Big Bang Reveals Self-Fulfilment Strategies

Idol group Big Bang seems to be the boys-next-door, even quiet and unassuming, but once they are on stage they exude charisma and passion in their music.

They were not overnight stars. They were well prepared and tailor-made by YG Entertainment led by Yang Hyun-suk, a local pop mogul.

In ``Shouting to the World'' written by Big Bang, which has shot onto the bestseller list, they write about how they became stars and overcame difficulties on the way.

However, the book is not an autobiography but a self-development guide, giving clear directions and inspirational messages for readers who seek success of any type. Through their vivid and real stories, they say what the young should do and how to achieve their goals and control their minds.

Consisting of T.O.P., Victory, G-Dragon, Dae-sung and Tae-yang who are not that tall or handsome like other idols, the group tells their stories in their own words in chapters written by each members.

``This book is not just a success story but an essay which tells the dreams and hopes of the young through self-fulfillment,'' G-Dragon said.

They were selected through a survival test among six contestants over four years. They underwent harsh competition and had to pass each step to become a finalist.

G-Dragon, born Kwon Ji-yong, harbored a dream to become a singer at a very early age and spent six years as an apprentice at an entertainment agency.

``We memorized rap songs and dances when our friends memorized English words at school. When they sweated in the playground, we sweated to learn the dances in the stifling underground rehearsal room, fighting the sweltering heat,'' he said.

Because they had different goals from their peers who wanted to make it to prestigious universities, they had to make greater efforts than any others, he said.

In the first chapter, G-Dragon explains his position as the leader who has to be demanding, critical and harsh to other members.

The leader and songwriter of the group said that ``Big Bang is an idol group not born of talent but through effort.''

Although he has a talent for writing songs and lyrics, he had to submit a song he wrote to Yang every week for six years. He attributed the long and painful training process to his ability in composing. ``Talent and ability are different. Showing talent and being able to do it are totally different from just having it,'' he said.

Tae-yang (his real name is Dong Young-bae) first encountered pop music at the age of six through his brother's cassette. It was Michael Jackson's music. Since then, he continued to develop his interest in music, particularly the soul and R&B genres.

He met Yang when he had a small role in a music video shooting spot, and begged him for a chance to become a singer.

Not surprisingly, Yang shrugged off his request as the naive idea of a young boy, saying ``I will let you know later.'' But there was no contact from Yang, so Tae-yang visited his office and asked him to make him a singer.

Yang gave him the opportunity to audition, which led to the long apprenticeship. Despite strong opposition from his parents, he commuted from the rehearsal room near Hongik University in western Seoul to Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province after school everyday.

In daily feedback and monitoring, Tae-yang was criticized by Yang for his lack of singing ability and was sometimes compared to G-Dragon.

But whenever his weak points were revealed, he just increased his practice and training.

For Dae-sung, the smiling boy in the group, overcoming the objection from his parents was the most difficult task. He confessed he left home for one week to win their permission.

But the real world was harsher than his parents' opposition. He was nicknamed as a smiling boy and cheerful icebreaker although he is, in fact, shy and introverted. Dae-sung sometimes felt burdened by having to talk when he didn't want to. But his image actually made him think positively and become more cheerful, particularly in the face of hardship.

T.O.P. (Choi Seung-hyun) might be the most candid member when talking about the past. He confessed he used to hang around with delinquent friends.

But after he experienced his best friends' deaths in motorcycle accidents, he began to concentrate on writing lyrics for hip-hop songs.

Before becoming an apprentice at YG Entertainment, he performed on many underground stages at hip-hop clubs but hadn't danced before. So he couldn't accept dancing as a rapper and had trouble adapting to rigorous dancing training and tight control on his personal life.

Lastly, Victory, whose real name is Lee Seung-hyun, had a more bitter experience than other members. He first failed to pass the final apprentice round because of his lack of singing ability. He was a dancer rather than a singer before joining the group.

But Yang gave him a last chance without any real expectation that he would make it. He practiced singing anytime and anywhere after even being kicked out of their training house.

Finally, he won the hearts of the producer but he still tries to improve his singing skills, he said.

chungay@koreatimes.co.kr