Chapter 90 Chapter 90

On February 20th, Bigbang appeared on the SBS talk show "Healing Camp" and directly addressed the controversy that has accumulated over the past year for the first time. On February 22nd, the title song "Blue" was released in advance.

On the same day, it swept all music charts and achieved all kills. On February 29, the fifth mini album "Alive" was officially released. After the album was released, it quickly swept the major charts, not only did all the songs enter the top ten,

It also became the first Korean album to be listed on the US Billboard 200 album chart. As the topic and the number of plays continued to ferment, "Alive" became K-

Phenomenal works in the history of pop, "Blue", "Fantastic Baby" and "Bad Boy" have topped major music platforms one after another, and the MV views have exceeded 10 million.

For decades, K-pop has been circling the Asian market. This is the first time a purely Korean-language album has successfully entered the Western mainstream market, marking a significant leap forward in the global cultural output of Korean pop music.

YG Entertainment also took advantage of the opportunity to announce that Bigbang will embark on a global tour called the "ALIVE GALAXY TOUR," starting in Seoul. The first show is scheduled for March 2nd, and tickets quickly sold out.

At this point, those who initially questioned whether a comeback was premature were completely drowned out by the market's reaction. "An unrepeatable miracle," this time, it seemed Bigbang had once again made history.

The online discussion was overwhelming: "Even if you are not a fan, you have to admit that "Alive" is of a truly high standard." "The music industry needs Bigbang." "Last year I said they were finished, now I apologize, ahsi"

"I can't accept drug use. Doesn't the Republic of Korea have memories?" "Who asked you that? Just shut up and listen to your 'Bolulu' song." "YG's PR is too strong... But the song is really good, I can't deny it."

"Why are there still internet trolls hired by YG PR... have all the funds been spent on this, kk" "No wonder the other responses are such a mess" "I'm not saying this, but only talent can shut the public up, GD is a god"

"The Billboard 200 is going crazy. K-pop is finally blooming in the US." "Only Bigbang can achieve this level of global success."

"It's not that YG's PR is strong, it's that Bigbang itself is strong enough." "JYP is about to cry, kkk." "Jinyoung, just poach GD, then you can enter the US market." ...

This is a spring dominated by Bigbang and "KPOP STAR", and almost all hot searches and topics revolve around these two names.

Taking advantage of the popularity of the album, YG has released "Blue", "Fantastic Baby", "Bad

Boy" MV behind-the-scenes video. Fans were enthusiastic and the behind-the-scenes video was repeatedly disassembled and analyzed, including many viewers who also followed "KPOP STAR". Soon, a message on "Bad

The discussion under the clip of "Bad Boy" was: "Perhaps no one feels that the melody at 3 minutes and 18 seconds is a little familiar?"

The MV for "Boy" was shot on the streets of New York, USA. At 3 minutes and 18 seconds, Dasheng faced the camera and played the playlist on Kwon Ji-yong's phone.

"Everyone has been working non-stop recently. My brothers have to keep an eye on the progress of music production and cooperate with us in the shooting of albums and materials." In the camera, he has short silver hair and moves around the shooting scene skillfully.

"Right now, Brother Zhilong and Brother Yongpei are filming over there—" The scene changed, and the two of them were standing quietly on a street corner in the distance, filming. "So, what should I do during this break?"

"Ah! Damn!" He turned the camera and waved to the fans, "Let me share with you what songs our Bigbang members have been listening to recently!"

As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and swiped open his playlist. As an old-school listener, Dasheng's playlist was full of traditional trot music.

"Actually, I think our country's trot is really nice." He randomly clicked on one of the songs, and the high-pitched melody immediately rang out from the speakers. "Ever since singing 'Look at Me Guishun', I've become more and more fond of trot songs..."

As he spoke, he shook the phone in his hand with great interest.

From a distance, a crew member called out: Kwon Ji-yong and Yong-bae had finished filming the long shot and were heading toward the rest area. Dae-sung caught sight of them approaching from the corner of his eye and quickly ended the footage, turning the camera to focus on them.

"Next, what song is our brother Yongpei listening to recently?" "So sudden?" Yongpei was a little surprised, but still handed over his phone with a smile.

"Come and see..." Dasheng glanced down and exclaimed exaggeratedly, "It's actually my solo!"

"VIPs, this isn't a staged photoshoot. Yongbae really does play his own songs on repeat," Dasheng teased. "Are you planning on releasing a new album?"

"Let's finish the group's album first. If there's a chance, we'll soon release new songs." Yongpei responded with a smile.

"TV!" Dasheng smiled and shook his head, then turned the camera to Quan Zhilong, who was not far away, looking down at his phone. "Brother, it's your turn!" He leaned over, "What have you been listening to lately? Let the VIPs know."

Quan Zhilong raised his eyebrows and greeted the camera. Just as he was about to switch the page himself, Dasheng snatched the phone away from him.

"It would be boring if I let you choose by yourself. I'll just point to the camera and click play to see what you're listening to lately—" As he spoke, he took a few steps back to avoid Quan Zhilong's attempt to snatch the phone back. "Young Bae did the same thing just now. Let's be fair~"

Quan Zhilong had no choice but to smile and complain to the camera: "Hey Robben, have you seen how everyone bullies me?" At this time, the "Now Playing" column on the phone screen showed a song called "July

Eve". It was only 30 seconds long and the artist was unknown, so it was obviously not a regularly released song. Dasheng didn't pay much attention and clicked to play it.

"Music isn't a secret, let's listen to this song I've been playing on repeat lately—" A clear piano note, mixed with a hint of background noise, slowly streamed out of the phone's speaker. Dasheng paused. Why does it sound like a demo?

He glanced at Quan Zhilong in a panic. If the unreleased demo was leaked, it would be really troublesome.

Quan Zhilong sat calmly, as if he had anticipated this scene. He made a "cut" gesture to the staff off-camera, indicating that this part should be edited out in post-production.

Dasheng understood immediately and said calmly, "Okay, let's see what the next song is--" He quickly clicked on the second song, which was Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love Forever".

You." aza! He knew the song. He immediately clicked play and the familiar melody sounded. "A few stolen moments is all that we share

though I've tried to resist, being last on your list..." Whitney's voice slowly flowed out from the speaker.

"I've been feeling pretty sentimental lately," Daesung joked. "Yeah, I've been really into this song lately, and I'm recommending it to the VIPs. Of course, please support 'Alive' once the new album comes out," Kwon Ji-yong added with a smile.

......

When this clip was first released, it didn't attract much attention, with comments mostly focused on the members' unusual looks and makeup. It wasn't until the comment "This melody sounds familiar" became a trending topic that people began to re-examine that 30 seconds in the video.

It clearly sounds like a melody from an unreleased source, yet it wasn't edited and instead appeared in its entirety in the official behind-the-scenes footage. "Oh my god, I know why it sounds so familiar. It's Kim Woo-chan's 'Lover'!" "???"

"Here they go again, empty mouth plagiarism?" "Ah Xi, where did this hater come from? If you have the guts, explain yourself clearly before you leave." "This behind-the-scenes footage was released before his performance, so GD didn't copy him." "How come there are still people questioning GD today, Flo

Did Rida forget?" "July... Was it written last July?" ...

As the popularity of "Lover" has not diminished, this comment was quickly pinned with high praise, and some people even started a special thread to analyze the timeline of the MV behind-the-scenes footage.

There is no need for careful comparison, you can tell with your ears that the melody of the short 30-second "July Eve" on Kwon Ji-yong's phone is exactly the core part of the chorus of "Lover".

If Kwon Ji-yong wrote it first and then gave it to Kim Woo-chan to perform, it seems to make sense, but it is too far-fetched.

In the behind-the-scenes footage of "STAR", Kwon Ji-yong and Kim Woo-chan had contact within YG, but Kim Woo-chan clearly said during the performance that it was a "self-composed song."

Regardless of the truth, the clip quickly went viral. The day after its release, the topic topped Naver's real-time search results. Kim Woo-chan stood at the door of the director's office, hesitating for a long time.

A week had passed since the live broadcast of the elimination match, but he still hadn't fulfilled his original promise to "withdraw from the competition." He had never felt the weight of popularity so truly.

These days, the internet is full of posts praising him - "musical genius", "debut spot reserved"... The melody he stole seemed to have opened the floodgates of some kind of destiny. Overnight, he went from being unknown to the protagonist in the spotlight, and his original works that had been ignored in the past were also unearthed one by one.

He had never been so tormented.

It took immense courage to continue down a wrong path. Even more painful was the fact that he hadn't seen Lia at the TV station since that backstage argument. They clearly worked in the same workplace, but even a single move by one person to avoid her was enough to make them seem like strangers.

He began to waver and even gradually lost confidence in his initial judgment.

What is more terrifying than the truth being revealed is the suspenseful waiting - not knowing whether the truth will be revealed, when, and how it will be revealed.

"Yucanxi?" The door was suddenly opened. Zhao Hejin, who was about to go out, saw him and stopped. "It's just right. I was looking for you. Come in."

Jin Yucan straightened almost reflexively. He nodded blankly and followed him in. Zhao Hejin was the program director responsible for coordinating the contestants. There was also a production coordinator in the room, and both of them looked uneasy.

"Sit down." Zhao Hejin patted the sofa opposite him and sat down first. Jin Yucan nodded and sat down carefully: "PD-nim, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Zhao Hejin didn't answer directly, but opened the phone and handed it to him: "Take a look at the trending searches first, and then we'll talk about what's next." Jin Yucan took the phone. On the screen, several entries were soaring: #Quan Zhilong

Kim Woo Chan Lover #Lover Kwon Ji-yong Demo Original Song #Kim Woo Chan Kwon Ji-yong Relationship #Lover Original Song Author

Jin Yucan stared blankly at the screen, unable to react for a moment. His throat was tight, his fingers were cold, and his chest felt like it had been punched. He couldn't understand how things had escalated to this point.

But the things he stole had already been quietly priced from the moment he decided to take them.

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