There have been some pretty good Kpop and Western collaborations before (BoA and Britney springs to mind) and I’m not suggesting GD&TOP’s song with British singer Pixie Lott is the greatest. However, I think it’s pretty good all the same.
I’ve already talked about Pixie in
a previous article, but basically she rose to fame with soulful dance
pop and when her second album didn’t quite live up to the first, she
decided to try her luck over here. Undoubtedly talented but in need of a
boost, Pixie saw an MV of Big Bang’s rappers and asked YG if
they fancied featuring on her Japanese album. Never ones to miss an
opportunity, YG agreed, and “Dancing On My Own” is the product.
I wasn’t very keen on Pixie’s original version of this, I felt it was
static, lacking charisma or interest. Now, say what you like about
GD&TOP, but they certainly aren’t lacking in those departments. This
new version is on a whole different level.
GD hasn’t sounded this sexy
in a long time and TOP sounds like he has been collaborating with Pixie
for years. There is an ease in this song that some groups struggle to
get after years; it’s a real testament to all three artists that they
can sound this natural with so little experience of each other’s
styles. Marty James, who featured in Pixie’s English
version wasn’t bad, but he was also completely forgettable.
Maybe it’s
the different accents, or the distinct style, but both G-Dragon and TOP
command your attention and keep it. YG idols tend to be pretty good at
English, and their English was close to perfect, useful if this song
transfers to European airwaves. English not Japanese or Korean rapping
and singing was a wise move; a huge part of Pixie’s audience would have
cut out otherwise. There is something thrilling about hearing a
favorite Kpop idol sounding fluent in English, and TOP’s pronounciation
was so nearly spot on. He even did a bit of singing, and his smoky voice
held GD’s higher and slightly more energetic and Pixie’s sensuous
voices together.
It’s more emotive and nostalgic than the last version, the
overlapping voices make it sound like the song could refer to anyone,
not just those three. I particularly liked GD at the end, putting his
“Blue” vocals to work. Was it just me, or did Pixie sound better too?
She seems to have relaxed into the music more and embraced her jazzy
roots.
But that is enough fangirling; there are a few tweaks I’m itching to
make. While the lyrics work fine, I would have loved the boys to write
their own lyrics. It would have been a great learning curve for them,
and further showcased their talents to the Western audience. Their
lyrics are very good but I would have loved to see GD&TOP’s take on
the chorus. I think it would be fairer to say GD&TOP feat. Pixie
Lott, but she held her own, YG did after all, call this a duet – I only
wish I could see this live.
I’m guessing a PV isn’t happening, because it would be interesting to
see if the artists retain their own style or if there is a K-Euro
fusion. Pixie has always stuck to a rather safe wardrobe while
GD&TOP…haven’t; for proof, see their current hair.
Perhaps because it’s low-key, the netizens outrage has been equally
muted. Most people seem genuinely pleased with the result, and while
there are the usual “thumbs up if you are only here for TOP and
GD/Pixie”, a lot of people are willing to further investigate the new
artist. Pixie is considered a million times cooler for such a
collaboration and there is new clamour for the boys to release an
English album. It is pretty much what the record labels were hoping for,
and better than the hate that could so easily have turned against them.
As soon as it was released I waited patiently for the trickle of Kpop
atheists to beg for forgiveness for ever doubting the talents in Kpop.
Well, not really, but I’m hoping this song will get them exposure. I
always felt after their win at the EMAs not much was done to
keep that interest, but that could change. I’ve yet to hear it on the
radio, although I tried to stay tuned. If anyone has heard it do leave
your comments, I’m hoping it has been played somewhere!
Please make a MV for this awesome work!
Source: Antonia@seoulbeats
Shared by Dian@BIGBANGWORLD
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