[MBN스타=남우정 기자] Boys whose sole goal was debut have now grown into musicians who lead K-pop.

On August 19, BIGBANG celebrates the 10^th anniversary of their debut. Ten years ago, YG Entertainment (“YG”) selected the members of new idol group BIGBANG through survival audition show Mnet “Real-docu BIGBANG”. Such format of TV shows is common these days, but back then, there was no TV show that revealed the whole process of production of an idol group. BIGBANG drew big attention as the first idol boy group of YG and the TV show recorded more than million views.

“Real-docu BIGBANG” left a big impression to the public as the first-ever survival audition show and it also became an unforgettable memory for BIGBANG members. In a press meeting of “A to Z” exhibition held in celebration of the 10^th anniversary of BIGBANG’s debut, G-DRAGON said, “The best thing I’ve ever done in my life was my refusal to go home when Mr. YANG told me to go home. Another was when SEUNGRI explained the reason why he had to join BIGBANG”, making viewers burst into laughter.

BIGBANG who had a sole purpose of debut back then has now become the role model for Korean idol groups, and they have established themselves as the center of K-pop, being recognized globally. In Korea’s music scene, BIGBANG has always at the center of interest.

First, BIGBANG suggested a new direction for idol groups that had been planned in a strict framework of music labels. Starting from G-DRAGON, BIGBANG members wrote their own songs for albums from the very debut, setting a good model for idol producers. The reason why many idol singers now are boasting their capabilities as producers such as in the case of Block-B’s ZICO, Jinyoung of B1A4, Jung Yong-hwa of CNBLUE, BTS, and Woozi of Seventeen is all attributable to BIGBANG’s trial.

BIGBANG also showed the fact that even for a team, each member’s capabilities are important. Exceptionally for an idol group, all the members of BIGBANG released solo albums and those solo albums showed new music totally different from team BIGBANG’s music. TAEYANG presented R&B that best-suits his voice, and T.O.P presented more powerful and intense rap as a solo artist. DAESUNG tried trot, the genre of adult pop with a little color of Korean traditional music, which was a very rare case for an idol singer. G-DRAGON presented more experimental music in his solo albums.

BIGBANG also proved the fact that an idol group can be split into different unit teams, not just into individual solo artists. GD&T.O.P unit team of rappers and the unit team of GD&TAEYANG who are also closest friends, have created bigger sensation.

BIGBANG went beyond the music scene and has become the icon of fashion, leading trends. BIGBANG members are not typical handsome guys, but they have unique style and sense of fashion and they have always tried new styles. The items that BIGBANG wore for “LIES” released in 2007 including high-top sneakers, bandanas, and caps created sensation as “it” fashion items. Ever since then, BIGBANG has always presented experimental styles. Notably, G-DRAGON emerged as a fashionista, being recognized as a celebrity not only in Korea but also globally. World-famous luxury brand Louis Vuitton invested in YG, which well-demonstrates BIGBANG’s enormous potential in the fashion world.

BIGBANG is now the icon that represents Korea. BIGBANG has recently been appointed as the PR ambassador for Korea’s new national brand “CREATIVE KOREA”. BIGBANG will work as the PR ambassador from the 2016 Rio Olympics until the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.

Most of all, it is hard to find any other idol groups than SHINHWA and BIGBANG who have maintained the team for more than 10 years. Plus, BIGBANG has worked with the same company for those 10 years. There have been some scandals for the 10 years including suspicion that G-DRAGON smoked weed and car accidents of DAESUNG and SEUNGRI, but still, BIGBANG maintained the team and stayed in the top place. That shows how exceptionally meaningful BIGBANG is in Korea’s music scene.

2016. 8. 19.

[일간스포츠=황미현 기자] BIGBANG debuted with “WE BELONG TOGETHER” and “LALALA” in 2006, and the group became a star instantly. All the songs that the group released ever since became big hits.

When BIGBANG debuted, the members were just boys. But ten years have passed, and now they have become fashion icons and artists. Let’s take a look at the past ten years of BIGBANG, from when they released their self-titled debut album to their most recent album “MADE”.

▶August 2006

This was when they released their debut album “BIGBANG”. The members are still teenagers, but their unique poses and expressions are impressive. BIGBANG’s self-titled single album sold more than 40,000 copies.

▶September 2006

This was when BIGBANG released their official debut song “LA LA LA”. BIGBANG had their debut stage singing “LA LA LA” on MBC’s Show! Music Core. They look fierce with henna tattoos on their faces. The album “BIGBANG IS V.I.P”, which contains “LA LA LA”, was released in September and sold 32,000 copies.

▶December 2006

This was when BIGBANG released their first regular album “BIGBANG VOL.1”. G-DRAGON himself wrote the lyrics of the album’s title track “DIRTY CASH”. The members look trendy and hip wearing their jeans down and tops with patterns. The album sold 48,000 copies.

▶August 2007

BIGBANG debuted exactly ten years ago from today, and their biggest hit song “LIES” is climbing back up on the charts. This is because “LIES” is like the signature song of BIGBANG. BIGBANG made a grand comeback with “LIES” performing the song in white costumes. “LIES” is also written and composed by G-DRAGON.

▶November 2007

This was when BIGBANG released their second EP album “HOT ISSUE”. The members show off their gentle but masculine side standing at the bank of Han River during sunset with 63 Building as background. At that time, G-DRAGON brought scarves back into fashion. The title track of the album “LAST FAREWELL” was on the top of the charts for eight weeks.

▶August 2008

This was when BIGBANG released their third EP album “STAND UP”. The title track of the album “HARU HARU” is co-composed by G-DRAGON and Daishi Dance, a Japanese DJ/composer. The album sold 166,000 copies.

▶November 2008

BIGBANG’s “SUNSET GLOW” was and still is loved by many. The overall concept of the song was bright and lively, and BIGBANG members sang the song with big smiles on their faces, which made many people fall in love with them all over again. More than 20,000 copies of “REMEMBER”, the album that contained “SUNSET GLOW”, were sold on preorders alone. BIGBANG’s “SUNSET GLOW” is a remake of Lee Moon-se’s “SUNSET GLOW”, which was released in 1988. Usually singers sample the chorus part of the original version, but BIGBANG put their feel into the song, making it sound like a totally different song.

▶February 2011

They released their fourth EP album “TONIGHT” after a two-year break. By this time, BIGBANG members no longer looked like boys but like men and became the heartthrob of many girls. The album topped the charts in just seven days after its release, and the title track of the album “TONIGHT” swept the charts upon release.

▶February 2012

BIGBANG released their fifth mini-album after a one-year hiatus. All the songs of the album were title tracks, which sent shockwaves across the music industry. G-DRAGON received much media attention thanks to his long side hair in the music video of “FANTASTIC BABY”. The album sold 260,000 copies on preorders alone and more than 200,000 copies in just a month. With this song, BIGBANG became no.150 on Billboard’s top 200 albums chart. It was the first time that a Korean artist made it so high on Billboard’s charts with a song sung in Korean.

▶June 2012

BIGBANG released a special album titled “STILL ALIVE” for their fans who were longing for their comeback. “STILL ALIVE” contains the tracks in BIGBANG’s “ALIVE” album plus four new tracks, including “MONSTER”. The album sold 100,000 copies in just a month after its release.

▶May 2015

In 2015, BIGBANG released single albums every month from May to August under a project named “MADE”. Every time a new single was released, it topped the charts. As a result, BIGBANG dominated the chart for four months straight. The group has indeed written history by coming up with different styles of music and fashion every month.

2016. 8. 19.