[SHOWCASE] Everything is the same for Teen Top 'for sure'
Thirteen years after its debut, Teen Top has two less two members but everything else — its love for fans, the stage and music — remains the same, according to the boy band.
"I think the only thing that's changed is our age," member Ricky told the local press on Tuesday at the Yes24 Live Hall, eastern Seoul, in a showcase held for the band's new EP "4SHO" released the same day.
The title "4SHO," or "for sure," symbolizes the absolute promise Teen Top wants to make to fans, the members said.
"Angel, our fan club, is the same and the fact that people still remember us is the reason we kept going. The way we think about the stage or our music is also the same. Our urge to try our best is obviously the same, too."
Teen Top made a comeback for the first time in three years with "4SHO," a four-track EP containing lead track "Hweek," a song written for the fans titled "Next You," a remake of its past song "Missing You" (2013) titled "Missing You 2023" and a sped-up version of "Hweek" for online short-video challenges.
"Hweek" is a fast-tempo dance track with the iconic upbeat and bright Teen Top vibe the band has been well-known for in past songs such as "Crazy" (2012), "Miss Right" (2013) and "Rocking" (2013). The band debuted in 2010 and gained popularity in the early to mid-2010s until L.Joe quit in 2017. A second member, C.A.P, also quit last May, leaving members Niel, Chunji, Changjo and Ricky.
"It's true that we've taken so much time off that we felt like we were stuck in the same place," Niel said. "But we want to keep on improving and also contribute alonside other artists to spreading the name of K-pop around the world. Other second-generation bands are also making comebacks and they make us nostalgic and willful at the same time."
The band had been on a virtual break since 2020 due to members' military duties, but its name started popping up after entertainer Yu Jae-seok covered the band's song "To You" (2012) on an MBC entertainment show.
A comeback was always been on members' minds and this will not be a one-time event, members said.
"This is not a one-off thing," Chunji said. "We will be active and keep on making new music. We also plan to visit our foreign fans after our promotions in Korea. We hope to meet with as many fans as we can."
The band is set to hold two concerts on July 15 and 16.
To find out more about Teen Top, visit https://celebconfirmed.com/
BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]