Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Pics of little GD







credits: news.nate.com

G-Dragon was an SM trainee for 5 years


G-Dragon became popular when he was young by being part of Little Lulla. Little Lulla was a hit like An Angel Without Wings. ~another show

"I was on MBC's Bbobbobbo before. I sat next to Bbomee (?) nuna and I danced really well. I guess I was discovered by Little Lulla then. We even went on a concert tour and put out a carol album."

Little Lulla was very popular then but after awhile, the company decided to terminate it, which became a big shock to the young G-Dragon.

"As an 8-year old, I was shocked. I thought I would continue to become a singer. I even told my mom that I wouldn't do it again. And then I lived a normal life as a student."

But it seems like he was destined to become famous. One time, his family went to a ski resort where SM Entertainment, headed by Lee Sooman, was conducting a dance competition. He joined and then got chosen to be a trainee. He trained for almost 5 years, during the time when S.E.S, H.O.T, BOA and Shinhwa were gaining popularity.

"When I trained under SM, it wasn't a big company yet so instead of practicing every day, I would go once a month or once every 3 months. SM officials don't probably remember me anymore but I danced a lot. I wasn't handsome but I had a mischievous face and followed directions very well. There was even a time when I sat on the laps of Shinhwa members."

As an SM trainee, G-Dragon didn't have a clear vision of what he wanted to do. When he was in 3rd grade, he discovered the Wu-tang Clan through a friend. He then joined People Crew (?) where he learned more about freestyle rapping.

credits: bigbangupdates

Friday, January 22, 2010

Upcoming Big Bang Events



January 24: SBS Family Outing - Daesung
January 27: Aoyama Teruma & Taeyang's 'Fall in Love' Release ~ I think release for sale?
January 29-31: 2010 Bigbang Concert [Big Show]

February 10, 11, 13, 15: Bigbang [Electric Love Tour 2010] (Japan Tour Concert)
February 13: G-Dragon Solo Concert [Shine a Light] broadcasted on TBS

Translated by Beau @ bbvipz

Aimee Lucas speaks about G-Dragon's concert controversy

G-Dragon ‘Dry Humps’ Dancer On Stage?
Dancer Sets Record Straight

by Phillip Chung

If you’re like me, the public outcry that ensued when Janet Jackson flashed her nipple for all of half a second during a performance with Justin Timberlake at the 2004 Super Bowl seemed like much ado over nothing. But if you think Americans are overtly prudish, they have nothing on the Koreans. Last month, Korean pop star G-Dragon (of Big Bang fame) was accused of “dry humping” a dancer on a stand-up bed during the song “Breathe” at his “Shine A Light” concert.



Once pictures like the one above hit the internet, the outrage was almost instantaneous. It’s become such an issue in the country that this month, the South Korean government decided to step in and is investigating the incident. If he loses the case, G-Dragon faces a fine and up to a year in prison. His fans, including those who were at the concert, have started a petition in support of the pop star and the case is still pending. YG Entertainment, G-Dragon’s label, released an apology but otherwise no one involved with the incident has spoken about what happened. Until now.

The dancer being “dry humped” on stage by G-Dragon is Aimee Lee Lucas who happens to be a friend. I admit I know next to nothing about the Korean pop scene, but when I saw the stories and “offensive” photos of Aimee popping up online, well, I had to find out what really happened. Aimee was kind enough to hang out with me at a Starbucks on a rainy afternoon and talk publicly for the first time about the now infamous incident.

Although Aimee works as a dancer/choreographer for YG Entertainment, she’s not Korean. In fact, she’s a Filipina homegirl from the Bay Area, now living in L.A. Aimee studied ballet for 14 years before transitioning to hip-hop. And though she took her dancer training seriously, when she moved to L.A., the plan was to go to school and find a “real” job that had nothing to do with dancing. But when she tagged along with boyfriend Shaun Evaristo (also a dancer/choreographer) to a commercial audition, she ended up booking it herself and was soon dancing in an iPod ad.

Then, two years ago, Shaun was hired by YG to work with their artists in Korea and once the execs saw Aimee’s talent, they hired her too. Since then, she’s appeared in numerous concerts and videos with artists like Tae Yang and Big Bang. Here she is as the lead female dancer in Big Bang’s “Number One” video:

So when Aimee performed the “Breathe” number with G-Dragon and the aforementioned stand-up bed, it was just another normal bit. She flew back to L.A. the morning after the last concert thinking all was normal but by the time she landed, the controversy had broken out all over the internet in Korea.

“I was shocked when I heard what was happening,” Aimee says. “We performed two shows on a Saturday and Sunday. All the VIPs and big people came out on Saturday and no one said anything. During rehearsals, no one told us we were going too far and should hold back. So the reaction was surprising.”

Initially, the internet comments directed at “the dancer in the number” were critical (“what is that girl thinking doing that?”), but once Aimee was identified as the dancer, most of the negative comments stopped. In fact, during the whole controversy, everyone associated with the number from G-Dragon to YG has been targeted and vilified—except Aimee who is not facing any of the charges, fines or jail time. “I think it’s because I’m American,” she says. “I’ve been told from the start that I’ll be treated differently because I’m American and that’s been the case.”

When she first started performing in Korea, Aimee was surprised by the rabid, (very) young and female fan base of the K-Pop acts who would appear in the form of large mobs everywhere she and the musicians went. “When I became the lead dancer opposite Tae Yang, people joked with me that they were surprised I wasn’t dead,” she says, “that the fans didn’t come after me with pitchforks for doing what they all dreamed of doing with him.”

To understand the controversy, one must first understand the K-Pop scene. If Big Bang is like the Korean N’Sync with its more innocent and tween friendly music, G-Dragon is its Justin Timberlake—pursuing a solo career to explore more “adult” subject matter. His first solo album “Heartbreaker” was deemed inappropriate for children because of the lyrical content of several songs like “She’s Gone” (sample offensive lyric: “If I can’t have you, I’ll kill you.”). The songs are pretty tame by our standards; the content of an American pop song like Justin Timberlake’s “Rock Your Body” is downright pornographic compared to G-Dragon’s music (and I’m sure G-Dragon won’t be doing the Korean equivalent of this anytime soon). But because of the concert controversy, a new “investigation” has also been launched regarding the appropriateness of his album.

So here’s Aimee’s explanation of what happened:

Before the first creative meeting for the concert, Aimee was already thinking of ideas for the different numbers. Since the imagery of a bed was so strong in “Breathe,” she thought it would make sense to incorporate that into the piece. “At the meeting, G-Dragon had pretty much the same idea to do something around a stand-up bed,” she says. “He likes to let loose and push boundaries. Everyone agreed so that’s what we worked on.”

“There was no humping,” she continues. “If you watch the (footage), the whole bit lasts only a few seconds. He straddles me for a bit, we do some ‘acting’ and then we’re done. I had to lift myself (on the stand-up bed) and hang there and support all my body weight with my arms. I could only do that for a couple of seconds so there wasn’t any time to do any humping.”

Aimee thinks the controversy erupted because the first images to be posted online were photos of her hanging from the bed straddling G-Dragon with her legs wrapped around him which could be misinterpreted when seen out of context. By the time video footage from the concert hit the web a few days later, the damage had already been done. Since she left for America right after the concert, she hasn’t talked to G-Dragon about the incident but has heard from others at YG that he seems to be doing fine.

So is it just me or is this a ridiculous attempt by an artist-unfriendly government led by President Lee Myung-bak (who derogatorily referred to filmmakers as “hippies”) to make an example of a pop star in the name of family values? Aren’t there more pressing issues in the country to be worried about?

Original article
via bigbangvip.net
credits: bigbangupdates

Big Bang iPhone Calendar App







Download link: itunes.apple.com/us/app/bigbang

sources :
DCGD, twitter.com/RicKPOPper, twitter.com/oblige

TOP to reveal solo song during Big Bang’s concert



Big Bang TOP will reveal his solo song during Big Bang’s independent concert.
An official revealed on 21st January, “TOP will reveal his new song during Big Bang ‘Big Show’ concert.”

All this time, TOP has participated as featuring for rap in songs like ‘DISCO’ by Um JungHwa and ‘Sorry’ for Gummy, and is known for his rap capabilities. And all these songs have received great popularity, and with TOP’s own solo song coming up, much anticipation is for how it will be received by music fans.

There has been much interests since it was announced a while back that fellow DaeSung will also be releasing a solo album the first half of the year.

Meanwhile, Big Bang concert will take place from 29th till 31st January. And TOP recently wrote on GDragon’s me2day on 19th January, “This is the place we are together” and attached a photo of their performance venue.

Source: StarNews
Translation : sookyeong.wordpress.com

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Big Bang and DBSK awarded as "Cultural Ambassadors"



Both five-member groups Dong Bang Shin Ki and Big Bang received the exceptional recognition of being “Cultural Ambassadors.”

The private organization from the Cultural Tourism Board, the Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE) stated, “Due to the contributions they have made in the development of the cultural aspect through popular music, we have decided to appoint/award them as ‘Cultural Ambassadors’ as a form of recognition.”

They have produced the most number of successful album records even in such a difficult period of time in the music industry, and have been energetically involved in both local and overseas activities; these are the main reasons behind this award.

A representative from KOFICE said, “This honor was awarded based on those who have contributed to the cultural industry on a yearly basis. Every year, this award has been given to those working in the cultural field, but this year is an exception as it has been given to idol groups.”

They added, “As both Dong Bang Shin Ki and Big Bang are busy with their schedules, the official announcement will be made later in January.”

original source: kofice.shindy.co.kr/culture/cul.asp
translated by: sshutingg @ OneTVXQ.com
via omonatheydidnt

Daesung leaving Family Outing will release a digital song, '솜사탕'



Big Bang's Daesung will be releasing a digital song by the end of the month.

A YG representative said "It was announced before that Daesung will be releasing a solo album during the first half of the year. He will perform his new song, '솜사탕', (literal translation is 'Cotton Candy') to his fans during their concert at end of the month."

The song will be released before the concert in the form of a digital single so fans can have a feel of it already.

Season 1 of Family Outing will end this February but fans will be able to see Daesung again through this song.

According to the YG representative, "Daesung wrote the lyrics of the song, '솜사탕', himself. The music style of '솜사탕' is different from the usual music of Big Bang. Daesung will be able to show his own style of music in his first solo album. Songs in his first solo album will be produced by YG members, rather than getting and some composers outside the company."

Big Bang will be having their concert on Jan 29 to 31 at the Seoul Olympic Stadium and then go to Japan for their tour.



He will also be working on some songs for his album with Yoon Jong Shin, who he has worked with in Family Outing.

credits: bigbangupdates

Big Bang and 2PM - Idol Showdown in CFs

Found an article talking about idol groups being used in CFs. Idol groups that were compared were Big Bang and 2PM with Kara and SNSD. Here's a rough translation of what was said about Big Bang:



Boy Groups' "Contrasting Image Showdown"

The strategy used for male idol groups in CFs is differentiation. They use their contrasting images to appeal to different markets. For 2PM, it's their masculine charms, while for Big Bang, it's their sense of familiarity (like you're close to them).

2PM and Big Bang's first CF clash was with mobile phones. 2PM showed their strong appeal while Big Bang had a more comfortable/relaxed concept. Their fashion (clothes) also had an opposite feel. 2PM's clothes have loud colors while Big Bang opt for a more natural feel with their casual clothes.

Their contrasting images were also seen in beer CFs. 2PM's hunky/masculine image was emphasized with their smokey make-up, leather jackets and passive faces. Big Bang's concept, on the other hand, was about having fun. They wore simple clothes that were highlighted with their cheerful smiles.

[Then, the article talked about how it's different with girl groups because Kara and SNSD have similar concepts.]

[Then it talked about how the '2PM VS Big Bang' showdown has been effective in increasing the revenues of the products they endorse.]

[The article ended by saying using idols in CFs will continue because it helps the product have 'images' that people associate with the idols.]

Original article : bit.ly/8DnViu
Translation : bigbangupdates.blogspot.com

Monday, January 18, 2010

Netizens find G-Dragon's love for 'Hangul' fashion 'funny'



The photo update on G-Dragon's Me2Day last January 15, which showed the back of a jacket with "We are Big Bang" (우린 빅뱅) in Korean/Hangul characters, has caught people's attention. This photo was actually uploaded by Big Bang's youngest member, Seungri. ~the original article actually wrote Daesung

This is not the first time that G-Dragon showed his love for clothes/fashion items with Hangul characters on them. He was spotted before wearing caps with words/phrases like 곧미남 (gominam/handsome) and 힙합 (hip-hop).

Some reactions from netizens:
"I wonder what phrase (in Hangul) he'll use next"
"Clothes and caps with Hangul characters on them fit G-Dragon very well"
"G-Dragon's fashion sense is really interesting"

credits: bigbangupdates

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Whose comeback is the most anticipated?



Music portal site Monkey3 ran a poll titled, “Most Anticipated Comeback of This Year.”

Lee Hyori took first place with 26% of the votes, beating out SNSD! I guess she is ready to stop the overload of idols.

But maybe not, since SNSD did come in second place and lost to Hyori by a very small difference. SNSD gained 24% of the votes and it really is making me wonder whether or not Hyori will be able to beat SNSD on the charts. I’m thinking yes. Third place went to Big Bang with 21% of the votes. I guess these three artists are really going to battle it out this year since they’re all set to comeback in the first half of 2010.

Kara received fourth place with 16% of the votes. Then came 2NE1 with 10% of the votes and after the rookie girl group was their YG sunbae, Se7en, with only 4% of the votes.

credits: allkpop

Friday, January 15, 2010

Big Bang's book is one of 2009 bestsellers! :D



Trans: Shouting Out to the World, idol group Big Bang's book, pulled the younger generation with its content about self-improvement and pursuing your dreams and passion. It was one of this year's bestsellers for 6 weeks in a row.

credits: bigbangupdates and bbvipz

Photobook : Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010! {preview}






credits: bbvipz, bigbangupdates

New pics for 2010 BIG SHOW promo!




credits: bbvipz, bigbangupdates

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Taeyang Osen interview~


TaeYang: “He Looks Serious for a Reason”

People shine when they do what they love best. Probably that is why he shines so brightly when he sings and dances on stage. This guy who sat down with me for an interview today is a cute, shy young man but once on stage he turns into a performer who is brimming with charisma and sizzling with sexiness. His name is TaeYang.

He was barely 20 when I first met him. Obviously he has constantly grown since that day – a fact that makes me always look forward to what he will bring next.

This year, TaeYang released two digital singles – Where U At and Wedding Dress, roughly a year and a half after his first solo album, which was highly praised both by the public and the critics. Since it was right after the leader of the band GD’s first solo album swept the charts, he must have been extra nervous because there was an element of competition, albeit friendly.

When asked about it, he, true to his form, said he was just so happy that he could make music, which he loved so much, and share it with many people. He said, “I’m so glad that I can do music I’ve wanted to do. Of course, I felt pressured and nervous and anxious coming out with new solo singles. The biggest concern is the musical aspect – I wasn’t worried so much about whether people would like it or not as about whether my desire to come out with something better than the last one, both musically and performance-wise has been fulfilled.”

TaeYang considers the virtue of persistence most important. Persistence and commitment are the keys to his achievement. He constantly works on his dancing and vocal skills. Whenever he has time, he practices.

JiYong and I
This year, G-Dragon and TaeYang took turns to promote their solo releases as in a relay race. It must have been a happy year for the Big Bang fans. Having been together ever since they first joined YGE 13 years ago, the two are best buddies but they can’t be more different. What does TaeYang think of G-Dragon?

TaeYang: “We’ve come to know our differences very well. JiYong absorbs new things very quickly and has the presence of an icon. He constantly reinvents himself and has a glamorous image in fashion as well as in music. Compared to him, I’m a bit simpler. The fact that the people who became fans of my music early on continue to listen to and love my music is what I’m most proud of.”

Any plans to act?
Watching Top and SR acting in films/TV series, I was suddenly reminded that TaeYang used to be a child actor. It is a well known fact that he’s solely committed to music and I knew that it could be a rather irrelevant question but just went ahead and asked if he had any plans to act in the future.

TaeYang: “I became a child actor because my mum wanted me to and I remember I didn’t particularly like it. That led me to decide that I wouldn’t want to act again. But that was before. I’m not saying that I will definitely act again. I might want to act again if I come across something that has to do with music, like “Dreamgirls,” and something that makes me feel that it’s going to be really great.”

A worrywart
TaeYang is a 21-year old young man. At that age, you’re supposed to feel like the whole world is yours. He has a sunny side of course but you get the impression that he is on the more serious and thoughtful side.

With a cute eye smile, TaeYang says, “I worry too much and am overly serious. It’s not that I don’t have a fun-loving side. I love to laugh and joke around and am as up for pranks as the next guy but I am simply too busy and have too much to do. When I’m having fun, I tend to lose track of what I’m supposed to be doing. People tell me I should loosen up a little but when I think about the things I need to do, I just can’t.”

Where does he put all his time and energy? Music, of course. He gets energized when he goes out on stage. When he focuses on something, he tends to give it his undivided attention. At the moment, he is crazy about music and wants to focus on music.

A girlfriend? Let’s have a look.
When he released Where U At, the fact that he’s never had a girlfriend got a lot of media attention. As you can tell from the title, the song is about a man longing to encounter the woman he is destined to be with. Well, there are only a few days left until the new year, so we’d better start looking next year.

When asked what type of woman he is looking for, he stresses that he doesn’t think looks are important. He says, “I like women who can take good care of themselves, are in control of their lives and understand their strengths. And I like a good listener. I don’t mind age difference up to 10 years.”

My dreams
When asked what he does when he doesn’t practice, he says he watches movies or read comic books. He strongly recommends the “One Piece” series, saying it’s a masterpiece that vividly depicts the dreams, friendship and romance of the youth.

TaeYang still has many dreams. He says: “Although I realized the dream of becoming a singer, I’m still driven by my dream to become an influential artist who touches people’s hearts with good music. I believe that good music can change people and the world. I want to bring my future albums closer to perfection. I don’t want them to be sensational. I want them to reflect my life experiences and love in a truthful manner. I also dream of great performances and becoming a great dad someday.”

Having more to offer than what he has shown us so far, TaeYang works hard to become better than he is today. I expect TaeYang, with his sight firmly set on his goal, drawing strength from his passion and seriousness, to overcome any difficulty or ordeal that comes his way with his willpower and become a luminous star that shines most brilliantly.

Credits: AlwaysTaeyang
Translated by: pgeorgie@AlwaysTaeYang

Taeyang's different expressions on SBS Strong Heart! <33






credits: bigbangupdates

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

SBS Strong Heart [english subbed]!!! :)

YB and Dae's SBS Strong Heart~~
1/5, 2/5, 3/5






credits: iBigBangSubs
Enjoy! =3

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Aoyama Thelma ft. Taeyang - Fall in love full MV!! :D



watch it, and if you love it, download it with savevid.com
Enjoy! <3<3

Saturday, January 9, 2010

More of Big Bang FILA!! >w<



G-dragon



Daesung




TOP



Taeyang



Seungri



credits: alee@ibigbang.wordpress.com