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2.2 Asian tour mobilises 1.5 million people

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2.2 Asian tour mobilises 1.5 million people

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With the release of their long-awaited " MADE" album last December and T.O.P enlisting just a few weeks ago, it's perhaps safe to say that BIGBANG's "MADE" era has come to an end after nearly two years.

From their mega successful tours to the release of numerous hit singles, it goes without saying that BIGBANG had a massively successful period from the start of the "MADE" era in 2015 until its end in 2017.

But just how successful was it?

BIGBANG held a number of tours for MADE, each of which were ranked among the most successful in K-pop history:

Their 2015-16 MADE World Tourdrew in over 1.5 million fans, making it the largest tour by any Korean artist.

Their 2016 MADE V.I.P Tour was the most attended tour by a foreign act of all time in China.

Their 2016 concerts generated crazy amounts of revenue and drew in record crowds.

While BIGBANG made a huge splash with their MADE world tours, they were also wildly successful at the various awards shows that were held from 2015 to 2017. From Korean music shows to prestigious music awards shows, BIGBANG won a whopping 98 trophies - including some of our own SBS PopAsia trophies - across the various events.

WOW!

BIGBANG may be in their 11th year and are about to enlist in the military, but it appears that the boys are more popular than ever!

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How successful was BIGBANG's 'MADE' era?

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With the release of their long-awaited "MADE" album last December and T.O.P enlisting just a few weeks ago, it's perhaps safe to say that BIGBANG's "MADE" era has come to an end after nearly two years.

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The new single 'Still Life' released this year has 75.4 million views on YouTube so far, which shows that BIGBANG is still doing very well, although his style has gradually shifted from hip-hop fast tempo to soothing R&B.

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By browsing through GD's instagram, it is easy to see that the social platform has become a space for him to share his fashion and artistic creations. He tries to construct an image of fashion and art to people.

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A post shared by 권지용(權志龍) (@xxxibgdrgn)

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5. Critical thinking about 'being myself'

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5. Critical thinking about 'being myself'

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In this documentary, GD gives viewers a glimpse of himself behind the scenes. He mentions that fashion and graffiti are just his hobbies, a different side of himself from his stage performances. In fact, despite GD's emphasis on "being himself" and "authenticity", fans still cannot know everything about their idol

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Kwon Ji Yong (권지용) Act III: Motte - Official Documentary

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Nowadays, small daisy elements are often found on GD's fashion items and clothes, a symbol of his fashion and art.

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A post shared by 권지용(權志龍) (@xxxibgdrgn)

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The little daisy has become GD's unique fashion symbol

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In 2020, GD collaborated with Nike to release the first pair of co-branded sneakers, which he designed and painted himself. This promotional video showcased GD's design inspiration and philosophy, conveying his fresh take on fashion and art. The feedback from the public has been overwhelming (see above).

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The song 'BAE BAE', written and composed by GD, is full of sex symbols of male and female promiscuity. It reflects the fact that his perception of gender is diverse and queer, not just judging him as gay or straight.

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4. Research suggests that GD creates an androgynous image

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4. Research suggests that GD creates an androgynous image

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Nevertheless, this article, after a series of content analyses of GD, suggests that he is not only feminine, but that he also retains his masculinity, thus achieving a state of androgynous balance. This has been described as a hybrid masculinities unique to K-Pop idols.

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Not only does he appear to do so in magazines, but these photos also show that GD seems to prefer women's clothing in private. As a result, people often question his gender perception and sexual orientation.

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Long hair, jewellery and clothing, backless ......GD has similarly shown feminine beauty and sensuality on several subsequent covers.

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3. Celebrity economy drives fan consumption

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3. Celebrity economy drives fan consumption

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This report shows that the Nike co-branded shoes created by GD himself sold out as soon as they were launched worldwide. This demonstrates to a large extent the economic impact of celebrity on the brand. This appeal further confirms the image of GD heartthrob and his status as a fashionista.

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G-Dragon's second collaboration with Nike sold out in a matter of minutes after the release on Nike's Official website in over 40 countries around the world, causing Nike's website to crash due to the heavy traffic!

It isn't surprising at all, it's the second time this happened, a year ago (November 2019) G-Dragon released his first collaboration with Nike, and it sold out worldwide in a few minutes. Showing his power never slowed down!

The Para-Noise 2.0 shoes sold-out so fast, in China it sold out in seconds, making his name trending on Weibo with over 330 Million views in 13 hours (comparing to last year it was viewed a total of 150 Million times in a full day). In the United States & Canada it took only 6 minutes to sell-out, in Italy it sold out in few seconds, 11 minutes in the Philippines. In total it only took 20 minutes for the shoes to sell-out completely worldwide and in total 42 available countries from east to west. Other countries had the website crash down till this moment, so their numbers are still aren't available.

G-Dragon also made a release event for the collaboration, where he talked about making music, his thoughts on his Nike shoes, and how he wishes 2021 will bring happiness to all people around the world.

He also talked about the new design reflects on his belief in the freedom of self-expression and the exchange of creative ideas. And when asked about his wish in 2021 he said " I hope the world becomes healthier. I think that's what everyone wants right now," as well we all wish the same thing.

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G-Dragon's second collaboration with Nike sells out in minutes and crashes the Nike website

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G-Dragon's second collaboration with Nike sold out in a matter of minutes after the release on Nike's Official website in over 40 countries around the world, causing Nike's website to crash due to the heavy traffic!

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By the way, this lightsticks was designed by GD and is the first special looking one in the history of K-Pop. It was designed as a crown to herald the significance of a king. Usually, fans wave the lightsticks at concerts to create a sea of light and thus support their idols. This is enough to be seen as a representation of GD being called heartthrob

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This short video shows fans re-cutting clips from GD's concerts and posting them on TikTok to gain more attention. They have become "text poachers", promoting GD's star image in this way.

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5.3K Likes, 62 Comments. TikTok video from Ash (@hansegenre): "Probably my favourite hair colour on him 😍 #gdragon #kwonjiyong #bigbang #vip #edit #multifandom #fyp". Purple Lamborghini.

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This music video is different from others in that it can be seen as a work done by fans and GD together. The fans are holding lightsticks and surrounding GD with cameras and screams. They showed an almost crazy fascination for GD.

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In 2016, GD's personal fashion brand PEACEMINUSONE was officially launched, releasing a series of simple black and white based hats, T-shirts, hoodies and other items. Further confirming GD's identity as a fashionista.

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PEACEMINUSONE. CEO.DAMI KWON 17-6, DOSAN-DAERO 90-GIL, GANGNAM-GU, SEOUL, REPUBLIC OF KOREA.

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1. Begins to appear in the fashion world

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1. Begins to appear in the fashion world

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He was favoured by CHANEL's Artistic Director Karl Lagerfeld due to his androgynous dressing style and behaviour, and in 2015, he was the only Asian invitee to attend Chanel's F/W Haute Couture show. Since then, he has been frequently invited to attend various fashion shows. Fashion has become his new image.

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PARIS - The latest stage of the Asian invasion of the Paris couture season occurred at the Chanel show, held at the Grand Palais on Tuesday morning.

While the creative director Karl Lagerfeld's muses remained out in force (the model and actress Cara Delevingne with her puppy Leo and the actresses Diane Kruger and Clémence Poésy), the star attraction proved to be G-Dragon, a South Korean pop star-turned-rapper and aspiring fashion entrepreneur who set Twitter alight with his naval-captain-inspired Chanel couture suit, flawless foundation and gigantic black fur hat.

A former teenage sensation and leader of the K-Pop boyband Big Bang, G-Dragon (whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong) has been a front-row fixture at recent Chanel shows the world over, from Dallas to Paris. His chameleon style, kaleidoscopic hair shades and catchy songs have won him an army of fans in the millions in Asia, especially in his home country. (This no doubt explains part of his appeal for Chanel, who has identified South Korea as a leading luxury growth market.)

"Of course I wanted to come to the couture shows again, it is an amazing spectacle," he said after the models had left the runway. "Since getting to know Karl, I have learned a huge amount from him and his work. I also like that he is a man whose image is incredibly distinctive - you hear his name and you can picture him immediately in your mind. I find that very inspiring."

G-Dragon, who said he has made several investments in Asian fashion companies in recent months, emphasized that, while he had aspirations for the fashion world, they did not involve being a designer. "I would only create clothes myself if I felt I could do something really different - create a new style subculture for my generation and that is very ambitious," he said. "What is more interesting to me is how all my worlds appear to be colliding at the moment - music, film, fashion and art - you can be one man, but be a force that combines all of those sectors together. There are business opportunities to be found within that."

On previous visits to Paris, G-Dragon said, he had focused on shopping, but this time he planned to go to art galleries. "I now know that inspirations must come from everywhere," he said, tilting his head toward Chanel's artificial bright blue sky, part of the show set. "The sights you can find here in Paris are second to none."

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G-Dragon in Paris, Another Appearance on Chanel's Front Row (Published 2016)

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PARIS - The latest stage of the Asian invasion of the Paris couture season occurred at the Chanel show, held at the Grand Palais on Tuesday morning.

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Compared to the mv, GD shows sexual innuendo and heterosexuality more directly through his collaboration with female dancers. At this point, he is more characterised by male hegemony.

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Breathe [Eng sub] - G-DRAGON live 2009 Shine A Light concert

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It was his first time on Vogue Korea and it sparked a lot of controversy. In the photo he is wearing heavy eye make-up, a dress and high heels. These were considered to be "feminine features"

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Heartbreaker, GD's first solo album released in 2009, was the beginning of his image transformation in front of the audience. In the MV, he dyed his hair blonde, put on smokey eyes, and wore a women's red jacket and lace top, showing off his personality and unrestrainedness while initially showing off his feminine beauty.

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Billboard rated the song as the pinnacle of BIGBANG's artistry to date.

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Moving at lightning speed with a new group here and a new hit song there, the K-pop world isn't built for longevity. But the industry has changed over the past few years and acts are maintaining their popularity longer than ever. Among the groups looking to keep the music playing, no act has enthralled the Korean music world in the past decade quite like BIGBANG. Since their first performance in Seoul on August 19, 2006, the quintet has led K-pop with a dominating style of music that surpasses genre boundaries to formulate BIGBANG's unique style.

See latest videos, charts and news

After initially pursuing a hip-pop and R&B-inspired sound, the group has paved a path filled with experimental bangers and melancholic, reflective ballads. Fronted by the fashion forward singer-songwriter G-Dragon, BIGBANG has become one of the most recognizable Asian acts around the globe through their work together as well as the different sides of their musical selves displayed on individual and unit releases. Individually, the five members - G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang, Daesung,and Seungri - have built their own careers: all of the members have released solo albums, several have joined together to form subunits, and many have pursued acting and other art forms. But, as many fans (known as VIPs) will tell you, BIGBANG is at its best when all together. Their latest, last year's MADE album, featured some of the highest charting and best-selling songs in Korea in 2015.
BIGBANG Ties Psy For Most No. 1s on World Digital Songs Chart
Over the years, BIGBANG's come out with tracks that have overrun the K-pop fanbase both in South Korea and overseas. We've winnowed down their expanse of singles to pick the top 10 to celebrate the anniversary.
10. "Tonight"
Electropop songs were already BIGBANG's thing in 2011 by the time they dropped "Tonight," but the single was more nuanced and sophisticated than many of their previous club anthems. Word painting at its finest, "Tonight" is a four-minute sonic journey to one of BIGBANG's concerts. Fist-pumping beats and applause are layered under the building, heavily autotuned vocals before coming to a conclusion with sudden silence and then picking up again as if returning for an encore.
9. "Bang Bang Bang"
The best-selling single in South Korea in 2015, "Bang Bang Bang" is a thumping power anthem that built off of the group's highly successful 2012 single "Fantastic Baby." Like the earlier song, "Bang Bang Bang" has its EDM moments as it picks up in speed with each member's verse before slowing it down with G-Dragon's transition into trap and the pulsating chorus that leads to its shift into full-blown banger. Needless to say, the song peaked at no. 1 on the World Digital Song Chart.
8. "Last Farewell"
Step aside for the kings of K-pop. At least, that was what BIGBANG was going for in 2007. Hot off the success of "Lie," the quintet followed up with a similarly styled dance song that was a bit rowdier as if reveling in their recent rise to fame. Featuring trance and hip-hop elements, "Last Farewell" is one of the group's early bangers that's still a fan favorite. The song was extraordinarily popular in South Korea, where it topped music charts for two months thanks to its feel-good vibes. Almost a decade later it still hits the right notes to get everyone's hands up.
7. "Let's Not Fall In Love"
The bittersweet "Let's Not Fall In Love" is one of the group's most recent songs and, accordingly, one of the most impressive. Keeping with their classic sentimental dance sound, the midtempo tune became BIGBANG's third no. 1 on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart. From rapper T.O.P anachronistically introducing the track with a sentimental verse to the composition shunning a clearly defined chorus, "Let's Not Fall In Love" is an alternative to the group's typical song composition and a display of BIGBANG's versatility after nearly a decade on top.
6. "Loser"
With a lilting R&B tune, BIGBANG returned to the Korean music scene after three years away with "Loser," the first song from last year's MADE series. Unlike the majority of BIGBANG singles, which typically fall safely in the love song category, "Loser" is one of the group's most introspective efforts while highlighting the feelings of doubt and unhappiness that accompany the everyday life of a self-proclaimed loser. Cathartic in its misery, "Loser" is one of the most earnest songs that BIGBANG's ever released. It also became one of the most popular of 2015, topping the World Album Chart for a time before losing its spot to other songs from the MADE series.
5. "Love Song"
While typically veering towards heavily produced electronic dance tracks, "Love Song" is a standout tune in BIGBANG's discography because of its heavy use of rock. The first single of its kind in the group's repertoire, the ballad utilizes building strings and overlapping vocals to create an uplifting tone despite the otherwise depressing lyrics. Like the more recently released "Let's Not Fall In Love," "Love Song" also differentiates itself from BIGBANG's typical sound by having T.O.P start things off with a reverberating verse backed by electric guitar. At the time of its release, G-Dragon expressed that the rock elements were BIGBANG's attempt at creating a warmer, more familiar sound for listeners to seek comfort in rather than the more exhilarating electronic style the band typically favors.
4. "Bad Boy"
The group's 2012 Alive album and the repackage Still Alive, which included "Bad Boy, "Blue," "Fantastic Baby" and "Monster," is objectively one of the group's best eras and each song is iconic in its own way. But "Bad Boy" stands out from the others by being the epitome of BIGBANG's unique brand of evocative hip-hop. With it's mellow raps and airy flow the song is a creeping earworm that hits all the right notes without much apparent effort and was an early adopter of the tropical elements so common in Korean hip-hop nowadays.
3. "Lies"
There's never been a more recognizable dial tone in Korean history as the one in the start of "Lies." The 2007 hip-pop song was the first hit from the quintet, which had previously edged away from pop to rely more heavily on typical rap and R&B sounds. The thumping chorus and rhymes, especially T.O.P's hyperactive rap halfway through the song, paired with the delicate vocals won over South Korea and was one of the year's most memorable songs.
2. "Fantastic Baby"
It would, arguably, be enough to say "Wow!" and end this blurb here. Even though it's in second place, "Fantastic Baby" was the first song to cross international boundaries with it's then-groundbreaking EDM style.The party track contains some of the group's most recognizable lines ,"Wow. Fantastic baby" and "Boomshakalaka!" in particular, and remains a highlight of BIGBANG's repertoire at any concert. Whereas the group's latest attempt to recreate the fun of "Fantastic Baby," last year's "Bang Bang Bang," isn't quite up to par, the 2012 hit is nothing short of fantastic.
1. "Haru Haru"
While "Lies" rocketed the group to fame the year before, it was "Haru Haru" that made the quintet what it is today with its display of BIGBANG's capacity for both emotive melodies and building dance songs. Heart-wrenching music video aside, the G-Dragon co-written "Haru Haru" ("Day By Day" in English) is the peak of BIGBANG's artistry to this day. Through the expressiveness of the member's voices and the overall composition, the song was a breakout hit in 2008 and one of the best-selling Korean songs ever at the time.

Weaving in and out of tempos seamlessly and forcing a sense of anxiety on the listener through the beating undercurrent, "Haru Haru" is an experiential masterpiece. The song begins simply enough with a piano tune and breathy vocals until T.O.P's deep bass rap explodes to transform it into a hip-hop ballad like none other. G-Dragon and T.O.P's contrasting rap tones play off one another to offer a sharp change from the passionate vocals of Daesung, Taeyang, and Seungri, while the orchestral accompaniment draws the whole thing to a symphonic peak. Nearly ten years after its release, "Haru Haru" is still the epitome of BIGBANG's sound.

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Happy 10-Year Anniversary, BIGBANG! 10 Must-Listen Songs from the Boy Band

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Moving at lightning speed with a new group here and a new hit song there, the K-pop world isn't built for longevity. But the industry has changed over the past few years and acts are maintaining their popularity longer than ever.

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After 'Lie' and 'Last Farewell', the song 'Haru Haru' brought unprecedented success to the group. These three songs with very different styles became the signature of GD's early work, making him regarded as a talented composer.

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In November of the same year, the song "Last Farewell", written and composed by GD, propelled BIGBANG to the top of the Korean mainstream music charts for eight consecutive weeks.

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On 19 August 2006, GD debuted as a member and leader of the Korean entertainment company YG's male singing group bigbang. In the second year of their debut, BIGBANG released their first mini album "Always". The lead single "Lie", which was composed by GD himself, took Korea by storm with its powerful rhythm and rebellious hip-hop style, and reached number one on the Korean music show Inkigayo.

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Born in 1988, G-DRAGON (hereinafter referred to as GD) has been interested in hip-hop music since he was a child and was hooked on the American hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. He started his career in the sixth grade when he was selected and became a trainee for the Korean entertainment company YG.