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K-Pop’s Big Bang Enters US iTunes Charts, Performs on Korean TV

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4 comments March 4, 2011
Big Bang Tonight k-pop

UPDATE: Added Big Bang’s live performances of “Somebody to Love,” “What is Right,” and “Tonight” on the Inkigayo show. This is the first time they’ve performed the dance choreography to “Tonight” on-stage. See the clips below:

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Korean all-male pop group Big Bang has been making waves with their comeback EP, Tonight. Released on February 23, Tonight is the first new sound we’ve heard out of the five-man team (G-Dragon, T.O.P., Taeyung, Daesung, and Seungri) in two years. Their 2011 Big Show Concert showcased some of these songs to wild success; Star News reported that the event raked in 43 billion won [K] (equivalent to 33 million US dollars) of revenue! “They’re basically the Backstreet Boys of Korea,” noted 21CB’s South Korean cultural critic Charly Kim — with some disdain, we might add.

But for the most part, the reception has been welcoming in Korea, and similarly echoed stateside, where Tonight became the first K-pop album to ever break into the top 10 on the US iTunes Albums Chart and the only non-English language album in the top 100. Impressive work — and timely, too: just last year, Far East Movement became the first Asian-American group to enter the top 10 on the mainstream pop charts. And of course, there’s also that Asian chart-topper who seems to have now started a trend: British Indian singer Jay Sean — who also released a song titled “Tonight” — was the first artist of Asian descent to reach #1 on the Billboard Top 100.

Anyway, check out the music video to Big Bang’s new lead single “Tonight”:

And what is a music video without its commenters? Here are some reactions collected from YouTube and Youku:

fly2th3sky (youtube.com):

One word. Please come to the US.

BybAgd (youtube.com):

I have so many favorites by them.. I think BIGBANG gives the best combination of voices there ever can be. Tonight is also another great song of them. I like the feeling I get from this song. I feel happy but also sad same time, so great!

Leo413623 (youtube.com):

Lame ass cookie cutter pop songs…

吃些淡淡 (“Eat Light”) (youku.com):

BB are rookies. Bump.

bb是新秀 我顶

lele85726 (youku.com):

Compared to the Black Eyed Peas, they’re just kids!

在Black Eyed Peas面前他们就是一小朋友！

Though some seem to be dismissing Big Bang as some derivative pop group, the mass has spoken. Within four days, “Tonight” has already garnered nearly 2 million views. At this rate, k-pop might just reinvigorate the global economy.

What do you think of Big Bang’s new hit single? Let us know in by commenting below!

(h/t 21CB contributor Tyler Gibson for reminding me of Big Bang!)

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  • Tyler


    Soooooo goood. backstreet boys of korea? whatever, you know you all know the words to “you are my fire”. cookie cutter? maybe so, but really when it comes down to it, who cares? as long as the music makes you feel good.

    • Dtg2007


      ps you’re welcome michael.

  • Laina


    Big bang pleassssssssssssssssssssssssssse come to the us :3

    • http://21cb.net Stephen Suen


      Yeah, Big Bang is definitely an act I’d like to see live. Unfortunately, the group as a whole will be on hiatus until next year—Daesung had a car accident in which a motorcyclist was killed, so he’s taking a break from the entertainment industry until 2012.

      On a lighter note, though, that doesn’t mean that the other members of Big Bang won’t be doing more solo stuff in the meantime.