2ne1

2NE1 (Hangul: 투애니원; Japanese: トゥエニィワン; RR: tu-aeniwon; pronounced "to anyone"[1] or "twenty-one"[2]) is a South Korean hip-hop/pop girl group formed by YG Entertainment in 2009. 2NE1 consists of four members: CL, Dara, Bom and Minzy. The group's name 2NE1 stands for "New Evolution of the 21st Century".

They first appeared in "Lollipop", a commercial campaign with Big Bang for LG Electronics, and their debut single "Fire" was released on May 6, 2009. Since then, the group has released two extended plays, 2NE1 and 2NE1 2nd Mini Album, and one studio album, To Anyone.

Fans of 2NE1 call themselves "Blackjacks", a reference to the card game Blackjack (which is also known as Twenty-one).

Pre-debut

The group was first mentioned by the press in late 2008. YG Entertainment announced that the group would consist of four members and debut sometime in May 2009.[4] The company stated that the group had trained for 4 years, and that their debut album would contain songs produced by 1TYM leader Teddy Park.[4][5][6] The group's name was initially announced as "21"; however, due to the discovery of a singer with the same name, the group was quickly renamed "2NE1".[7]
[edit] 2009: Debut

In collaboration with Big Bang, 2NE1's first CF song was "Lollipop", digitally released on March 27, 2009.[4] The song was created for LG to promote their Cyon phone. The music video debuted on March 28, 2009.[8] Although it was not a promoted single because it was an advertisement (there were problems with network chart eligibility[9]), "Lollipop" went to number one on various online charts[9] and topped the online chart of music television network Mnet for four weeks in a row.[10]

On April 30, YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun Suk revealed that 2NE1's debut song would be a hip-hop and reggae song, and that it would be digitally released on May 6, 2009.[11] Titled "Fire", the song was written and produced by 1TYM's Teddy Park.[12][unreliable source?] Teasers of the song were released on their official website at the beginning of May, with a 20-second clip released on May 1.[13]

"Fire" was released as planned on May 6, with two versions of the music video — a "space" version and a "street" version — released the same day.[14] During the first 24 hours, the videos received over one million views.[15] The group's first performance of the song was on May 17, 2009, on SBS's Inkigayo,[16] beginning the group's activities.

"I Don't Care" (2009)
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"I Don't Care" became 2NE1's most popular single off of their debut extended play, 2NE1 and displayed a softer, more feminine style.
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Both the song and the group became popular online: Fire topped Mnet's online chart and 2NE1 became a popular search term.[17] The group was awarded three Cyworld Digital Music Awards; "Lollipop" and "Fire" both won "Song of the Month" and the group won "Rookie of the Month" for May 2009.[18] 2NE1 received their first Mutizen award after their fourth stage performance in SBS Inkigayo (Popular Song) on June 14, 2009. They received their second Mutizen award on SBS Inkigayo on June 21, 2009. Two days afterwards, 2NE1 signed a deal with Fila to become the models for the new commercial campaign.[19]

"I Don't Care" was released as the second single on July 1, 2009,[20] with promotions starting in early July.[21] Yang Hyun Suk stated that the song would demonstrate a softer, more feminine image.[20] A reggae version of "I Don't Care" was performed on SBS's Inkigayo, signaling the end of promotions for the song.[22] However, due to the remix's popularity, it was released to digital outlets on September 3, 2009, and became their next digital single.[22]

Along with three other groups representing Korea, 2NE1 performed in the 6th Asia Song Festival in September 2009, where they received the 2009's "Asian Newcomer's Award."[23]

2NE1 received many year-end awards, including Best Rookie Award and Song of the Year Award. Their hit single I Don't Care was named 2009's Best Selling Song on music sites Bugs, Monkey3, and Cyworld.
[edit] 2010: Return to group activities, and To Anyone

On February 9, 2010, without previous notice, "Follow Me" (Korean: "날 따라해봐요", "Nal ddara haebwayo") was released to digital outlets and used as a theme song for Samsung Corby Folder.[24] Over the summer, 2NE1 traveled to Los Angeles and London in order to record English songs for a possible American debut with The Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am. So far, group has recorded 10 songs.[25] YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun Suk stated that the girls are planned to debut sometime in 2011, after The Black Eyed Peas' global tour and 2NE1's own activities in Korea and Japan.[26]

"Go Away" (2010)
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"Go Away" hit number one in Korea, being the only lead single to do so of the three.
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The first studio and full length album, To Anyone, was released on September 9, 2010 and was a huge success.[27] The album contains 12 tracks including three title songs, namely "Clap Your Hands" (Korean: "박수 쳐"), "Go Away" and "Can't Nobody", which were promoted simultaneously. 2NE1 won first place on Mnet M! Countdown for "Clap Your Hands" on the day of their comeback, followed by a K-Chart win the next day on KBS Music Bank for "Go Away", and a Mutizen a week after their SBS Inkigayo comeback for "Can't Nobody." Overall, 2NE1 won first place eleven times on various music shows.[28]

To promote the album, the group made its first entertainment show appearance as a group on KBS variety-talk show Win Win.[29] 2NE1 also aired the second season of 2NE1 TV.

On October 21, Yang Hyun Suk announced that 2NE1 would be releasing a follow up song on October 31, later revealed to be "It Hurts (Slow)" (Korean: "아파").[30][31] It was first performed on SBS Inkigayo. The music video is directed by Kim Hye Jung, the same director for G-Dragon's "Butterfly." The music video was released on November 1 and was themed for Halloween.[32]

In addition, on October 28, it was revealed that 2NE1's official record label in Japan will be Avex, and that To Anyone would be re-released in Japan on December 8, 2010. However, the release was delayed to an indefinite time.[33] The group also promoted in Thailand, where To Anyone released on October 28, 2010.[34] On November 26, 2NE1 released the single "Don't Stop the Music" as a "special gift for Thai fans".[35]
[edit] 2011: International expansion, and Korean Comeback with Ugly

Originally, 2NE1's Japanese debut was planned for December 2010, but this was delayed to September 2011, with singles releasing throughout the summer.[36] 2NE1's American promotions with will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas has no set time for release yet, because of the Black Eyed Peas' album release of The Beginning and subsequent touring.[37]

On January 19, "Can't Nobody (English Version)" was released on Recochoku as ringtones and ringback tones.[38] On February 2, the "Can't Nobody (English Version)" music video was made available for download through iTunes Japan. On February 22, Avex announced that 2NE1 will release their Japanese debut single "Go Away", previously used as a Korean promotional single, as a ringtone on March 9, 2011.[39] On March 16, the group released 2NE1, their first extended play, in Japan, with no promotions because of the earthquake.[40] It debuted at number twenty four on the Oricon charts, selling 3,860 copies.[41] It was later announced to be the theme song of Japanese television program Mezamashi TV.[42] 2NE1 planned to make their official Japanese live debut on Music Station, but have since postponed their debut because of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake.[43] 2NE1 participated in the Naver "Pray for Japan" campaign alongside many other Korean celebrities, helping to raise funds for earthquake victims.[44]

On April 18, 2NE1 announced their Korean comeback plans, pushing their mini-album Ugly's promotions forward, from July to April.[40] Member Park Bom's solo project was unveiled on April 21; after Park Bom sang an acoustic version of Don't Cry on YG on Air, leader CL said a new Korean single called "Lonely" would be released May 12, 2011. A behind-the scenes-of Lonely was shown on the second episode of YG on Air, and the music video of Lonely premiered May 11, 2011. On June 24, 2NE1 released a single produced by Teddy Park at midnight, titled I Am The Best. Within 24 hours of release, "I Am The Best" topped all the major Korean charts, except for Monkey3 where the song was ranked second. As the day progressed, the song ultimately became first and certified as a "perfect all-kill".[45] On July 21, 2NE1 released their animated music video, "Hate You", directed by Mari Kim, which also topped all major Korean charts. On July 28, along with the release of the full mini-album, the single "UGLY" and its music video were released, and again Ugly topped all major Korean charts. 2NE1 made a perfect all-kill with their new album as all singles released topped all major Korean charts.

Promotions for 2NE1's Korean comeback were scheduled to end around late August. Following the end of promotions, 2NE1 had their first sold-out solo concert at the Olympic Hall in the Chamsil Olympic Park on August 26, 27 and 28 in Seoul, South Korea.

After concluding Korean promotions for Ugly, 2NE1 made their official debut in Japan in September.[46] Prior to this, 2NE1 has released Japanese versions of "I Am The Best", "Hate You", and "Ugly."

2NE1 is set to release the Japanese version of "Go Away" on November 16, 2011 in three version.
[edit] Artistry and influences
[edit] Musical styles

"Fire" (2009)
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2NE1 debuted with a strong hip-hop sound in "Fire," a song that topped Korea's monthly chart.
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In 2NE1's debut EP 2NE1, the group was noted to have a distinct, mixed style. While "Lollipop" was categorized as for pop, debut single "Fire" is predominately influenced by hip hop. "I Don't Care," however, was intended as a song with a reggae feel.[47]

Their comeback album, To Anyone, was marked by a strong shift into electronic music. "Go Away", the most successful promotional single from the album, is classified as dance.[48] However, songs like "It Hurts (Slow)" are R&B, another style that also characterized their first EP.[49] The three title tracks, "Clap Your Hands," "Go Away," and "Can't Nobody" were noted for their lasting impressions, as they topped music charts weeks after release.[50]

Thematically, 2NE1's music explores independence and female empowerment, such as in songs like "Go Away" and "I Don't Care".[51]
[edit] Image

2NE1 is known for a "unique and edgier style".[52] During their debut single, the group was noted for being "hip-hop warriors" and the female counterpart to Big Bang but changed this perception with "I Don't Care" into strong, feminine women.[20] During the "It Hurts (Slow)" music video, the members were noted for their gothic, black attire[53] and strange hair and wigs.[54]
[edit] Influences

The 2NE1 cited different girl groups influences like Destiny's Child. Park Bom, lead vocalist, cited American singers , , Beyoncé and Mariah Carey as her main influences because of their strong vocals and powerful performances. She has listed hip hop and R&B as her favorite music genres.[55] Youngest member Minzy cited famous entertainer Michael Jackson,[56] while leader CL said producer Teddy Park and American entertainers Madonna and Lauryn Hill are her role models.[57] Dara states that singer-actress Uhm Jung Hwa is her inspiration. She also likes Jennifer Lopez music and style very much that she naturally became her role model as she sang along with her music growing up.

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