Dear fellow V.I.P'z,

After you have finished reading this blog, I am saddened to say that this will be my final entry for BBTM...

After years of hardwork and dedication I've put into this band (with the help of others in the past), I have decided to close BBTM due to uncontrollable circumstances. I don't want to go into too much detail about why I've decided to close my band but I have and I wouldn't be going through with it if I didn't think it was the right thing to do. Due to my prolonged absence and the lack of updates over the past few months, I know most of you would probably agree with me . Or some might say that everyone (including myself) saw this coming to an end- especially after reading my last blog entry!

Two years have passed by so quickly! From BBTM07, BBTM08 and now to BBTM09...
I've never thought I'd end up becoming so passionate over something as important to me as this band...and to leave it so suddenly..it just seems so surreal!
Instead of walking away feeling sad and beat up, I will walk away from this amazing experience and take with me all the successful accomplishments I've achieved within the last 2 years! Logging in every afternoon after school and quickly updating the band with new updates was a great joy! But what was x10 more enjoyable for me was reading everyone's comments and feedback

Everyone-fans-friends-VIP'z I say this over and over again (I can't help it) you are the heart and soul of this band! I would not have survived this long journey without the love and support from everyone! Especially my faithful bunch of regular VIPz (you know who you are)...we all shared many memorable moments together and you all continuously showed your support and eagerness to help keep this band alive without my presence.
I thankyou all so much from the very very bottom of my weary heart<3 Thankyou...

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Many ppl have asked me about becoming a moderator of this band to help with the updates and I thankyou all for your concern and guidance but it just wouldn't feel right. I know I sound weird right now but to me, BBTM isn't all just about updates...


“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.”

People change, I changed...life goes on I guess...I know the time is right to move on..and unfortunately that time is right now.

I hope I have inspired other moderators to continue to strive with their own bands...enjoy every moment your in and just have fun with it! Connect with your fans as much as possible
because without any of them nothing you do is really worth it!

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20/05/07

Exactly 1 year and 5 months ago BBTM opened on this same very exact date and now fast forward to ..

20/05/09

BBTM will close down in the midst and hopes of other Big Bang bands to continue their support for the greatest Korean Band alive...

“What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.”

It has been my great pleasure to update and work on BBTM for the past 2 yrs and I thankyou everyone sincerely for your kindness and support you have given to me and my band. I will always and forever be a V.I.P and I hope you all will too~!

Take care and I urge you all to join as much Big Bang bands out there as possible!!

With all my love,

Your past but never forgotten BBTM Head Moderator,

*Bananza Princess* a.k.a B.P

[GOODBYE~GOODBYE~BAYBEEE]

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**There will be no more updates as of from this point on...Both BBTM09 and YBTM09 bebo accounts will be deleted at a later date**

Plz feel free to PM me any questions/concerns, thanks!

Dear fellow V.I.P'z,

Hello hello! How are you all??
It's been so long since I've written in here let alone updated BBTM T.T
I apologise for my absence over these past few months, as displayed in the video I've created, I took advantage of Big Bang's "breakup" period to sort out my schedule and everything...I want to take this opportunity to just fill you guys in on what I've been up to during this long break (to prove I wasn't slacking off kekeke).

I'll make it short, simple & in order:
1. Was a graduate of 2008
2. Gained a casual job
3. Applied for my Learners
4. Entered into my desired college (Meee College - Cert III in Hairdressing)
5. Got the boot from my boss (not in a bad way...i think lol)
6. Ongoing exams and assignments :S
7. Regular driving lessons
8. Broke 2 of my computer towers in a row (Eeesh!! I lost all my data! )
9. Continuing with job hunting

and lastly,

10. Re-opening BBTM09!

I don't know how I did all this within a few months but I managed to pull through till the end...but I have to admit, my updates aren't up to my usual standards! It actually took longer than i had planned so I'm sorry for the late re-opening...

I've always been watching over you guys and the band, I had so much urge to comment but sometimes I was afraid that no one was going to read it ( I don't know if it's my fault or everyone is too busy..) but whatever the reason is, I hope to see all my regular VIP faces again soon<33 I miss you guys so much!

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A shoutout to all the other Big Bang bands out there! (I encourage you all, if you haven't already, start joining every possible Big Bang band you see!!!) Thankyou, really, it's great to see more and more active bands! Feel free to advertise anytime and keep up the great work

I have a feeling BBTM won't last last as long as I would've hoped for so to have other Big Bang bands out there is a big relief to me To be honest, I have thought about closing this band just recently...but i changed my mind because i didn't wanted to leave so soon and sudden without saying goodbye to everyone...(and plus, I've already prepared the new skin so it would be a shame to waste it lolz). So how does everyone like it??? I hope you like the fresh new blast of colour! It took me quite awhile to figure out which colour would be best suited for 2009 lolz I was worried at first because mind you i haven't touched photoshop for about a year!

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Even though now BBTM09 has re-opened, plz keep in mind that i still don't have 24/7 access to a computer (using a laptop atm) I won't be able to update regularly like usual. And the only reason why I've still chosen to re-open at this time was 1. I always keep my promises and 2. I wanted to catch up with everyone! So plz leave many comments for me to read and write back! xD

Once again, thankyou for the support and I hope to speak with all of you asap!

Many thanks,
Bananza Princess
Head Mod BBTM09!

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

Idol group Big Bang seems to be the boys-next-door, even quiet and unassuming, but once they are on stage they exude charisma and passion in their music. They were not overnight stars. They were well prepared and tailor-made by YG Entertainment led by Yang Hyun-suk, a local pop mogul.

In "Shouting to the World'' written by Big Bang, which has shot onto the bestseller list, they write about how they became stars and overcame difficulties on the way. However, the book is not an autobiography but a self-development guide, giving clear directions and inspirational messages for readers who seek success of any type. Through their vivid and real stories, they say what the young should do and how to achieve their goals and control their minds.

Consisting of T.O.P, Victory, G-Dragon, Dae-sung and Tae-yang who are not that tall or handsome like other idols, the group tells their stories in their own words in chapters written by each members. "This book is not just a success story but an essay which tells the dreams and hopes of the young through self-fulfillment,'' G-Dragon said.

They were selected through a survival test among six contestants over four years. They underwent harsh competition and had to pass each step to become a finalist.

G-Dragon, born Kwon Ji-yong, harbored a dream to become a singer at a very early age and spent six years as an apprentice at an entertainment agency.
"We memorized rap songs and dances when our friends memorized English words at school. When they sweated in the playground, we sweated to learn the dances in the stifling underground rehearsal room, fighting the sweltering heat,'' he said. Because they had different goals from their peers who wanted to make it to prestigious universities, they had to make greater efforts than any others, he said.

In the first chapter, G-Dragon explains his position as the leader who has to be demanding, critical and harsh to other members. The leader and songwriter of the group said that "Big Bang is an idol group not born of talent but through effort.''
Although he has a talent for writing songs and lyrics, he had to submit a song he wrote to Yang every week for six years. He attributed the long and painful training process to his ability in composing. "Talent and ability are different. Showing talent and being able to do it are totally different from just having it,'' he said.

Tae-yang (his real name is Dong Young-bae) first encountered pop music at the age of six through his brother's cassette. It was Michael Jackson's music. Since then, he continued to develop his interest in music, particularly the soul and R&B genres. He met Yang when he had a small role in a music video shooting spot, and begged him for a chance to become a singer. Not surprisingly, Yang shrugged off his request as the naive idea of a young boy, saying "I will let you know later.'' But there was no contact from Yang, so Tae-yang visited his office and asked him to make him a singer.

Yang gave him the opportunity to audition, which led to the long apprenticeship. Despite strong opposition from his parents, he commuted from the rehearsal room near Hongik University in western Seoul to Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province after school everyday.
In daily feedback and monitoring, Tae-yang was criticized by Yang for his lack of singing ability and was sometimes compared to G-Dragon. But whenever his weak points were revealed, he just increased his practice and training.

For Dae-sung, the smiling boy in the group, overcoming the objection from his parents was the most difficult task. He confessed he left home for one week to win their permission.
But the real world was harsher than his parents' opposition. He was nicknamed as a smiling boy and cheerful icebreaker although he is, in fact, shy and introverted. Dae-sung sometimes felt burdened by having to talk whe