#doom's asks

[doomdadamn]

Hi, random question lmao. What is the moment that completely solidified gtop for you? Like the one that made you completely certain that this isn’t just a ship, it’s actually for real

If you’ve answered this before my apologies!

Hello!

This is a great question, and one that is extremely hard to answer because there is just so much. I'll try my best to answer coherently below.

When @boptothetttop first brought me into the insanity that is GTOP, she had everything laid out for me on a silver platter, so I really had all the receipts from the outset. That being said, I was still skeptical at first. I wasn't new to the K-Pop scene or the fanservice involved in ship culture, so when she told me about GTOP, I was wary. I'd seen too much queerbaiting fanservice behavior between male idols to put much stock in it.

But then, as Bop says, my third eye opened 😂

It's difficult to pinpoint one single moment, primarily because our Lord and Savior Jiyong H. Christ really is the most insane loverboy of all time and the man doth constantly provide--but when I look back on it, it's truly the entirety of 2017 and 2018 that solidified them in my mind as a real, bona fide couple.

There is no misconstruing their interactions and support for each other during that time as fanservice. They weren't on stage, they weren't hamming anything up for the public. It was just two people who loved loyally and stayed side by side despite all the hardships they faced.

Here are a few specific moments that are always top of mind:

The Window Picture: All gtoppers know the window picture. The tenderness of them sitting together watching the first snow and the intimacy of the embrace? The way Jiyong is protecting Seunghyun--quite literally shielding him from the world? I took one look and was like "Oh. They really are in love."

2. Untitled, 2014: Up until Stendhal Syndrome, this was the GTOP song to end all GTOP songs in my book. If you haven't yet, go read Bop's analysis of it here and it'll tell you all you need to know. When I read the lyrics and really let myself digest them in context, it was a lightbulb moment. Jiyong said himself that the Kwon Jiyong album was his diary--the body of work that truly represented who he was as a person up to that point. There's a reason the song made it onto that album.

3. Jiyong's Enlistment Day: You're telling me that Seunghyun used his only official days off from public service in 2018 to see Jiyong off to the military? And then you're telling me that he was the only one who went with him apart from his parents and sister? And THEN you're telling me I'm supposed to think that isn't the most boyfriend-coded behavior of all time?????? Gimme a break, besties. I actually laughed at how obvious this was to me. I was so fucking locked in.

And last, but certainly not least...

BONUS: The Flower Shoes: After Jiyong discharged from the military in 2019, he did a collaboration with Nike in which he designed four pairs of shoes. They were: 1) the global release design, 2) the Korean exclusive design, 3) The 88 design (only 88 pairs manufactured for his family and friends), and 4) The Kwon Jiyong design, in which only one pair was manufactured exclusively for Jiyong.

Well, only one pair plus the second pair he had made for his lover--I mean bro. His boyfriend--I mean homie who wouldn't shut the fuck up about it and posted them various times to social media.

And wouldn't you know it--flower shoes just so happen to have a special meaning in South Korea. smh.

Anyway--Viva La GTOP, people. May we never know peace as long as they reign lol

[doomdadamn]

The Coke Zero thing really amuses me and makes me scream into the abyss.

I feel like Ji’s seen all the TOP/Nana comments and is lowkey claiming his man.

It’s sort of my morning routine now to wake up, rub the sleep out of my eyes, look at Ji and Lomi’s posts, and then immediately roll over to scream into my pillow. It is truly so funny, and I absolutely adore it.

The Coke Zero sent me through the roof. Ji said ‘someone find me a vending machine, I need to assert dominance.’ Like Ji, honey, chill. He wrote you 6 love songs? You can put the drink down 😂

My delulu also just really wants to hang on to a tiny shred of hope that it’s a hint about Seunghyun and Coachella 😬

[doomdadamn]

Hey! Not sure if you watched the Coachella performance via live.

If you did, do you know what Jiyong said before Still Life about four seasons?

Some people at it was ‘Four season for no reason’ to show TOP has really gone but not sure if it was ‘Four seasons for a reason’ to show that he would also be part of the no matter what.

Hey there!

I did watch the Coachella performance! In fact, I recorded it, so I can answer this question with absolute confidence.

He very clearly says "four seasons with no reason," which are the original Still Life lyrics.

Everyone can interpret those lyrics the way they choose, but I think both of your statements are true at once. Yes, Top really has moved on from BigBang in a professional capacity, and yes, of course he'll be a part of them no matter what! There is so much love, respect, and care there between them after 20 years, and I think all four of them have made that clear.

Now, to address those lyrics specifically:

To me, "four seasons with no reason" doesn't only refer to Seunghyun's decision to leave the group (which was as relevant in 2022 when Still Life dropped as it is now). It's about the cyclical nature of life and human experience. At the time Still Life released, it was GD acknowledging and accepting that time passed, all four of them experienced change that was ultimately as inevitable as the changing of the seasons, and that there were things in life that were simply out of his control. Despite his desires for them to all come out of the military and get back together, that wasn't how it happened, and to him I'm sure it did feel like it all fell apart for no reason.

That being said, the whole song is about the natural way we (and they) experience periods of withering, followed by growth. Pain followed by joy. It's not a bad thing! As GD himself says in his verse, "after the rain, instead of sadness comes a happy end." He's accepted it. He's alright with it. He knows that these changes are hard now but will lead to beautiful things, and again, that's as relevant in 2022 as it is right now in 2026.

I don't want to beat this to death because I think everyone is entitled to their opinion and everyone should feel what they want to feel about all of this. It's been an enormous week for Bigbang and for Seunghyun as a solo artist. What I will say is that Jiyong, Youngbae, and Daesung have all more than shown that Seunghyun is with them always in their hearts, and they'll always have his back.

Their public show of support on social media when Another Dimension came out was huge in revealing where they all stand. They're all still in contact, they all still love and care for each other, and they're all celebrating his comeback in a way that both respects his personal and professional boundaries.

They could have easily cut his verse out of Still Life the way they omitted his parts in every other song in their Coachella set, but they didn't. It was hugely impactful to save it for last and to let his voice ring out for the crowd loud and proud.

To me, it was them saying to us, 'Don't be sad, he's still here, he'll always be a part of what we made together, even if he's not physically with us on stage.' It was a pretty beautiful way of telling us that they're going to do BB20 in their own way, as OT3, but it doesn't mean that Seunghyun's presence isn't felt.

I think we can all agree he was missed last night. His absence was noticeable, because how could it not be? But it's all okay besties, because this is a changing of the season! Seunghyun's winter is over and he's in his spring era, baby! He's given us the most perfect album, he's celebrating 20 years in a way that feels good and right to him. Jiyong, Daesung, and Youngbae are back together the way they want to be, and it's a new spring for them, too! I think this year is going to be immensely healing for all four of them, and I think they're going to be there for each other every step of the way, regardless of what they do or do not show us on social media or on stage.

As Bop and I talked about last night, we both just love the idea that Jiyong got off stage and called Seunghyun just beaming and full of excitement, and Seunghyun would have been thrilled for them. Given the circumstances, given all that has happened, given the wounds that have healed and the new seasons on the horizon for all four of them--I don't think any of them could have asked for more.

[doomdadamn]

I swear to god, "fans" in "for fans" are specifically for gtoppers. No song for "fans" overall could have these insane lines:

"Fought with her, why gotta go so far? Couldn't read her eyes at all

Dodged those tears that night, I turned away"

These lines make me sob so much. They must have fought hard at that time.

Anyway, we absolutely win 😭😭😭

Oh, I cannot wait to talk about "For Fans."

I won't say much yet except that I agree with you, and after hearing it for the first time I said: "'For Fans' is for fans the way 'Girlfriend' was for a girl."

'Nuff said.

Stay tuned for "For Fans", it's coming soon!

[doomdadamn]

Yes, you miss you partner, but do you miss them as much as GD misses TOP while he’s been in LA?

The answer will be no.

If GD's social media habits are any indication, I think he misses Seunghyun the second he gets up from the couch to go to the bathroom, let alone when they're all the way across the world from each other.

May their reunion be relaxing and unreasonably hot 🥵🔥

[doomdadamn]

Im so curious, whats the meaning behind gdragons pic with the coke zero??

Bestie, I wish I knew. The inner machinations of his mind are an enigma.

I suspect it was his not-so-subtle way of showing support for Seunghyun after the album dropped, and also a fun little Easter egg for fans who would recognize the Zero Coke and tie it to him. Whether you're a GTOP truther or not (which we are, ofc), it's a nice little nod to Seunghyun regardless!

[doomdadamn]

i love the giant & self crucifixion for many many reasons but one of them being his little screams, they scratch my brain in a way no one else could

I absolutely agree! For me, the screams and maniacal laughter feels like peak Seunghyun. It’s a glimpse into that chaotic, unhinged, slightly feral side of him that we all love from the old days. It’s a reminder that even though things have changed and he’s grown, he’s still him in the best ways.

It’s also the most perfect middle finger to the industry, isn’t it? He’s like, you think I’m crazy? I’ll give you crazy. Cue screaming, laughter, screeching into the wind.

[doomdadamn]

desperado?? the mv has about 2.5 million views now and i think 2.4 million of them are from me lmao

I told @boptothetttop that 2M of them were probably Jiyong, but I’m so glad you’re helping him rack those numbers up, bestie! 3M by the end of the week, please!

I rock so hard with the Desperado MV, I love watching him wiggle around and do bad, bad things to that chair. I thank it for its service 🫡

Desperado is #9 on my list today, despite the fact that I’ve caught myself vocal stimming “desperadoooooo” about 70 times in the last 24 hours. It’s just so good.

My favorite lyric: From today, your life gon’ change, you're born again with Moon Man

I love him calling himself the moon man. It is weirdly hot and we love the ego, King. 👑