on stage so I practiced with happy thoughts."
The first album Yang Yoseob selected : Brown Eyed Soul's [Soul Fever (Brown Eyed Soul Live Album)]
This is the live sound album Brown Eyed Soul released in December of 2011. "'With Chocolate' was the song that Yoon Doojoon had recommended me since he was a trainee and now it had become the song all BEAST members love. 'With Chocolate' is the solo song sung by Sunghoon sunbaenim that was on Brown Eyed Soul's third album release in2010, but I want to recommend the version that was on the live album that was released a while ago. Sunghoon sunbae's voice and the piano music in the background. Maybe it is because he did jazz before, but his scatting is amazing. Sunghoon sunbaenim has the voice that I want to have. When I first listened to Brown Eyed Soul, I was into Naul sunbaenim's adlib, but after listening to them more I fell in love with Sunghoon sunbaenim's voice. I think it is such a blessing for a singer to have their own style of voice. I don't know Sunghoon sunbaenim personally, but I want to get closer to him whenever I do meet him."
The second album Yang Yoseob selected : Luther Vandross's [Luther Vandross]
The 2003 album that won Soul music's key figure Luther Vandross the Grammys. "'Dance With My Father' is a song I used to listen to a lot when I was a trainee in 'M Boat'. It was a song Yoon Hyungryul sundae sang often as a practice song when we used to practice together, and it was winter then. Maybe it is because winter just started, but whenever it is the winter I think of this song. A lot of starting singers who want to go for African American singers tend to practice a lot of Louis Armstrong, but for me, his type of voice doesn't match me. I practiced with singers with a smooth and thin voice like Eric Benet or Craig David. The vocal teacher in my trainee days wanted me to make a deeper voice and recommended me a Luther Vandross' song. I enjoyed listening to 'Superstar' or 'I'd Rather' by Vandross. But now, he is no longer on Earth. I'm sad by the fact that I can't listen to anymore of his music."
The third album Yang Yoseob selected : Ruben Studdard's [I Need an Angel]
The second official album released in 2005 from Ruben Studdard who won American Idol season 2. "Ruben Studdard's song have so much meaning to me. After going in JYP Entertainment as a trainee, the song I first sang for my evaluation was 'Superstar' which was a song Ruben Studdard did a remake from Luther Vandross. Also, the song that helped me to pass the 'M Boat' audition was 'Superstar'. The song 'Center Of My Joy' was the song that I was recommended by Daniel from Dalmatian who was also a trainee with me in 'M Boat'. Maybe it is because of the mood of the song, but I always think of this song when it's Christmas time. When I hear Ruben Studdard's song I get a feel that he is like a little Luther Vandross. Not simple because he made a remake of Luther Vandross song, but because he can portray the song in his own special color."
The fourth album Yang Yoseob selected : Joe's [My Name Is Joe]
R&B singer Joe's second album released in 2000. 'I Wanna Know' received a lot of love because it was in the soundtrack for the movie 'The Wood'. "When I was in M Boat, Dalmatian's Daniel and I would hold a show every Monday titled, 'Monday Concert' at a small concert booth. The song 'I Wanna Know' was the song we sang often in the first winter of our one year concert period. Other than that, I also sang a lot of Joe's songs when I would work on collaboration performances in my high school years. I really like this singer's voice. It might not be similar to mine, but it's a voice I would really like to copy one day. Luther Vandross and Ruben Studdard's voice is so different from mine so I can't even attempt it, but I realized that if I practice a lot, I might be able to attempt Joe's voice. Another song from Joe I really liked was 'Another Used To Be'."
The fifth album Yang Yoseob selected : Apink's [Snow Pink]
The second mini album released in November of 2011 from the rookie female group A Pink, who debuted with the motto of reviving S.E.S and FinK.L. "The song I listen to often with my cellphone is 'My My'. A Pink is fresh. The members are fresh and the songs are fresh too. I listen to that song often with the song 'Be My Baby' by the Wonder Girls. There is a winter feel to it, I get excited, and I'm even reminded of S.E.S and FinK.L. I watched A Pink from their trainee days. I remember them asking me to monitor for them when they were practicing as well. It was good seeing them constantly asking questions and working hard. A while back BEAST and A Pink got to film a school uniform brand together, but A Pink was all stiff because they were so nervous. Then, we helped them to get more relaxed. A Pink said that they learn a lot form BEAST and 4minute's stages, so I think that we should work harder."
A player in the hallyu fad, BEAST's Yang Yoseob
Looking back on 2011, Yang Yoseob stated, "It was a year we were able to gain confidence with the BEAST name and it was a year where BEAST kept on moving forward. However, I was disappointed because we could only release one album." He also revealed that BEAST will be spending the upcoming year even more occupied.
"We only released the Fiction and Fact album in May and only got to do activities in Korea for a month. We had to do Asian fan meeting tour right after, and because we had to go over seas, we were sad that we couldn't meet any Korean fans. We have a 14 country world tour planned for next yearn, but we want to release more albums and be more active."
After getting the role of Jiyong in the musical 'Gwanghamoon Sonata' and experiencing the acting, Yang Yoseob stated, "It was such a worthy experience," and added that he would love to be in more musicals.
"I understand at one point, I won't be able to remain as an idol. In the future, I want to have a 100th concert like god sunbaenims and I want to be recognized as a skilled vocalist like Kim Taewoo."
CREDITS: NAVER MUSIC (SOURCE); YONGISM@B2ST RISING (TRANS)
For an easy access to all the song choices from Yang Yoseob!
http://www.youtube.c...0BCA520038FF1C7
(+) Kikwang-kun who is doing something on the tablet PC. Just uploading because he looked cool. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
We took this as a test shot, but Kikwang-kun turned out too cute in this photo.
