F4 @ CNN Talk Asia Interview Part 2Note: All Jerry's and Vic's answers were transcribed through translator. Vic's laughter cue follows that from his own answer, not of translator's. [??] means incomprihensible. And no grammar correction has been done.
But first things first, one thing I found out, Ken squinted his eyes upon mention that he has pets. So cute.
Okay.
*****Beginning of Part 2*****
Lorraine Hahn: Vic, you were studying Engineering? What did you wanna do? Did you really wanna be an engineer?
Vic: Actually, there's a funny story to that. At that time, the reason I chose to study Engineering was because of my older brother. I was lazy and I thought it'd just be easier to follow in his footsteps. Whatever he did, I just did the same. Whatever school he went to, I wanted to go too (laughs). Then in the 3rd year of studying Engineering, when we were about to graduate, I realized I didn't really want to be an engineer. I thought, why did I choose this course (laughs)?
F4: (laughs)
Vic: In the end, I think I was lucky that in my first job, I met these guys, the other 3 members. And I found them inspiring. All these years... I've learned so much from them.
LH: Right. Vanness, born in the United States of America. What brought you to this part of the world?
Van: Well, I was always interested in performing, um, I was into dancing when I was at a very young age so, uh, and plus a lot of my friends, um, were older than me and they were in the entertainment industry a, already. So I was pretty much surrounded by it while I was growing up. And then, uh, I was working at a dead-end job so, um...
LH: And what's that?
Van: That was, uh, customer service...
LH: (laughs)
Van: If you can believe that. And then, uh, my friend told me, you know, what you're doing in America right now. I said "nothing much." She said "well, why don't you go back to Taiwan and don't do nothing, do nothing much in Taiwan and, who knows, maybe we get famous." And, luckily enough, uh, God's bless me, so, uh, I'm here.
LH: Right. Now you've worked with people from all kinds of backgrounds.
Van: (inaudible) Right.
LH: Um, how do you feel about this sort of blending of, of different backgrounds?
Van: I love it! I love it. I think it's... a, it’s a wonderful thing and it's a great opportunity to have a mixture of so many different cultures and personalities. And it's.. just, it's... like, it's a, it's a real gift, you know. You really see the world and get to meet different people. So I'm really blessed, I think.
LH: Yeah, I can imagine.
Ken, you were born in, in Taiwan.
Ken: Yeah.
LH: But you, you lived for some time in Singapore right?
K: Yeah, um...
LH: I can't hear the Singapore accent.
K: Oh, if you want it, I can, you know. Well, you gotta give me a Singapore accent.
LH: (laughs) Okay, okay. Okay lah? No?
K: Okay lah. And stuff like... I try not to, you know, because, uh, Singapore accent is, is full of local stuff. When I go to Singapore, I do the Singapore accent.
LH: I'm fascinated about your cookbook. What's it called, "Darling, Let's Cook Together" right?
K: (laughs)
LH: And then how did that idea come about?
K: Well, actually, I, I cook, I cook for myself all the time, okay? I want...
LH: You cook for these guys too?
K: Yes, sometimes...
LH: Right...
K: Sometimes, you know, if... um, someone's heartbroken and stuff, y... (looks at Vic and both laugh).
LH: Heartbroken?
K: I'm just kidding you. I cook because I, I don't like to eat st... outside food, you know. It makes me feel sad.
LH: So is it fun, relaxing to you or just something you love to do?
K: It's just something I lov... Something keeps me sane.
LH: Uh, good. Good for you.
Um, it seems, and I mentioned this very briefly just now, that you go on tour. And then you... As F4... And then you go and do your solo work. And this sort of continues right? Will there come a time when you have to say "okay, I've got to choose between staying with F4 or doing my own solo career."?
K: I think it's up to our fans, you know.
V: Yeah, yeah.
K: Yeah…
Van: Pretty much. We're... I don't really see that anywhere in the future that...
K: Mmmhmm.
V: There will be a decision like that because, uh, this has been working so well already. We do our own thing...
K: Mmmhmm.
V: And then we come back, and then so (breathes out a laugh)...
LH: How does the solo work that you do complement the, the work that you do as F4? Or does it?
K: Uh, ah, actually, this concert we're having, we have a lot of personal stuff inside...
Van: Right.
J: (unrecognizable) Yeah.
K: You know. Each 4 of us, we have individual parts, [?enough/individual?] time for us to do different performance. And then we have to combine performance. So, I think the solo stuff does help us in, in, you know, getting more and more ready for the next challenge and stuff.
Van: Yeah. We, we grew as an individual. We grew as a group. So...
LH: Is it important to you to, to come across with a very clean image, with a very proper image, you know, an image that maybe parents would be happy with? Is, is that, is that important to you when you have so much influence with younger people?
Van: I think that's important in, um, Asia (chuckles).
K: Yeah...
Van: Yeah, A... In Asia, you really have to have a, a clean image but, um, we're only human (laughs).
K: (breathes out a laugh)
V: Uh, and we just try to do our best and try to live, you know, a proper and lr... right life that is for us. So...
LH: Does it require a lifestyle adjustment for you?
Van: Oh yeah. I mean, there are times where we wanna go out but we can't. Um, you know, uh, especially around here too, you know. The paparazzi follows us and...
LH: Yeah, just gonna say... How do you keep them away?
Van: We can't.
K: By not leaving the house (chuckles).
Van: Yeah.
J: (own voice, not translated) Uh, just DVD (chuckles).
J (through translator): DVDs keep me company. I spent a lot of my time indoors watching movies on DVD.
LH: It sounds pretty boring to me (laughs).
K: That's why I started to cooking.
F4: (laughs)
LH: Okay (laughs).
K: You think why? That's why I started cooking.
Van: That's why I exercise.
Vic: (unrecognizable) Mmm.
K: That's why I have pets (chuckles).
LH: You have pets. Wonderful...
K: I... have, I have three cat.
LH: Great.
K: Yeah.
LH: Was it worth it?
K: Mm?
LH: Gentlemen, is it all worth it?
Van: (translates question for Jerry) I, for me, it is. I think so. I cannot...
J: Mmm.
Van: With, uh, you know, um, 3 good friends, uh, a career... You know, a chance to travel, meet new people...
Vic: Mmm, yeah, it's worth it. It actually hasn't really impacted my life. I'm the sort who would normally stay home quietly anyway (laughs).
F4: (chuckles)
LH: Gentlemen, we're gonna take another very, very short break. When Talk Asia comes back, we'll find out what F4 thinks about the competition from Japan and Korea. Stay with us.
*cut to commericial*
LH: Welcome back to Talk Asia. I'm with Jerry, Vanness, Vic and Ken of F4.
Gentlemen, you are hot in Japan right now. I mean, is that important market for you?
Van: I think, uh, uh, every market is important to us right now.
Ken: Mmm.
Van: Um, you know, it's another chance to explore different country, get to, get to better know a different part of the world, you know.
LH: So do you feel, Jerry, for example, that there is a need to break into different markets now in order to stay ahead of, you know, so many new singers coming out these days right? I mean, they're young, they're energetic. I mean, they're so many of them. In order to stay ahead, do you feel that it's, it is important to break new ground, break into new markets?
J: How we do as a group depends on fate. I really believe that. My own personality is such that when I make a TV show or a movie, I just want to make it as good as possible and have as many people as possible watching. To me, it's not about the competition. Working hard is all about growing and improving my talent, so that I can develop as a person and entertainer.
LH: Ken?
K: I'm just trying to make a living, you know (giggles).
LH: (laughs)
Ken: It is okay for me because, umph, I'm not, uh... I love this job. I, I do love my job. But is, it is not like a career to me. I mean, I'm, I'm growing up, I'm getting older, I gotta think of something else, you know. 'Cause I don't think this is permanent, to me.
*****End of Part 2*****
Later or Tomorrow, Part 3
Credit: anyabelle of OnlyF4.com and
anyabelle.livejournal.com