Big Bang aims big in Japan

[baka-tenshi.livejournal.com]

The popular Korean dance and vocal group Big Bang arrived in Japan at Haneda Airport on Wednesday morning. Hundreds of fans and reporters awaited their arrival.

The five-member group, considered one of the top acts in Korea, will release their first major label single in Japan next month. Titled "MY HEAVEN," the song goes on sale June 24th from Universal Music.

The band has already released three indie label albums in Japan, and last October they drew a total of 20,000 fans to their concert tour. They already plan to follow up the single with a second one on July 8. During the press conference held on Wednesday, they declared their intention to appear at NHK's annual Kohaku Uta Gassen, like fellow Korean group TVXQ did last year. (source)

man. it must rock living in japan. :(

Comments

[off-road-ninjas.livejournal.com]

Is it bad if I don't want Big Bang to go to Japan? I'm a pretty new fan, and I think they'll get lost over there like DBSK did for a while...

[jia-zhang.livejournal.com]

I highly doubt it. Japanese society and hip-hop culture have never been very good friends. Japan has always been pop and rock oriented, and hip-hop, especially rap, has never really found a home. Rather, never found a successful home. Though, over all, it is easier to sell music in Japan compared to Korea. Artists sell records far easier.

I, too, don't want BB to go to Japan. >_>; BB and Japan just don't quite...fit. And considering they can't rap in Japanese yet?, I just can't see them doing splendidly.

[off-road-ninjas.livejournal.com]

I think I read somewhere that because of the way Japanese works (whether it was through grammar or pronunciation, idk) rapping doesn't really sound very good in that language. Plus, like you said, they can't even speak Japanese!

I think YG just foisted BB onto Japan because they are too busy with 2NE1 in Korea.

[jia-zhang.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what I heard. I think it was said by a Japanese language professor from Todai or something. But the language and rap is really difficult, unless you go all haiku, but I don't think BB can do that. Their Japanese is pretty appalling right now.

It's easy to make money in music in Japan. CDs and singles sell better and easier, that's probably why YG thrusted BB towards Japan, hoping they'd do well as DBSK has. I don't think Universal will really focus too much on them, because why the Japanese like their "different" people, they like "different" as in rock, and are really traditional when it comes to everything else. I just don't see Big Bang getting very high on Oricon--and historically, NO hip-hop group, even Japanese ones (like m-flo and Home Made Kazoku, but even with m-flo, considered the kings of hip-hop in Japan, it's only with a slew of other artists like Crystal Kay and YOSHIKA that they got a number one on Oricon).

I mean, if YG wants Big Bang to do as well as DBSK will be hard, especially considering the boys currently have some kind of weird support from Avex and Max Matsuura that only Ayu has ever gotten.

*shakes head* God, I wish they would just release music back in Korea. And a better LP at that.

[off-road-ninjas.livejournal.com]

I don't really know anything about the Japanese music industry, so I'm sure you are right... And that's sad and disappointing. I'm already kind of embarrassed when I listen to BB speaking/singing in English, and they have a little more experience with that language! I'm not sure I'm going to be able to listen to their fail!Japanese. Which doesn't bode well for me if they plan to spend a long time in Japan!

It's kind of bizarre, but I feel protective of BB, and don't want them to fail, which is kind of likely. I'm probably overreacting, but what with all the promotion and GD's collabo with w-inds, it seems like YG is planning on having them over there for a while.

[jia-zhang.livejournal.com]

Japan very rock-esque influence because of the British used to test their bands out there in the Japanese industry before debuting them in the States. And their rock fans are really hard core to the point where they'd shame Korean fans with their fanaticism and die-hard loyalty.

>_>; Yeah, they're Japanese makes me so anxious it's retarded. I rather listen to them in Engrish. Their accent is really, really thick.

GD's whole thing with w-inds is SO weird. O_O; W-inds and hip-hop...oh, god, just no. I used to listen to them back in the day when Keita still was short and sounded like a girl, so this whole duet thing is soooo awkward for me. I like BB, I do, but seriously, GD needs to stop rapping in English unless he knows the language. Fauxglish annoys me.

[off-road-ninjas.livejournal.com]

Oooh! I didn't know that the British used to introduce bands in Japan. That's really interesting. I knew that Japan had a huge rock fanbase, but I hadn't guessed the extent of it. What do you mean by fanaticism (I want examples!)?

I've always had issues with hearing idols speaking a language that they pretty obviously don't understand. It can be funny sometimes, but other times, when they are making a sincere effort, it can be uncomfortable. It took me FOREVER to listen to BB's "English" album because I was so sure it would sound terrible. I didn't find it that bad actually, and some of songs are pretty good, but I still think they sound way better in Korean.

I don't know w-inds too well, but to be honest, I haven't even listened to that song yet. And I'm not sure if I am going to.

Agree with you on Fauxglish, though I think GD mostly understands it. How did that become the trend in practically every single kpop song?!?

[jia-zhang.livejournal.com]

Yeah. The Japanese love them their Brit music, hence all the adoration for Vivienne Westwood. The rockers of Japan are so retardedly secretive about their lives, especially their love lives, because they kind of, in a way, can't even get married if their fans know about it. Like Gackt, for instance, no one even knows his real name or age. The epic j-rock band, X-Japan...their fans went ballistic when the members got married. If you think groups like DBSK gots it bad with the Cassies...yikes! They are nothing compared to J-rockers' fans.

The w-inds x GD duet is...awkward. At least for me. w-inds will always be like DBSK's "HUG" era to me. Not...this.

I used to be amazed at the annunciation, but after a while, I really started questioning how much they understood. I dunno how much GD understands, but I don't think it would be a lot, since Teddy and other producers compose the large portion of their tracks. (Like Teddy, for example)

I wish they'd stop with the Fauxglish, unless they were like Alex from Clazziqua, or Tablo, or Tim or Brian--all native speakers because they were either a) born in an English speaking country, or 2) lived there a really, really long time.

[off-road-ninjas.livejournal.com]

That's really strange about Gackt. Are the Japanese stalkers not up to par? No one went to school with him or something? Ha, just kidding. Just seriously, wow. I like hearing stories about crazy fans because, seriously, I can never imagine getting that invested in a group. I don't think I'd care even a little bit if any of the people I'm a fan of dated or got married.

As for the English... Most of the stuff that BB sings is really basic- stuff they could pick up merely from listening to a lot of English songs-, so I think they get the jist of what they are saying, especially when it's just a short phrase or two. When looking at their entirely English songs though, you are probably right about the lack of comprehension.

Something I always found really funny (in both an amusing and embarrassing way) was when Yoochun or Kibum or someone was introduced as an English speaker and then asked to speak... and it was basically gibberish. And then they put it in their songs. Seriously, why don't some of those groups consult an English speaker to check grammar and things?

[fashionbang.livejournal.com]

lol half of kpop should get people to edit their lyrics DX

[rencode.livejournal.com]

lolwut? No set of fans are as bad as Cassies or ELF's. NO SET. xD

J-rock fangirls are bad but they aren't nearly as insane or butthurt as the former fanclubs mentioned.

And about Gackt...I don't know his real name but he's nearing 41. LOL.

[fashionbang.livejournal.com]

yeah. m-flo's verbal talked about that in an interview once. rapping isn't really made for the japanese language, at least not rap's usual type of sound..

[baka-tenshi.livejournal.com]

if anything, they'll probably win them over with techno beetz.

[kanaala.livejournal.com]

mte ~ it's pretty much impossible... BB should know their place..LOL..
oh well it's a lesson learned XD

[rencode.livejournal.com]

It's not REALLY impossible. They CAN do it, but they are going to have to work extra, extra hard to be successful in Japan.

Gain a better understanding of Japanese, create songs that are appealing to the Japanese and promote, promote, PROMOTE.

[kanaala.livejournal.com]

yeah, alright that might be true^^~ but it'll take lots of effort and especially lots of time.. it also took DBSK years to get where they are now in Japan~

[rencode.livejournal.com]

Mhm. That's right. If they really want it, that's what it's gonna take.

[kanaala.livejournal.com]

they can't just think that they can go on this year's Kouhaku that easily ..lol..

[rencode.livejournal.com]

Lmao! I don't quite think they meant this year's Kohaku. If they did, they need a big dose of reality check.

[kanaala.livejournal.com]

lol, i thought they are aiming for this year's kouhaku but maybe i got it wrong.. anyway, they made it sound kinda easy to achieve x__X

[topisatop.livejournal.com]

taeyang is gonna dance them into submission

[edgirl-12.livejournal.com]

I'm excited for them to be in Japan, i think there comes a time when a group needs to expand to other audiences. We'll see what happens in terms of popularity but at least they're going to really try.

[no-genre.livejournal.com]

why oh why is everyone going to japan?
like i said on the preview of the heaven mv
they sound really jpopish & their vid gives a jpop feel too
they should leave jpop to dbsk, that style doesn't suit them :O
should just stay in korea <----music is better


oh and i think they should've done it in eng not jap (for heaven) at least we can understand them better
and dont sound ackward