10 years on, BigBang feel blessed, anxious about crown

Members of the South Korean boy group BIGBANG on Thursday expressed both happiness and anxiety about their success, being one of the country’s few idol groups that survived 10 years in the competitive K-pop scene.

“I’m happy that we can still be together as a team after 10 years (from our debut), although we are a bit more pressured about the next 10 years,” G-Dragon, the team leader, said during a press conference in eastern Seoul.

The media event was organized as part of a celebratory project for BIGBANG, the darling of YG Entertainment. The event was held on the sidelines of “A To Z,” an art exhibition that celebrated the group’s 10-year-long celebrity-fan bond.

“We started BIGBANG as teens, and now we are in our late twenties. We gave our youth to BIGBANG, which makes these celebratory events ever so special to us,” said another BIGBANG member Seungri.

T.O.P, the rapper of the five-member act, called the 10th anniversary event “a tremendous blessing” as a musician. “We hope we can still be loved and mature for 20, 30 years, or longer,” he continued.

Since their debut in Aug. 19, 2006, BIGBANG has grown into a world-class band, having successively pulled off a combined 11 concert tours at home and overseas. But at the zenith of popularity and wealthy living, the five artists still feel anxiety and sadness about the uncertain nature of popularity.

Seungri was open about his concerns. “We were lucky enough to be loved by so many for so long — but still, it makes me sad and pressured to think of how long the affection will last.”

It wasn’t until now, as a 10-year champion, that the members began to really look back into the past 10 years and picture blueprints for the next 10 years, the K-pop artists said.

T.O.P reminisced, “When we were starters, we were so tied to such a hectic environment that we couldn’t really feel the public attention and fans’ love upon us. We were, simply, kids who lived the day without thinking of tomorrow.”

Compulsory military service — a two-year duty for all South Korean males — is expected to be the largest hurdle for the BIGBANG members. All five are subject to conscription. As of now, none of the members have set dates for joining the military camp. It is common for South Korean boy band members and male actors to postpone military conscription out of pressure that they will fall from the public eye once they return to the entertainment scene after two years of service.

About this, T.O.P said the group will be able to keep singing “as long as fans’ love lasts.”

He said, “Our music is the kind that all age groups can enjoy. Even when we return from military service, we’ll be able to stand on the stage. But if the fans don’t love us anymore, we’ll be ousted even if we want to sing.”

Originality, creativity and confidence were key drivers in BIGBANG’s elevation to an icon of Korean pop culture.

As globally followed musicians, the group members’ philosophy was rather simple.

“I think what’s good in my ears are good songs,” said G-Dragon, who co-composed a number of BIGBANG’s hit songs “Lies,” “Fantastic Baby, “Last Good-bye” and “Haru Haru.”

For the singer-songwriter, a language barrier meant little when enjoying music.

“When I was young, carefree and completely monolingual, I fell for songs (in English) because the melody and the energy of the song just drew me in. Of course, the lyrics are important — just like a bunch of other factors about a song — but above all, people love our songs because it’s pleasant to the ear, fabulous to the eye and fun (in parties.)”

In addition, the K-pop artist emphasized that BIGBANG is not bound to figuring out “which songs would work out well in particular countries.”

“Different regions develop different cultures. They say regions with warm climates prefer fast-paced songs, but we believe people (regardless of their home region) pick their favorite songs on individual preferences (and mood).”

Before the media event, BIGBANG members made a brief appearance in the exhibition.

Some of the highlights of the art event are “Dukyang Wall” and a video of BigBang members shattering an angel statue. “Dukyang Wall” is a part of the wall along the parking lot of the Dukyang Building that housed the former office of YG Entertainment during the time of BIGBANG’s debut.

The wall was a source of nostalgia and motivation for the members, especially Taeyang, who insisted that a part of the wall be extracted from the parking lot and taken to the exhibition hall. Then, the fans crafted messages on it to BIGBANG members. On the other side of the wall are the boy group members’ messages to its fans.

“Apparently, it’s not easy to take out a wall. But it was the first thing that came to my mind at the very beginning of the exhibition planning. I knew the wall would make a terrific work.”

On the second floor of the exhibition hall are the video clips of BIGBANG members shattering a statue of an angel.

“After destruction comes rebuilding,” said a docent of “A To Z.” “The statue-shattering performance art shows Bi gBang’s determination to stay humble and passionate, even in its most triumphant moments.”

The exhibition is set to open up to the public on Friday and run through Oct. 30.

BIGBANG has yet another big commemorative concert coming up on Aug. 20 in Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul. Dubbed “BigBang10 the Concert — 0. TO. 10,” the concert is the next batch of the boy group’s celebration of its 10th anniversary.

Source: Yonhap News