Big Bang to release live album

Korean boy band Big Bang will release a live album “Alive Tour in Seoul” on Jan. 10. The group was listed on “The Best Concerts of 2012” by The New York Times, Wednesday. / Korea Times file

By Baek Byung-yeul

K-pop’s Big Bang will release a live album “Alive Tour in Seoul” on Jan. 10. The boy band’s management company YG Entertainment said it is compiled from recordings of three shows in Seoul in March during the first stage of the boy band’s world tour.

The “Alive Galaxy Tour,” started at the Olympic Gymnasium in Olympic Park on March 2, in partnership with the world’s biggest concert promoter, Live Nation Entertainment, and is expected to draw a total audience of 800,000. Big Bang will conclude their 16-nation tour in Osaka, Japan, on Jan. 12 and 13 and Seoul from Jan. 25 to 27.

Big Bang, comprised of T.O.P, Taeyang, Daesung, Seungri, and G-Dragon, reaffirmed its popularity by being listed on “The Best Concerts of 2012” by The New York Times, Wednesday. The paper said “This was the year K-pop arrived.” Korean girl group 2NE1’s show on Aug. 17 and Big Bang concert on Nov. 8, both at the Prudential Center, Newark, were “full of thousands of young, paying fans eager to see the girls of 2NE1 and the boys of Big Bang,” the paper added.

Girl group 2NE1 also reaffirmed its popularity by being chosen as “The Best Concerts of 2012” by The New York Times, Wednesday, along with Big Bang.

On Dec. 14, the group was also chosen for “The 40 Best Albums of 2012” by U.S. music cable channel Fuse TV with their latest album “Alive,” released on Feb. 29. Fuse TV said Big Bang is enjoying worldwide popularity and that “Alive” “blurs the lines between traditional K-pop, dance pop, R&B, and just about every other genre.”

Big Bang also drew 24,000 people when they played in Wembley Arena, London, on Dec. 14 and 15.

The group debuted in 2006 with their first album “Big Bang,” and has released hit singles such as “Lollipop,” “Lies,” “Haru Haru,” “Tonight,” “Blue,” and “Fantastic Baby” to become one of the most recognizable K-pop outfits.

Though there have been issues such as G-Dragon’s marijuana scandal and Daesung’s controversial car accident in 2011, the group has gained popularity, not only in Asia but globally, through each member’s solo singles along with the group’s five albums and seven EPs.