Ten-year reunion for pop stars SES

by javabeans

SES, that bastion of ’90s pop girl bands, got back together for their tenth reunion at a special fanmeeting on the 9th, their first official event as a group since their unofficial breakup five years ago.

Prior to the fanmeeting itself, the group (Bada, Eugene, and Shoo) spoke with reporters, answering such questions like, “This is your ten-year anniversary fanmeeting. How did you decide to meet here today?”

S, E, and S

Eugene: “We all thought about it. From a long time ago, we’ve noted 2007 as our ten-year anniversary. We kept talking about it.”

Bada: “I’m excited and thrilled to have arrived at our tenth anniversary. If I had to express how I feel in words, I’d take all day.”

Eugene: “Today’s fanmeeting is a day for us to celebrate among ourseives, but also to give a big present to our fans. I think of it as a chance to repay our fans who’ve shown us love for the past ten years. I want to do my best performing today, to give them a reason to think that it was a good thing they stuck with us these past ten years. And it’ll become a nice memory for us, too.”

Shoo: “Ten years have flown so quickly, we don’t really feel it ourselves, but looking at those around us, I can sense that, Ah, time has passed. I’m so grateful to see that our fans from the early days of our debut have grown into adults and members of society and have still maintained their unfailing interest in us.”

SONG OF THE DAY

SES – “Red Angel” from album five. [ zShare download ]

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Question: Aside from this fanmeeting, do you have any plans to make a commemorative album?

Eugene: “We’ve thought a lot about that. Feeling greedy [as in, overambitious], I wanted to release an album, but because of our own individual activities, it’s difficult. I’m glad that we were able to do this fanmeeting — I didn’t want to miss our ten-year anniversary.”

Bada: “I hope today’s fanmeeting can be a time for us, who’ve received such love as singers from everyone, to repay our fans. To those who remember our music, I think it’ll be a meaningful time.”

 
“Dreams Come True,” an early hit from their second album. [ zShare download ]

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Question: During your time as SES, what’s the thing you remember the most?

Eugene: “In the days prior to our debut in 1997, we would go into the rehearsal room when the sun rose and leave when the sun set. There were no days when our bodies weren’t bruised, and in the mornings our muscles ached…”

Shoo: “At the time, it was very difficult for me. Rehearsing was hard and I had bruises every day. If I made a mistake in the choreography, I’d find a corner and do 40 sit-ups. … But I endured the difficulties and pain and stuck it out, which I think gave me perserverence.”

Bada: “I’m lead singer Bada [laughs]. I remember back then how Shoo and Eugene were incredibly pretty. They both wore size 55 and I was a 66. If there were two pretty outfits, the ugly one was mine. So I felt really envious of the two.

“But they treated me well, so there was no stress. Our debut came in my third year of high school, when I was preparing for entrance exams, and during study time, the two would look after me like a mother.”

 
“Be Natural” from the fourth album. [ zShare download ]

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“Meguri au sekai” — They were also one of the early bands to branch out into the Japanese market, where they were moderately successful. [ download ]

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In the pop music world, there are your junior singers like the Wonder Girls and Girls Generation. What would you like to say to them?

Eugene: “When I look at both groups, I think a lot about the past, thinking, ‘We were like that too…’ They look cute and I listen to their songs. In particular, I can see our early selves when looking at Girls Generation. Pop singers often flaunt a ‘sexy code,’ but like us when we started, Girls Generation has a cute side to them.”

Bada: “What I’d like to say to these junior singers is, what’s important is to know what music you’re making and what you’re doing. Each individual has one chance and one life to live, and it would be good to know what you’re doing. I hope those younger singers can make music with passion.”

Thoughts of reuniting?

Bada: “Since we haven’t officially disbanded, I can’t answer about reuniting. Our fans may be disappointed that we can’t give a definitive answer about when we’ll make a comeback, but when the opportunity arises, it could be possible anytime.”

Eugene: “These days, we’re working solo a lot, and we haven’t had that chance. Because of that, we worked on our individual careers, but I still think that we’re acting as members of SES.”

 
“Tiny Little Things” (fourth album) [ zShare download ]

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What was the most difficult moment for SES?

Bada: “Because our senior singers HOT were successful, we didn’t really have a hard time as new singers. At the very beginning, it was a little tough.”

Eugene: “At the time, we’d do all our press at once, so it wasn’t so bad. I remember doing a lot in particular for the first album — we’d wake up early and work late nights, so much that I was thrilled just to have several hours off.”

Shoo: “I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t have a school life. I didn’t have many friends. But I think we become even closer because of that.”

Via Newsen