G-Dragon’s Tattoo
I only write this post because of all the ridiculous responses to it over at Popseoul!
I personally think, besides the awkward placement, that the tattoo is nice and meaningful if understood. To people wondering if he knows what it means, I don’t think G-dragon is enough of an idiot to get a tattoo without having any idea as to it’s worth. People in the states get Chinese character tattoos all the time, they aren’t raised reading Chinese characters, but they are educated as to what it means. G-Dragon getting a tattoo with English letters does not mean that he doesn’t know what it means.
The Eagles wrote a song about James Dean, You were too fast to live, too young to die, are the words describing Dean’s lifestyle, daring and way of death. ”Too fast to live” at it’s simplest is merely the reflection of James Dean living, he was ruthless but he was iconic, and seen as “dangerous” because he had purpose. As a musician it makes sense that G-Dragon would get a tattoo that are lyrics of a song. (There was also the poem by Mark Lamarr that alluded to James Dean called Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Work but that was written in 1985 nine years after the release of The Eagles’ song).
Honestly I think any young adult with any kind of ambition can relate to those words. We’re all too fast, too ambitious, too reaching to contain all in this life but were also too young not to live (and for those dead, they were too young to die.) James Dean pretty much defined the youth culture in the mid-fifties and he is still defining youth culture now (I mean youth as in 18 and up or I guess the mature high schooler. Read: young adult 
) So to me this tattoo makes perfect sense and it suits G-Dragon as much as his “Moderato” and “Vita Dolce” tattoos do.
July 10, 2008 at 8:21 pm
I figured it was quite meaningful and I’d heard something like this before but I just didn’t know what it meant XD But now I do
thank you ~ lol
Despite this, I still don’t understand why he has it across half his back and arm. Unless he wanted to wear a t-shirt and have people see “g to die” on his arm? :S
Btw, do you know what his other tattoo says? The one on his other arm? I’m not good at reading upside down XD
June 17, 2009 at 10:53 pm
lol, “g to die”. That sounds like it’s about himself.
July 10, 2008 at 8:24 pm
His tattoo says Moderato, which is a term in music, and the one you cant see is on the same spot on his other arm and it says “vita dolce” which means sweet life. Though I’m sure it’s supposed to be Dolce Vita…
July 10, 2008 at 10:51 pm
does word placement matter in italian? i mean of course it matters but i heard that you can exchange their positions without altering the meaning……of course i’m the first to admit that could be complete BS because i know zilch about the italian language outside of food
and thanks a lot for the explanation on the phrase. i had a vague idea of what it meant but definitely did not know the specifics…..good information. i’m not a fan of tattoos in general and i’d never get one (sober and willingly lol) but it’s his body (as opposed to what fans may claim) and he can do whatever he wants. i expected it a little since he seemed like he really liked his other two tattoos (bound to get another one) but i kinda selfishly want him to stop at three haha.
July 10, 2008 at 11:22 pm
“it’s his body (as opposed to what fans may claim” I LOLed out loud haha That’s so true. Fangirls go really crazy if there idols smoke, get piercings, get inked, have girlfriends, breathe in and out. It’s slightly scary.
I like tattoos in moderation. I want a couple small ones but I hate those gianormous color Japanese water color tattoos that people get up and down their back. But like u said, to each his own. Live and let live. But i like Ji Yong’s tattoos I think they’re nice and he obviously know where to get them done because he got his first to done in Vegas by Carey Hart.
Tattoos can work in the positive or negative for a person but I think they really suit him.
July 11, 2008 at 12:29 am
Akon yesss placement matters in italian. Modifiers usually go after nouns. Since I don’t speak Italian I wouldn’t know exactly how this works but from my experience with other latin languages like Spanish and Portuguese modifiers can go infront of the noun in certain instances and sometimes they signify a different meaning and sometimes no. Italian is like French in that nouns that describe QUALITY usually go before the noun. I don’t know how strange vita dolce sounds in Italian but I am pretty sure dolce vita is the better way to say it.
As for the tattoo, I still think its stupid unless he plans to die young. The reason that line applied to James Dean is because he died so young and in such a way that symbolized his short life! Unless G-dragon is a huge James Dean fan, or a huge of the Eagles, or that poet, or he plans to die in his prime blazing, or is honoring a friend or someone who did, or is somehow paying homage to that lifestyle, I really don’t see the point.
As for Tattoos I only like huge, welled planned, meaningful, beautiful and most importantly , original tattoos.
I think too many little tattoos on the body start to look junky. But if someone has a big beautiful artwork its def great to look at.
July 11, 2008 at 1:01 am
thats d way 2 state comment(consideration)!!! i like ur post, not bcuz im a BB fan but through my perspective 2!!! i dont know y popseoul people like 2 bash on d artist so bad(anyways its their prob)!!! tnx..yah i like d tattoo, i used 2 dislike tats cuz i think its just 2 much 4 some1s body but as i talk 2 people who got tats i understand whats bhind it so i learn 2 like them!!! U c, i learned that not everything u c is what it means(if that make sense haha), i mean mayb GD has somethin’ more deep bhind that tattoo!!! popseoul people keep sayin’ “midgets”/”gangsta wannab”..so judgemental..ay..gudluck 2them!!
July 11, 2008 at 2:44 am
I’m with you. I think small ones can be cute depending on what/where/who lol. Big ones are a bit scary to me haha.
Jackie, thanks for the explanation. I have some background in Spanish too so I know what you’re referring to except I didn’t know if it applies to Italian. ^^
July 11, 2008 at 8:47 am
I disagree Jackie I think that “Too fast to live, too young to die” has, in the past 31 years, transcended it’s meaning that just suited James Dean, it’s about him but it’s also about what he represented, what his iconography created.
I agree with you about the tattoo litter though, too many small ones look scattered and distracted on some people but like I said I want a couple as in literally TWO lol But then again it really depends with tattoo’s I have a friend with a litter or medium to small tattoos but they suit him. And I’ve seen people with sprawling landscapes that I liked. Though I have my preferences I have to admit it all depends.
July 12, 2008 at 1:24 am
I don’t understand why anyone is making a big deal out of his tattoo’s. As for dissing it in any way, that’s really disrespectful because it was obviously his decision. G-Dragon isn’t stupid, not with his genius.
Anyway, I really like his tattoo’s. They’re short, simple, but have a lot of meaning. I actually want to get a tattoo myself that’s also short, simple, and meaningful. haha. I was surprised where he put the other one tho cuz I also wanted it in there, just on the left side. ^^’
He’s really working that tattoo though! I’m having a hard time believing that’s him! lol. Thanks for the information!
July 14, 2008 at 11:27 am
Hi… I have been a silent reader of your site. Great blog! Just would like to add 2 cents of my thoughts.
Thanks for making sense of this whole G-Dragon with a new tatts post. The meaning, the significant, thank you… another variation is from the HBO movie of the supermodel Gia… “Too Beautiful to Live, Too Wild to Die”…
I love phrases like that so when I saw G-Dragon tattoo, I went like “WOW” in my heart… That being said… I seriously don’t understand the whole hoo haa over at PopSeoul site… (just maybe our he should let himself heal before taking the photo with it still reddish and swelling, but heck it still look great!)
Personally I think G Dragon tatts are really awesome! Its meaningful, and I have no doubt that he does understand what it means, like when non Asian get Chinese or Japanese character words, they do actually know the meaning.
I mean inking is for life. Apart from getting drunk and getting one, most people do know what they are in for when they decide on one… most have research carefully and saved for it… coz inking can be an expensive hobby/investment.
Coming from someone who is inked… I never regret getting a tattoo, but I had regreted at some phase with regards to the design I had chosen, but I never regret it in a way as it represent a particular phase in my life, things that happen at that age when I got it and I am proably getting one more to signify another phase in my life….
And lastly, I am no fan of G-Dragon, nor Big Bang, not coz I don’t like them but I have yet to “discover” them in depth as of yet… but just want to say, tattoo are a personal choice and they are for life and trust me, most owners of tattoo knew what they were doing except the drunk part…
(:
July 16, 2008 at 6:32 am
i love the explanations in this entry!
stupid people in popseoul have nothing to do but to bash them 24/7. ignore those idiots.
KWON JIYONG IS SO FUCKING HOT.
and i’m a fan of tattoos and piercings lol.
(sorry for neglecting you, TOP x: i’ll fangirl over you again soon. lol)
December 14, 2008 at 6:44 am
i love u g.dragon!!!!!
December 14, 2008 at 6:45 am
you are best!!!!! more than TOP I LOVE UUUUUUUU
December 14, 2008 at 6:47 am
you are best!!!!! more than TOP I LOVE UUUUUUUU
March 4, 2009 at 11:42 pm
love him even more. g-dragon linked with james dean??
HOT.
March 20, 2009 at 10:01 am
he looks so hott wit the tattoo.
I woulnt mind getting a tattoo like his.
Wasnt the too fast to live, too young to die quote printed on his shirt during the photo shoot they did during the documentary