260820 BIGBANG | A name that connects to the past but does not dwell in it
Source: https://www.ize.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=80015
A New Chapter Opened with 'BiiiG,' the First Official Song as a Trio:
The Essence of Big Bang Preserved by G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung
In the K-pop scene, 20 years is a period that is difficult to explain simply as a celebration. Singers who once sang of youth suddenly become veterans, and music once considered fresh becomes outdated. In the idol industry, where countless teams are born and disappear, maintaining the same name for 20 years is rare in itself.
BIGBANG's 20 years are even more complex. While they changed the course of K-pop with numerous hit songs such as "Lie," "Haru Haru," "Fantastic Baby," and "Bang Bang Bang," they also endured controversies, member departures, and long hiatuses. Whenever the group's structure changed, questions arose about whether they could continue to maintain the name Big Bang. Nevertheless, whenever a new song was released, the public pressed the play button again, and when the three stood on stage, the audience sang along loudly. "BIG", released by G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung, on the day of their 20th debut anniversary, is the first official answer offered by the transformed Big Bang. Although the trio first showcased their chemistry through G-Dragon's 'HOME SWEET HOME' two years ago, this is the first official song released under the name Big Bang. It marks a starting point that fully captures how the three will carry on Big Bang's legacy following T.O.P's departure.
What is interesting is that they did not try to forcibly fill the void left by the departed members. Instead of attempting to recreate the balance of the past by adding other voices, they broaden the strengths of the three members. From the very first hook, which directly calls out the current members "BB G, Tae, Daesung," their attitude of accepting the current Big Bang just as they are is clear.
Big Bang was not a perfectly aligned team from the start. The members differed in everything from vocal timbres and musical tastes to fashion and stage presence. While typical idol groups emphasized a unified image and sharp synergy, Big Bang maximized their individual personalities and then made those differences clash on a single stage. They demonstrated that five people can become one team even if they do not wear the same clothes or sing in the same way.
The lyric "We play separately together" from "BiiiG" accurately captures this aspect of Big Bang's character. Their strength lies not in resembling one another, but in the ability to veer off in different directions while generating the same energy at decisive moments. This has not changed even now that they are a trio. It was the same at Coachella last April. G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung each played their own separate roles with hip-hop, R&B, and trot, but they reunited as Big Bang to create a massive show.
G-Dragon remains the key figure in BIGBANG's music. In "BiiiG," he participated in both songwriting and composition, expressing the team's 20-year history through wordplay and bold self-aggrandizement. The audacity to weave Salvador Dali and Muhammad Ali into a single rhyme and call themselves "Cosmic Ambassadors" is an attitude that has long dominated his music.
While he pours out words and images that sometimes feel excessive, G-Dragon is someone who turns that excess into his own style. Rather than calmly explaining meaning, his lyrics unleash sounds, pronunciations, and associated images all at once. Expressions that would come across as mere bravado when sung by others become cool when they meet his voice.
Taeyang holds onto that dazzling and explosive energy, preventing it from scattering outside the music. His vocals, full of groove, and his stable singing honed over a long period, create the core of the song. Even over a strong beat, he does not rely solely on brute force but rides the rhythm flexibly, naturally connecting the rap and the chorus.
His attitude of maintaining his music and stage presence for 20 years without a single controversy mirrors the role he plays within the team. If Big Bang symbolizes unpredictable free-spiritedness, Taeyang is the solid foundation supporting that freedom to prevent it from collapsing. His presence, built on trust through consistency rather than flashiness, feels even more significant in the three-member Big Bang.
Daesung’s presence has also grown considerably. His powerful high notes and voice, imbued with a rock texture, expand the scale of the song, while his signature cheerful energy transforms the 20th anniversary into a lighthearted celebration. While he previously provided the firepower for the chorus between the two rappers and Taeyang, his role has now expanded to lead and shift the song's mood.
What binds these three distinct individuals together is the chemistry built over a long period. Rather than filling in for someone's shortcomings, they each bring out what they do best at the precise moment. As Taeyang’s fluid vocals flow behind G-Dragon’s sharp rap and Daesung’s refreshing voice opens the chorus, the familiar name Big Bang reappears.
Of course, it is difficult to view "BiiiG" as a groundbreaking new song that completely surpasses the Big Bang of the past. The fresh musical style, individual member personalities, and self-composed song-centered approach that were novel when they first debuted are no longer unfamiliar in K-pop.
However, demonstrating that their unique color still retains its vitality is also a difficult achievement. "BiiiG" does not imitate the Big Bang of the past; instead, it realigns the freedom, individuality, and stage energy that have continued since those days to suit the three members' present. That vitality has been confirmed by the numbers. "BiiiG" went straight to number one on the Melon Top 100 real-time chart immediately upon release. This is an even more surprising display of strength, given that it is rare to see a new song reach the top spot right after its unveiling.
A name that connects to the past but does not dwell there. In this way, Big Bang has begun another present.