GD&TOP

GD&TOP are two Korean Rappers/Singers that were both in a group called Big Bang, together. They, however, have done a collaboration on a few small album with just the two of them. The three videos I will be talking about are apart of one of their collaboration albums.

1.Knockout

‘Knockout’ by GD&TOP. Now this set of songs are not actually in English beside a few English words thrown in there, like knockout, bubble-gum and movie star. 

The production on the music video seems similar to most western rap/pop songs with the only differences being the language and just how colourful the singers actually are. There are many attractive girls dancing in this video, cool and unique clothes, a tank, awesome special effects and other amazing things. It is set mostly in a white space which doesn’t draw attention away from the colourful and strange things that the singers/rappers are doing, wearing or holding.

The song lyrics itself, which I had found a video which had English lyrics to accompany them, shows that the song is really just an introduction to the singer. The song is fun with a catchy tune with no deep meaning, just the two singers/rappers telling everyone how much of a ‘knockout’ they are. They brag about how, even if you don’t know them, you’d be knocked out when you see them. How they work every day, but you are welcome to join them at night. In the spectrum of how most music videos of this genre, it ticks all of the boxes. 

2. Don't go home

Next song is called ‘don’t go home’ by GD&TOP. The transition from the last video to this video is something that I find very interesting. The first shot, while not the last shot of the first video in this series ‘Knockout’, is seen on an old styled television. The television screen goes fuzzy and someone hits it and the image changes, and a movie logo appears before words come onto the screen announcing ‘THE GD&TOP SHOW “Don’t go home”’.

The music video itself depicts a story of a boy who is going out with a girl and seems as if he is trying to make it so that she doesn’t notice that its getting late and she’ll have to go home soon. There are multiple instances where he stops her from seeing the time or, with the help of friends, stops her from being able to call someone and he even beats up bad guys to protect her. She does end up leaving but as he’s walking around sadly she comes back and he ends up taking her back to his room and ending with the first glance of the other singer sitting on the couch with a girl.

The feel of the song was very different from the last, it was sweeter and a bit more pop then rap or hip hop. The lyrics talk about a boy not wanting a girl to go home yet. Trying to convince her to stay with him longer and how she wants to leave at 12 but he wants her to stay. He sings about being afraid of her strict family but excited to be with her, he also calls her ‘the prettiest fiancé in the world’ signalling that they are committed to each other as he leads her to his room.

3. Baby Goodnight

The third music video I will be looking at is called ‘Baby Goodnight’. The transition picks up right where ‘Don’t go Home’ left off with them walking into his room and seeing his roommate and friend sitting there with a girl.

The video is very sensual but with a mix of a sweetness. The video has a lot of scenes where the singers are fawning over their girlfriends. Feeding them, the girl sleeping on one, the singer placing a blanket on her or just setting up a meal for her. In the clips where the singers are alone they are looking sad or dreaming about their girlfriends. The video ends when, after being unable to sleep, the singers end up in the living room together.

The melody of this one starts off, again, completely different than that of the other two songs. This one is much more soft and slow in a sensual way. This is reinforced by first lyrical words are spoken in French by a woman saying ‘It’s good. Make me feel good’. The song lyrics are very poetic with the singer asking if he should ‘draw the image of her sleeping’ and later saying ‘A ray of light trickles in through the crack of the dim balcony. A perfect silhouette.’ The singer also thanks the woman for being by his side, saying he is undeserving of her and that he always dreams of her. He repeatedly calls her beautiful and sings of wishing that he could pause the moment, not wanting to say goodbye to her.

Overall Story

These three videos are very different from one another, from the sound of each of them to the video clips, even the styles the singer. However, the artists have done an amazing job at combining them to achieve music that, not only sound and look good separately and that create a story, but also tell a larger one combined.

Looking at the combination of all of these three music videos tell a very distinct story about a boy who is quite egotistical and frankly full of himself. One who thinks that everyone thinks he is amazing and in awe of him when suddenly he meets a girl who he can’t help but want to spend all his time with. She has strict parents who say she has to be home at a certain time and he doesn’t want her to go. Then he changes and speaks of how amazing and beautiful she is, missing her when she is not with him and wishing that they could be together and not have to say goodbye. It was a beautiful story that was realistic and relatable.