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Taeyang | Infinitely closer to the sun (Sept. 8, 2010)“Youngbae really isn’t that kind of guy.” These words were spoken by Teddy, who had composed Dong Young Bae/Taeyang’s ‘Only Look At Me.’ Taeyang isn’t a bad guy who could say something like, “Even if I cheat, don’t you ever cheat,” like it says in ‘Only Look At Me.’ This is the truth. Taeyang is not that kind of person. He’s never dated, and appearing on entertainment programs is still awkward for him. Even on SBS ‘Heroes,’ which is full of girl idols including IU who say that he is their ideal type, he simply sang a song and left.
Instead, he loves music. Until recently, if you take out the time he spent in promotions, all of his time was spent in the studio working on his new album ‘SOLAR.’ And because he wasn’t quite satisfied with the tracks that were in the making, he “turned it all over” and replaced at least half the album with brand new songs. How are you supposed to believe this? During the entire interview, he spoke without ceasing about the work he put into ‘SOLAR,’ about music, and the stage. Taeyang’s first solo album ‘HOT’ had received almost unanimous praise from critics. In ‘HOT,’ he knew how to reconcile smooth sounds and vocals, and instead of a R&B vocal tone, he conveyed a R&B feel.
Taeyang’s style, which can only be understood with music
‘SOLAR’ dug deeper into the music that he loves. In terms of the weight of singles, it is difficult for ‘I Need a Girl’ to surpass ‘Only Look At Me.’ But the surprise of ‘HOT’ was that a member of an idol group in Korea had digested a mature R&B feel. On the other hand, ‘SOLAR’ focuses on the consistent expression of an emotion pursued by one artist. The problem was that the focus changed to how the rhythms and tones were adjusted in terms of genre and vocal style. In ‘Only Look At Me,’ the rhythm was created by sounds that filled up every crack and crevice, and Taeyang followed this rhythm to sing with maturity. But in ‘I Need a Girl,’ the sound is so simple to the point where it looks empty. In ‘You’re My,’ the keyboard makes up the entire arrangement. It is entirely up to Taeyang to pull the song along. In between the rhythms and in between the melody, he adds variety to his vocals. It is no coincidence that all the songs, from ‘Solar’ to ‘Break Down,’ that Taeyang had put into his album after throwing away half his original tracks, all consistently stick to a medium tempo. In the middle of a loose rhythm, Taeyang has the freedom to lead the song to wherever he wishes.
All of this is not for the sake of a talent show for musicians who can sing well. Apart from ‘You’re My,’ the tracks on ‘SOLAR’ are filled with ad libs. In ‘Break Down,’ he casually changes up his tone to prove his competency, to the point where he seems absentminded. But in this way, he draws the subtle picture that he wants to depict. It’s the atmosphere created by delicate movements that could very well be called an elegant bounce. The feel-good bounce that pervades through ‘I Need a Girl’ from beginning to end.
Or the rhythmic sense that runs through ‘Move’ that makes you dance even with its low lyrical melody. Taeyang is not bluffing when he says that his musical goal is to “make music that is hopeful in the morning and comforting at night.” As if he were creating his own utopia, he persistently dug into the spaces between the beats to build a bounce, a melody, and a style that only his voice could create. He has completed his personal style with his voice that can be understood by all only through music.
The long and difficult road an idol must walk
But the victory that Taeyang achieved with ‘SOLAR’ could be his dilemma. His performance of ‘I Need a Girl’ can be enjoyed if his elegant bounce is accepted. The rhythm that doesn’t end once the music starts and makes you move your body is a result of the combination of Taeyang’s vocals and the percussion in the background. Only when you feel this will you understand why Taeyang uses small gestures instead of flashy steps. Like JYP’s assessment that he “plays with the beat,” Taeyang shows just how much of a unique rhythmic sense he has in ‘Where U At.’ While regular dancers are showing off how well they can match the beat, Taeyang shows us a variety of movements while keeping the beat of the music, as if he is continually stretching and loosening a tight rubber band. But he no longer dances that way. Instead, he puts together a choreography concept that is like a musical. In the recently promoted track ‘I’ll Be There,’ instead of flashy technique, he only moves as necessary to fit into the picture created by the stage concept of a horror movie. It was a huge gamble. Korea is not easily enthused by a song and a stage that does not put forth a catchy melody, a lively mechanical sound, nor a technique that shows the skills of the artist in one glance. ‘SOLAR’ album sales were good to the point where its 30 thousand limited edition albums were sold out. But it is difficult to say its music scores met expectations. Popularity and musicality, and the distance between a musician in his own world and an idol who’s looking out into the audience. Taeyang could become an idol to whom the masses have a hard time drawing near.
But a turning point. ‘SOLAR’ was in the top 100 on iTunes overall album charts. In Canada, it was #1 on iTunes R&B/Soul. Foreign fans, who became his fan since the days of ‘Wedding Dress’ as they followed his dance, welcomed ‘SOLAR.’ To them, it could be that the subtle emotion in his vocals and his songs that succeeded with bounce is more popular. It could be that he is at the place where his will and the public’s tastes are matched. An idol that is good at music but has no fiber when it comes to entertainment shows, both a famous idol and a musician that holds out for his own style. The unique and successful hero that made himself known abroad even when he received a less than desirable reaction in Korea. We wonder what lies ahead for Taeyang, this sincere young man, who seems to be everywhere and nowhere all at once.
Translated: seungie @ tumblr
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