Wednesday, March 14, 2012

[NEWS] K-Pop Hot 100: BIGBANG Is Unstoppable


Debuting at No. 1 last week, with their lead single "Blue," BIGBANG -- as predicted -- has gone on to dominate the top of the chart taking no less than half of the spots of the Top 10 on this week's K-Pop Hot 100 chart.

The excitement around the new EP "Alive" has translated elsewhere debuting at No. 150 on the Billboard 200 from just digital downloads as the music video for "Blue" racking up over 14 million views so far. Capitalizing on these successes, the boys just kicked off their world tour, titled "ALIVE TOUR 2012," in Seoul which drew more than 30,000 fans to the three-day event. BIGBANG will hit 16 different nations and 25 cities in Asia, North and South America, and Europe.

While every track from the EP charted with "Bang," a track featuring only member Daesung, missing the Top 10 at No. 13 and the EP's "Intro (Alive") at No. 19, we look into three singles from the album that landed at the top of the chart.

While "Blue" spends its second week at the top, "Love Dust" shot up to the No. 2 spot, pushing miss A's, "Touch" down to No. 4. "Love Dust" is a collaboration between producer Teddy and BIGBANG member G-Dragon. In this song, they put a rock twist, over the electro-pop, sample-heavy beat to compliment the soothing vocals and rap.

Looking down one spot on the chart one finds "Bad Boy," debuting at No. 3, is a concoction of R&B melodies, hip-hop beats and little bit of jazz piano. The track was produced by G-Dragon and Choice 37, an in-house YG Entertainment producer. In the accompanying video, the boys stride down the streets of Brooklyn while adding in some free-flowing raps and sensual vocals. The members each get their own turn in the spotlight with G-Dragon and TOP's singing/rapping combinations, Taeyang's charismatic tone, and Daesung and Seungri's melting voices all flow well together.

Unlike, "Blue" or "Bad Boy," the next highest charting single, "Fantastic Baby," is a big-time head-banger, with its catchy beats and infectious chorus verse, that is sure to make all types of pop fans happy. With a breakdown that sounds similar to the will.i.am/ Jennifer Lopez/ Mick Jagger collaboration " T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)" and a catchy chorus ("I wanna dan- dan- dan- dan- dance") the song is perhaps the most accessible to American audiences. In the music video, the boys flaunt their over-the-top personalities that made them famous in Korea with some eye-popping outfits, props, and hairpieces.

BIGBANG's big splash on the charts this week is obviously creating waves and a big shake-up in the rankings. Ailee (No. 5 - No. 6), K. Will (4 - 9), John Park (6 - 11), all slipped down the chart. An interesting note does come for the four-week chart topper Lyn, however, who debuts at No. 20 with her new single, "Let it Rain." But for now, BIGBANG rules.

(Additional reporting and editing by Jeff Benjamin, Billboard)

Source: billboard.com

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