Posts tagged ‘ARTICLE’

Article: 2NE1 Included in PopCrush’s ‘Artists To Watch In 2013′

2NE1

Now that Psy‘s ‘Gangnam Style’ has blown open the door for K-Pop to go mainstream in the U.S., who might be dancing through that door next? Our money’s on South Korean foursome 2NE1, one of the hottest K-Pop acts in the world.

In fact, they were named Best New Band in the World last year in an online vote by viewers of MTV Iggy. The girls have performed live with the Black Eyed Peas, scored multiple Top 10 hits on Billboard’s K-Pop Hot 100, and played their first American concerts last year.

What does their music sound like? It’s poppy, colorful and upbeat, like their K-Pop No. 1 single ‘I Love You’ and the catchy ‘I Am the Best.’ They’ve even released English versions of some of their songs for those of us who are hopelessly monolingual.

Source: PopCrush

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Article: 2NE1, Big Bang, GD, and Psy on Billboard Korea’s KPOP Hot 100 – Best of 2012

billboard

Billboard Korea, is based on digital sales via leading websites as well as downloads from mobile service sites using an industry-standard formula and the most credible music data sources within Korea. The Korea K-Pop Hot 100 ranks the best selling singles and tracks.

#1: PSY – Gangnam Style (Also ranked #47 on US HOT 100,#27 on Digital Songs & #37 on Canadian HOT 100)
#9: BIGBANG – Fantastic Baby
#10: 2NE1 – I Love You 
#11: BIGBANG – Blue
#18: PSY ft. Lena Park – What Should Have Been
#20: PSY ft. Sung Si Kyung – Passionate Goobye
#26: Lee Ha Yi – 1234
#30: GD ft. Kim YoonA – Missing You
#45: GD – Crayon
#46: GD – That XX
#54: Se7en – When I Can’t Sing
#56: Epik High ft. Lee Ha Yi – It’s Cold
#58: BIGBANG – Monster (Also ranked #64 on Rock Albums & #18 on Hard Rock Albums)
#65: BIGBANG – Bad Boy
#97: BIGBANG – Love Dust

Source: Billboard

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Article: Billboard, “2NE1, K-Pop Sensations, Heading To America for Two Shows”

Wooot! 2NE1 featured on Billboard! ^_^

2NE1, K-Pop Sensations, Heading To America for Two Shows

2NE1, the female Korean pop quartet that has become an overseas sensation in their three years together, have plotted their first international tour — the New Evolution trek — that will include the group’s debut stops in the United States.

CL, Dara, Bom and Minzy will head to 10 cities in seven countries this summer, including Newark, NJ on Aug. 17 and Los Angeles on Aug. 24. A 49-second tour trailer released earlier this month demonstrates the glittery fashion and eye-popping theatrics of a 2NE1 concert.

We feel very blessed for this opportunity to tour worldwide. We’ve been working with an awesome team and can’t wait to hit the road and rock out with our fans,” says CL in a statement. “We’re especially looking forward to coming back to the states for our first official US shows.

2NE1 gained momentum last year when they were crowned “Best New Band In The World” in an international vote held by MTV Iggy. The group’s hits include the international smash “I Am The Best,” “Ugly” and “I Love You,” the latter of which received an official music video earlier this month that has already racked up 7.3 million YouTube views. The song is currently No. 1 on Billboard’s K-Pop Hot 100 chart.

Along with the two U.S. shows, 2NE1 will also perform in Korea and Japan on the tour; the full itinerary is below.

July 28: Seoul, Korea (Olympic Gymnastics Stadium)
July 29: Seoul, Korea (Olympic Gymnastics Stadium)
Aug. 17: Newark, N.J. (Prudential Center)
Aug. 24: Los Angeles, Calif. (Nokia Theatre)
Sept. 1: Osaka, Japan
Sept. 2: Osaka, Japan
Sept. 7: Nagoya, Japan
Sept. 8: Nagoya, Japan
Sept. 11: Yokohama, Japan
Sept. 12: Yokohama, Japan

Credits:

Source: Billboard

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Article: 2NE1 Teases and Makes Fun with ‘I Love You’ (Song Review)

2NE1 is back, but instead of its usual way of screaming out that they′re the best and hot like fire, the group has stepped back a bit to get down on its knees.

Could it be? Could 2NE1 be getting all mushy and girly after surviving its rocky ‘puberty’?

Not really.

Just because 2NE1’s begging for love doesn’t mean it’s popped out the pink hearts and lace just yet.

The lyrics go full out with the begging, asking the man to ‘look back at me’ and ‘please be honest’, but they’re set in a tone that makes them sound like they’re actually demanding, instead of begging for, love.

The melody and the lyrics are so stereotypical and open, and as the vocals push and pull in a tantalizing way, they even sound sarcastic to some extent.

The corny narration at the beginning adds to the mood; who could be serious in putting something like that in a 2NE1 song?

The strong beat the song explodes into near the end forces their demands even more. It’s like they have the man standing confused in the middle while they jump around having fun, teasing him by singing out their ‘love’ with big grins on their faces.

The song does have its shortcomings, as Park Bom, who usually boasted a commanding weight with her unique vocals, doesn’t really stand out because her voice lacks the push and pull this song needs.

All in all, however, 2NE1’s past career makes this song more interesting than how it would’ve been if the song had been sung by another group.

So join 2NE1 as the girls-turned-women show you a new side to it, but don’t take them too seriously; the group is all about having fun, after all.

Credits:

Source: enewsworld

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Article: 2NE1, “We will never stop reinventing ourselves”

Awww Dara T_T Why would you think  you lack charisma? In fact, you are so full of charisma, you’re gonna blow up one day! Kekeke! Kidding! Baby girl, you are jjang! You make a lot of people happy, that right there is your charm. ^^

Oh and according to this article, 2NE1 would be releasing an English version of “I Love You”! Now who’s excited for that?! Thank you 2NE1, Teddy, and YG for  thinking about international fans. Yey for the English version!!! <333

2NE1, “We will never stop reinventing ourselves”

2NE1 has always been a daring group. Whether it be their visual aesthetics to their musical colors, the four ladies have been unstoppable when it comes to pushing boundaries, meriting fashion and music to produce their own style.

Just over three years ago, the girls were introduced to the music scene at a time where the cute and sexy concepts were set as marketing trends by many agencies. However, 2NE1 stood out and begged to differ.

The girls strived to show that girl groups don’t always have to cater to male listeners, that the message of independence and empowerment can and should be delivered to the mainstream audience. But most importantly, they wanted to show that a girl group is more than capable of stepping out of the usual girl group mold of K-Pop: they wanted to stand out.

Taking hip-hop as the main core, 2NE1‘s music has changed throughout the years. Whether it be the minimal, gothic ballad number “It Hurts,” to the club-banger “I Am the Best,” the girls are back once again with the challenge to reinvent themselves with a new look and a new style of music.

The release of “I Love You” is a brand new step for the girls. Producer Teddy Park tells that the song went through a long process of tweaking until it was deemed fit for the mainstream audience.

The song, at first, had a very heavy “trot” feeling. If you compare the song to what it sounded like at the very start, you wouldn’t be able to tell that it was the same song,” says leader CL, “We had to keep on changing it to make it a little more radio friendly.”

However the song, to the girls, still sounds foreign. “Well, we call it a hybrid of electropop,” continued CL, “The song might be a little more familiar to our Japanese listeners because it takes the mold of the traditional “enka” genre. Our international fans may find the sound on the song as something new and refresing.”

For 2NE1, their new single holds another important motive that steps off the territory of musical innovation and fashion. The girls stated that they wanted to give their international fans a little taste of the Korean culture. From the modernized hanbok to the Samgomu dance (traditional Korean drum dance) in “I Am the Best,” the girls continue their attempt to incorporate little elements of Korea into their performance and videos.

For 2NE1, the look is just as important as the music. A new single means a complete make over for the girls, and as expected, 2NE1 has brought forth a newer, exciting and, of course, shocking look. Member Dara showcased her “half-shaven” hair do, a rather uncommon choice of style, especially for a girl group member. Dara has always been credited as the experimental member having gone through a wide selection of wacky hairstyles in the past.

I think I keep going for different looks because, to be quite frank, I think I lack the charisma and individual charm that the other members have,” confesses Dara, “I gain a lot more confidence as a performer when I go for more experimental styles.”

I don’t know if this half-shaven look is shocking enough,” continues Dara with a laugh, “I think I should have gone for something a little more stronger!

Much like 2NE1’s promotion cycles in the past, they will yet again be promoting various songs, one by one, to support the record. “I Love You” will serve as their single for the pop lovers, while they will be releasing an urban single to satisfy the cravings of their more hip-hop inclined fans.

For 2NE1, 2012 will be a fresh new start. They will not just be promoting in their home turf, but overseas as well. The girls recently announced their world tour, a first for a girl group in the history of Korean pop music. Kicking off at Seoul’s Olympic Stadium, the tour will make stops at 7 countries. The show is the end product of collaborating with various choreographers and directors: Travis Payne, famed for working with Michael Jackson, and Beyonce’s tour director of music Divinity Roxx are just to name a few. “The most exciting time for a artist is when going on tour,” says CL, “Now I know why artists crave to be on stage; it’s just such an amazing experience.

Meanwhile, 2NE1 will be releasing an English version of “I Love You,” especially made for their international fans. They have also shown interest in returning to the Japanese industry once more. “We feel as if we haven’t had a proper chance to get to know our international fans that well,” says 2NE1, “Hopefully we will be able to change that with the start of our tour.”

There is no such thing as the “2NE1 style.” We’re not a group that will stick to one color,” concludes CL, “Predictability and normalcy; it’s all so boring, isn’t it? We will never stop reinventing ourselves; we’ll always be the group with no boundaries, no limits and no answers.

Credits:

Source: allkpop
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Article: 2NE1′s Ugly and I Am The Best on Spin’s “The 21 Greatest K-Pop Songs of All Time”

Weeee! Two of 2NE1 songs made it to the list! ^_^ Yey for their upcoming comeback this June! The whole world is ready for 2NE1! ^^

The 21 Greatest K-Pop Songs of All Time

From lapsed ’90s metalheads to the glossiest girls of today’s generation, the best of the sublimely shiny sound that’s sweeping the world

Twenty years after its birth, Korean pop music has made its way from Seoul to Singapore to San Antonio to São Paulo and back again, “outbubbling” — as SPIN’s Chuck Eddy phrased it last year — its Western counterpart by tweaking and perfecting the formula on which both have long been based. It’s music that demands to be mainlined (hooks come sharper, choruses larger, visuals brighter), its gloss equaled only by the aggressiveness with which it’s been delivered to the international marketplace in recent years. By now, K-pop’s catalog of classics is deep enough to warrant a best-of list of its own, one we’ve assembled with our ears pointed to both past and present: The 21 Greatest K-Pop Songs of All Time, a singles wrecking crew whose final, odd-numbered tally is a loving tribute to one of the current moment’s most beloved girl groups, 2NE1.

21. SoolJ feat. Suh Ga Young – “Waiting 4 U” (2011)
20. Shinee – “Lucifer” (2010)
19. TVXQ – “Doshite Kimi o Suki ni Natte Shimattandaro” (2008)
18. Wonder Girls – “Be My Baby” (2011)
17. IU – “Boo” (2009)
16. T-Ara – “Roly Poly” (2011)
15. Super Junior – “Sorry Sorry” (2009)
14. Kara – “Step” (2011)
13. Big Bang – “Bad Boy” (2012)
12. f(x) – “Nu Abo” (2010)
11. Girls Generation – “Run Devil Run” (2010)
10. E.via – “Pick Up! U!” (2010)

9. 2NE1 – “Ugly” (2011)

Though “Ugly” scans like aggressive homage (or a rip, if you’d like) to TLC’s 1996 body-image breakdown “Unpretty,” its impact is more akin to the world-beating bubble-grunge of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You’ve Been Gone.” Loud and brash, tender yet heroic, it encapsulates just about everything that’s so immediate about the 2NE1 crew. And on the strength of CL’s volcanic vocals, the four unleash here what’s arguably the most ferocious chorus in K-pop history.

8. Norazo – “Curry” (2010)
7. GD&TOP – “High High” (2010)
6. BoA – “Eat You Up” (2008)
5. SNSD – “Gee” (2009)
4. Seo Taiji & Boys – “Nan Arayo (I Know)” (1992)

3. 2NE1 – “I Am the Best” (2011)

“I Am the Best” might’ve been the best single released on the planet in 2011, even if not for its apocalyptic/futuristic video that kicks off on a catwalk and escalates into straightjackets, train-track break-dancing, ice cream cone rabbit-ear hats, and devil-horned hairstyles well before the aluminum bats and machine guns come out so 2NE1 can smash and shoot up the place. The stomping title hook sounds like “Neh-guh-ché Challa-GAH”; other big nonsense hook is the machine-gunned “bum-ratta-TATTA ta-tatta tah-tah.” Then there’s the froggie-reggae dancehall (“hot-hot-hot-hot FI-ya”) and Alice Cooper (“billion dollar baby”) references. Lyric plot: Hitting the city, taking no shit. World-class throat: CL.

2. HyunA – “Bubble Pop!” (2011)
1. H.O.T. – “Candy” (1996)

Credits:

Source: spin.com
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Article: Dara, Bom, CL & More Girl Group Members From Abroad Thrive in K-Pop

Dara, Bom, CL & More Girl Group Members From Abroad Thrive in K-Pop

Dara, Bom, CL & More Girl Group Members From Abroad Thrive in K-PopAs K-Pop goes global at furious speed, who are the girl group members that are thriving in this fast changing industry?

The recently unveiled T-ara member Dani grew up in America since she was four years old. She’s tall and beautiful and it’s hard to imagine she’s still only a kid. Some netizens have said, “She’s probably 15 years old since she lived in America”, and they couldn’t hide their amazement at how mature Dani looks. She is the latest addition to the girl group members to come from abroad.

In the ‘National Girl Group’ Girls’ Generation there are members Jessica and Tiffany who are from abroad. It isn’t that these girls have American names for style, but these two were actually born and raised in America. Their impact on the team was deeply appreciated when Girls’ Generation officially kicked off their international promotion and the two members were able to lead series of interviews in fluent English.

In Wonder Girls there are members Yubin and Hyerim. Yubin joined the group to replace an outgoing member and she had made a strong impression with her rapping skills in English. Hyerim goes a notch further with her ability to speak Korean, English, Mandarin, and Cantonese fluently.

Group Kara has members Nicole and Han Seung Yeon who’ve lived abroad. Nicole was born in America and early on as a member of Kara she was loved by the viewers of KBS ‘Golden Bell’ for her cute Korean pronunciation. She contributed in a big way to increase the popularity of Kara in Korea.

2NE1 is another group with many members who’ve come from abroad. Out of the 4 members CL, Park Bom, and Sandara Park have lived outside of Korea. Sandara Park was famously known as ‘Boa of Philippines’ before she debuted and CL speaks English, French, and Japanese fluently. CL is always leading the interviews when the group is promoting abroad.

Lastly, f(x) has three members from abroad. Krystal and Amber were born in America and Victoria is a Chinese national. Combined, f(x) members can speak Korean, English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

In a recent broadcast of KBS ‘Win Win’ Boa has mentioned how difficult it was to learn English and Japanese so she could promote internationally. As K-Pop goes global it is only natural that K-Pop groups are made of members of diverse background and having international members can become a big advantage as these groups branch out internationally.

Credits:

Source: Nate via kpopfever
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