Group BigBang. Photo provided by|YG Entertainment
BigBang is picking up speed. In this meaningful year marking its ‘20th anniversary’, not only individual comebacks but also full-group performances have been hinted at, thrilling the ‘V.I.P’ (fandom name). On top of that, even the ‘sore finger’ T.O.P has declared a return as a singer, adding significance.
The first to come back is T.O.P. On the 3rd, T.O.P will release his first full-length album ‘ANOTHER DIMENSION’ through various online music platforms. As a signal of his return after 13 years since ‘DOOM DADA’ in 2013, he has put forward the double title tracks ‘Studio54’ and ‘DESPERADO’.
T.O.P, formerly of BigBang.
How much effort went into the comeback can be seen in the tracklist. This album, which contains a total of 11 songs, is packed with numbers whose titles reflect the distinctive character of T.O.P, from the first track ‘SELF CRUCIFIXION’ to ‘THE GIANT’ and ‘SEOUL CHAOS’.
In particular, the ninth track ‘FOR FANS’ draws attention, with affection for fans overflowing from the title itself. As its English title ‘FOR FANS’ suggests, it carries the sincere feelings T.O.P wanted to convey to fans who waited a long time.
T.O.P is said to have taken part directly in the overall production of this album, completing an organic narrative across the 11 tracks. Word has it he focused on storytelling so it plays like a film rather than a simple album. As this is the first full-length he has presented in about 20 years since his 2006 debut, a variety of musical experiments were reportedly pursued. After he received a guilty verdict in 2016 on charges of smoking marijuana and was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, and left BigBang, attention is focused on whether he can rise again in spectacular fashion.
Daesung, Taeyang, G-Dragon (from left), photo|Taeyang SNS
After T.O.P’s comeback, Taeyang takes the baton. On the 1st, his agency THEBLACKLABEL made his new activities official with a post on its official social media hinting at Taeyang’s return.
The released image features the word ‘QUINTESSENCE’ along with a significant message that catches the eye, and it appears he will prove for himself what the essence of music is. In addition, the copy begins with the remark ‘The word that stayed in my heart, the word this era needs most’ and ends with the sentence ‘The most important thing is invisible,’ drawing attention to what message he will deliver with the new release.
Full-group activities have also been foreshadowed. Previously, YG Entertainment executive producer Yang Hyun-suk said, “The most successful male group at YG. I think the reason people miss BigBang and wait for BigBang performances is that single desire to once again see and hear, live on stage, the countless hit songs they have sung over the years,” and added, “To mark the 20th anniversary of BigBang this year, we have agreed to hold BigBang concerts, and we declare that a global tour will begin.” G-Dragon likewise hinted at this at the ‘G-DRAGON 2025 World Tour - Ubermensch in Korea’ concert held last March, saying, “We will soon turn twenty. We are preparing a very sexy coming-of-age ceremony.”
First, BigBang will take part as headliners at the Coachella Festival, the biggest music festival held in the United States, on the 12th. In addition, a BigBang tour is planned for the second half of the year, with the aim of filling the world throughout this year under the name ‘BigBang’.
