2007–2008: Mainstream popularity and Japanese debut

Big Bang at MTV Fast Forward, Thailand, December 2007

On February 8, 2007, Big Bang released their live concert album, The First / Real Live Concert,
which sold 30,000 copies by the end of the year. [36] They also began the Want You Tour in support
of Since 2007, visiting five cities: Incheon, Daegu, Changwon, Jeonju and Busan.[37] Their first
extended play, Always (2007), marked several changes for the group. Though members had
previously involved themselves with writing and composing, the group took more creative control
over their music, moving away from their hip-hop roots. G-Dragon composed and wrote most of the
tracks, including the lead single "Lies".[38] The EP also saw the introduction of electronic music for Big
Bang. Receptions were fairly positive, most notably in regards to "Lies", which critics described as
"through the roof".[39] Released as the lead single, it became their first number one hit and the album
sold over 120,000 copies.[38] Topping music charts for six weeks,[40] "Lies" went to become the first
song to win the Song of the Month award from the Cyworld Digital Music Awards for two consecutive
months, as well as gathering the highest monthly sales in Cyworld's history, with over 200,000
copies sold in September.[33]
Their second EP, Hot Issue, released in November of the same year, contained six tracks all written
by G-Dragon, who was also the album's producer. [41] Hot Issue followed its predecessor's success:
the lead-single, "Last Farewell", topped various charts, including the Melon chart for eight
consecutive weeks, becoming the longest-running number one hit by a boy group. [40] It also garnered
the Song of the Month (Digital Music) Award from Cyworld. [42] "Fool" and "But I Love U", other tracks
from the EP, also ranked within the top 10.[43] The digital success lead Hot Issue's sales to be moved
over 120,000 copies total in South Korea.[44] They also staged their Big Bang is Great concert, with
tickets selling out in 10 minutes.[45][46]

"Lies" (2007) (0:18)

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Big Bang took a new
direction with the release
of their song "Lies" by
incorporating electronic
music into their style. The
song eventually became
their break-out hit.
 Problems playing this file? See media
help.

Due to over-performing and exhaustion, several members were hospitalized, halting promotional
activities.[47] Despite this, their albums and singles were in high demand, causing the record company
to reprint and repackage them for re-release. [48] Riding on the success of their EPs, the group
collected numerous awards, including Best Male Group and Song of The Year for "Lies" in the 2007
Mnet Asian Music Awards.[49] They later received the Artist of the Year and Digital Record of Year
awards from the 17th Seoul Music Awards.[50] The group earned a total of ₩12 billion ($11.5 million)
by year's end.[51]
As 2007 came to a close, Big Bang ventured overseas to Japan. Their first Japanese EP, For the
World (2008),[52] charted at number 10 on the Oricon chart with minimal promotion.[53] The group also
held a concert at the JCB Hall in Tokyo Dome City. Big Bang returned to South Korea after their
promotions in Japan ended. Although group activities were delayed due to solo projects, their third
Korean EP, Stand Up, was released. Featuring artists such as Daishi Dance and the Korean rock-
band No Brain, Stand Up exceeded the 200,000 mark in sales.[54] "Haru Haru", the lead single,
topped several online charts and held the number one position for seven consecutive weeks. [55][40] It
also became one of the most successful singles of all-time in South Korea, selling over five million
digital downloads in South Korea alone. The EP also included the top-five song "Heaven", (Korean: 
천국; Revised Romanization: Cheonguk) the top-ten "Oh My Friend", and the top-twenty "A Good
Man" (Korean: 착한 사람; Revised Romanization: Chaghan Salam) and "Lady".[56]
During the release of their Korean materials, Big Bang released the Japanese song, "Number 1",
from their first Japanese studio album of the same name, performing the song on Japanese radio
programs and TV shows; the album peaked at number three on the Japan's Oricon daily album
chart. Their second Korean studio album, Remember (2008), yielded the number one single,
"Sunset Glow", a remake of the song of the same name by Lee Moon-se, released in 1988.
[57]
 "Strong Baby", performed solely by Seungri, was released as the second single. The album went
on to sell over 200,000 copies.[56] Big Bang received their second Artist of the Year Award from the
2008 Mnet Asian Music Awards.[58] At the end of 2008, it was reported that Big Bang earned a total
of ₩36 billion ($34.5 million).[51]