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Article: Billboard – “2NE1 Serves Double Dose of Fierce With ‘Come Back Home’ & ‘Happy’ Videos”

2NE1 Serves Double Dose of Fierce With ‘Come Back Home’ & ‘Happy’ Videos

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The K-pop girl group shakes up a CGI-created world and downtown Los Angeles with new visuals

K-pop’s baddest females are truly back and bolder than ever. After spending 2013 experimenting with different images and sounds — from the sunny, reggae pop of “Falling in Love” to the sparse, piano ballad “Missing You” — 2NE1‘s new album “Crush” feels like a return to its roots. The 10-track LP comes with hard-hitting, electro-pop/hip-hop tracks that recall some of the group’s past singles while refreshing the formula by incorporating new sounds.

It’s all led off by first single “Come Back Home” — one of two the quartet will actively promote — a reggae-trap hybrid that mashes the two seemingly disparate genres into a booming final product. Opening with a bouncy beat similar to Rihanna’s “Man Down,” the girls croon about losing a lover, asking him to “come back home” until the production flips into a heavy trap beat. At that point, the girls get seductive and demand their love to “come, baby baby, come, baby baby.”

While the gals played with reggae last summer, their latest feels like a more honest attempt to dive into the genre as opposed to just incorporating it for a nice summer sound. “Come Back Home” — along with album standout “MTBD,” a solo by 2NE1 leader CL — feel the type of tracks Rihanna or Nicki Minaj would make if a little more open minded to genre fusion.

In in its computer graphic-heavy visual, 2NE1 live in a futuristic world where one can escape reality for a “virtual paradise” with a special machine. While the girls can live out their ideal fantasies — unsuprisingly, main vocalist Bom is a diva singer entertaining a dinner crowd — when Dara‘s love interest would rather be in the fantasy land than with her, the girls transform into warrior rebels to lead an army to seemingly destroy the paradise.

While the sci-fi clip ends without an ultimate resolution, one wonders if the video for hip-hop/dance track “Gotta Be You” — the other promoted single off “Crush” — will be a part two.

The video for album track “Happy” dropped alongside “CBH,” revealing a much lighter side of the girls — despite the melancholy lyrics like the brilliant “I’m not happy, but I hope you’re happy” chorus.

Watch the cartoon-inspired visual as the girls saunter around Los Angeles in their signature crazy-patterned getups and hairstyles that require a double take — from Minzy‘s violet bowl cut to Dara‘s ’90s-inspired baby curls.

As Billboard previously reported, “Crush” could make an impressive splash on several Billboard charts this week. Early industry forecasts suggested the LP could sell 4,000 copies which could lead to 2NE1‘s first entry on the Billboard 200. The charts refresh every Thursday.

Fans can also look forward to videos for “Gotta Be You” and the “unplugged version” of “Come Back Home.

Credits: Billboard

Article: 2NE1’s Dara has Killer Abs and YG Family has Some of the Best K-Pop Bodies

2NE1 Dara Has Killer Abs & YG Family Has Some Of The Best K-Pop Bodies

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Dara has amazing abs, along with Daesung and Taeyang.

2NE1 made their comeback this weekend with their All or Nothing concerts in Seoul. One of the most circulated photos from the concert has become a shot that highlights the well-defined abdominal muscles of Dara.

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Dara has developed amazing abs.

2NE1 are stand outs from other female groups in K-Pop for having a public image of fitness. Even Park Bom, who is often the source of fan banter regarding her love of the highly caloric vegetable corn, can be seen displaying a toned and fit body. In an industry that emphasizes ant-waists as the standard for women, 2NE1 serve as role models for healthier life choices for their fans.

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Dara performing sit-ups in February.

In the leading weeks to the All or Nothing concerts, Dara shared photos of the exercise training process to build stamina for the performances.

YG Entertainment‘s artists are often photographed in the gym by their trainer, Hwangssabu. Through his social media, Hwangssabu encourages fans of YG artists to exercise and to adhere to a proper diet.

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Hwangssabu’s ‘Loneliness of Self-Discipline’ with Seungri.

Beyond 2NE1, Big Bang’s Seungri, Taeyang, and Daesung are frequently captured in the gym photos.
For their Alive comeback, the physiques of Big Bang were highlighted and often shown during the group’s stage performances.

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Seungri and Daesung in ‘Fantastic Baby’.

The emphasis on fitness extends beyond the established artists to the trainees and dancers. WINNER and the trainees of Team B have already demonstrated their commitment to join the ranks of physically fit artists at YG.

While SM Entertainment may have some of the most athletically inclined artists, it is obvious that YG leads the industry in terms of overall fitness. As Dara and the other members of 2NE1 continue to transform into more fit individuals, they serve as inspiration for fans who wish to lead healthier lifestyles.

Credits: KpopStarz

Photos: More Fantaken Pics of Energetic 2NE1 During Their “All Or Nothing” Concert in Seoul

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Twitter: Supportive Dara-Noona Watched Thunder’s “Moon Night Musical” ~ “Our Thunder is Awesome-Cute!”

Our ever supportive noona, Sandara Park! ❤ Kekeke, she’s so cute! I’d like to watch the musical too, it sounds interesting and of course, Thunder is there! ❤

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I came to watch Moon Night musical~ They said it was about Moon Night and I really looked forward to it, so it was so much fun seeing all the 90’s styles and music and different genres of dance too! @.@ My eyes opened wide in surprise~ The story was fun and our Thunder was awesome-cute too!!! >.<

Credits:

Source: @krungy21

Translated by: BlackjackBelle@OhDara/ SlaveTranslator@WeLoveDara

Interview: Yang Hyun Suk Explains Why Virtual World Gets Destroyed in 2NE1’s “Come Back Home” MV

YANG HYUN SUK EXPLAINS WHY VIRTUAL WORLD GETS DESTROYED IN 2NE1’S “COME BACK HOME” MV (INTERVIEW)

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[스타뉴스 길혜성 기자] With the release of 2NE1’s 2nd full album’s music videos, the founder of YG Entertainment YANG HYUN SUK, who is also the editor of the videos, personally explained the concepts of the clips.

Through YG’s official blog YG LIFE, 2NE1’s music videos of the title song “COME BACK HOME” and another track “HAPPY” were unveiled at 2:01 pm on March 3.

Out of the two, “COME BACK HOME” that was produced on a 500 million won budget stands out by emitting a sci-fi-like ambiance. Members of 2NE1 crosses from reality to the virtual world in a future city produced from computer graphic work. The MV is slightly dark, and in the latter part the divas transform into powerful warriors. A notable scene is by DARA, who weeps in pain of love.

Immediately after the release, YANG told Star News, “The content could be a little difficult to understand, but keeping in mind that happiness in the real world is the most important will help the viewers understand the intentions of the MV better.

He added, “The MV of “COME BACK HOME” is set in a near-future city, and the concept is that people in this era prefer the virtual world over the real one, just like the movie ‘Matrix’.

These days when people meet they look into the screens of their phones instead of having a conversation, which shows an addiction to cell phones and games. I think this behavior demonstrates that people like the virtual world. Even at playgrounds kids play with cell phones, and this will worsen in the future and people will be more enthusiastic about the virtual world than the real one.

He continued, “In the MV of ‘COME BACK HOME,’ DARA is heartbroken by a man she is in love with, as he prefers the virtual world. For these reasons, the four members of 2NE1, DARA, CL, BOM and MINZY enter the virtual world themselves and turn into warriors to destroy that world. Through this, we tried to convey the message of how important the real world is, and about the human touch.

He also explained why he leaned toward a music drama rather than a MV filled with choreographic scenes.

He said, “2NE1’s MVs were mainly choreographic ones until now, so we wanted to try something new. We wanted to invest our time and money in the computer graphic work, which ended up in a 500 million won budget.

I hope the viewers see the latest MV as a new challenge taken on by 2NE1.

On the other hand, the MV of “HAPPY” filmed in Los Angeles is completely different from that of “COME BACK HOME,” every scene filled with lovely and cute four members dressed in fancy outfits.

As soon as the 2nd full album was released on Feb 27, the double title songs “COME BACK HOME” and “GOTTA BE YOU” swept across major South Korean music charts while climbing up the ranks in many iTunes across the globe. On March 7 their offline version of the album will be released, while their first comeback performance will be aired on SBS’s Inkigayo on March 9.

Source: YG-Life

Videos: 140302 More Fancams of 2NE1’s “All Or Nothing” Concert in Seoul, Day 2

Yay! Fancams of Ssancoustic Dara and our adorable girls’ talk segment! ❤

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Credits: CLover JP + frolicker21

News: “Hot Girls” 2NE1 Had A Hot After- Party… “Passion”

“HOT GIRLS” 2NE1 HAD A HOT AFTER-PARTY… “PASSION”

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[OSEN=선미경 기자] 2NE1 was hot and energetic from the beginning to the end.

2NE1 has finished the Seoul concert of their second world tour “ALL OR NOTHING”, on the 2 this month at Olympic Park’s SK Handball Hall located in Bangi-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. The concert was held on March 1 and 2 and recorded a great success by attracting total 12,000 people of audience.

After the end of the last concert, an after-party was held at the 10pm on March 2, at club THE A located in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The after-party was held to have a more private time with 2NE1’s fans, and fans who watched the concert filled the club to further enjoy the fever of the concert.

2NE1 appeared in the club by 1am on March 3. All the fans’ attention was drawn to the stage, as they had been waiting for 2NE1 for hours. Fans who filled the 1st and 2nd floor of the club acclaimed 2NE1’s enthusiastic performance. 2NE1 sang “I’M THE BEST”, “I LOVE YOU”, as well as “GOTTA BE YOU”, one of the double title tracks of 2NE1’s latest second regular album, and CL’s solo track “MTBD”. 2NE1 heated the atmosphere with their endless energy, even though they had poured all their energy into the world tour concert for two and a half hours before the after-party.

2NE1’s flagship image as “girls who play hard” was materialized on the stage of the club. 2NE1 gave performances which were as charismatic and powerful as in the world tour. Fans on the floor were impressed by 2NE1’s performances and enjoyed the fever of the concert further. Notably, MINZY’s powerful and sexy dance added to the passionate mood. Fans could not but give thunderous claps to 2NE1, for the small but powerful, colorful, and exciting performances that only 2NE1 can create.

Generally, singers have an after-party with concert staff who worked hard with them for a concert. 2NE1’s after-party with fans and disclosure of it is a very rare case in Korea. Notably, 2NE1’s exciting and enthusiastic response on the stage to their fans, who gave them clapping and cheering even after the concert, was very impressive.

Meanwhile, total 15 concerts will be held in 2NE1’s world tour, in 12 cities in nine countries including China and Japan, after beginning from Seoul concert. Travis Payne and Stacey Walker who had produced the first world tour of 2NE1, took part in the production of the second world tour once again, and a world-class live session band and visual video team Inpossible worked with the producers to create a concert that entertains both the eyes and ears of the audience.

2NE1 gives a comeback performance for their second album in SBS “INKIGAYO” that will be aired on the 9 this month, and continue to appear on TV in Korea and meet fans around the world through their world tour.

Credits: YG-Life

Photos: 040302 Fantaken Pictures of Happy Dara at 2NE1’s “All Or Nothing” After Party

Kekeke, the photos are tinged in red light. XD Dara rocking and partying! ❤

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Click the link below for more photos!

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Instagram: Dara Shows Her Hard-Earned, Chiseled Abs! With Proud Trainer Hwangssabu!

Daaaannnngggg! Forever jealous! I shall now be inspired to have discipline and stick to my diet program!

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Abs

Credits: daraxxi

Re-uploaded by: OhDara

Twitter: Actress Dara Reveals Another Behind-The-Scenes pic ~ “Dark Sofa Scene”

Love, love, love this! Dara did so well despite this being a “first attempt” in the music video! ❤ YG, we need actress Dara ASAP!

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The first attempt at the dark sofa scene for this music video

Credits:

Source: @krungy21

Translated by: BlackjackBelle@OhDara/ SlaveTranslator@WeLoveDara