Released in June 2014, Taeyang, member of boy group BIGBANG, released his second studio album RISE. This album contains nine songs and is chock-full of renowned hits that inspired numerous dance and song covers. Let’s take a further dive into the songs of this album!

“Intro (RISE)”

“Intro (RISE)” is the opener to this album and uses various tropical sounds, giving it a very summery and sunny vibe. As Taeyang’s name translates to “sun” in English, this intro is a perfect sunrise and beginning to the rest of the album.

“Eyes, Nose, Lips”

“Eyes, Nose, Lips” is a lovely, melodious song with simple instrumentation in the background that really emphasizes Taeyang’s beautiful and clear voice. The music is simple and allows you to focus on the power of Taeyang's vocals and lyrics of the song. “Eyes, Nose, Lips” has continued to be popular in K-Pop as a go-to karaoke song and has been covered by various idols. There’s even a gorgeous version where Taeyang duetted this song on the show Fantastic Duo with a female fan that created an unforgettable rendition.

“1AM”

“1AM” changes into a more upbeat tempo right after “Eyes, Nose, Lips,” and fits Taeyang’s style quite well. With the mix of synth and piano, it creates a fun song that will give you feelings of nostalgia when listening to the track. Taeyang also met his wife at the shooting of this music video!

“STAY WITH ME”

“STAY WITH ME” was produced along with G-DRAGON and even features him during the verses. You really sense the BIGBANG style in this song, as it pairs the strength of Taeyang’s voice with G-DRAGON’s rapping to create a refreshing sound.

“BODY”

Taking us to a dance track, “BODY” is a fast-tempo pop song about the female body and the way Taeyang feels when he sees it. The track even features CL, which helps add to this fun dance song.

“RINGA LINGA”

For another exciting track, “RINGA LINGA” was written with the help of G-DRAGON. It was the pre-release track for this album and brought a fresh sound that has very memorable choreography in the music video. 

“This Ain’t It”

“This Ain’t It” is the other ballad on this album, and has a very sentimental tune that is sure to send a shiver down your spine. It also uses simple instrumentation as “Eyes, Nose, Lips” and you can really sense the maturity from Taeyang in his vocal abilities. The most touching part of this song is when the choir comes in to really emphasize the beauty of this track. 

“Let Go”

“Let Go” begins with a guitar riff that immediately draws you in, and Taeyang’s voice pulls you in even further. It is a different style than we are used to hearing from Taeyang, as it has a bit of a gospel feel, but the poetic lyrics written by Tablo really tie the song together.

“LOVE YOU TO DEATH”

LOVE YOU TO DEATH” took inspiration from Frank Ocean and Miguel, and brings a more rock feel than we are used to hearing from Taeyang. The track features CL’s vocals to add another layer of depth to this song. With repetitions of the line “I’m gonna love you to death” at the end of the song, it signifies death (or at least the end of this album).

Bonus Performance

Taeyang performed “1AM,” “BODY,” and “LOVE YOU TO DEATH” on this episode of Wonder Live. 

RISE truly shows the growth in Taeyang’s skill as a musical artist and talent as a performer. This album is goosebump-worthy from beginning to end, and has stood the test of time as a significant moment in the world of K-Pop.