Big Bang's 'Tonight' special edition release...almost.

YG thinks its such the shit that it apparently keeps its own time. 22 minutes past the release of Big Bang's 4.5 mini album, that is the special edition of Tonight. As always, YG's late! Constantly updating my pages. In the meantime, eye candy.

TOP counts down.

4 days until Big Bang drops another cannonball of awesomeness (yes, I'm running out of metaphors). I love this sound, and I don't just mean that of TOP's voice, though I love that as well.

It's not uncommon to hear some fans lament about Big Bang's departure from their early days, 'early' meaning anything from VIP to Lies to Haru Haru. But I think that misses the whole point of why Big Bang is such a beloved phenomenon. Great artists are that way because they consistently push beyond the norm. Not to equate Big Bang with the following artists, but Michael Jackson, Madonna, and the Beatles certainly did not confine themselves to the music that launched their careers. I have more to say on this but time for work! Until then, TOP sings to you.

Taeyang counts down.

Taeyang needs a girl like me?! I can deal. 5 days until Big Bang's special release album. Kid's got short fingers. That's okay.

Liar Liar.

So maybe YG goes by HK time? In any case, Stupid Liar/Lair has been unleashed! I love the opening bars. Still am not feeling the autotune and die a little every time I hear it in a new track. Nevertheless, I've sipped the kool-aid, and it's delicious. Full track and album dropping on April 8, MV on April 15.

(Keep expecting GD to continue with '...pants on fire.')

Big Bang's stupid little lair.

Waiting for Stupid Liar to be released. No, waiting for the 30 second teaser to be released. Alas, it's 41 minutes after midnight in Korea and still no sign of this liar. Meanwhile, on YouTube, YG's teasing us about some stupid lair. Oops. I'll gladly be their English editor.

Shinhwa fangirlism begins.

New obsession: Shinhwa. I remember these guys from my first foray into Asia in 2002. I have their CD buried somewhere. Kim Dongwan appeared on a recent episode of Strong Heart with Seungri and G-Dragon, and I decided I want to marry someone like him. But I will not be, so instead I have songs like this one to look forward to. Just One More Time (다시 한 번만) off their 9th album, simply titled Volume 9. I listened to it at least 30 times today. Really need to learn Korean.

K-Pop anniversary!

Cause for celebration! Exactly a year ago today, I stumbled upon a video. YouTube recommended one Wedding Dress by some Korean bloke named Taeyang. And well, you know how it goes. Taeyang and the YG family have accompanied me through one difficult but exciting year, difficult because I was still treading water with my thesis but exciting because I finally finished the damn thing and managed to get a job soon thereafter. One year and many CDs and DVDs later, I am an avowed Big Bang and YG fan. Yes, my life is enriched by the fruits of their creative labor. Since I am too tired to celebrate in any spectacular way, let me just repost the video that started it all. And it should be noted that 0'57" was what sent me over the edge. So thug.

Official MV for Big Bang's 'Tonight'.

Score! Re yesterday's post about the MV shown on The Big Bang Show, indeed, YG has released a second version. This one is much improved. I still would like to have seen more cruising in Sin City because how hot would that be? But I love that Daesung got a lead role and played jilted lover. He's got an army of VIPs wanting to cuddle, or make violent love. Anyway, no more talk.

Conspiracy theory about Big Bang's 'Tonight' MV.

Let me be the first to say...

Last night, or 10 hours ago, SBS aired The Big Bang Show, a one hour special of live performances, interview, and a Secret Garden parody. They also revealed an MV for Tonight. Half a day later, this MV has yet to appear in any official form. We know that YG is thinking internationally, even if there are no (public) plans in place for the current album, so it's a bit confusing why he would withhold the video from YouTube when that has been the primary means of international exposure for the group. There is also the issue of conflicting information about the content of the video, namely Daesung's missing bed scene. Yes, word is Daesung plays romantic lead - but the video shown on SBS last night was decidedly unromantic. Similarly, regarding content, as some posters have noted, the song is called Tonight yet much of it takes place during the day.

And a personal note, I was just not impressed. It almost reminded me of the disastrous first I Need a Girl video, though not quite so bad. The content was not cohesive - Las Vegas at night (very cool), day shots at some glitzy neon sign junkyard, and a desert. Yes, all vaguely Sin City, but there was no theme beyond this. (And I'm really not feeling the stylist for this album. Not the biggest transgression so perhaps more on that later.) There are a million possibilities for this song and shoot location, and you're telling me random shots of the boys singing is the best YG can do? This just doesn't seem like a worthy successor to such great videos as Lies (death by pineapple and subsequent incarceration of G-Dragon), Haru Haru (cheesy girl-gets-cancer story line but great tension between G-Dragon and TOP), and one of my favorites, Let Me Hear Your Voice (black and white concept of boys trapped by cityscape). Oh, and how can I forget Tell Me Goodbye, which had nothing to do with Iris, the show for which it was a themesong, but which could have been its own movie.

This is what I think. YG is teasing us and will actually unleash a second, and official, MV that will be much improved and subsequently rock the world. This accounts for the delay releasing on YouTube. Forever a master of hype, he knows that the Big Bang fandom is abuzz from last night's show. The K-Pop universe is on edge. They're no longer waiting for Big Bang to exert its dominance; it's now just a matter of how crushed the competition will be. After a 2+ year wait, it's hard to believe that this would be it for crafty promotion efforts and that Big Bang will simply slip into the usual music show promotions like the mere mortal idol groups. YG knows that fans are crying for more, some literally, and tension is building over the missing MV. He'll hold out long enough for this issue to generate noise and then - BAM - hit us with a superior MV, with Daesung getting his knickers off, or something like that. Fans will be so stunned that we will immediately sing praises of Big Bang and declare once more that YG is in fact a genius; lesser idol groups will whither at their own imperfections and mourn their inadequate management; and overseas non-fans will curiously click the 'featured' YouTube video like I did back in the day and suddenly be opened to a whole new world of wonderfulness. And we will see Daesung in a bed scene.

So, am I right? Wait and see. Of course, this could be a massive fail of a guess on my part. In which case, bring out the next video!

UPDATE: I didn't watch all of the Big Bang Show last night so I missed this bit of news. There is a very brief shot of GD rapping in English on the Tonight set. English version? (In which case I'm not buying another CD.) End the suspense already, YG, and wewease the secwet wideo!!!

Big Bang.......what a tease.

This teaser for Big Bang's new Intro track and album has been out for a few days but for some unfathomable reason has not made it to my blog. Amended. Yes, went into schoolgirl convulsions when it first popped up on my Youtube. Hello, folks. Big Bang, in Vegas, sporting styling shades, at night. Am now counting down the hours until SBS airs its first special on BB. Word is their newest MV will be released. And if I read right, another one of GD and TOP's tracks off their album is also getting a video. But that one will just have to be leaked in time as it's all BB promotions for the moment.

So, exhibit A - teaser. Exhibit B - my latest editions. I really did not intend on buying these right away. In fact, I didn't even think the BB album would be out in HK. But I was cutting through Causeway Bay this afternoon, by way of Victoria Park, and there happens to be an HMV conveniently located next door. Took the opportunity to boost BB's overseas sales. I actually was going to buy Seungri's album but decided on the other 2. Alas, the only reason was because I need to eat lunch this week. Sidenote, it's one of the albums being sampled in the store so there's a wall of fresh copies. And, for the record, I'm not the only HK fan excited about this release. Three girls, who are well above 10, gasped when they saw the new album and remained huddled around the discs for some time. Doing BB proud.

Exhibit A:



Exhibit B:

Break it down, Seungri.

Baby Seungri. Such a cute kid. Maknae's trying, real hard. But he's finally breaking through, down, wherever. Big Bang now has 5 bonafide stars.

Big Bang is Back.......almost.

Travesty. Haven't posted in ages. As a student said on Monday, "Who blogs?! That's so sad." Well, I'm a sad, old woman then.

So what have I been watching (always an appropriate question)? Too many things. Burning Flame III, Last One Standing, Rosy Business, 7 Days in Life, Autumn's Concerto. Currently in my DVD player is Autumn's Concerto (after having, excuse the pun, burned through Burning Flame III several times). My passion for Vanness Wu has been reignited. That show is truly one of my favorites, which reminds me I have to finish a review for it one of these days. However, also on my radar is Big Bang's Korean comeback. It's been 2 years and 3 months since they rocked Korea with an album. Luckily I did not have to wait that long as I had yet to start my steamy affair with K-Pop. In honor of my current eye and ear candy, a picture.

 

"Fingers up if you own a mad six pack."

GD+TOP = Knock Out

Starting off the new year right. GD+TOP MV for Knock Out.

The final push.

So the long awaited oral defense for my masters thesis will be tomorrow. In less than 24 hours, the carnage will be complete. If I don't pass, I might just ship myself off to South Korea in a crate. At least then I can be a failure surrounded by awesome pop music. In the meantime, I'm trying to draw on some inspiration from a few hard working lads......Alas, my examination board does not look like this, in which case I'd be ecstatic about my oral.

'Hands Up' for Big Bang!

Big Bang has been spoiling us recently with the sudden release of their Tell Me Goodbye MV and their appearance and sweep at the MTV Japan VMAs. They dropped their latest single release today. The Tell Me Goodbye CD features the title track, a remix, and third song, Hands Up. I wasn't too hot on it when they first sang it at the VMAs, but I'm giving it a fresh listen without the static of screaming girls - and I looooove it! It's bouncy and infectious, which means haters will hate. It has a club feel but isn't overpowered by electronica. There's still enough space for Daesung and Youngbae to lay down their smooth vocals with room enough for li'l Seungri and the big bad rappers, G-Dragon and T.O.P., to do their thing. Hands Up is just what we need to kick off the summer!

Big Bang at the VMAs (MTVJ).

Alas, I cannot quit being a fangirl. I think I was born a fangirl and will most definitely die one. Anyway, tonight was the MTV Japan Video Music Awards...starring Big BANG! (Vanness Wu was also nominated.) Details out of the way - Big Bang was nominated for 2 awards (Best Pop Video - Koe Ki Kasete and Best Newcomer - Gara Gara Go!) and won both. G-Dragon also won for his collaboration with W-inds. Did anyone doubt that these boys wouldn't sweep?

Now, the sprinkles on top of the cherry on top of the icing. An interview, in Japanese, taken from what appears to be the Coca-Cola room. [snark]

• G-Dragon acting a total goof with the Tell Me Goodbye CD.
• Youngbae saying '4 years, 5 years' and sounding like a perfect little American-born Korean.
• T.O.P. looking confused, constipated, or pissed because he's in a obnoxiously sponsored interview room.
• Youngbae, again, giving the sponsors exactly what they want - a Coke-filled moment of ecstasy.

My love for Big Bang knows no bounds.

K-Pop does World Cup.

Just caught an interesting post over at iBigbang, a fansite that I admittedly check multiple times a day. They're asking readers what they think of the many World Cup songs being unleashed by K-Pop idol groups in preparation for the upcoming tournament. The results of an online survey are posted and you can check out the stats (Big Bang comes in at #2 for male groups).

Meanwhile, after seeing release notices for non-Big Bang World Cup songs for weeks, and ignoring them for weeks, I finally gave all the groups a listen. Here's what I think......

T-Ara/We Are the One - It's an appropriate blend of 'I heart Korea' shirts, pom poms, and actual soccer balls. Plus they throw in a lot of international flags in order to please K-Pop fans near and far, or because the World Cup is a massive global sporting event. In any case, this is a cheerful song with plenty of 'ole's to get you into a celebratory mood. Probably as close as a girl group can get to the spirit of these raucous games without compromising their cutesy image. Thumbs up!



Kara/We're With You - What is going on here? Do they even know that the World Cup is a massive soccer tournament? These ladies look like they popped out of a bubble gum factory. The song is typical K-Pop fare with plenty of fluorescent pastels and amply short skirts, but watching the video, you'd have no idea it was Kara's World Cup entry. I can't comment on the lyrics because I'm lazy and haven't looked up the English translation, but zero points for a festive World Cup-y atmosphere. And for the record, Goo Hara looks like an android.



After School/Dreams Again! - The video itself is a bit dull, unless you are an After School fan, in which case it's awesome! It's basically a no budget, behind-the-scenes MV with the added bonus of demonstrating to the world that these ladies look fucking gorgeous even in floppy red t-shirts. As for the song, it almost has an ethereal quality, though I'm not sure if that's the music or them. You're probably not going to jump out of your seat and run down the street draped in a Korean flag when you hear this song, but it will leave you feeling proud of your team, if your team is Korea.



4Minute+Brown Eyed Girls/Once More, Korea! - So this song is what you get when you combine the Village People, Pet Shop Boys, and two hot Korean girl groups. 4Minute and Brown Eyed Girls give Go West a Korean makeover, and it works surprisingly well. Then again, anything by the Village People qualifies as a stadium hit. It has double the energy and is repetitive enough to get fans clapping and bouncing their heads; the rapping also gives the song a bit of a funk factor. It helps if you understand Korean though otherwise you'll be thinking about soccer while going west.

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Super Junior/Victory - Face painting, bullhorns, flags, banners, cheerleaders, flying toilet paper - what more do you want in a World Cup video? The boys even manage to sneak in some Sorry, Sorry. It's all a bit cheeky, but they look and sound like they're having a bloody good time, and their persistent shouts of 'Victory, victory, Korea' are pretty infectious. Even makes me want to cheer for Korea!



2PM/What's Your Celebration - Cheerful punk is how I'm going to try to describe this one. It's different from the usual 2PM fare, which will either thrill or disappoint, and you'll probably want to bounce up and down more than pop and lock. The boys also throw in some anthem moments that do a good job of generating that energetic soccer match atmosphere.



2AM/No. 1 - The question everyone's asking - why are they autotuned? Alas, some things in life are meant to remain a mystery. The song and video have definitely grown on me, thanks especially to goofball Jo Kwon. It's really soothing and in that way is similar to the group's other songs. But I'm not sure soothing is what you want when it comes to the World Cup. It feels more like a consolation song, something to calm the fans when their team gets knocked out (not saying Korea needs this though America sure does). I also think this is the South Korean entry on the official World Cup album



Big Bang+Queen Yuna+Trans Fixion/Shouts of Reds - Well.....do I need to say anything? Everything these guys touch turns to gold, especially true because they've enlisted Olympic gold medalist Kim Yuna, who, for the record, sings better than everyone in EEG. I'll explain it this way. My university has one of the most storied college football programs in America, and the Friday before every home football game, we all barreled into the arena for a huge pep rally. It was this euphoric chaos - students painted and adorned with our colors and mascot, alumni cheering like our football program was actually good again, and general fans going nuts because everyone around them was going nuts. Never mind that our program sucked; that kernel of hope inside every sports fan kept inflating as the night went on. For me, that's what I want in a World Cup song, something with equal parts of spontaneity, exuberance, and madness so that I can cheer with pride. This song captures all of that and is just what I need to get ready for World Cup fever!

Big Bang + Park Bom = 'Forever with You'.

Love me some Park Bom. Give this lady a full album!

Big Bang releases 'Tell Me Goodbye' MV. [Do not watch if you have heart condition.]

[Fangirl squeal.] This MV dropped very unexpectedly today, and the ladies are beside themselves. No teaser, no hints, just *boom* - hotness. YG knows how to make a statement. Kids of K-Pop, step aside.



No disrespect to all the other boy groups reigning in K-Popdom, but really, I can't see any other group pulling off this video. Maybe they can get the individual elements - the period, the suits, the color, the story, but the sum sexiness cannot be equaled.

G-Dragon waxing lyrical in the rain + Taeyang channeling 1930s smooth + Daesung rocking the fedora + T.O.P. playing old school gangsta + maknae Seungri palming a revolver = unearthly hotness

There are groups that have better choreography or more collective muscle mass, but none have the musical and stylistic diversity of these boys men. They can do hip hop (V.I.P.), punk (Oh My Friend), R&B (A Fool's Only Tears), alt-rock (This Love), ballads (Let Me Hear Your Voice), and pure pop (Lollipop 2); they sing in Korean, Japanese, and English; they look fi-ine whether they're sporting funky skinny jeans and high tops, street wear, suits, or...nothing. Criticize them for autotuning the hell out of their music, but that's a plague on all the houses of K-Pop. As this video shows, they don't need no stinkin' autotune. Just give them a solid track and they will lay waste to the competition without busting a single synchronized move or showing any skin. I mean, ovaries are popping out of control (allkpop, Soompi, Big Bang Updates) despite the fact that these guys are just standing around for most of the video bundled up in suits and gloves. Now that's hot.

Toronto women rate the men of Big Bang.

The good ladies of Toronto took part in this highly scientific survey to determine who is the best looking Big Bang member. Daesung seems to be a favorite, though I'm wondering what pictures they showed. Probably not Taeyang + Prayer MV shots because if Canadian women saw the six pack on that man........