Message FROM YG [2010.08.02] translated~

This is the official message YG put out regarding Taeyang’s International Release Album, translated. It’s pretty much the same, however it explains the concert details and some other things.~

News about release of Taeyang’s new album and activity schedule, postponement of concert from President Yang

Hello, this is Yang Hyun Suk. Bows ~~

I gave my last FROM YG announcement this past May, but it seems that I must make a few more announcement regarding Taeyang’s affairs.

We are planning to wrap up on-air activities of Taeyang’s ‘I Need a Girl,’ which was released this past July 1st as his first full-length album, on this coming episode of ‘MBC Show! Music Core’ to be aired on August 14th.

The reason we will be putting fans’ expectations for a follow-up song and regret towards promotions for ‘I Need a Girl’ behind us is that we are planning to release Taeyang’s brand new album on August 19th.

Release of Taeyang’s brand new album {International Release Album}
As this album will be an ‘international release’ album, it will hold a total of 12 tracks including two new tracks that were not included in the official album and those of Taeyang’s songs that were most popular abroad.

The two new tracks and ‘Wedding Dress’ will be included in its English version. As you all know, as soon as Taeyang’s first full-length album was released, it rose to the number one and two spots on iTunes’ R&B charts in the U.S. and in Canada, and we have been shown much love from international fans, especially in the case of ‘Wedding Dress,’ which received over 10,000 views on YouTube alone.

Since a few months ago, YG has been making our artists’ tracks available through international iTunes, and the next step is to produce our artists’ future tracks and music videos in English versions, and we are planning to release these tracks through iTunes and YouTube and other famous international sites.

First up in this plan is Taeyang and the first trial looks like it will be Taeyang’s ‘international release’ album.

And as a thank-you to all fans, domestic and abroad, who have supported Taeyang, we will include with Taeyang’s ‘international release’ album a DVD of all of his music videos that have been released thus far and a making-of film.

Taeyang’s new title track and promotional activity plans
The title track for Taeyang’s album is called ‘I’ll Be There’ and was written and composed by YG’s main producer and Taeyang’s closest senior Teddy, and if ‘I Need a Girl’ was a smooth, medium tempo R&B track, ‘I’ll Be There’ is a strong, fast-tempo hip-hop R&B track.

We are planning on holding promotions for ‘I’ll Be There’ from the album’s release until September.

Because we are in the midst of planning a music video concept that is completely different from what you have been seeing from Taeyang until now, Taeyang has been working with director Kim Hye Jeong, who was in charge of G-Dragon’s ‘Butterfly’ and ‘She’s Gone’ videos, for the first time.

The reason I am telling you that the concept is different is not only because the dance put together by our choreography Shaun is unique, but also because its uniqueness is to the point that after seeing the choreography in completion about a month ago, I told Shaun that it was the best routine I had seen from him in years.

Please anticipate Taeyang’s new album and promotional activities, which will be coming to you soon.

Taeyang’s solo concert postponed
Taeyang’s solo concert, which was originally to be held on September 4th and 5th, has been inevitably postponed. We had to make this decision seeing that with Big Bang’s promotions in Japan and filming various commercials, Taeyang lacked enough time to prepare for the concert.

Since it was a decision we made because of a desire to put on an even better stage, we appreciate your understanding and patience.

A small excuse regarding concert hall negotiations
As was the case for Taeyang’s solo concert for his mini album, we are looking to hold two separate performances, one for the mature audience (19+) and one for all audiences, and we believed that a maximum capacity of 3-5,000 would be enough to ensure that no one in the audience will be too far from the stage.

Though we first thought of the Fencing Hall, Olympic Hall, and the Jamsil Gymnasium, but as you all know, aside from Olympic Park, the other two locations are under construction until next year, and so the competition to secure a concert hall is that much higher and more difficult.

If it were the case that, like school events or office events, the stage did not have to be grand and all we needed was one day on location, we could be accommodated, but because a singer’s stage requires much construction and rehearsal time, at least one week’s time is needed on location. Requests must be made 6 months in advance to reserve such a space for a concert, and the final decision is made after much review by those in charge.

I will honestly tell you that during the time when the release of Taeyang’s album was continually being postponed, it was impossible to look ahead and be able to submit our request 6 months in advance. Furthermore, because the concert halls’ requirements and review has become even more strict, changing the date or canceling is not permitted, so we were being extra cautious about making reservations.

After the release of Taeyang’s album, our staff made extreme efforts to book a concert hall and the space that we secured was the Hall of Peace. And the reason I thought that this location was suitable was that over 90% of Taeyang’s performance will be done with a live band.

I’ve communicated by pessimistic thoughts regarding the reality of national concert halls, but if you take into consideration the quality of national singers who are leading the Asian music market and their musical content, aside from ‘AX Korea’ which holds 1,000 seats, you can think of professional auditoriums as more executive.

I want you to know that the reason musicians and singers prefer a professional hall is not because they want to put on an awesome stage, but because they want to present the audience with a good sound.

Many people who aren’t specialists don’t know the difference between ‘soundproofing’ and ‘absorption.’ To put it simply, ‘soundproofing’ is blocking sounds and vibrations from going from the inside to the outside, and ‘absorption’ is preventing sounds and vibrations inside the auditorium from ringing. Just like the sound rings when you sing inside a small bathroom, loud music that is played in a large gym also rings, bouncing off all the walls and ceiling. It comes back with a time delay just like an echo, so realistically speaking, it is impossible to present the audience with a satisfying sound in such a space.

Telling you this may not be helpful since the concert has already been postponed, but the reason YG deemed the Hall of Peace as a suitable location for Taeyang’s concert is of course, there was the difficulty in securing any space at all, but in the case of the Hall of Peace, it is a concert hall that is furnished with ‘soundproofing’ and ‘absorption’ in mind, so we were anticipating that we’d be able to present an excellent sound quality to Taeyang’s fans who would come to see the show.

I hope there will be no further misunderstanding, and we do look ahead to many more difficulties, but we will put all our effort into it. Thank you..

2010 08 02 From Yang Hyun Suk

Translations by Seungie