YG Family Minus Se7en

It's official. YB and Se7en are no longer label-mates. They must have known it for a while but it always takes time for something like this to sink in. I, for one, am saddened that Se7en is no longer there for YB at YG. I am pretty sure they will remain good friends, though. These excerpts from their F.ound interviews show how much they mean to each other at both personal and professional levels.

Excerpts from YB's October 2010 F.OUND interview:

Source: 태양 | 아름다운 스물 셋 Part 1
F.OUND ISSUE > #02 October, 2010 by F.OUND

...
지난 달 파운드 매거진에 실린 세븐의 인터뷰 중에는 태양에 관한 언급이 있다.

진짜 뭐하니? 이게 뭐지?

같은 애들 맞는지...

이런 거 하던 애들이

Backstage with B.A.P: The Dazed Interview

A random thought: BI랑 Zelo랑 나이가 같네요.

[Trans] F.ound Magazine Review of Rise in Seoul: November 2014 Issue

Many thanks to bluemaid for finding this review for me =)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Taeyang, A New Born Rock Star: Rise in Seoul

F.OUND Issue No. 51, November 2014, by F.OUND

by Seo Ok-seon, editor

Translated by pgeorgie 

Note: This pic is not from the original article. This is some random picture I came across on ybmania and found adorable. 

[swf] But all good things have to come to an end

Being a YB fan isn't always easy - you get lied to by YGE often. But in the end, YB almost always makes it up for you. 

이쁜 지코

나랑 취향 좀 겹치는 이쁜 지코. 내가 너 보러갈라구 했는데ㅠㅠ

[Trans] Rise In Malaysia - A Blogger's Review

A Rise in Malaysia review by YB's male fan in Malaysia. Many thanks to feardaooz for the post. 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2015 Taeyang World Tour [RISE] in Malaysia

by feardaooz

Translated by pgeorgie

See original post here: http://www.feardaooz.com/2015/02/entry-160-2015-taeyang-world-tour-rise.html

[Trans] Rise In Singapore: The Straits Times Review

태양, 빅뱅 없이도 이글이글

태양 월드 투어: 라이즈 인 싱가포르
싱가포르 엑스포/일요일

See original article here: http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/music/story/concert-review-bigbangs-taeyang-shines-solo-concert-20150209

by Natasha Ann Zachariah
Translated by pgeorgie 

Photo: Taeyang official facebook

[+Trans] The New Paper: "Shirtless in S'pore: K-pop Star Taeyang Shows Off Bod at Concert", Feb 9, 2015

Feb 9, 2015 6:00am
By: JOCELYN LEE

Big Bang member Taeyang thrills crowd. Photo: TNP/ Choo Chwee Hua

[+ Trans] xinmsn: "The Five Times Taeyang Made Temperatures RISE", Feb. 9, 2015

THE BIGBANG MEMBER HELD HIS FIRST SOLO CONCERT IN SINGAPORE LAST NIGHT
by Dang Hui Ling © Provided by xinmsn

Photos: Isadora Ong

Taeyang, Teach Me How to Dougie

Source: YouTube doublebubblecombo's Channel

Taeyang Rise in Seoul Fan Account by ChicagoxSeoul

This is so great. Of course nothing could possibly compare to actually being there in person in the presence of the Sun but I guess this is the next best thing. Thanks so much for making & posting these videos, Melanie (YouTube @ChicagoxSeoul)!

Part I (Tickets, Venue, & Fangirls)
OK, now I am officially scared that I will never be able to get tickets to his shows unless YG gets a bigger venue next time. 

YB, Come Banter with Me

We all know he's master at teasing and flirting but can he banter? This is an old interview (with The Straits Times; published on September 15, 2014) that really put a smile on my face. I love all YB interviews but especially the ones where he shows his relaxed, funny side, like this one.
---------------------------

BigBang’s Taeyang (third from left) on the group’s staying power. With him are his bandmates (from far left) G-Dragon, T.O.P and Daesung. Fifth member Seungri, who did not come to Singapore, had been in an accident in Seoul and was hospitalised for observations. -- PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI

Taeyang Nominated for the KMAs' Best Song in the R&B/Soul Category!!!

So shocked to find out that YB was NOT nominated for any of the three main awards - Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Musician of the Year!!! How could this be??? 

Well, (as always) I overreacted a bit as a fan should do (I am not saying that you are not a fan if you don't overreact - just trying to rationalize my irrational behavior haha). Having recovered (slightly) from the initial shock, I quickly went to vote. Sadly, you can vote only once, so, YB, you have my one vote! 
-----------------------------------------------------

Source: KMA

List of nominees: Best Song - R&B/Soul

Crush: Hug Me
Zion.T: YangHwa DaeGyeo
Jay Park: Olata
Alshain: Start in You
Taeyang: Eyes, Nose, Lips

Complete list of nominees: Netizens' Choice: Musician of the Year - Male Artists (in Korean alphabetical order)

Eyes, Nose, Lips - Japanese Version Lyrics

After watching YB's Japan Tour DVD, I've decided to get his Japanese version Rise album as well (surprise, surprise). When could I ever resist the temptation to get more YB stuff? I just hope, hope and hope that next time I buy his album it will be his REPACK!!! BTW, I am also getting The Best of Big Bang 2006-2014 despite the fact that to my utmost regret and for reasons I could never ever understand it does not include "Oh My Baby", which is one of my all-time favorite Big Bang songs. 

ギラギラ照らす太陽 (giragira terasu taiyo)! 태양(Taeyang? Sol?)과 함께 배우는 일본어 한 마디 ㅋㅋ 

Source: Twitter (Tower Records Japan)

Source: YouTube urthesunjp1 channel

So the Japan Tour DVD is here...

"저 한테 있어서 음악은 어... 솔직히 말하면 이제 그냥... 음악이... 아직 멀었지만, 쪼끔씩, 쪼끔씩, 제가 되어가는 것 같아요."
"To me, music is, mm... to be honest with you, now it's just... music is... although still a long way to go, little by little, is becoming me, it seems."

Hmm. Deep. I don't know what exactly he means by that but there it is. I guess I was expecting a lot of "아무래두...", which is his No. 1 pet phrase, but instead he speaks tons of Japanese throughout this DVD (well, naturally - it's the Japan Tour DVD, what did you expect?). Personally, I much prefer it when he speaks in English because his English speaking voice is so much sexier. But I guess it's just me. Well, all in all, I enjoyed watching him being playful while being so perfect and liked seeing him with his face unshaven and hair (again) perfectly tousled.