Archive for the ‘News’ Category

News: 2NE1 Cancels Appearance on ‘M! Countdown’ for this Week

YG Entertainment as announced that 2NE1 has cancelled their comeback stage for Mnet’s ‘M! Countdown‘, which was scheduled to be held on July 12th.

On July 5th, the ladies made a comeback after a one year hiatus with a track titled ‘I Love You‘ and kicked off their various music program promotions beginning with ‘Inkigayo‘ on the 8th.

However, with the passing of Minzy‘s great aunt (often referred to as her “grandmother” as great aunt in Korean is literally “aunt grandmother”), Gong Ok Jin, who is famous for being a pioneer in Korean cultural dance, 2NE1 has cancelled their upcoming ‘M! Countdown’ performance.

Gong Ok Jin’s funeral will be attended by those in Korean classical music and culture and the funeral is planned to span four days.

A representative of YG Entertainment stated, “Minzy wants to be there to send off her great aunt.  Staff members at the broadcasting companies were very understanding and allowed us to cancel our appearance for this week.”

The members of 2NE1 will still hold the “me2day star chatting” event with their fans through me2day on the 11th, with the exception of Minzy.

All four ladies of 2NE1 will stand on the stage together after the funeral period for Gong Ok Jin has passed.

Credits:

Source: AllKPop

Re-uploaded by: OhDara

News: YG Entertainment Apologizes for Using Animals on 2NE1’s Comeback Stage

YG Entertainment has apologized over 2NE1’s recent comeback stage.

After 2NE1’s comeback stage on SBS’ Inkigayo for the group’s new single I Love You was met with strong criticism for its use of live animals during the performance, YG Entertainment has issued an apology.

The July 8 comeback stage for 2NE1 utilized a live parrot and swans for the group’s comeback stage which was met with fierce debate.

However, YG Entertainment finally spoke up about the issue saying, “We enlisted the help of animal trainers and other animal experts and did the stage performance with their consultation. If our efforts to create a good performance brought discomfort to viewers we apologize. We will focus on being more careful in the future.” 

Source: eNewsWorld

News: 2NE1’s Comeback Stage Sparks Debate For Utilizing Live Animals

What do you guys think about the controversy surrounding 2NE1’s use of live animals onstage?

2NE1’s Comeback Stage Sparks Debate For Utilizing Live Animals

Despite making a lively return on SBS’ Inkigayo, 2NE1 is now being swept into controversy over its comeback stage.

2NE1 held its comeback stage for its new track I Love You on July 8 on SBS’ Inkigayo.

Going all out for its comeback stage, live swans were seen being used as props for the set while 2NE1’s CL made a memorable emergence onto the stage carrying a live parrot on her shoulder.

The performance was immediately followed with criticism by some netizens for the group’s use of live animals as netizens began accusing the group of unnecessarily causing stress to the animals.

Netizens pointed out the parrot on CL’s shoulder could be seen nervously flapping its wings amid the loud music and fast movements while the swans grouped together amidst dry ice.

The incident has since sparked debate on whether the use of animals for the group’s stage boldly pushed the limits of stage performances or whether it cruelly and unnecessarily used live animals for the entertainment of humans.

Even high-profile individuals such as famous editor-in-chief Kim Hyun Sung of Oh Boy! magazine sounded off, tweeting, “2NE1 utilized a live parrot on [CL’s] shoulder and swans as props. [2NE1 members] are friends who make great music but we hope in their next stages they won’t do so. Animals receive a lot of stress from the heat from lighting and from unfamiliar environments.” 

Source: eNewsWorld

News/Special Post: 2NE1’s Minzy’s Great Aunt Gong Ok Jin Passes Away

WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE  GONG FAMILY! MINZY, PLEASE STAY STRONG!

Update:

To show our deepest condolences to the Gong Family, OhDara (via @MamaWowa) ordered one flower wreath and WeLoveDara also ordered another flower wreath to be delivered to Madam Gong Ok Jin’s wake.

2NE1’s Minzy’s great-aunt and Korea’s legendary traditional dancer, Gong Ok Jin, passed away due to chronic illness earlier today.

In 1998, the famous folk dancer suffered from a stroke and had been fighting against the after effects of a stroke when she suffered yet another stroke in 2004. She was also involved in a car accident in 2007, which further declined her health. Born in 1931, Gong Ok Jin was highly known for her traditional singing, as well as her Korean folk dance. She created the “dance of the handicapped” and “animal imitation dance.”

Minzy has often talked about her great-aunt as both shared a passion for dancing. It’s been said that the two shared a close bond and that her Gong Ok Jin gave Minzy tips and monitored her performances.

A representative of YG Entertainment stated, “Gong Minzy heard the news of her great-aunt this morning and is on her way to Young Kwang with her parents. She’s devastated by the news.”

Meanwhile, 2NE1 made their comeback performance on SBS’s “Inkiagyo” yesterday with “I Love You.”

We send our deepest condolences to Gong Minzy and her family.

Note: Photos of Minzy and her family attending her great aunt’s (grandmother’s) wake have been up in Korean news portals for a while already. We have decided to take it upon ourselves to not post any photo of Minzy and her family grieving. While the photos have been made public, we firmly believe that we should respect Minzy and her family in their grief. Her life might be that of a celebrity and for public consumption, but I believe in her grief, Minzy needs her privacy. Her grief is her own and all we can do is support her.

Source: Soompi

News: Sandara Park, “Shaved Hairstyle Is CL’s Idea… Innocent?”

Sandara Park, “Shaved Hairstyle Is CL’s Idea… Innocent?”

Girl group 2NE1 member, Sandara Park revealed her bansak (meaning “shaved”) hairstyle!

2NE1‘s new single “I Love You” had been recently released, and on the afternoon of the 8th, they had their comeback stage during the broadcast of SBS “Inkigayo.”

Sandara Park, who became a hot topic because of her recent bansak hairstyle, said, “It was CL’s idea. It’s become a trend nowadays,” then she turned to the camera and said, “Don’t I look innocent*?” she asked in a cute way.

In addition, on 2NE1’s new song, “I Love You,” the girls revealed, “We added a trot feel so that people from all ages coule appreciate this love song,” they said, “It’s a song that talks about a woman in love,” they explained.

I Love You,” which was composed with Teddy, has a unique blend of electronic pop and trot. During their comeback stage, 2NE1 showed their unique fashion trend with a scarf tied around their wrists; their choreography for “I Love You,” emphasized the song’s atmosphere.

Credits:

Source: Nate
Translated by: BlackjackBelle@OhDara/ SlaveTranslator@WeLoveDara

T/N: *청순 literally translates to “innocent” or “pure” it’s like a trend right now, like “청순 glamour” for innocent glamour, meaning someone with pure, white skin, innocent looks.

News: 2NE1’s Dara Reveals Her Eating Habits

LET’S ALL ANTICIPATE WELOVEDARA AND OHDARA’S NEXT PROJECT: RICE FOR DARA! “DARICE”

This interview is so cute! Dara can’t live without rice! 

Incidentally, my name is Rice. Truly, me and Dara are destined for each other! Kekeke

2NE1‘s Dara revealed a few details about her eating habits during an interview at YG Entertainment on July 6th KST.

Dara stated, “I don’t eat without rice. Whenever I go overseas, I take packaged rice and red pepper paste. I don’t eat bread or ramen as a substitution to a meal. Only rice.”

Fellow 2NE1 member CL commented, “Dara unni always remembers to take her packaged rice, even to Japan, which is close [to Korea]. That’s why her overseas luggage is always filled with rice.” Dara responded, “When I travel far, there are many times I can’t get a proper meal. It’s hard during those moments.”

She went on, “During our recent break, the members and I went to the Alps via airplane for the first time, it was a truly new experience. To be honest, I have a fear of flying so I can’t ride on a plane for long.”

In related new, 2NE1 will have their “I Love You“ comeback stage on this week’s ’Inkigayo‘ on SBS. The group’s world tour, ‘NEW EVOLUTION‘, will start in Seoul, South Korea at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena, on July 28-29.

Source: Osen via Allkpop

News: 2NE1, “If Our Music Isn’t New Anymore, We Will Quit”

On the 6th, 2NE1 had an interview in the office of YG Entertainment and spoke of their newest album and what they have been doing recently.

CL said, “We came back with a single for the first time in a while and we tried many different things this time as well. We tried this genre called trot and I think many people are appreciating it because we expressed it with our own style.

Minzy also said, “When I was young I loved singing trot with my parents. Trot is something that requires the joy and sadness of life, but because I was exposed to it since I was young, it wasn’t hard for me.

At the end of their interview, the leader CL said something rather shocking. She spoke of the future of 2NE1, “The 2NE1 from now on? Honestly it might not exist at all. You never know the future. As for me, if the music of 2NE1 is no longer fresh and new, I don’t want to work as 2NE1 anymore. The 2NE1 that’s not new and fresh is not 2NE1. That just shows our determination to show more of our unique colors. Nothing serious (laughs).”

Credits:

Source: kpopstarz
Re-Uploaded by: OhDara

News: 2NE1′s Dara reveals she shed tears as she shaved her head for her comeback transformation

Awww. It must have been scary for Dara. T_T Don’t worry baby girl, your hair suits you gorgeously well! <333

2NE1′s Dara reveals she shed tears as she shaved her head for her comeback transformation

2NE1‘s Dara revealed that she shed tears as she shaved the side of her head for her dramatic hairstyle change.

During an interview held at YG Entertainment‘s headquarters, Dara stated “When I was getting my head shaved, the feeling of sorrow just crept up and I started tearing… I just did it without thinking through it for we decided that a new transformation was needed while in the midst of rehearsing. It was my first time getting my head shaved and I thought to myself that maybe this is how men who shave their heads to go off to the military feel.

CL added, “At first, the stylist unni told me to do it. I was going to do it at first but I just couldn’t get myself to go through with it. Seeing Dara unni cry, my heart was heavy… I was going to do it at first, but I was scared of looking too strong so I had nominated the pretty Dara unni.

Despite shedding tears the first time, Dara revealed that shaving her head no longer bothers her. “My hair grows fast, so this is already the third time I’ve had to get it shaved. Now I don’t have any lingering emotions about it.”

In related new 2NE1 will be holding their first comeback stage on July 8th through SBS’s ‘Inkigayo‘.

Credits:

Source: allkpop
Re-Uplaoded by: OhDara

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
Re-Uploaded by: OhDara

News: 2NE1 Reveals Snippet of World Tour Setlist

I’m pretty sure the girls would be giving us something new, they always do! ^_^

2NE1 reveals snippet of world tour setlist

K-pop sensation 2NE1 has lifted the lid on the songs they will perform to at the girls’ first world tour concert that will kick off in three months’ time.

2NE1‘s leader and rapper CL slightly opened up the details about the songs they will sing and dance to at the “NEW EVOLUTION,” while talking to local media outlets at a private interview held at the YG Entertainment office building in Seoul on July 6.

“We held our concerts last year and since then we’ve only released one new song, ‘I LOVE YOU.’ Since the setlist is going to be pretty much the same as last year, we’re doing some remix for all songs except our latest love tune,” CL said.

Regarding their upcoming singles, which initially had been planned to be released with “I LOVE YOU” in the same album, the girls said they are not sure when they will drop the next one.

“We wanted to do our best on each song and it was going to take us too much time to finish all, if we were to release them all in the same album this summer,” CL added.

“I LOVE YOU” is a mixed genre of electronic and trot music, which the members say is a unique musical genre in Korea that can be compared to the American country rock music.

The girls are receiving mixed reviews on social networking services online on their new tune, vocal style and concept, which have substantial differences from their previous releases.

NEW EVOLUTION” will kick off with the Seoul leg at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium on July 28 and 29. The girls will take the show to meet overseas fans in Asia, North America, South America and Europe but their final itinerary has yet to be set.

The “I’M THE BEST” singers will stage the first live performance of their “I LOVE YOU” on SBS’ music program “Inkigayo” on July 8.

Credits:

Source: 10 Asia
Re-Uploaded by: OhDara