[CBC News] The group BIGBANG lit up the world’s biggest music festival, Coachella, marking the start of their 20th-anniversary run.
Last weekend in Indio, Calif., BIGBANG took the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and delivered a commanding performance. In front of thousands filling the outdoor venue, the group ran through its hits and each member also performed solo stages that highlighted their individual styles.
After the show, G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung spoke with Rolling Stone Korea about how emotional and meaningful the comeback felt.
Coachella held added significance for BIGBANG: they had been slated for the 2020 lineup, but that appearance was canceled because of the pandemic.
Taeyang said, “After missing that opportunity six years ago, I thought it might never come again. I’m truly grateful to stand on this stage at the start of our 20th anniversary — it feels like fate.” Daesung added, “What we lost in 2020 felt like a build-up for this year. It’s been a meaningful time for us all.”
Describing the preparation, G-Dragon said, “We carefully prepared from the intro video to the final ‘Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter’ ending to capture what BIGBANG is. Working with the members again, exchanging ideas, was exciting.”
Marking their 20th year, BIGBANG used the Coachella stage to assert what they called their legacy. Taeyang chose one word to sum up the performance: “Legacy.” “Now we want to set the standard and leave our own mark,” he said.
G-Dragon added, “I hope people remember how music creates empathy and unity, and that they hold on to the stage the three of us built together.” Daesung said, “We want to give longtime fans memories and leave a strong first impression on new listeners — something that will help sustain us going forward.”
BIGBANG made clear that the Coachella set was a preview of a planned world tour. G-Dragon expressed confidence that a strong starting point would let them deliver even better shows, and Taeyang urged fans to stay excited: “This is just the beginning.” Daesung emphasized that Coachella showed only a small part of BIGBANG and asked fans to look forward to the full tour.
Finally, G-Dragon closed by saying, “This year marks 20 years since BIGBANG began. Starting with Coachella, you’ll see us more often, so please wait for the joyful news we’ll share soon.”
After two decades at the peak of K-pop, fans are watching closely to see what musical direction BIGBANG will take in its second act as a three-member group.
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▮ CBC News | CBCNEWS Reporter Jeong Jong-hoon
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