To understand the gravity of Taeyang’s music, one must first understand the magnitude of BIGBANG’s power in K-Pop.
The South Korean 2nd Generation boy group debuted in 2006 (18 years ago) and were breaking boundaries by having the world’s first K-Pop lightstick, while steering away from the expected norm of group choreographed dancing. Instead, the K-Pop pioneers, led by G-Dragon, chose to focus on writing, composing and producing their own music.
Their influence alone in the industry redefined what it meant to be a K-Pop star, opening the doors for many to also have creative freedom, seen today in 4th Generation groups like (G)I-DLE and Stray Kids. Now, at the beginning of the 5th generation, it’s evident to see the lasting impact that these K-Pop kings have made on Korean music.
Plus, Dong Young-bae (동영배) otherwise known as Taeyang (태양), lead singer of BIGBANG, has a successful solo career in his own right. Beginning his solo debut in 2008 with his first EP Hot and debut solo track ‘Only Look At Me (나만 바라봐)’, the love song specialist went on to have iconic singles which included the 2010 ballad ‘Wedding Dress’ from Taeyang’s first studio album Solar, and from his second studio album Rise in 2014 – the musical masterpiece that is ‘Eyes, Nose, Lips (눈, 코, 입)’.
In 2015, Taeyang visited Australia for the first time with his fellow BIGBANG members. The K-Pop titans sold out Rod Laver Arena and were the first ever K-Pop group to headline the iconic Melbourne venue, as part of their Made World Tour. Admittedly, this was my first K-Pop live experience and Australia back then was not a popular destination for K-Pop tours. I distinctively remember on Wednesday October 21st, 2015, the sea of yellow from the BIGBANG lightsticks that filled the venue. It was a vision I had never seen before, and I was in complete awe.
In support of his second EP from 2023 Down to Earth, cut to 2024 (almost 10 years later) and Taeyang has returned to Australia for his sold-out Australian leg of 2024 solo world tour – THE LIGHT YEAR. Marking his first ever solo tour in our country and playing in Melbourne at John Cain Arena on Friday the 29th of November, it felt like a reunion with many patrons equipped with their now rare BIGBANG VIP lightsticks (although you wouldn’t think them out of print with the sheer numbers of the K-Pop item in the venue), emitting a gorgeous glow of yellow crowns/lotus flowers – a vision I never thought I’d see in Melbourne again.
THE LIGHT YEAR leans into themes of light, time and space. From entering the Melbourne arena, I noticed that the stage was dimmed, with the words “TAEYANG 2024 TOUR” in white text that were placed in a circular set and frame. As soon as the show began, the stage was lit in blue and the giant screen at its centre displayed a night sky filled with stars, alongside “THE LIGHT YEAR” tour logo. This soon transformed into a white ball of light which pulsated several times before bursting into what looked to be a yellow sun, manifesting Taeyang’s appearance (his stage name ‘Taeyang‘ actually means ‘sun’ in Korean, so this was very clever).
Like the night sky that showed on the big screen, Taeyang was also twinkling, sparking in a silver jacket that shimmered as he exhibited his smooth and slick dancing skills. Fans were elated, cheering and screaming the moment Taeyang came into view, all before he even began to sing.
Performing on a smart tiered stage set-up with excellent lighting, complete with lasers, while accompanied by a full live band and fiercely talented dancers, Taeyang began with songs ‘PRAYER (기도)’ and ‘I’ll Be There’ before greeting his Melbourne audience, “G’day mate! What’s up, Melbourne? This is Taeyang!”, which was received with a loving roar from the Melbourne crowd. Straight away, Taeyang shared his gratitude to Melbourne patrons stating, “Thank-you for having me. After all of these years, I am finally able to come to this beautiful city.”
Impressing his Melbourne audience with various outfits, cool visuals, and stunning choreography in what was a flawless concert, Taeyang shined with his solo works which included collaborative G-Dragon track ‘STAY WITH ME’, debut solo song ‘Only Look At Me (나만 바라봐)’, the iconic ‘Wedding Dress’, the catchy ‘Where U At’ and epic ‘RINGA LINGA (링가링가)’. During the concert, Taeyang also surprised the Melbourne crowd by appearing on the floor to serenade the G-Dragon collaborative song, ‘I Need A Girl’ to all the lucky patrons that he walked past.
However, Taeyang is proud of his roots and paid homage to his legacy as well by performing a bunch of BIGBANG hits. This consisted of no less than 9 songs; ‘Blue’, ‘If You’, ‘Loser’, ‘A Fool of Tears’ which he played on the keyboard, ‘BANG BANG BANG’, ‘Fantastic Baby’, ‘WE LIKE 2 PARTY’, ‘Bad Boy’ and the moving ‘Still Life’. The aforementioned ‘BANG BANG BANG’ and ‘Fantastic Baby’ were by far the crowd favourites of the night, really creating a party atmosphere. Whether you’ve seen BIGBANG and have heard these songs live before, or this was your first time, these two songs had an excellent transition and made for a very special moment for all who were present.
Taeyang exhibited his excellence as an all-rounder, whether it be singing, dancing, or playing the keyboard. I am convinced that there’s nothing he can’t do. His mesmerising dance skills conjured ecstatic cheers and screams and during the livelier numbers, it felt like a celebration. All throughout the concert, Taeyang beamed a warm charm that was infectious, especially when animatedly and consistently interacting with fans, some of which have supported his career from the very beginning – evident by the rare BIGBANG lightsticks that decorated the venue.
Taeyang’s gorgeous and strong vocals soared to the roof of John Cain Arena, wowing fans. My favourite moment of the night, however, was when Taeyang performed the gorgeous ‘Seed’ from his current EP Down To Earth. The most recent single of his and arguably one of his best ballads, the song itself helped to showcase Taeyang’s beautiful voice, falsetto and songwriting. One moment I was happily listening to it, the next I found my eyes leaking, full of tears. I was emotional and very, very touched.
Stating to fans prior to singing the song that we are the flower in his heart, a direct translation and meaning of the lyrics, this moment with Taeyang felt like a wonderful recognition of the unconditional love, appreciation and journey that both he and his fans have gone through together, have overcome and remain united for.
During the slower and softer moments, Taeyang masterfully summoned our voices to join him in song. This was evident especially with the exquisitely written and majestic ballad that is ‘Eyes, Nose, Lips (눈, 코, 입)’. Although I had grown up with K-Pop music, there was a time I stopped listening to the genre until this song was released. This song single handedly assisted my return to K-Pop all those years ago. So, listening to the song live again made for a personal full circle moment. Also, by this part of the concert, I was full on sobbing.
Despite the visually impressive production being in an arena, these moments with Taeyang felt raw, personal, intimate and real. Taeyang wears his heart on his sleeve and bleeds music. I cannot imagine anything else that this talented and gifted human could be doing with his life. Music is clearly a part of who he is as a person and we are so lucky that Taeyang finally came to Australia for a solo tour.
Australia is no longer an unpopular touring destination for Korean music, with artists frequently visiting our shores. While we’ve still got a lot of growth left in us, it’s clear that there’s a market here willing to sell out venues and warmly welcome back the prominent generations of K-Pop with open arms. I humbly thank all involved who persisted to curate Taeyang’s long awaited Australian return.
Concluding the night with ‘Superstar’, ‘BODY (아름다워)’, BIGBANG’s ‘Bad Boy’ and ‘Still Life’, the latter of which had the screens displaying the sea of yellow that I remembered from the past, I was super impressed by Taeyang’s 2024 Melbourne concert with its well thought out setlist. Taeyang even did a cover of Chet Faker’s ‘Talk Is Cheap’ just for Australian audiences and shared the limelight with his musicians and dancers, each given time to perform their own solos.
I have nothing but praise for Taeyang’s THE LIGHT YEAR, right down to the video interlude clip which showcased interesting behind the scenes footage of the tour and Taeyang’s open thoughts. Taeyang also was very fond of the “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie – Oi, Oi, Oi!” cheer staple that Australians have come to be known for, which he heartfully embraced and used a few times during the concert, responding after the final chant, “I *love* that sound!”
Speaking with his Melbourne audience one last time from the heart, Taeyang warmly shared, “Thank-you Melbourne for making this happen today. I won’t forget about this night. So beautiful and unforgettable, I love you Melbourne. I will never, ever, ever forget your huge love and energy, and your voice – everything. I’m really, really sad to say goodbye. I’m so happy and felt very lucky today. I owe you for giving me amazing and beautiful nights, beautiful memories. Thank-you so much. I promise you; I will come back soon. And I hope you had a wonderful night. Melbourne, I love you.”
Entertaining, engaging, eloquent, charismatic and sincere, Taeyang was fantastic. He always made the effort to affectionately address his Melbourne audience, while also speaking in English for the entirety of the concert. Stunning fans with his gifts, talents and big smile, every moment shared in the room with him felt like a blessing that many thought would never happen again in Australia. Seeing the beloved Korean musician in his element was a pure wonder to witness live. He is a natural on stage and this is clearly what he was born to do.
I am also personally very thankful to Taeyang, as I would not be writing about K-Pop today if not for his inspiring music. So, with all my heart, I just want to say, “Thank-you”.
Proudly presented by Live Nation Australia and The Black Label, Taeyang performed at his sold out concert in Melbourne at John Cain Arena on Friday November 29 as part of his 2024 tour – THE LIGHT YEAR. This marked the final show of his 2024 Australian visit.
For more information, visit:
https://www.livenation.com.au/taeyang-tickets-adp1010874
https://www.taeyangofficial.com
https://www.instagram.com/__youngbae__
Gallery photography by Rick Clifford.
