Article: SSG Music Features 2NE1, Wonder Girls, And Blur For Their Pop Cult Feature

Pop Cult: 2NE1, Wonder Girls (ft. Akon), Blur

Knee-jerk reactions (the best kind) to pop culture happenings all over the world.

2NE1 – “I Love You” : B+

I think this is a really intelligent move by K-Poppers 2NE1, who have the pressure of what might be the most widely anticipated comeback of the year. Wins via the MTV Iggy Awards and their collaborations with artists like m-Flo and Will.I.Am have spread their buzz far and wide. The products of these collaborations haven’t been more than “meh” though, so some original material was necessary to keep the train chugging. Instead of going for a guaranteed hit, YG Entertainment focused on showinggrowth, and “I Love You” displays that in spades.

The reason so many non-Korean fans have such hopes for 2NE1 is they avoid a lot of the negatives that other K-Pop groups are saddled with: four members instead of 7 or 9, sex appeal over aegyo, and a style that translates easily to any pop market. “I Love You” is an extension of these positives, a club-hard beat, spotlights on each of the members, and a tone that, while just as exciting, is a completely different tone than the balls-out swagger that “I Am The Best” displayed.

There’s a bit of disappointment brewing in regards to hardcore K-Pop fans, mostly claiming that the song is “nothing special” and a bit “typical.” But it serves the quartet well that they are willing to do a bit of a reintroduction after the sudden worldwide surprise of “I Am The Best,” something to get fans new and old on the same page. Also, it’s just the first single. Chill out.

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News: 2NE1 Talks About Their Comeback, Their Lifted Dating Ban, and More in Recent Interview

2NE1 talks about their comeback, their lifted dating ban, and more in recent interview

2NE1 has finally come back. 2NE1 has always been known for their shocking music ad performances as well as their fashion. This time around was no different. They are the first girl group to mix trot with electronic to create the song, “I Love You.” 2NE1 member Dara has also shown a shocking new image with her half shaved hairstyle. The members commented, “We like to try and challenge ourselves with new styles of music. We felt that this song would be able to appeal to both the younger and the older generation.”

The group’s oldest member, Dara and Bom recently received great news. YG Entertainment CEO, Yang Hyun Suk allowed for the two oldest members to be released from the no-dating rule.

Dara commented, “Bom and I have been released. However, we are refraining from dating in order to self-regulates ourselves. I don’t know if guys will approach me, now that I’ve shaved my head. I don’t know if anyone would want to date me now seeing I’ve shaved off half of my head.”

It probably was not an easy decision for a girl member to shave off half of her head.

Dara commented, “CL recommended it to me while we were at the office. I used an electric hair razor for the first time. I couldn’t help but cry. I think this is how men feel when they shave their heads before going to the army.”

When asked why she didn’t do it herself, CL commented, “It was a style I wanted to try, but it was too much. Styles like that need to be done by the prettiest member. If I did it, I would look too strong, since I already have a not-so-pretty face.”

2NE1 has always been seen on TV broadcast once a week. 

YG commented, “It takes a long time for our artists to perfect and create a performance. That is why we only come out once a week since it takes up a lot of time to make that one performance.” Fans were sad that they were not able to see more of 2NE1.

CL added, “Since it takes us so long to prepare for one performance, we don’t have the strength to prepare for 3 or 4 performances in one week. Also, performances on stage are what we and the people remember, so I think it’s best that we work hard to create one perfect performance rather than a few mediocre ones.”

2NE1 had 5 hit songs last year including “Lonely“, “I am the Best” and others. This new song has also hit number one on the charts as well. They will begin their world tour, “NEW EVOLUTION” in July 28 and 29 and visit 10 cities of 7 different countries.

Global stars such as 2NE1, how long will they be together?

CL commented, “If our music and our image suddenly becomes boring and old, I think we are going to quit before that happens. If I can’t pull the hearts of people any more, I don’t want to do music anymore.”

Credits:

Source: KPopStarz and AllKPop

Article: Soompi Gives An Exclusive Review For 2NE1’s I LOVE YOU

(YG Entertainment gave Soompi a chance to listen to “I Love You” prior to its release for the world’s first review of the song!)

2NE1 has come a long way since their 2009 debut track “Fire,” establishing themselves as a confident, sexy, and stylish hip-hop/R&B group. Their straight-in-your-face lyrics and I-don’t-care personality have made them clearly stand out from the rest of the pack, and it’s almost become a given that they come out with another single that exemplifies their strong and fearless attitude.

Enter their latest single, “I Love You.” This song produced by YG Entertainment’s resident producer, Teddy Park, and co-composed by Lydia Paek, whose previous work includes Park Bom’s “Don’t Cry,” is another upbeat, electro-based track, only with one clear distinction – it begs for love.

“I Love You” is an interesting track in that it takes 2NE1’s unflinching swagger into unexplored territory. With lyrics such as “All day I’m reminded of you. I keep staring at the silent phone. Why can’t you see my true feelings?”, it almost feels like we’re listening to a different group, especially when we’ve grown so accustomed to their strong and confident attitude in previous singles (re: “I Don’t Care,” “Go Away,” “I Am the Best,” and “Hate You,” just to name a few). Yet they do a perfect job with their vocals in portraying the emotions of a woman deeply in love (the lyrics sound almost too possessive).

The sound of the song, too, is very unconventional with different beats and sounds intertwined in each verse. This could at first give you the false impression of hearing a bunch of disjointed verses quickly playing. However, after a couple rounds, you’ll soon realize that Teddy did yet another magical job at turning what could have been an experimental piece into a masterpiece. Despite the lyrics that may at first feel atypical of a regular 2NE1 song, and the mysterious use/mix of completely different sounds, “I Love You” comes at you as an entirely new experience – and before you know it, the “I love you,” “Ooh,” and “yeah, yeah, yeah” chorus parts will continue to play in your head.

With “I Love You,” 2NE1 has another smash hit single in the making. This song proves 2NE1’s versatility in emotional delivery and musical talent, and it will only take them one step closer to their long-awaited global debut. We’re not sure what song they’ll pick as their English debut track yet, but if we had the choice, “I Love You” would definitely be one of the top choices.

“I Love You” will be released as a digital single through iTunes on July 5.

Credits:

Source: Soompi

Re-uploaded by: OhDara