To these four girls, the word ‘music’ is more important than ‘star’
A gust of wind with their first full length album ’2NE1′
Powerful dance, new, bold hip hop…
Sweeping the charts, claiming half of the top 10 positions
This was the day we met with the four girls known as CL (19), Park Bom (26), Sandara Park (26), Gong Minji (16), aka the ‘Playful Unnis’, it was quite nerve-wrecking. One might think that they would get crushed under well-known ‘unni’s force. Just in time, these girls released their first full-length album last month, and are sweeping up the idol world. Their songs are claiming half of the top 10 positions on several song charts.
However on the 29th last month, the four of these unpins came unexpectedly to visit Center News Daily. The charisma from their performances was no where in sight, and the quietly, almost like a whisper, agreed to do an interview. Sandara stated “We tend to give off a strong impression on stage, however when we get off, everyone’s personality is really well-behaved.”
# The full-length album that they spent one whole year on
From left to right: CL, Park Bom, Sandara Park, Gong Minji
The secret to how 2NE1 has been dominating several music charts recently: “Because the fans trust in 2NE1′s music.” [Source: YG Entertainment]
Last year 2NE1 debuted in the spring, and up until now have only mainly done promotions with a mini album. Already having dominated several online charts with their songs such as their debut song ‘Fire’ and ‘I Don’t Care’, they have been established as a top-class idol.
However they always felt that it was a shame that they couldn’t do a full-length album to clearly show their distinctive musical colours. Therefore, for the past one year, they didn’t appear on any shows and simply devoted their efforts to working on their album. The product of that was their 12-song long first full length album ‘To Anyone’. Easier said than done, putting all your efforts into producing an album for an entire year is not an easy task. Moreover, how could these ‘playful unni’s stand being away from the stage for so long.
‘I missed doing performances so much my body was itching. As a result, we’d sometimes hold a mini concert in our practice room.” (Sandara)
Their activities are as unique as the amount that they ambitiously prepared for them. They’ve selected 3 songs to be their titles – Can’t Nobody, Go Away and Clap Your Hands. They’ve been doing activities with all three songs, and the response has been so explosive that the 3 songs have all battled for number 1 at once.
“Since there are three title songs, we’ve had to put in three times the effort in all aspects, including dance, the song and style. It was a bit tiring for us in terms of stamina, however I feel great thinking that 2NE1 has risen a level in terms of their music.”
#The girls almost became “Yang Ssa’s Kids”
At the very beginning, the group name was not 2NE1. The first name offered by Yang Hyunsuk was the name ‘Yang Ssa’s (Yang Hyun Suk Sajangnim [president]) Kids.’ and ‘Tsunami’. Later on, their name was quickly changed to 2NE1 with the meaning ‘The New Evolution of the 21st century’. They almost had to live it down with such a comical name.
Up till now, they’ve only had one meal with president Yang. They stated, “President Yang is a difficult person as ever.” In addition, although regular fans believe that 2NE1 has already risen to a top-class idol, lately when their schedules end, they head straight to the practice room, and receive Yang’s training.
“The day when we finished the first performance for this album, we returned right away to the practice room. We practiced once again with President Yang. Every time we practice, he personally checks up on our music and choreography, it’s a nerve-wrecking moment.” (CL)
# “In 30 years….”
These girls have dreamt of being idols since they were young. Although they’ve already claimed a spot as a top-star, “I haven’t properly realized it yet (that we’re stars).” Minji stated. With their repetitive lifestyle of performances and practice, it’s not easy to feel their popularity. Park Bom said “It seems like my dream is still far away. I have to work hard and run forward in order to do better in performances and singing.” Exactly as expected from the playful unni’s. To these four girls, the word ‘music’ is more important than ‘star’. Even if 30 years pass, will they still be playing with their music.
“We’ll be with music for as long as our appearance will allow. At that end of that, we may all take different paths, but I want to come together with them once in a while and hold a small concert under the name ’2NE1′….. whatever path I choose, I won’t leave music.” At CL’s words, the other 3 members nodded their heads in agreement.
The girl groups’ Japan debuts are a hot topic here. There are Girls Generation and Kara in the front, while many other girl groups are preparing for their stages in Japan. Even from the groups, which are not that famous, are working their ways to Japan due to having offers from the biggest entertainment companies in Japan.
How about 2NE1 who is right on top this fall in Korea? YG Entertainment informed with a serious consideration saying “They will just focus on the domestic markets and consider to debut in abroad after they are fully prepared.”
One of the parties, from YGE, said, “There are many suggestions offering a contract with huge amount of money from many entertainment companies from Japan to 2NE1, but we kept on refusing them”, explaining the present situation, saying, “The domestic activities are the priorities and there’s a plan for the US debut, so we think it’s not our time yet.”
Also, they are being very careful on the money issue. A YG representative added, “If we get the money first, there will be a hard situation to keep the good structure of cooperation and we may have to follow what they want us to do most of the times”. He also said, “2NE1 has never had the official debut in Japan, but they are receiving very high responses, so we don’t need to offer that kind of unfavorable conditions by ourselves.”
The international markets watching 2NE1 is so hot. The music videos of the 3 title songs of the first full album of 2NE1, which costed of production of a one full movie, was chosen to be the most watched video on Youtube, the world famous video site, with the 500 thousand views only on the day it was released. Plus it ranked no.1 on the Japanese chart, nevertheless they haven’t even had an official promotion, not only for once.
The very first one who is performing triple title songs in the domestic musical industry history, 2NE1 is sweeping all the charts with their 3 songs, “Can’t Nobody”, “Go Away” and “Clap Your Hands”.
Also their ringtone downloads are over 600 thousand, showing off their power to be the top street popular music in this fall.
So what is so special about 2NE1 that they are becoming popular on both of domestic and abroad markets? The critics are saying that they are unique on both music and dance. They stand out beyond of all the whole girl group patterns which were just exaggerating the cute Barbie doll types or sexy voluptuous figure types.
Last year, they’d already expressed their genre-free music that varies from hip hop to electronic within the image of unique artists with their debut music such as “Fire” and “I Don’t Care”.
They are also receiving huge support from their company, YG. Compared to some girl groups, busy with all the shows, TV programs, stage showcases with a very small popularity as if they were such money making machines, 2NE1 has shown the leading system of separating the terms of preparing, performing, and resting.
Finishing their final activities with their title songs, interest is building over 2NE1′s follow up song.
Recently, Yang Hyunsuk had revealed to E-DailySPN in a call “The follow up song will probably be released on the 31st – Halloween.” generating much excitement.
Halloween is a Western celebration where people dress up as devils, ghosts, witches etc. on October 31st. When asking whether the song had any relation to Halloween, YG responded, “I’m not sure whether I should say it does or doesn’t.” He piqued curiosity when he asked people to confirm it on the day (the 31st) through YG-Life blog.
Representative Yang stated “There were 6 new songs in 2NE1′s first full length album. After completing their title song activities, choosing to do three songs was so that they could introduce as many songs as possible. The follow up song shares the same sentiments of course.” as they showed strong willpower with powerful promotions for their three songs.
~omitted irrelevant information~
Meanwhile, 2NE1 has swept away the charts for cable music shows and several online charts with their first album released on September 9th and had great success with their activities. Starting on the 11th, they will enter into activities for their follow up song.
发表于 11-10-2010 03:02 AM
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