*** Buckle up because this is a big one. ***
On April 13th, I woke up with my YouTube app open to the Coachella “Outside” livestream, patiently waiting at 1:00 a.m. to see one of the most well-respected K-pop groups in history, BigBang. Sadly, my eyes were so heavy that I fell asleep and woke up to, “Thank you, Coachella.”
At 3:00 a.m., I shamelessly rewound the performance, despite having to wake up at 6:30 a.m. for work. Watching BigBang perform after several years of hiatus due to military service, group structure changes, and solo projects felt like being the 20-year-old version of myself who had just fully gotten into K-pop. For those who are unaware of BigBang, definitely search their discography after their performance.
WHO IS BIGBANG
BigBang is a K-pop group formed in 2006 under YG Entertainment, the same company that later created 2NE1, iKON, and the well-known BLACKPINK. BigBang was definitely ahead of its time compared to other boy groups. YG Entertainment is known for its heavy hip-hop and R&B influences and edgy style.
By the early 2000s, the culture of K-pop had become more defined, with weekly stage performances, fan signs, grainy dance practice videos, and lightsticks used to represent groups during events. BigBang entered an industry that was still developing and took hold of it while maintaining a carefree attitude that complemented their talent. They are your favorite K-pop band’s favorite K-pop band.
The four-member group (previously five, but we don’t talk about Bruno) consists of G-Dragon (also known as GD), one of the group’s rappers, known for his fashion, lyrics, innovative production, and industry connections. T.O.P. is the second rapper, recognized for his deep voice, rapping skills, fashion, and acting; more recently, he appeared as Thanos in the second season of Squid Game. Taeyang is one of the vocalists, known for his incredible dancing skills. Older K-pop fans jokingly call him “Korean Omarion,” as he oddly resembled Omarion during Big Bang’s debut. Lastly, there’s Daesung, the leader of the group, who rarely needs a microphone.
With his stable vocals, Daesung has built a strong presence within the trot community, a music genre that resonates deeply in many ajumma or halmoni (older women’s) households. Each member has a unique style and has created their own niche; however, when they come together, it’s a hodgepodge of excellence—like eating a rich, home-cooked meal during a thunderstorm after a day full of fun. It’s an odd description, but almost every V.I.P. (BigBang’s fandom) would say the same thing.
LONG AWAITED COMEBACK
Since all members of BigBang returned from their mandatory military service and released their first comeback, Still Life, fans patiently waited for a full comeback with an album, music video, and stage performances—but there were only crickets until 2025.
Many speculated about whether T.O.P. would rejoin the group after appearing in the “Still Life” music video. However, with the promotion of his solo activities, others believed it would take a miracle for him to return to the stage with his bandmates.
Unfortunately, only three members emerged from the smoke, but luckily, whenever a member is missing, the group has enough stage presence to compensate.
COACHELLA
The performance begins with an introductory video featuring a montage of clips, including an astronaut representing T.O.P., along with the iconic MADE logo (their last full album before the hiatus). The video also displays “2006,” highlighting that BigBang has been influencing artists and fans for over two decades.
The set opens with their most hyped and well-known song, Bang Bang Bang. During the performance, I noticed the many lightsticks (V.I.P. crowns) in the crowd and was reminded that, even though Coachella is an American-based festival, there are still audience members with eclectic musical tastes. Along with the music, you can hear fan chants—something commonly done in K-pop to keep the crowd engaged and connected with the artists.
While watching the performance, I felt like I recognized some of the older dancers who were with BigBang during their MADE era comeback in 2017, along with others who have been dancing with them even longer. Most notable are the Kwon Twins—Kwon Youngdeuk and Kwon Youngdon—who have been part of YG Entertainment since 2009.
Another thing I noticed was that the group’s microphones were on. Recently, in K-pop, there has been an influx of groups not performing to their fullest potential, with backtracks overpowering their voices or not singing live at all. BigBang’s Coachella performance made me realize that K-pop today can be so polished that it sometimes loses the rawness and talent of its idols. There were moments when G-Dragon would sing or rap imperfectly, but you could still hear his real voice. Watching the members in a flow state—adding ad-libs that aren’t in the original songs—truly highlighted their artistry and uniqueness.
Their nonchalant attitude elevated the performance and made it clear they were genuinely enjoying themselves. The consistent energy, engagement, stamina, and return of their background dancers made fans reminisce about the first time they got into BigBang.
DISOGRAPHY
A lot of their songs were meshed into each other for the sake of stage time, but also due to the absence of T.O.P. and he who shall not be named. There were moments when my brain would naturally flow into the next lines, only for the song to suddenly jump to a chorus or the next track. This was to be expected, as BigBang often left T.O.P.’s parts in the backing vocals or omitted them entirely when he was not present.
The performance continued with some of their biggest hits, including Fantastic Baby and Sober, before transitioning into their slower tracks: A Fool of Tears, Loser, Haru Haru, and Lies. I think that because BigBang has such a large and diverse discography, the selection and order of the songs were perfect—they guided the audience through different moods without causing whiplash.
After their 2007 hit “Lies,” a brief intermission followed. The live band musicians were given a moment to shine while playing the song “Tonight,” helping to lift the audience’s energy and prepare them for the next performance: Ringa Linga by Taeyang, often jokingly called “Korean Omarion” among older K-pop fans.
For people who are unfamiliar with K-pop, group members can still pursue solo projects without interfering with group activities. This allows artists to reach different audiences and experiment with new sounds. I thought it was a great decision for Taeyang to perform his 2013 hit “Ringa Linga” rather than more recent collaborations like “Vibe” with BTS’s Jimin or “Shoong!” with BLACKPINK’s Lisa, as “Ringa Linga” felt more iconic and representative of his artistry.
After Taeyang came G-Dragon with his recent hit “Power,” infused with a Latin or Caribbean twist. From the oversized fur hat to the unpredictable ad-libs, the performance felt like a perfect reflection of GD’s style. Similar to solo careers, K-pop groups can also form sub-units with two or more members. GD has previously formed sub-units with both T.O.P. and Taeyang. Their song “Good Boy” is always a crowd favorite and often sparks dance challenges and relay-style performances, with people sometimes doing multiple choreography versions at once, adding an extra layer of chaos and fun.
Daesung then took the stage to shift the mood with his trot-influenced performances, including “Cotton Candy” and “Look at Me, Gwisun.” Many K-pop fans familiar with Korean culture and trot music were surprised to see this style performed at Coachella, as many groups tend to tailor their sets to Western audiences. Overall, the crowd responded well, and it wouldn’t be surprising if some listeners discovered trot music for the first time.
As the performance wound down, G-Dragon performed another recent track, “Home Sweet Home,” which gained traction after Taeyang’s smooth stage moment at the 2024 MAMA Awards.
The group then reunited for their final songs: Bad Boy, We Like 2 Party, and Still Life. I wanted to highlight the final track in particular, as it marked their first song as a four-member group after military service. By the end of the performance, I was still hoping for a glimpse of T.O.P., but something even more meaningful happened.
Throughout each performance, T.O.P.’s parts were often omitted or redistributed, but for “Still Life,” his original part was kept. This was the first time the song had been performed in that form since its 2022 release. Even at 3:00 a.m., I felt emotional—having all four members together again, even briefly, is a big moment for fans. It even gave me hope that we might see T.O.P. return for Weekend 2 of Coachella… a girl can only dream.
THE MEMORIES
Overall, I have not felt this satisfied with a K-pop performance in years, and it has reminded me why I fell in love with it in the first place. From seeing the large crowd jumping and screaming to the memories of the music videos playing in my head, there was never a moment when I felt disappointed, because their discography is so strong.
This made me feel the same way I felt about Lemonade—not only were the songs good, but they were accompanied by visuals that elevated the listening experience the first time I heard them. At the end, the group shared a group hug, which felt bittersweet because we don’t know when we will see them together again, aside from Weekend 2 of Coachella.
I can truly say that even though I may not have had the funds to witness it in person, watching it in the early hours before getting ready for work still fulfilled my experience as a V.I.P. and K-pop fan, especially for BigBang.
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