EMI Japan posted the entire video of their most recent interview with the Libera boys. It is so nice to see how much the boys care about Japan and want everything to work out for the best there. Hearing them talk about Japan makes you realize how much they love it. Ralph expressed himself so well in describing how the earthquake and tsunami affected him. "Well, when I first heard about it, I was devasted. I mean, I couldn't believe it at first. I thought, 'This can't be happening. This is Japan. I love Japan.' But then it sort of started to sink in, and I couldn't really concentrate properly on what I was doing. And then I got home and saw it on TV, and I was just so sad."
Kavana said some very nice things about the city of Sendai that got hit hard by the tsunami. "Some of us here have been to Sendai, and I'm sure we all think it's a lovely, beautiful place. The people there were so friendly. We enjoyed the bullet train as well, the high-speed... I think it's such a bad thing that such a devastating thing can happen to such a beautiful city. And I do hope that it rebuilds quickly, because we love Sendai."
The interview was very interesting, and there were some really funny moments (as can be expected when talking to the Libera boys for any length of time). :) Ralph is so funny talking about the "Song of Life" recording. "Well, I remember seeing a lot of funny stuff, I think...that was a crazy morning for me...but I had great fun recording it." When the interviewer asks them about their mothers, Ralph immediately responds, "I love my mum." to which all of the other boys agree. There is a lull and then Cassius smiles and says, "Yeah, well, that's all we've got to say. We just love them." :)
It is so funny that they all buy their own CD's! In answer to the lady's question about what their favorite thing about Japan was, Kavana answered that he loved how friendly the people were...and that the food was delicious. :) And it CRACKS ME UP how Ralph just kind of jumps in with "And the streets are sooo clean!" :D Cassius says that he loves the design and architecture of the buildings.
When asked about their hobbies, 12-year-old Kavana says he plays sports, "but some of the young ones here, they have to go for their very important exams." :) Barney says they have entrance exams and also SAT's next week. Maybe that's "Student Achievement Tests." ??? We take Achievement Tests in the US through 10th grade. Mini James says, "I'm a bit nervous."
I LOVE hearing them talk about the royal wedding! Ralph is so funny, applauding and saying "Well done, Will!" lol! Then they talk about how it was a world-wide event, and it was really exciting to be watching it with millions of other people. And then Ralph cracks us all up again with one of his little jump-ins, "There were some really cool hats." Kavana looks like he's about to explode trying not to laugh after Ralph says that. :)
It was interesting to hear them talking about the "Song of Life" video and how they took Ralph out early to do his outside parts and then back to film the studio stuff. And then they have a great little message for their Japanese fans about how much they can't wait to come back to Japan! I hope that the Japanese fans get a chance to go to the concerts there next April! Can't wait!
Because Fan de LoK requested it, my mom typed out the whole interview
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James: Hi. We are...
All: Libera.
Freddie: Thank you very much for your support.
Interviewer: Questions, yeah? So, how did you feel when you heard for the first time, and maybe you saw on the TV, this tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan?
Ralph: Well, when I first heard about it, I was devasted. I mean, I couldn't believe it at first. I thought, "This can't be happening. This is Japan. I love Japan." But then it sort of started to sink in, and I couldn't really concentrate properly on what I was doing. And then I got home and saw it on TV, and I was just so sad. Terrible.
Interviewer: And, you know, the earthquake has hit the northern part of Japan. I remember you had a nice concert in Sendai, but now there is a lot of disaster there. So will you talk about your thoughts?
Kavana:
Some of us here have been to Sendai, and I'm sure we all think it's a lovely, beautiful place. The people there were so friendly. We enjoyed the bullet train as well, the high-speed...
Ralph: It's a beautiful city.
Kavana: Very good. And we think that it's, me personally, I think it's such a bad thing that such a devastating thing can happen to such a beautiful city. And I do hope that it rebuilds quickly, because we love Sendai, I love Sendai. It's very beautiful.
Interviewer: Can you tell about the nice news about NHK asking to sing the main theme of the drama "Madonna Verde?"
Barney: Well, we were really pleased when we first found out, and that this brilliant drama was going to be shown all over Japan, and all of our songs.
Kavana: And it's great that we get to be known as the people who are singing it. I mean like, you sometimes remember specific TV theme tunes. And it's great to know that people will watch and listen to our music.
Ralph: Sounds great, as well, from what I've heard about it.
Cassius: And they'll just remember us, so it's really nice.
Interviewer: Can you tell us about a song or any interesting story during recording the song?
Ralph: Well, I remember seeing a lot of funny stuff, because I think that was a crazy morning for me. But I had great fun recording it, and I'm sure most of us here, oh, all of us here recorded it. I remember being just so relaxed and happy about the recording.
Kavana: It's great to sing your own harmony parts so confidently, and then it can all come together to create a beautiful piece of music.
Ralph: It was also quite weird hearing it through the head phones as well.
Interviewer: Good. And the beautiful voice and lyrics of "Song of Life" will give peace and courage to the listeners, right? So how do you want the song to reach people's feelings?
Ralph: Well, we want the people in Japan to feel like they're not alone, and that everyone in the world feels sad for them. And that we all support them.
Kavana: And after the devasting disasters, we think that it's great that our songs can bring happiness to all of Japan.
Interviewer: Good. The drama "Madonna Verde" is about a bond between a mother and child and how life is all connected. Can you tell us your feeling, you know, towards your mother?
Ralph: I love my mum.
Kavana: I'm sure we all love our parents.
Cassius: Yeah, well, that's all we've got to say. We just love them.
(laughter)
Kavana: But it's great, because they care for us, and like we're doing all these things,
Ralph: They've done so much for us.
Kavana: And they're there, and they're supporting us.
Barney: And they're the ones who helped us get to the place where we are right now.
Interviewer: Good. And we understand that you plan to (go to) Japan next year for the tour, right? And is there any special feeling you want to convey to the listeners through your singing?
Kavana: Well, I guess that when we sing, we know that we want to make people happy, but especially here. We want to make them forget about all the disasters and just come, and we'll sing for you, and we'll make you happy and make it worthwhile.
Interviewer: Well, and what is your most interesting thing at the moment? Can you tell us about it?
Kavana: Well, I think the new release of our Libera Deluxe, which is, I think it's the Peace album with some videos. And it's great to know that you can have this special feature where you can watch us as well as listen, and that's really exciting for us. I mean we all buy, I'm sure we all buy our own CD's.
Ralph: I've seen the video.
Kavana: It's great to listen to our own music.
Cassius: And I just can't believe that we actually did it ourselves, cause it's put in different things, and we just did some stuff, and it made it into a massive...
Ralph: So what do you mean by the most interesting things?
Interviewer: Yeah, if it's OK, your private things. Private, right?
Background (Ben C. ?): A hobby.
Interviewer: Yeah, so anything interesting at the moment? You know, maybe when you're not singing?
Ralph: Well, I'm revising for exams at the moment, so I don't really have that much interesting stuff going on, but I'm sure they all have.
Kavana: Well, I'm sure, well most of us have hobbies. I mean, I do sport, quite likely. But some of the young ones here, they have to go for their very important exams.
Barney: Common entrance, and also we've got SAT's.
Mini James: SAT's next week. Bit nervous.
Cassius: Well, that's coming next year for me, so...
Kavana: So, it's all school work really.
Interviewer: OK. So, if you go back to Japan, what do you like about Japan? Sorry. Why do you like Japan? All of you've gone to Japan, right?
Kavana: Well, I think that the people are so friendly to us, and it's great to have such a friendly environment. Also the food is delicious. I mean I personally love Japanese food.
Ralph: And the streets are so clean!
Kavana: They're tidy. And it's great to see how much respect the Japanese people have for us.
Cassius: I love the design of the buildings.
Ralph: That's amazing.
Mini James: Yes.
Ralph: I remember Tokyo Tower when I went up there. That...wow. That's all I can say. Wow.
Cassius: Orange and white really go together.
Interviewer: Well, we understand there was a big, royal wedding in April. Yeah? And this is big news for you. So what do you think about that?
Ralph: What up, Will!
Kavana: Yes, I mean it's great how we get to see, I mean we see so many cultures as well, but it's great to know that we can relate to Britain. And it's good to see a royal wedding in our lifetime, because I'm sure generations to come, some people might not see it.
Ralph: And it's a massive, royal event. I'm so happy to have lived through it.
Barney: And it's amazing that millions and millions of people were watching it, and to know that you were one of them cheering them on.
Cassius: Even worldwide.
Ralph: There were some really cool hats there.
Cassius: Yeah, with the Union Jack.
Interviewer: Good. Well, you made a very beautiful music video of "Song of Life." So what is it like shooting? How do you shoot? In the studio or outside?
Ralph: Well, I arrived early, and we went out to the Common where they filmed some shots of me singing the thing. And then we went back down to the studio. And then everyone started to arrive, and we filmed the really cool bits there. So most of the time we film music videos inside, but sometimes we go outside.
Kavana: But it's great how we get to have this new opportunity. I mean not many people get to be in a music video, and it's great cause it's our own music video. And it's good cause we get loads of support from our friends and our family.
Interviewer: Good. And finally, they need a message to your fans in Japan.
Kavana: Hello. I'm Kavana. I've missed Japan, and I can't wait to be there.
Mini James: Hello. I'm James. I heard we're coming to Japan again soon, and I'm really excited to come and see everyone again.
Barney: Hello. I'm Barney. I've never been to Japan before, so I'm really excited.
Freddie: Hello. I'm Freddie, and I hope to be singing for you soon.
Ralph: Hello. I'm Ralph. I really, really, really am looking forward to going to Japan again. And I have some good memories from there.
Cassius: Hello. I'm Cassius. Last time in Japan was amazing, so this time it's going to be the same.
Kavana: We just finished filming for our new song "Song of Life." It was a great experience, and the music video is really good. So we hope you enjoy it.
All: See you soon!
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