I’ve been a long-term Big Bang fan I got into K-pop and Big Bang in specific when I became a BTS fan back in 2014-15 so I basically got into them once the group was basically falling apart and I have a few thoughts about where they’re at right now.
I think a lot of their marketing strategy is nostalgia bait. They capitalize off of the legacy they’ve made and that’s fair and valid but here’s where I have a couple of issues: GD.
Now, GD used to be one of my favorite male idols, I loved his unique voice and he had a knack for melodies and music unlike no other. However I think he’s genuinely gotten too big a head which is starting to show HEAVY. His live performances are suuuper laid back and he relies on “swag” while the other 2 members dance and sing their ass off. I think he relies way too heavy on his “legacy” as the self proclaimed “king of kpop”. And although I will give him his flowers for paving the way for a lot of things, his demeanour is so…cringe. For a grown man pushing 40, his nonchalant “swag” is painful to watch AND hear considering he just screeches into the mic most of the time. I honestly think he’s destroyed his vocal cords and lost his skills due to his lifestyle and long hiatus. There’s one video of him singing in a studio in front of junior artists who were hyping him up even when he was SO bad they tried to scrub it off the internet altogether. I’m aware Korea treasures him and he’s a lot of people’s youth and they look up to him but I don’t think that’s an excuse to allow yourself to get so absorbed in this narrative that you lose your creative mind. I think his latest work like power, too bad and his new stuff is genuinely such a downgrade. To go from hits like crooked to this is … telling. I noticed this most in the coachella set where he genuinely just rides off of the backtrack, flicking his accessories and clothing and bopping his head instead of actually doing what he needs to do. Because so many fans and people enable his mediocrity he thinks no effort is needed anymore. Now that they’re going on tour I wonder if this will be an entire blackpink/ bts ordeal again where they just stand around and think their presence and occasional screaming to the songs = performance worth paying thousands of dollars for. It’s just super disappointing to see cause he had such a unique singing voice and I doubt that’s ever going to return atp.
Daesung is a good vocalist and he’s a good allrounder performer. But honestly I think all idols should aspire to mature as an artist like Taeyang. Bro has a family, is still in great shape, still vocally skilled, and still dances the hell out of choreography all to give a worthwhile performance. His discography is great and his few collabs have been decently successful. I think GD could actually pick a few points from his buddy because wow. The difference is stark.
tldr: I think bigbang has just become GD and friends and it’s super unfortunate. Also justice for Taeyang.
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