TaeYang of Big Bang talks about five albums/artists that have influenced and inspired him and the music that makes him want to go up on stage.
Popular Boy Band Big Bang’s Shining Sun, TaeYang’s
"Music That Makes Me Want to Go Up on Stage"
On this edition, a member of Big Bang and a singer with dazzling vocal skills, TaeYang recommends his favorite music.By Kim Pyong
TaeYang’s "Music That Makes Me Want to Go Up on Stage"
Have you ever seen TaeYang (Dong YoungBae) of Big Bang dance? I bet he will almost make you believe that there has never been a dancer before him who was as smooth yet powerful as he is in body movement. Watching him move his perfectly chiseled body to the rhythm of music will remind you of Michael Jackson’s dance moves, evoking a genuine sigh of admiration. And while on the topic of dancing, TaeYang practices dancing for three hours a day while the band is on break, like these days, but the number of practice hours easily exceeds 12 hours a day with the release of a new album approaching. As great a dancer as he is, he is an even better singer. “Asking which one is more important between singing and dancing is like asking which one of your parents you love more, because that depends on what kind of performance you are talking about. The important thing is the music that encompasses all of those things,” says TaeYang. With his first EP “HOT,” which was an amalgam of natural talent and hard work, he won both the Album of the Year and Song of the Year awards in R&B and Soul at the 6th Annual Korean Music Awards, which is famous for their rigorous judging criteria based solely on artistic achievement.
He says, “While Big Bang’s albums are made through collaboration among many people, my solo album is created based on my personal opinions and I felt so proud and honored when I was given the awards. One of the latest global trends in R&B music is using a comprehensive range of instruments. I thought it was about time for a Korean artist to come up with such an album.”
TaeYang’s theme for selection is "the albums that make me want to go up on stage." First on his list is Michael Jackson, who died on June 25, less than a month ago. TaeYang says, “Michael’s music had become even greater consolation as years went by and I was so devastated and sad,” and adds, “He was truly one of the greatest heroes who influence not only music but also stage performances and styles regardless of the times.
The five albums selected are the music that makes TaeYang dance and strengthens his power of expression. He grew up immersed in R&B music. He says, “I want to make R&B music, which is significantly less popular than ballads or dance music, accessible to wider audience.” He also says, “I want to do more R&B music performances to meet audiences more freely and frequently.” Check out TaeYang’s “hotter than the hot summer sun” list of albums – consider it a cool breeze!
TaeYang Wants to Become an “Internationally Recognized Musician” Now a top star, TaeYang says he becomes “more anxious while on break.” His anxiety stems not from the insecurity that he may not able to maintain his popularity but from the legitimate fear that he could miss the chance to be recognized. That is why he practices long hours even while on break and tries to come up with the newest and the most interesting style of music.
One of the things he must do every day is listening to the newest albums before going to bed. He says, “The greatest goal of my life is to become a musician who is internationally recognized like those artists I put on my list.” And that is why he intends to play a more active role in making his solo albums in the future. He plans to release his first full-length album in coming September or October with Teddy producing. When asked to provide more specifics, he says, “It’s too early to say,” and “Doing what I want to do – that’s the correct answer.”
TaeYang appears to be working hard enough with sufficient amount of passion, adding elaborate details to his music, polishing it and making it more beautiful still. Isn’t it enough to make him entitled to be called a great musician?
TaeYang’s First Choice: Michael Jackson’s Thriller 25 Super Deluxe Edition
A commemorative album to celebrate the 25th year anniversary of Michael Jackson’s 1982 “Thriller,” which set many new records. TaeYang says: “People from my generation may not remember it but I remember watching a rerun of his Seoul concert on TV when I was little. I saw a long-haired man dance - he looked half-human and half-robot to me. I was so shocked. I remember sneaking his tape out of my music-loving brother's room to listen to it in my room. He is one of the musicians that have had the greatest influence on me. Both artistically and performance-wise, he is simply the best, and all R&B artists must have been influenced by him in some way – especially the basics of melodic lines and beats have all been under direct influence of Michael. As an artist, he dwells in an entirely unapproachable realm because he wrote a new chapter in the fundamentals of pop music. His songs have the power to make me want to dance spontaneously. I want to make such music also."
TaeYang’s Second Choice: Usher’s 8701
Usher’s 2001 album with the classic, “U Remind Me.” TaeYang says: “He was frequently called ‘the Next Michael Jackson’ because he was the most successful African American artist since Michael. After watching his first showcase performance in Seoul, I immediately got his CD and listened to it day and night. I think I watched pretty much every single one of his videos whenever I had time. He is one of the artists with the most albums on the Billboard charts and one of the rare musicians that can strike a balance between popular appeal and the feel of traditional R&B. A neutral feel, if you will. Overall, his music is very smooth but the melodic lines keep the feel of traditional R&B. Even with a pop-beat tune, when he sings it, it sounds like an R&B song. While I started listening to Michael Jackson when I was little, I fell in love with Usher’s music after I became a YGE trainee. One of Usher’s unique strengths is his ability to make everyone in the audience enjoy themselves, moving to the rhythms of R&B music.
TaeYang’s Third Choice: Prince’s The Very Best of Prince
TaeYang says: “I don’t know his music as well as I do Jackson's or Usher’s but think he is a true musician. I think he’s a real genius. Musically, he’s totally untouchable. There is no instrument he can't play and there is no genre that he can’t handle. Although his rather grotesque fashion style is a bit much to me, it actually amplifies his unique charm. Prince uses falsetto more frequently than Jackson or Usher does. Using falsetto tends to dilute the effect of a song but that's not the case with him. 'Kiss' has upbeat beats and guitar lines are nice too but in terms of musical style, the song is completely different from what I used to listen. However, it still sounded nice and wasn’t awkward at all. Prince and I are different in that his music has a lot of rock in it but that actually helped me break off from the prejudices I used to have about music. And unlike many R&B/hip hop artists who are usually loud and boisterous, he appeared to choose his words carefully when he’s interviewed. I guess he is an artist who likes to express himself through music instead of words. I want to be like that. Also on stage, I want to be like him, singing with a great band and putting on explosive performances.”
TaeYang’s Fourth Choice: The-Dream’s Love Vs. Money
Grammy winner The-Dream's second album released in 2009. Features steamy slow jams and upbeat R&B songs. TaeYang says: “The featuring artists include Lil Jon, Kanye West and Mariah Carey, the best musicians of our generation. When you listen to the songs, there's not really much to it. Most of them are based on very basic chords and use simple melodic lines but still they sound fantastic. 'Rockin' That Shit,' for example, is a slow number but has beats that give you a strong sense of groove. Especially the hook (main melody part) sounds very natural. Natural sounding hooks are actually more difficult to write. I guess The-Dream could use his experience and expertise as a professional songwriter to create something like that. If you listen to him sing on stage, it sounds even steamier and you'd know what “groove” is really about.
TaeYang's Fifth Choice: Ryan Leslie’s Ryan Leslie
The composer of JYP's Kiss and a Harvard graduate Ryan Leslie’s 2009 album. TaeYang says: “He majored in piano (Note: Ryan Leslie was a Government major). I think he’s a genius. He is so talented it seems like there’s no instrument he doesn't know how to play. When I first watched a video showing how he works, my jaw dropped. He plays real drums and plays the sax himself for recording. He's a one man band. That’s how he made this album too. First he created the basic beats. Then he went into the recording booth and finished the melodic part in less than 3 minutes. His songs are so rhythmical and have such strong hip hop elements it is hard to tell whether he's rapping or singing. ‘Gibberish,’ for example, doesn’t even have lyrics and is based on a totally non-standard platform but still touches you. When you hear him perform it on stage, the beats sound so great and the sources of accompanying instruments are very refreshing. Listening to his songs makes me feel that I can do things better and more easily on stage.”
[Translations by pgeorgie]
[Text Source: music.naver.com]
[Pictures: Osen; Maybee's Volume Up]
Im very suprised by the Ryan Leslie record. I know who he is but he's not that popular as the others he named in america. im impressed actually!