He used to be such a captivating performer, and no one ever questioned his live performances. If anything, he was consistently praised every time he stepped on stage. But after returning from a long 7 year hiatus, it’s clear that something has changed. His voice has become noticeably deeper, and he no longer seems to have the stamina or confidence to sing his older songs in full the way he once did.
Aside from being a rapper, GD was never known for having strong vocal technique. His singing worked within his own style, but it was never considered technically sound even by his own admission. The man relied on a raspy approach that was sustainable in his twenties, but that margin seems to have run out. He also was never known for meticulously taking care of his body the way Taeyang or Daesung did. He enjoys drinking, and he’s been a smoker for nearly two decades. On top of all that, the long hiatus from 2017 to 2024 likely contributed to a loss of conditioning and consistency as a live performer.
Most kpop fans who are active online skew very young, and many of them have probably never even seen GD perform in his prime. Now he’s being painted as an old, overrated artist, which honestly makes me sad. Watching his recent concert stages and eoy performances like MAMA and MMA, you can clearly see him struggling to get through his setlist. He sings or delivers a few words here and there, but you rarely see him rapping or singing for extended stretches the way he used to.
They say father time is undefeated but it seems like it arrived too soon for GD. What we’re seeing now feels like just a shell of his former self, compared to how he dominated the stages 10 years ago. I mean, compare his recent MAMA and MMA performances to his 2014 MAMA and 2015 MMA owning the stage without backtrack. They’re two completely different individuals.
I know he’s very aware of the narratives surrounding him, and I’m sure he’ll take steps to better take care of his body and improve moving forward. I’d genuinely love to see the best version of GD return, especially with Coachella coming up next year and the long-awaited Bigbang comeback on the horizon.
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