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On December 4, 2024, an unexpected spotlight fell on K-pop star G-Dragon’s discography. The artist’s 2013 track Coup d’Etat, known for its provocative theme of rebellion, climbed to the top of South Korea’s search rankings on various sites and music streaming platforms like Melon. The track is part of the rapper's second studio album of the same name.
His other track, Bullsh*t, released in 2017, also secured a spot among the top searches. This came amid South Korea’s turbulent political climate due to President Yoon Suk-yeol’s sudden declaration of martial law.
Though martial law was overturned within six hours, the upheaval disrupted various sectors and prompted netizens to revisit G-Dragon’s work, particularly Coup d’Etat, whose title translates to a military overthrow of a government. For context, the term "Coup d'Etat" originates from French, where 'coup' means "blow" or "strike," and 'état' refers to "state" or "government." Therefore, Coup d'Etat translates to "a blow against the state" or "a strike against the government."
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Fans highlighted how the song’s lyrics seem eerily prescient given the current political landscape. They talked about the significance of art in reflecting societal struggles, with fans mentioning that G-Dragon’s influence extends beyond music into cultural and political commentary. The first few lines of the track Coup d'Etat read:
"The revolution will not be televised/ The revolution is in your mind/ The revolution is here."
Some fans connected the resurgence of these tracks to G-Dragon’s recent accolade at the 2024 MAMA Awards in Japan. Held on November 23 at Kyocera Dome Osaka, the event was his first appearance at MAMA after nine years. He received the newly-introduced "Music Visionary of the Year Award" to honor his contributions to K-pop. An X user @itwasntmely wrote:
"GD, you will always be relevant. won music visionary award as you should."
Others also joined in to celebrate G-Dragon’s enduring relevance, with many highlighting the difference between fame and impactful artistry.
"There is a big difference between artists who have impact and artists who are famous as a trend. The former will leave a legacy behind it while the latter will be forgotten as times goes. G Dragon is the former and I'm afraid he is still the only one. THIS IS INSANE!!!," a fan wrote.
"Whoever runs the MAMA awards must be very smug right now about giving GD that visionary award," another user commented on X.
"G-Dragon being a symbol of struggle and justice, we love it," another X user said.
Another user on X commented:
"GD's music fits all scenarios."
Fans also mentioned how his work continues to inspire conversations about creativity and resistance. They called his works the power of art as a form of expression and empowerment.
"Some people find this funny but this is why art helps dismantle fascism. People find comfort and empowerment in art and there is freedom in being able to express one's creativity. This is why art and literature are some of the first things to go when fascism grows stronger," another X user wrote.
"there will not be another gdragon in korean history im afraid he is too iconic," another fan said.
More about G-Dragon's latest appearance at the 2024 MAMA Awards
G-Dragon's appearance at the 2024 MAMA Awards in Japan sparked widespread excitement. He delivered a memorable speech and reunited with his BIGBANG bandmates on stage. Honored with the inaugural Music Visionary of the Year Award, the rapper blended humor and gratitude during his acceptance speech.
The speech referenced his iconic 2014 critique of the awards system. His witty remark about the “fair distribution” of awards left fans reminiscing about his candid commentary over the years. In 2014, during his performance at the event, G-Dragon performed a rap that subtly criticized the show. The lyrics suggested that MAMA handed out awards without the winners having truly earned them. The lyrics read:
"It's been a year, MAMA. Because you set such a large table/awards/ You hand it out generously so your children don't fight"
The event marked G-Dragon's first MAMA stage in nearly a decade, and he reflected on his 17-year journey with the ceremony. He expressed gratitude to his team, including YG Entertainment and his bandmates, while teasing fans with a promise to return for the award next year.
Moreover, the artist reunited with Taeyang and Daesung for the performances of BIGBANG’s classic hits, including Bang Bang Bang and Fantastic Baby. This reunion was the group’s first stage together since the departure of T.O.P. and Seungri.
During the brief period of martial law, South Korea's entertainment sector experienced significant disruptions. As per The Korea Herald, The promotional team for Netflix's The Trunk rescheduled actress Seo Hyun-jin's media interview in Seoul from Wednesday to Friday.
Popstar Dua Lipa's concerts at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Wednesday and Thursday have sparked fan concerns over potential cancellations following the martial law declaration. However, Live Nation Korea has yet to release an official statement suggesting the shows are likely to continue as scheduled.
