This was supposed to be posted up a few hours earlier, but the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics totally distracted me. That ceremony was absolutely incredible.

YG Entertainment’s Big Bang made a bang in the music industry right from their debut in 2006. As of now, they have one full album, three minialbums, three singles, and two minialbums that were released in Japan with English songs. Their greatest hit is Lie [거짓말] which was released back in August of 2007. Ever since then, they have been taking over all of the music charts and fans couldn’t be more proud of them.

Today, 08/08/08, they have finally released their 3rd minialbum, which many fans have been anticipating. It was originally supposed to be released on August 1st, but I’m sure YG fans know how you can never trust the YG Man’s words. Yesterday I was going insane while waiting for the album to be up for download (oh dear, pirated music). Mr. YG somehow find a way to somehow keep the album from spreading until 11am Korea time (10pm EST), while albums are usually released by the time I wake up. The minialbum consists of six songs and includes songs that are perfect for the Olympics (which are today!).

Enough of my rambling; here is my review for their third minialbum titled Stand Up. I had to get a good night’s rest before I could start writing this, due to my excessive fangirling.

01 Stand Up (Intro)
This is the hottest intro song I have ever heard in my life. I’m sure that many VIPs out there will agree with me when I say that I wish this was a full song. 1:37 is NOT long enough for a song with this much hotness! As usual, the boys are spelling out “BIGBANG” and occasionally saying the names of the members. Everyone’s vocals and rapping was hot in here. It definitely got me in the mood to listen to the rest of the album.

“Everybody stand up, stand up! Everybody WAKE UP, WAKE UP!”

Preview Video:

T.O.P and Daesung’s parts were not included in here.

“You want some more? (Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me)
You want some more?”

YES, as a matter of fact I do! Now add on another 1:30 to that song and I’ll be satisfied!

02 하루 하루 {Haru Haru/Day by Day} [Title Song]
This is the title song of the minialbum, and I think it was a good choice. The song was produced with the help of the artist Daishi Dance. This was pretty interesting, since a few months back, YG was accused of plagiarism with one of Daishi Dance’s songs. This just shows that no plagiarism was involved. It is my favorite track of the album (besides the intro) and I’ve been listening to it all day. This track has a piano playing softly in the background, creating the mood of a sad song. The piano sort of reminds me of “Lie”, though. T.O.P’s and G-Dragon’s rapping in the first verse is my favorite part, along with the chorus. I’m glad Seungri and Daesung were able to sing a few more lines than usual in this song. Their voices are love. I like the meaning of the song, even though it’s very sad. I think the music video was fitting with the song. Now, moving onto the music video.

Music Video

Many people have said that this music video is “emo”, similar to the “Lie” music video, and it was cliché. Although I agree with all of the above, this has become my favorite music video. It was nice seeing G-Dragon act, and he did a great job at it. The fight scene between G-Dragon and T.O.P was insanely hot (to me, at least), G-Dragon was good acting all depressed and angry, and the hospital scene left me speechless. I have to mention the eyeliner in the video. G-Dragon had so much of it on, haha, but it fit his character well. Although T.O.P already looks like he wears eyeliner, he looks smoking in it! If you don’t understand the video, the girl hid her illness from G-Dragon so she would not be a burden to him, and also broke up with him and used T.O.P as a fake boyfriend. The video could have been a little more original, though. The GD running scene, running around in parking lots, the boys singing while the girl is around, etc. were all very similar to Lie. I loved when G-Dragon says, “Oh girl, I cry cry. You’re my all, say goodbye.” It gets me everytime, haha. I was tearing up at the end. Poor girl (Park Min Young from the drama T.O.P starred in I Am Sam), I thought she was going to live. I’m not going to lie, I love cliché videos and this is my favorite.

03 천국 {Heaven}
The song opens up with a beautiful orchestra playing, fitting the heavenly theme. This track is basically a song expressing a strong love and how being with the girl is like “24/7 heaven”. This is a cute song that is easy on the ears. The beat of the song is similar to many songs on their minialbums, so it’s nothing new. I think this song is worth a listen. I like it next after Day by Day.

“My other half that I’ve waited and waited for,
I always had a dream about you
You are my resting place in my heart,
I want to stare and stare again, give and give again”

04 착한 사람 {Good Man}
This is the greatly anticipated track that was produced by T.O.P, with the help of Kush. I can definitely feel Kush’s style in this song. T.O.P’s style seems different from G-Dragon when it comes to producing. I think the song sounds like one that would be playing during a hot date. Overall, the song is just okay (I’m sorry, T.O.P!). I’m not quite sure what I think about it. I don’t hate it, and I don’t love it, either. My favorite part was when Taeyang was accompanying T.O.P during one of the verses. They sounded good together. Daesung’s voice sounded amazing, too.

“I wouldn’t be like this if I was a good man
But I am not a bad man, right?
Please don’t say it was a misunderstanding
A wrinkled sentimental heart, my last pride thrown away”

05 Lady
Lady has a summer-y feel to it. I think it’s a cute song and enjoyable. The first lines of “excuse me miss” remind me of Chris Brown’s Yo (Excuse Me Miss). This track also reminds me of Jesse McCartney’s current song, which I cannot think of the title right now. The song basically consists of a guy trying to catch a girl’s attention.

“Hold on a sec, excuse me miss – name? Age? Do you have time?
Girl, I won’t hurt you, I am a gentleman so hurry up
What’s yo’ name”

06 Oh My Friend ft. No Brain
I think this is the song that was written for the 2008 Olympics. I did NOT expect the song to sound the way it did just by judging the title. I was expecting something soft and sweet, but I was way off. This song has a rock-ish feel and the chorus is full of screaming done by No Brain. Although this song is my least favorite on the album, I think it’s still a cute song. I think the song fits its purpose. Very happy, exciting, etc. I’m glad to see Big Bang stepping out of their boundaries once again and trying something new.

“Oh my friend oh my friend; I will be your friend forever
Oh my friend oh my friend; only you can make me live
Oh my friend oh my friend; I will become a tree behind you silently
Oh my friend oh my friend; my friend I love you dear friend”

Overall: I really love this album, but that might be my post-anticipation speaking. I honestly love everything Big Bang does, so I’m just biased. It was nice hearing them try out some new styles with the last few styles, but I honestly think the style of music that Lie [거짓말], Last Farewell [마지막 인사], and Day by Day [하루 하루] has is getting old. I really miss Big Bang’s old hip-hop style, like in Goodbye Baby, LaLaLa, V.I.P, Victory. Big Bang entered the music industry as hip-hop artists, and now I don’t really know what to classify them as. Maybe all of the popularity from “Lie” influenced them to keep with this music style. So anyways, this album is worth a listen.

The servers of downloading sites were down yesterday due to the insane VIPs, but if you haven’t gotten the album yet, download Big Bang’s 3rd Minialbum Stand Up here from Megaupload!

Listen to it here on IMEEM!

Support the artist and buy the album here from Yesasia.

Feel free to share your opinions.

**Catch their comeback performance on Sunday, August 10th on SBS**