(Yonhap Interview) Despite decade of glory, BIGBANG still fears losing affection

By Chung Joo-won

SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) — South Korean boy band BIGBANG named “fabulousness” as what has kept the 10-year veterans on a roll, saying the band may call it off as soon as the public begins to m lose the glitter.

“We hate to be embarrassed,” BIGBANG’s G-Dragon, 28, said in the band’s group media interview, including Yonhap News Agency, held in western Seoul on Tuesday.

The five-member darling of YG Entertainment has arguably reaped the most growth since its debut in 2006, and songs from its third and latest album “MADE The Full Album” topped major music charts here. And yet the members, now 26 to 29 years old, show anxiety about losing the public spotlight as they mature.

“If people start to think ‘they’ve gone bad,’ we will be the first to feel that. That’ll be the moment we stop, perhaps,” the singer-songwriter added, alleging “A BIGBANG that isn’t fabulous just isn’t BIGBANG.”

From L: Daesung, Seungri, Taeyang, T.O.P and G-Dragon of South Korean boy band BIGBANG appear in a file photo provided by YG Entertainment on Dec. 13, 2016. (Yonhap)

G-Dragon’s confession shows the heavy pressure that the K-pop band has lived with, particularly with its new LP in eight years fresh out of the oven on midnight Monday.

His remark was seconded by Taeyang, also 28, who said, “If you want to work, you’d better keep up your fabulousness. I hope I can spot (the moment that we lose ours) so that we can quit as quick as possible (without the public seeing it).”

Other members Seungri, Daesung and T.O.P agreed that the group has been loved so much since its debut that the affection may be not be fleeting. The title “BIGBANG” has already grown so large in their lives.

Members of South Korean boy band BIGBANG appear on the still photo of “FXXk It,” one of the two lead singles of its third and latest album “MADE The Full Album.” The image was provided by YG Entertainment on Dec. 13, 2016. (Yonhap)

These sentiments abound in their 11-song LP, with three new songs “Last Dance,” “FXXk It” and “Girlfriend.”

When asked to pick his favorite of the three new songs from the LP, Taeyang picked “Last Dance.”

He said, “I think ‘Last Dance’ is the most candid portrayal of our feelings.”

Co-composed by G-Dragon and two YG songwriters and lyricized by G-Dragon, T.O.P and Taeyang, the R&B pop song is about the fear of being abandoned by one’s lover, friends and the public.

The song is a double lead single of the LP, along with “FXXk It.” As the title shows, the song is groovy soft mid-tempo hip-hop. It was co-composed by G-Dragon, YG’s leading songwriter Teddy and R.TEE.

“Girlfriend” also stood high in major charts as soon as the LP was released on online music stores.

The LP’s other eight songs are hits from last year, as T.O.P has to suspend his BIGBANG career in February at the earliest due to his mandatory military service. The eight older hits include “Loser,” “Bae Bae,” “Bang Bang Bang” and “If You.” The 29-year-old is the first to serve the two-year duty, with other members to follow suit in the coming years.

T.O.P of South Korean boy band BIGBANG appears in this file photo provided by YG Entertainment on Dec. 13, 2016. (Yonhap)

Looking back at their decade-long history as BIGBANG, the five members reminisced about their early career packed with hectic schedules, both musical and non-musical.

G-Dragon recalled, “Our days started by taking lessons from 10 a.m., cleaning up the exercise room and passing out at night. As soon as we had our debut, we performed in televised shows and all sorts of entertainment shows and events that we attended. After that, we returned to the company and worked on our dance moves and kept checking for modifications. We wrote our songs, recorded them, and then we had our own concerts to perfect. No kidding.”

In its fledgling days, there was a time when the camera director in charge of the band’s music videos had openly expressed his sympathy for the young members, according to him. As a rookie that had only begun to collect its own fandom, the band literally rolled singles every month. The members jovially agreed that, thanks to the group’s success, their lives have gotten better off since their triumphant extension of a contract with the agency in 2015.

G-Dragon of South Korean boy band BIGBANG appears in this file photo provided by YG Entertainment on Dec. 13, 2016. (Yonhap)

The members were frequently asked about the “climax of their career” in media interviews, but their answer remains the same. Every new album is a fresh challenge, but the task has become increasingly daunting, according to G-Dragon.

He said, “Preparing for the next album every year has been difficult. Frankly speaking, striking a jackpot with one album is not exactly the happiest thing, because it raises the bar for the next work. Today is the highlight and climax of our career, and so will tomorrow be, too.”

BIGBANG is slated to hit the K-pop stage of SBS’ music show “Inkigayo” on Friday to kick off their activities with the new LP.

Members of South Korean boy band BIGBANG appear on the cover of its third and latest album “MADE The Full Album” provided by YG Entertainment on Dec. 13, 2016. (Yonhap)

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Source: Yonhap