Episode 84: M.A.D.E.—A Road Not Taken (2008-2010)
This is the third part in a series of episodes on BigBang’s magnum opus: M.A.D.E. I’d had the idea of trying to cover the album the same way I did Winner’s EVERYD4Y and SHINee’s The Story of Light (two other K-Pop masterpieces) but the more I researched, the more I understood that the story of M.A.D.E. is really the story of BigBang and, more broadly, of K-Pop as a genre.
The first episode—The YG Famillenium (1988-2006)—covers the founding of YG Entertainment and the origins of both the early YG Family sound and the origins of some of the characteristics that would define the agency through this early era.
The second episode—Majah Flavah (2006-2008)—covers BigBang’s rookie era through their first big hit, “Lies,” and also includes a discussion on what plagiarism in music actually involves.
This episode covers their first mini-peak in Korea along with the first big push into Japan and the beginnings of their solo careers. Includes discussion of “Haru Haru,” “Sunset Glow,” “Gara Gara Go,” “Strong Baby,” and “Heartbreaker.”
I mention it briefly in the episode but this episode series will not be covering Seungri’s criminal charges and the Burning Sun scandal. If you’re here for the salacious gossip, you may as well close the browser window now. The media coverage of Seungri and Burning Sun has tended more towards sensationalism and less towards, you know, facts, which has not been all that helpful in understanding what actually happened. There is a timeline of events put together by Billboard that is as good a source as any for a look at how the scandal unfolded and Soompi has a fairly dry list of the charges that Seungri was convicted of. Maybe one day I’ll do an episode series on Burning Sun but this series is not it.
This episode discusses both Rain and Se7en, who were very prominent R&B soloists in the proto-K-Pop era. Taeyang’s early solo work was following in the wake of these two titans of Generation 1.5 K-Pop. Both men have been unfairly tagged as “flops” in the current era—if anyone remembers them at all—but the 2007-2008 financial crisis and its long tail are under-discussed as part of the reason why neither Se7en nor Rain managed to establish themselves in the American market, despite some promising interest. I covered Rain’s two big Hollywood films in Episode 76 with Kelly. Also, “Take Control” (feat. Se7en) is a banger.
Se7en would also like to remind us all that he did lightsticks first.
TOP planting a kiss right on Lee Hyori’s lips!
The TVXQ x BigBang rivalry was really a lot of fun; sadly it was cut short when TVXQ imploded (which you can learn about in my TVXQ series). Recently Daesung had ex-TVXQ member Junsu on his YouTube channel and the conversation was a delight. The Junsu x Taeyang piano battle always reminds me of Daffy vs. Donald from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
The afterlife of the Korean adaptation of Boys Over Flowers is nightmare fuel. I wrote a little bit about it here. Kim Hyun-Joong spent years embroiled in a legal battle with an ex-girlfriend who had accused him of assault and forced abortion; he countersued and eventually won.
Part of idol life is doing silly things like going on Young Stars of Trot:
“Sunset Glow” has become the kind of song where if you play it somewhere like a baseball stadium, everyone just sings along—whether it’s Lee Moon Sae’s version or BigBang’s.
Early contributor to BigBang’s electropop turn—Grammy award winning Congolese-Swedish songwriter Mohombi.
Read Tom Breihan’s Number Ones columns on “Just Dance” and “Right Round.”
“Heartbreaker” feat. Flo Rida as the ultimate revenge for the hell G-Dragon went through with the baseless plagiarism accusations. GD would also guest at Flo’s concert in Seoul.
It’s been great to see G-Dragon back in the mix with “Power” and more music to come! G-Dragon is an incredible talent and remains a trend setter to this day. Nobody else can do what he does. Almost 20 years since he officially debuted and young artists are still inspired by his stage persona to this day… they keep trying to knock him down and amazingly he gets back up and keeps going. He’s got the power! The Power Power!
Daesung and Taeyang have also been active and it makes me really happy to see them! As of last year Taeyang was still doing the music show rounds and he also recently held some solo concerts where he was joined on stage by Daesung and G-Dragon. The three also recently united on Daesung’s popular YouTube channel, which you should watch!
The songs played are:
“Gara Gara Go” by BigBang, live at Kyocera Dome, Osaka, December 29, 2016 (you know I gotta play it again right!)
“This is My Year” by Se7en feat. Fabolous (confirmed as real but treated as a leak and never officially released; you can find it floating around on streaming sites.)
“I’m Singing in Korean” by Stephen Colbert, a loving parody of the then-stereotype of Korean pop music.
“Tell Me” by Wonder Girls (watch the super cute MV!)
“Lies” by BigBang (the official MV is a delight!)
“D.I.S.C.O.” by Uhm Jung Hwa, feat. TOP (and you need to watch the MV, directed by Seo Hyun-Seung but the live performances were also incredible)
“Look at me, Gwisun” by Daesung (he would eventually release a Japanese version of the song with an MV; the inspiration for the song is allegedly a woman from a blind date show who picked Seungri over G-Dragon.)
“Only Look At Me” by Taeyang (and the official MV)
“Haru Haru” by BigBang (and the official MV but also check out the (many) live performances, as well as Daesung’s recent karaoke version!)
“Mirotic” by TVXQ (and the official MV but also check out the (many) live performances, as well as Junsu and Jaejoong’s recent version!)
“Heaven” by BigBang
Medley by No Brain and BigBang live on Kim Jung-Eun’s Chocolate
“Kiseki” by GReeeeN (the Official MV)
“One Love” by Arashi (and the Official MV was just posted to YouTube!)
“Just Dance” by Lady Gaga (spin that record babe!)
“Number 1” by BigBang (Official MV)
“Always” by BigBang (live in Osaka, October 29, 2008)
“Wonderful” by BigBang
“Twinkle Twinkle” by BigBang
“Sunset Glow” by Lee Moon Sae (who is a rock star! Check out his live version!)
“Sunset Glow” by BigBang (and the MV but also check out the (many) live performances!)
“Sunset Glow” by BigBang (singalong by a baseball crowd)
“Jinjja” by Dynamic Duo and G-Dragon and TOP (this special stage at the SBS Gayo Daejun, December 29, 2008 is one of my favorite videos; the original “Jinjja” MV by CB Mass; Dynamic Duo are still active and are an offshoot of CB Mass)
“Rainism” by Rain (the official MV and live performances! Just don’t mention the “magic stick!”)
“Strong Baby” by Seungri (the official MV and hover hands live performances! “Strong Baby” became Seungri’s signature song and the vibe becomes so much sleazier as he gets older.)
“Girls” by Se7en feat. Lil Kim (Official MV)
“Lollipop” by BigBang and 2NE1 (Official MV)
“Gee” by Girls Generation (Official MV)
“Emotion” by BigBang
“Gara Gara Go” by BigBang (Official MV—upload this in higher quality already!!! @YGE)
“Heartbreaker” by G-Dragon (Official MV and live performances with the look that launched a thousand K-Pop It Boys)
“A Boy” by G-Dragon (Official MV; this is one of my favorites from GD. I love this song.)
“The Leaders” by G-Dragon, feat. Teddy and CL
“Right Round” by Flo Rida (and it’s still WILD to me that this song was held up as some kind of sacred totem that must not be besmirched)
“Gossip Man” by G-Dragon feat. Kim Gun-Mo
[Flo Rida comments on G-Dragon]
“Wedding Dress” by Taeyang (Official MV and live performances!)
“Cotton Candy” by Daesung