According to the BBC, South Korean group Big Bang performed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday as part of their 20th anniversary world tour, with members G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung appearing on stage.
The BBC reported the near-capacity crowd greeted the band with a “sea of glowing yellow crowns” and coordinated chants, and that the show relied on pyrotechnics, a live band and reworked versions of classic tracks to account for absent members. The article described the night as a long-awaited reunion for fans and a moment that recalled the group’s early role in taking K-pop beyond Asia. (BBC)
Big Bang’s place in K-pop history, according to the BBC
The BBC said Big Bang helped prove K-pop could succeed in Western markets years before acts such as BTS and Blackpink. It reported that in 2011 Big Bang won the newly created Worldwide Act prize at the MTV Europe Music Awards, and that their December 2012 European debut at Wembley Arena sold out so quickly a second show was added. (BBC)
The article quoted Dr Haekyung Um, senior lecturer in music at the University of Liverpool, saying, “When it comes to the global market for K-pop, there is no doubt Big Bang made a huge contribution.” The BBC also cited a 2016 Forbes estimate that Big Bang earned $44m over the previous year. (BBC)
Fan culture and the Bang Bong
BBC coverage highlighted the group’s influence on fan merchandise and concert rituals. It reported that the band’s crown-shaped lightstick, known as the Bang Bong and proposed by leader G-Dragon, set a template for custom-designed fandom lightsticks now common across K-pop shows. The BBC also said volunteer fan groups handed out roughly 35,000 custom-printed banners to coordinate crowd displays. (BBC)
The BBC quoted a fan named Sharon, visiting from Singapore: “They were different because they didn’t follow the uniform K-pop cookie-cutter pretty boy phase. They went harder on their music, a bit more hip-hop. They did what they had to do, and they are the absolute OGs for me.” (BBC)
Hiatus, service and scandals
The BBC noted the group’s path has not been without problems. It reported that members served mandatory military service at different times, and that former member T.O.P was convicted of marijuana use in 2017 and received a suspended sentence while serving military duty. The article added that Seungri permanently retired from the industry in 2019. (BBC)
For this London show, the BBC said the trio relied on stagecraft and fan engagement more than elaborate staging, producing a performance the outlet described as celebratory, grounded and playful. (BBC)
Featured image: KBS VIEW via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
Leave a comment