BIGBANG - Fantastic Baby

A few days ago I launched this blog with my review of 2NE1's I'm the Best and I talked about how a certain  remix got me into liking the song. Well, that remix was very effective in making me like songs because another song that was in there is now also on the list of my favorite Kpop songs, BIGBANG's Fantastic Baby. Now considering that 2NE1 and BIGBANG are from the same entertainment group I wondered whether it would be wise to be reviewing them so shortly after each other but then I realized that I don't really care. I just want to review this song, so I will~

Just like with 'I'm the Best' this song continued to echo in my head for days, though this time it wasn't the lead singer that had found themselves a place in the dysfunctional radio that I like to call my mind. The first part being TOP's rap while being in those picture frames. Not only did I love the sound of that part (even though it seemed kinda.. sudden?) I also loved the look of it. Never before had I bothered even looking at a picture of this group but the moment I laid eyes on him I knew that this was the man my friend had been fangirling about. Anyways, the weird zooming thing, his voice and his looks & expressions just killed me for a moment right there.

The second thing that stuck with me was Seungri's part when he is surrounded by those cat ladies. I loved the sound of it in the remix but I found out later that the mixer had placed an effect on his voice which was what I majorly liked about that  part of the song in the first place. But even without the effect it's still amazing, especially the "Na na na na na~" part at the end of it.

Finally the other three also managed to impress me. I really love Daesung's long notes though the neck muscle thing he does kinda scares me... And Taeyang and G-Dragon are just generally awesome, I can't really point out some point in the song that they impressed me most vocal-wise. Still though I am considering whether I should grow my hair out and dye it so that I can start wearing it as a dress... Lady Gaga's got nothing on that! And if I grow tired of it I can always cut it off at the exact place where my original hair color stops and the hair dye starts~

Now, let's have a closer look at the PV...

Hello mister owl, are you one of BIGBANG's members?

I swear, he only has to wrap it around him in a fashionable way and it would become a great dress!

Stop music? NEVER! Stop singing? NEVER! Stop wearing a gas mask and headphones at the same time? I might consider...

I-Is that a Molotov cocktail?

Watching him unfreeze in slow motion...

Taeyang: "Oh yeah, you like it when I unfreeze in slow motion, don't you?"

Hmm, I expected a bigger bang... Hehe... Get it? BIGger BANG?

Is your forehead itching dear?

Okay... as a still this part kinda creeps me out... in a good way~

Oh captain, you may sail my ship <3

During this part I was anxiously waiting for him to start floating, but it was not meant to be.

I'm not likely to ever take a tattoo... but if I will, it won't be in my neck... that must be so painful!

Oooh, look what I have in my dungeon~

Don't... don't do that... it's not sexy, it's scary...

Oh hello there! Long time no see! Actually, I think this is my first time seeing you... where were you till now? Interesting piercing btw, you could use it to hang curtains in front of your ear.

Ah... So that's what you were doing hmm? Well, it looks like you had fun. I would have those scratches on your chest looked after though.

Seungri: "Bitch please, I got this."

Mkay, if you say so... but be careful that they don't get infected.

Aww, I liked your previous backdrops better. Don't get your suit dirty~

Hmm, what's that on his lips?

Do I spy a Full Metal Alchemist referance? Probably not but I'll just pretend that it is.

Oh... Oh my~ I liked TOP's suit, but this much better... Daesung in a blue suit definitely works for me.

This reminds me of a movie where someone falls down a cliff to hell or something like that, where there are many creatures awaiting a nice snack... what is it? Do you know?

Dancing BIGBANG style~

Forget TOP, forget Daesung, these guys are the sexiest beings in this whole video!

I see a free spot to the right, surely I can join you guys, right?

Now at first I didn't really see any underlying message in this video, all I noticed was the Anti-Music Alliance battling against the rebels. Later though I watched Simon and Martina's review and I realized that each person was indeed breaking out of his restraints. G-Dragon manages to shed of the crazy amounts of hair that has been pinning him down and finally reaches a mirror so he can fix his make-up, Taeyang unfreezes and finds his inner self through meditation (though later he realizes that all he really wanted was a metal arm), TOP finally manages to leave his framed life and rediscovers his love for blue fur, Daesung is no longer chained down and manages to find a shirt and Seungri... Well, I guess those cat ladies helped him relieve some tension and frustrations 'cause what else was he doing during the first half of the video? Seriously, he's nowhere to be seen for such a long time!

One thing that does amuse me though when it comes to the video and even the live performances I have watched. For a song that mentions the word 'dance' so much there is very little dancing involved! Surely, there is some towards the end of the video but it's just them moving their bodies while singing to the camera. If I hadn't seen the video while listening to the song for the first time I probably would have expected there to be some major choreography throughout the video. But oh well, it was not meant to be. If I am correct in my assumptions BIGBANG just isn't really a group that goes around dancing to a certain choreography. Either way, I still enjoyed the video a lot.

2NE1 - I AM THE BEST (내가 제일 잘 나가)

This is the song that kick-started my in active exploration of other groups. Before this song I had taken some hesitant looks at other groups but quickly returned back to the safety of the things I was already familiar with. This group however managed to slowly chisel down that wall.

My first impression of 2NE1 was made several years ago actually when I first started listening to Asian pop music. And I must say, it was a bad first impression. Not even because there was anything wrong with them, it was just not a good experience. I was in a rather negative mood when I stumbled upon them and it was in the form of an dub that didn't impress me in the least. To add on that I was still new to the whole Asian pop scene and they basically shocked me. They were very different from what I was used to or even the sweetness of the Japanese groups I was getting acquainted with. I was still getting used to the idea that there were girls willing to sing a song while dancing around in monkey suits.

Because of this experience that wasn't really that bad now I look back on it I had a negative bias towards this group for this group. It took about two years and an amazing remix for me to finally realize the great extent of 2NE1's awesome. At first I was still negatively biased when I decided to listen to the song but CL's voice continued echoing in my head wherever I went I finally caved and gave them another listen. This was soon followed by many of their other songs that might pass by on this blog some day in the future.

Now that you have all been filled in with my tragic past, here are a few moments of the video that caught my eye.

We start off with a rather intimidating looking woman, I don't want to cross her path...

Nope, definitely not.

While the previous woman likes to use her feet, this lady appears to prefer another body part... But how do you use such a weapon?

But surely she won't need to use it with such a ferocious dog to protect her.

Dara: "But who is it that she needs protection from?"

Good question Dara, good question indeed.

Oh, I see...

When Minzy was told to protect the things that are closest to her heart, she took it a bit too literally.

Hello Mr. Kitty, aren't you the cutest thing in this video?

Those eyes~

Minzy tries to tell us how much she loves trains.

I tell you, THOSE EYES

Dara: "What about my eyes?"

Yes dear, those are lovely too.

Uhm... I don't think that's healthy!

Look at them being bad-ass! Those horny constructions! I must say that you overpower my dear Haruna.

You do realize that it's your own platinum disk you are about to destroy, yes?

Aaaah, so that's what those things are for!

Drumming extraordinaire~ 

Cuz there's nothing better than bonding while shooting like a lunatic!

All in all I can say I greatly enjoy this song and it's MV, it's crazy, it's fun and it haunts me in my sleep.