G-Dragon and T.O.P on Weekly Woman Magazine Japan [PHOTOS]

Scans by Tisya @ www.bigbangupdates.com

Will Big Bang and 2NE1 be able to bring something new in 2011? [NEWS]

Will 2011 be the year the hallyu idols make a difference? With the disbandment of TVXQ, Japan was in a quiet state until the girl groups, Girls’ Generation and Kara made their debut and set the fire back into the Japanese entertainment industry. Among the hallyu groups, YG‘s male and female groups, Big Bang and 2NE1 have started their activities and have shown their confidence by saying, "We will definitely succeed on the Japanese stage." YG’s president, Yang Hyun Seok, have commented on the activities at Japan.

“Starting in May, for about 2 months, Big Bang will hold a Japan tour concert and they’re preparing for it. Right now, they’ve been going to Japan once a week and have been promoting a small out but starting in 2011, they’ll be more aggressive and offensive in their promotion tactics.”

Following Big Bang and 2NE1, they’re not your usual hallyu idol or your girl group because they’ve split up their promotion schedule so that they’ll be able to promote both in Japan and Korea, making their promotion techniques unique.

President Yang continued by saying,

“The proposal of 2NE1′s debut in Japan was proposed since last year. But because they’re a group that debuted not too long ago and are still rookies, we believed it was best to focus our attention on promoting them in Korea so it has been a bit late. After completely finishing their activities for their first full length album, they will officially debut in Japan during February.”

But what are his thoughts on the success of Big Bang and 2NE1 in the Japanese industry.

For Big Bang, he said,

“It was suggested with our partner in Japan that we split the promotions in Japan and Korea and that the focus on promoting one thing at a time. They’ll promote their Korean album during March and April and their Japanese concert will be during May and June, along with other promotions, and from July through September, they’ll promote another Korean album and from October to November, they’ll promote another Japanese album.”

He continued by saying,

“They’re well known in Korea already and in Japan, they’re getting to that point so we believe it would be best to focus on their promotions and we believe by doing that, we’ll get good results.”

Truthfully, before Big Bang started their official promotion in Japan, starting in early 2011, many fans have been interested already and they’ve been awarded 2 years straight with the Japanese Record award.

In the case of 2NE1, they have formed a partnership with TVXQ’s company, Avex, and already, their future in Japan seems bright. President Yang said, “The owner of Avex have taken a liking of 2NE1 for a while and they proposed on working with 2NE1 so the staff of YG have been anticipating greatly for 2NE1′s debut in Japan.”

2NE1′s first Japan promotion will be during February and March, for 2 months and within that time frame in May and June, they will be preparing for their Korean album that will be announced in May and June.

Source: Mcgwire @ osen.co.kr
Translation: Eunjin @ kpoplive.com

GD&TOP’s “Don’t Go Home” banned by MBC, but requesting for retrial w/out modification [NEWS]

“Knock Out”, the title song of Big Bang’s G-Dragon and TOP duo unit’s first album, has been banned from KBS, MBC, and SBS, the three major terrestrial broadcasting stations.

Moreover another title song “Don’t Go Home” has also been banned from MBC.

This morning, Big Bang’s company YG Entertainment (YGE), said to Moneytoday Starnews, “about getting “Knock Out” banned, we were a bit expecting that to happen, so we are not planning to request the retrial, but we are a little surprised at MBC’s decision about “Don’t Go Home”.”

Continuing to speak, “We don’t think “Don’t Go Home” has any problems, so as the other broadcasting stations, KBS and SBS didn’t ban it. Meanwhile we were surprised at MBC’s decision banning “Don’t Go Home”. but considering MBC have their reasons too, we’ll request for a retrial politely this time.”

YG also added, “We think TOP’s rap in “Don’t Go Home” is considered to be the problem, but please understand that they’re just lyrics.” They also emphasized, “We are not modifying the lyrics in the process of requesting for the retrial.”

TOP’s rap consists,

”I don’t want this awkward atmosphere, Is the sound of the clock usually this loud? I just hear the swallowing sound in my neck. What should I say? Look baby, I just want to greet the morning with you, Before the night ends, a secret party for only the two of us, But you’re like a Cinderella, you wanna leave when the clock strikes 12, A night by myself is too long, callin’ up to your parents, I’m pretending to be strong but I feel uneasy”

Meanwhile the other song “Knock Out” is banned from the three major terrestrial broadcasting stations for the name of the song is spoiling the national psyche.

G-Dragon and TOP’s duo unit is now performing their 5 title songs, “High High”, “Oh Yeah”, “Knock Out”, “Don’t Go Home”, & “Baby Good Night”, of their first full album released on Dec. 24th 2010.

Big Bang, one of the most expensive CF stars, classified under "Super A Class" [NEWS]

On January 5th, TV Report released the data results they’ve compiled from various advertisement and model contracting companies in order to find the most expensive celebrity figures of 2011.

The data they’ve published were updated as of January 2011, and consists of appearance and contract fees paid to singers for year-long contracts.

So who are the most expensive CF stars?

According to the results, Rain and Big Bang were classified under ‘Special A Class’ in the industry, and are both worth $1 million to $1.5 million USD.
2PM, SNSD, Lee Hyori, and SNSD were placed in the $800,000 to $900,000 USD sector, while BoA followed at $700,000 to $800,000 USD.

Lee Seung Gi, Kim Hyun Joong, Jay Park, Super Junior, JYJ, Son Dambi, and the Wonder Girls placed at $500,000 to $600,000 USD.

2AM, CNBLUE, KARA, 4minute, MBLAQ, and After School (excluding UEE) are worth a minimum of $400,000 USD. After School’s UEE exceeds that amount.

IU, FT Island, Seo In Young, and SECRET were revealed to have been in discussion for $200,000 to $300,000 USD.

Of course, the true worth of a star cannot be determined by numbers, but the numbers give better insight into the commercial aspect of the stars.

Source: TV Report via Daum

Translated by VitalSign @ allkpop

New G-Dragon and T.O.P Official Merchandise from YG [PHOTOS]

From YGeShop:

IT’S A TRIPLE-COMBO! GD&TOP BUTTON SET

GD&TOP BUTTON BADGE SET will complete your styling in 3 sizes Like GD&TOP in M/V, you can utilize it as not only a fashion point but also an interior item and etc.
Price: 10,000 won for the set






DESIGN TO KNOCK YOU OUT! GD&TOP SWEATSUIT SET RELEASE!
Rabbit logo made GD&TOP’s album more bling-bling and velour sweatsuit set of GD’s choice were created as the best team suit. Luxurious black colored velour sweatsuit is of high quality and it’s already shown at stage in GD&TOP’s costumes. GD&TOP’s own style and coziness, grab two hares at once with this GD&TOP sweatsuit set !
Price: 120,000 won for the set; 72,000 won for the jacket

T.O.P talks about acting, the new album and his ideal girl [NEWS]

▶ T.O.P has been praised for his acting skills in the film, Into the Fire, and has also claimed the newcomer award in the 31st Blue Dragon Film Festival.
T.O.P: I think my dyed hair suits the concept of the new album. Not many Koreans would dye their hair like this because it's like making your head bleed to get right color successfully. The color was just too eye-catching for an awards ceremony. I heard that some people said things like "Is it because he wants to get an award that he dyed his hair like that?" and "What if he doesn't get it?" I got annoyed a bit by these but I felt so happy when I got the award that I wasn't even expecting to get... though I really got bothered by those words.

▶ In Into The Fire, T.O.P successfully carried the character who possesses an unfathomable power and won the newcomer award. During the award giving ceremony, the "white head" of T.O.P was particularly eye-catching when he was walking on the red carpet.

T.O.P: Two days before attending the ceremony, I dyed my hair with this colour for the shoot of High High's music video. To be honest, I was embarrassed to present myself with this hairstyle in front of so many veteran actors. I also worried about not getting the award because my efforts, then, will be all in vain. I actually felt guilty when I received the award because getting it with this kind of look will be recorded in Blue Dragon's history... Why did I have to get the award at that time?

"We gave a lot of effort in making this album!"

▶ Immediately after the filming of Into the Fire, he returned to the studio to create the new album, GD & TOP, in order to surprise fans who have been waiting for BIGBANG's album.

T.O.P: "How about forming a duet?" Although we made the album with this kind of thought, we didn't just make it carelessly. From High High and Oh Yeah, which can suit the tastes of people from all walks of life, to Don't Go Home and Baby Good Night, which are about how a man yearns for a woman until they fall in love with each other, songs which tell stories are found in tis album.

▶ The response is quite good since almost all of the songs in the album have swept music charts, which shows how popular the album is.

T.O.P: We really gave a lot of effort in making this album and the response is better than what we expected. We plan to extend our period of activities until we satisfy our fans.

▶ We shouldn't worry about the delay of BIGBANG's team album with this statement because he said...

T.O.P: We are carefully working on the album at the moment. What we want is that we can promote for as long as possible before the release of our team album.

"I do feel stiff, sometimes, when I am acting."

▶ Although everyone praises him as the best actor with the singer background, this hasn't made T.O.P complacent...

T.O.P: I didn't have confidence in acting before I participated in Into The Fire. I am that kind of person who will be only be calm if I am confident enough. I am working hard on my weaknesses now.

▶ He was afraid of acting badly in the well-received KBS TV drama Iris too...

T.O.P: I'm not normally talkative in real life so it felt really difficult when I was told to act out my character without detailed guidance.

▶ Now, as an acclaimed actor, T.O.P has also set new targets.

T.O.P: There are so many excellent veterans. I learn a lot from them when I look back at their glorious past. I want to polish myself and present some new things in the industry to show that I am a wise latecomer too.

▶ So, how do you rank your acting?

T.O.P: Since I am currently at a period where I want to act as much as possible, there are still a lot of things that I want to present. I think it is still too early to rank my own performance now.

"Of course, it would be nice to meet an attractive girl..."

▶ How can you dislike this man? But surprisingly, he has been single for a long time.

T.O.P: I like to stay at home a lot together with my timidness. I always want to flee away from strangers because I am afraid of them. Although there are times that I have thought that it would be great if I had a girlfriend, my heart still tends to allocate my leisure time to working.

▶ This proves his determination to do things well. Once he encounters the things that sparks his ambition, he will work hard to achieve them. Although he said that he's concentrating on work at the moment, he still has his own ideal girl, who is wise and gentle.

T.O.P: If she is able to lead me to a better place and point me to the right direction, then she would be the right person. I like the role of a follower, although sometimes, I would like to lead too.

▶ So, are there girl group members who can meet his requirements?

T.O.P: In the past, I was too busy to watch the music programs. Usually, I stay away from watching too because with so many people performing well, I was worried that I would imitate them unconsciously when I perform. But I am a fan of all girl groups even though I am like that. Haha!

Source: Sports Chosun
Chinese Translation: 素食@ bigbangfamily.com via baidu
English Translation: Rice @ bigbangworld

Big Tone further hints about Seungri's project single [NEWS]

Maknae SEUNGRI

Officially just ten days away from his project comeback, it has been revealed that popular producer Big Tone is on the collaboration with Big Bang’s Seungri. Last October, Big Tone has hinted that he is working with Seungri as he posted updates on microblogging site Twitter.

On the 2nd of January, he further hinted fans with a tweet saying, “Be on the look out for V.I commin’ soon!!” and “Y G~ G~ G~ G~ baybeh baybeh~ ^^.”

This is not the first time Big Tone has collaborated with the entertainment agency, as he previously produced songs for 2NE1 (‘Im Busy’ and ‘Love Is Ouch’) and Se7en (‘Reset’ and ‘Drips’).

Source: @ny2seoul and ibigbang
Article By KOREABOO