South Korean K-pop boy band BigBang is marking their 20th anniversary with a world tour that includes two sold-out shows at Singapore’s National Stadium on October 17 and 18. This tour, named XX: Cosmos, is BigBang’s first as a trio, following the departure of members Seungri in 2019 and T.O.P in 2022. The current lineup features leader and main rapper G-Dragon, main vocalist and dancer Taeyang, and lead vocalist Daesung.
The XX: Cosmos tour began in August in Goyang, South Korea, and has since included stops in major cities across the United States, Europe, and Asia, such as Oakland, East Rutherford, Paris, London, and Taipei. After Singapore, the tour will continue to cities including Hanoi, Sydney, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and various locations in Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Taiwan.
For fans in Singapore, known as VIPs, the upcoming concerts hold particular significance. Many have followed BigBang’s career for over a decade, recalling the band’s earlier prominence in the 2010s. Some fans have gone to great lengths to attend multiple shows across Asia, demonstrating their continued dedication by purchasing tickets, displaying themed decorations, and engaging deeply with BigBang’s music and legacy. One fan, a tutor in her 60s, has even prioritized this tour over luxury purchases, while others have embraced personal tributes such as tattoos commemorating BigBang’s songs.
BigBang last performed in Singapore in 2016 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Since then, the group’s activities were interrupted by members’ mandatory military service and internal changes. Seungri’s 2019 exit followed a high-profile entertainment and sex scandal, and T.O.P officially left the group in 2022. Despite the hiatus and lineup changes, the band has made a strong return with this anniversary tour.
The concert setlist includes many of BigBang’s iconic hits from their early career, adapted to suit the current three-member formation. In particular, older songs have been rearranged, while some tracks retain original vocal parts from the departed members. For example, T.O.P’s vocals remain on “Still Life” (2022), which is expected to close the show. The group also highlights solo performances from G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung, showcasing their individual talents alongside group numbers.
BigBang released a new single titled “Biiig” in August, a hip-hop track expected to feature prominently in the live performances, embellished with extensive projections and light effects. The band’s reunion and ongoing presence have generated significant attention, including a recent media art exhibition in Seoul celebrating their two decades of influence in the K-pop industry.
During a recent concert in Goyang, Taeyang reflected on their reunion, expressing hope for longevity with his remark: “We have finally performed together again after eight years and eight months. At this rate, maybe we will still be performing when we are 88.” The upcoming performances in Singapore mark a significant chapter in BigBang’s evolving career and reaffirm their status as influential figures in the global K-pop scene.