The Last Dance
I guess at some point in life, people are afraid of being an adult. Not only we are getting old at age, but also we are forced to be mature. And that is the hardest part, actually. Everybody in this life is inevitably getting old. However, it doesn’t always mean that everyone in this world becomes mature as they age. Being old at age is not a guarantee that someone is mature. Being an adult means that we are forced to be mature. Being mature means we have some responsibilities in life. And not everyone have the heart and strength to face their responsibility well. Some people have it good without any burdensome hurdle along their way, while some other have to stumble down many times before they could get back up. One way or another, there are lessons. Hence at some point in life, people are insecure of being an adult. There are doubts and fears whether they could handle the trial and error. However, that is a process we must go through. That is a phase we must face. That is the essence of life; being mature by learning in the process. Something is got to give in with maturity. Sometimes, in order to be an adult, people have to close some chapter in life just to be able to open up a new one. It is not that a story must end for another story to start, but it is about to be able to continue the story. Ones are mature when they are able to see the big picture of this life they are living now; not only the present time, but also the past and the future.
“The time that I was so happy even
without having anything; it seems just like yesterday, but I’ve come too far
that I can’t remember it anymore. Because everything was new to me, I was
clumsy and trembling; memories of those times back then are still like a dream
to me, but where am I going now?” –BIGBANG, Last Dance
This time I would
like to talk about life, getting older, and being mature in frame of a song
titled “Last Dance”. It is a slow R n’ B track with pop rock ballad ambience recorded
by South Korean group, BIGBANG. It was released on December 12th 2016 as the
last single taken from the group’s third Korean studio album, “MADE”. The album
marks the group’s comeback after a three-year hiatus, their first Korean studio
album in eight years, as well as a farewell album before the group taking their
next hiatus for the members’ military service. “Last Dance” was written by the
group’s members, leader G-Dragon, rapper T.O.P, and main vocalist Taeyang, with
arrangement made by Seo Won Jin and 24. This song captures well the members’
insecurity, fears, and doubts regarding to their future; the military service
and life after that. The lyrics of the song express the group in the past ten
years and members’ hearts for their fans. In an interview, G-Dragon talked
about creating the song and wanting the members to sing “Last Dance” as if they
are talking and really mean what they are singing, with a lot of emotion in it.
As cited by the Wikipedia, Tamar
Herman of Billboard called
it “evocative pop-rock ballad that serves as an ode to the band’s time together,
promising ‘I will return to you.’ The poignant rap from T.O.P at the song’s
climax is accompanied by a sample of cheering fans, incorporating BIGBANG’s
fans into their farewell for the foreseeable future.” Jeff Benjamin of fuse praised the production and
subject of the song, and notice of the song message to the band’s fans “the
track reads like a love letter, but it’s probably more likely that BIGBANG is
singing to their fans ‘It won’t be long’.” It is about a promise that they
would come back. It is about leaving something for the fans to be remembered.
 |
| "Last Dance" single cover | source: en.wikipedia.org |
When getting old is a
must, being mature is a choice. And sometimes, the choice is being forced
towards us. At some point, life will make us pausing for a second just to make
us realize that everyone is moving on; our school friends are getting old and
perhaps going out of town to get a job and make their life; our former lover
are getting old too and perhaps having a new lover or even getting married
already. “Even love that once I thought
would last forever has faded away, even many of my friends I used to have
around are leaving now. Because I’m getting older, I guess I’m becoming an
adult, why do I feel so anxious like this? Even people are still staying in
their lingering past today, even the world goes around just fine without me.
Because I’m still young, I guess I’m still immature, why am I such a fool like
this?” At some point, life will make us stopping for a minute just to make
us realize that everything is changing around us; the town we used to know has
evolved because of new streets, buildings, and vehicles. However, we also
realize that some people don’t change; and we start to wonder whether we are
one of them. “You were once a faint light
among the stars, now you’ve become one of those stars as you beckon me. Do I
seem lonely because I am alone? Why are tears coming like this?”
At some point, life
will take us somewhere just to make us realize that everybody is evolving;
people we care about is now becoming someone significant, and we’re just
shedding tears of happiness for that, because we know exactly their struggle
and effort to get until this point. At the same time we ask ourselves; where
are we now and what have we achieved? “The
time that I was so happy even without having anything; it seems just like
yesterday, but I’ve come too far that I can’t remember it anymore. Because
everything was new to me, I was clumsy and trembling; memories of those times
back then are still like a dream to me, but where am I going now?” When
those memories of our younger days are coming back, we just keep wondering;
where did they go now? And it leads us to wonder; where do we go from now on? At
this point we realize that being mature means we have to cherish the past and
use it as a lesson to deal with the present and prepare for the future. “The music keeps playing; I’m waiting for
you right here, so please give me a chance. Please just for once, then I’ll
promise you, it won’t take too long.”
There will be a point
in our life where we realize that we have to go for a while in order to find
ourselves. We got to be brave to take those steps. We have to be brave to say
goodbye to the old us. We have to be brave to be mature. It is terrifying and
frightening since it will be a whole new universe we never known before. To be
able to do that, sometimes we have to leave something for our beloved ones as a
memento; as something to remember, as something that would make us reminiscing
of our roots and home. It is not a goodbye; it is just a temporary farewell. “As I sing this song, I will go back to you,
if only I could see the beautiful you again. I will listen to this song with
you, and have a last dance, remember this moment, until always. Just one last
dance.” Therefore we need to let go with an open heart; for the sake of
better days. Since we know that someday when it is time, we will eventually come
back to them; our beloved ones. “I was
holding your hand and dancing with you last night, your beautiful one last
smile was shining so bright. Red, orange, yellow, green, the mysterious scene
of ecstasy, it’s not like the world that I’ve seen and felt before.”
 |
| "MADE" album cover | source: en.wikipedia.org |
As a human being, I guess it is natural to feel insecure about the future; moreover, about being an adult. There are many responsibilities that we could not even imagine we would have, yet we must take those responsibilities as we are getting older. As a human being, I guess it is natural to be afraid of the future; moreover, of being an adult. There is like another universe that we could never imagine before, yet we must enter that universe as we are getting older. There will be some point in life where we arrive at a crossroads of maturity. And when we come to this point, we must make a choice for ourselves; whether to stay or move on, what to keep and what not to. There will be insecurities, fears, and doubts, but do not let those things mentally blocking ourselves. Remembering what we’ve been though so far and reminiscing those memories we’ve made up until that point; we must cherish them and make those things as a motivation to move forward towards the future; moreover, to be an adult. It is not easy to be mature. It is difficult as hell. There will be some trials and errors that may bring us down, but we have to remember that those things only exist to help us getting back up. And when we get through that, we will find ourselves in the process. We have to remember that there is someone or perhaps some people, our beloved ones, who always wait for us patiently and motivate us willingly. Indeed, life is a lesson learned.
“The music keeps playing; I’m
waiting for you right here, so please give me a chance. Please just for once,
then I’ll promise you, it won’t take too long. As I sing this song, I will go
back to you, if only I could see the beautiful you again. I will listen to this
song with you, and have a last dance, remember this moment, until always. Just
one last dance.” –BIGBANG, Last
Dance
영원할 줄 알았던 사랑도 저물고 이젠 그 흔한 친구마저 떠나가네요
(Yeongweonhal jul aratdeon sarangdo jeomulgo ijen
geu heunhan chingumajeo tteonaganeyo)
((Even love that once I
thought would last forever has faded away, even many of my friends I used to
have around are leaving now))
나이가 들어서 나 어른이 되나 봐요 왜 이렇게 불안할까
(Naiga deureoseo na eoreuni doena bwayo wae
ireoke buranalkka)
((Because I’m getting
older, I guess I’m becoming an adult, why do I feel so anxious like this?))
사람들은 오늘도 과거에 머물고 세상은 나 없이도 잘 돌아가네요
(Saramdeureun oneuldo gwageoe meomulgo sesangeun
na eopshido jal doraganeyo)
((Even people are still
staying in their lingering past today, even the world goes around just fine
without me))
아직은 어려서 나 철이 안 드나 봐요 왜 이렇게 바보 같을까
(Ajigeun eoryeoseo na cheori an deuna bwayo wae
ireoke babo gateulkka)
((Because I’m still
young, I guess I’m still immature, why am I such a fool like this?))
아무것도 없이 그저 행복해하던 때가
(Amugeotdo eopshi geujeo haengbokhaehadeon
ttaega)
((The time that I was
so happy even without having anything))
엊그제 같은데 그래 너무 멀리 와버렸어 난 기억이 안 나
(Eotgeuje gateunde geurae neomu meolli
wabeoryeosseo nan gieogi an na)
((It seems just like
yesterday, but I’ve come too far that I can’t remember it anymore))
모든 게 처음이라 서툴고 설레이기만 해
(Modeun ge cheoeumira seotulgo seolleigiman hae)
((Because everything
was new to me, I was clumsy and trembling))
그 시절 기억들이 아직도 꿈만 같은데 난 지금 어디로 가는지
(Geu shijeol gieokdeuri ajikdo kkumman gateunde
nan jigeum eodiro ganeunji)
((Memories of those
times back then are still like a dream to me, but where am I going now?))
나는 이 노랠 부르며 너에게 돌아갈 거야 아름다웠던 그댈 다시 볼 수 있다면
(Naneun i norael bureumyeo neoege doragal geoya
areumdaweotdeon geudael dashi bol su itdamyeon)
((As I sing this song,
I will go back to you, if only I could see the beautiful you again))
너와 이 노랠 들으며 마지막 춤을 출 거야 이 순간을 기억해 언제까지라도
(Neowa i norael deureumyeo majimak chumeul chul
geoya i sunganeul gieokhae eonjekkajirado)
((I will listen to
this song with you, and have a last dance, remember this moment, until always))
Just one last dance
희미한 불빛이 되어 별들 사이로 너 또한 이 별이 되어 손짓하네요
(Himihan bulbichi doeeo byeoldeul sairo neo
ttohan i byeori doeeo sonjishaneyo)
((You were once a
faint light among the stars, now you’ve become one of those stars as you beckon
me))
혼자가 되어서 나 외로워 보이나요 왜 이렇게 눈물이 날까
(Honjaga doeeoseo na oeroweo boinayo wae ireoke
nunmuri nalkka)
((Do I seem lonely
because I am alone? Why are tears coming like this?))
아무것도 없이 그저 행복해하던 때가
(Amugeotdfo eopshi geujeo haengbokhaehadeon
ttaega)
((The time that I was
so happy even without having anything))
엊그제 같은데 그래 너무 멀리 와버렸어 난 기억이 안 나
(Eotgeuje gateunde geurae neomu meolli
wabeoryeosseo nan gieogi an na)
((It seems just like
yesterday, but I’ve come too far that I can’t remember it anymore))
모든 게 처음이라 서툴고 설레이기만 해
(Modeun ge cheoeumira seotulgo seolleigiman hae)
((Because everything
was new to me, I was clumsy and trembling))
그 시절 기억들이 아직도 꿈만 같은데 난 지금 어디에 있는지
(Geu shijeol gieokdeuri ajikdo kkumman gateunde
nan jigeum eodie inneunji)
((Memories of those
times back then are still like a dream to me, but where am I going now?))
나는 이 노랠 부르며 너에게 돌아갈 거야 아름다웠던 그댈 다시 볼 수 있다면
(Naneun i norael bureumyeo neoege doragal geoya
areumdaweotdeon geudael dashi bol su itdamyeon)
((As I sing this song,
I will go back to you, if only I could see the beautiful you again))
너와 이 노랠 들으며 마지막 춤을 출 거야 이 순간을 기억해 언제까지라도
(Neowa i norael deureumyeo majimak chumeul chul
geoya i sunganeul gieokhae eonjekkajirado)
((I will listen to
this song with you, and have a last dance, remember this moment, until always))
Just one last dance
음악은 계속해서 흐르고 여기 너를 기다리고 있는 나에게 기회를 줘
(Eumageun gyesokhaeseo heureugo yeogi neoreul
gidarigo inneun naege gihoereul jweo)
((The music keeps
playing, I’m waiting for you right here, so please give me a chance))
제발 단 한 번만 부디 약속할게 그리 길지는 않을 테니
(Jebal dan han beonman budi yaksokhalge geuri
giljineun aneul teni)
((Please just for
once, then I’ll promise you, it won’t take too long))
나는 이 노랠 부르며
(Naneun i norael bureumyeo)
((As I sing this song))
나는 이 노랠 부르며 너에게 돌아갈 거야 아름다웠던 그댈 다시 볼 수 있다면
(Naneun i norael bureumyeo neoege doragal geoya
areumdaweotdeon geudael dashi bol su itdamyeon)
((As I sing this song,
I will go back to you, if only I could see the beautiful you again))
너와 이 노랠 들으며 마지막 춤을 출 거야 이 순간을 기억해 언제까지라도
(Neowa i norael deureumyeo majimak chumeul chul
geoya i sunganeul gieokhae eonjekkajirado)
((I will listen to
this song with you, and have a last dance, remember this moment, until always))
Just one last dance
너와 손을 잡고 춤을 추던 어젯밤 찬란히 빛이 나는 아름다운 one last smile
(Neowa soneul jabgo chumeul chudeon eojetbam challani
bichi naneun areumdaun, one last smile)
((I was holding your
hand and dancing with you last night, your beautiful one last smile was shining
so bright))
빨주노초 알 수 없던 황홀경 내가 보고 느끼던 세상과는 안 어울려
(Ppaljunocho al su eobtteon hwangholgyeong naega
bogo neukkideon sesanggwaneun an eoullyeo)
((Red, orange, yellow,
green, the mysterious scene of ecstasy, it’s not like the world that I’ve seen
and felt before))
너와 손을 잡고 춤을 추던 어젯밤 찬란히 빛이 나는 아름다운 one last smile
(Neowa soneul jabgo chumeul chudeon eojetbam challani
bichi naneun areumdaun, one last smile)
((I was holding your
hand and dancing with you last night, your beautiful one last smile was shining
so bright))
빨주노초 알 수 없던 황홀경 내가 보고 느끼던 세상과는 안 어울려
(Ppaljunocho al su eobtteon hwangholgyeong naega
bogo neukkideon sesanggwaneun an eoullyeo)
((Red,
orange, yellow, green, the mysterious scene of ecstasy, it’s not like the world
that I’ve seen and felt before))
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