Tuesday, June 28, 2011

2NE1 releases “I Am The Best” music video!


Blackjacks have waited a long time for this day – after an internal delay and then another minor setback, 2NE1’s “I Am The Best” music video has finally hit the internet with full force!
The quartet heated up the airwaves with the full track release earlier this week, immediately achieving an all-kill on music charts, with “#2NE1isthebest” trending on Twitter worldwide.
Directed by Seo Hyun Seung (the creative force behind “Fire”, “Try to Follow Me”, “Clap Your Hands” & “Can’t Nobody”), the MV features glammed up film sets to match the energy of the track. 
Considering how “I Am The Best” features heavy-hitting beats and a party vibe that would get anyone up and moving, the MV compliments the track with eye-popping film sets and wardrobe choices that will have fans and critics talking for days.
Without further ado, here’s “I Am The Best”!


So what do you think of the “I Am The Best” music video?

Tweet us now and tell us your comments!


Source: Allkpop

2NE1, 2PM and Kim Hyun Joong are compared and graded on their comebacks


The summer season has just begun, yet there are already huge comebacks attracting many fans with new music, hot styles, and energetic performances. The biggest names at the moment are 2PM, Kim Hyun Joong, and 2NE1.

They’re currently being called the “BIG 3″ and were rated by Nate News in five categories including: catchiness, style, transformation, live performances, and response from the audience. Each artist(s) could get at most five stars for each category. Check out their scores and reviews below!The summer season has just begun, yet there are already huge comebacks attracting many fans with new music, hot styles, and energetic performances. The biggest names at the moment are 2PM, Kim Hyun Joong, and 2NE1.

They’re currently being called the “BIG 3″ and were rated by Nate News in five categories including: catchiness, style, transformation, live performances, and response from the audience. Each artist(s) could get at most five stars for each category. Check out their scores and reviews below!
1. Catchiness – 2PM > 2NE1 > Kim Hyun Joong

2PM (4 Stars): 2PM has returned with their highly anticipated album after 8 months. Their title song is “Hands Up”. With a strong beat and refreshing melody, it makes for some great club music. Seemingly aimed for clubs, the song’s catchiness is definitely the best out of the 3. The simple notes and repetitive lyrics of the chorus, which goes “Put your hands up, put your hands up, put p-p-p-put,” get stuck in your head after listening to it just once. The song never loses its stylish electronic sound.

2NE1 (3 Stars): 2NE1 has returned after 9 months with the title song “I Am the Best” from their single album. They created a unique song by combining various sounds and styles such as electronic, hip hop, and reggae. However, the melody isn’t that striking. They just make you remember the title by repeating “I am the best” four times during the chorus.

Kim Hyun Joong (3 Stars): Kim Hyun Joong has released his first solo album since his debut in the music industry. The title song is entitled “Break Down”. He created a strong sound using an E-brass and synthesizer. It’s a step away from being really addictive because it was created with only the performance in mind. The melody line is not difficult, but there is no point. In other words, the song is more for being seen than for being sung along or danced to.

2. Style – 2NE1 > 2PM > Kim Hyun Joong

2NE1 (4 Stars): You can’t tear your eyes away from them. Their hair is overwhelming. Sandara has her hair up like a comic character and Minzy is attention-grabbing with her gray hair. They wear leather vests and jackets with various patterns, prints, and studs that are matched with leggings. It’s worth seeing their chain-styled necklaces. However, one star was taken off because the style is far from the popular trend.

2PM (3 Stars): It’s fun to see them because this style is very different from their previous ones. Rather than wearing matching, uniformed outfits, they’re all dressed according to their individual personalities. They do this by wearing different jackets, like a red leather one, a denim one, and one with patches on it. It is even more fun because the LED lighting turns on when Taecyeon and Wooyoung are on the stage. However, it is a bit disappointing because there isn’t anything radical about their look.

Kim Hyun Joong (3 Stars): His concept highlights his masculine attractiveness. The clothes are generally good, but the detailing falls short. His strengths are the leather short-sleeved tops and pants. His pants are detailed with liquor designs and his top slightly reveals his chest. He also has the Mohican hairstyle and wears sunglasses. However, he wears only black from head to toe, which lacks something special. To our disappointment, it also hides the details.

3. Transformation – Kim Hyun Joong > 2PM > 2NE1

Kim Hyun Joong (4 Stars): His current concept was not what we expected. Kim Hyun Joong did a complete makeover 180 degree transformation. Although he played the innocent Ji Hoo in “Boys Over Flowers” with his soft SS501 flower boy image he has changed this perception tremendously. His new song, sound, and dances are completely manly. His beastly, strong concept is impressive, especially the part of his dance where he moves his hip and butt. He receives the highest score because he completely abandoned his pretty boy image. His mature charisma is simply great.

2PM (3 Stars): They’ve changed a bit from their standard image as “beastly idols”. Instead, they now seem like fun-loving clubbers. They’ve also rediscovered a part of their “10 Out of 10 Points” days. Instead of a unified group dance, they’ve turned to some fun and lighthearted choreography. Instead of ripping their shirts, they show that they’re enjoying themselves. They have cleverly softened the impact of this transformation by combining their past and new image into “fun-loving beastly idols”.

2NE1 (2 Stars): They’re basically showing the same image. They’ve chosen to stay as themselves instead of experimenting. “Fire,” “Clap Your Hands,” and “Can’t Nobody” have continuously portrayed their concept as tough and fun-loving girls. The lyrics for “I Am the Best” show their usual confidence and their visual appearances were always striking. However, their music, choreography, and image introduce nothing new, at it’s core it’s just basically the same thing.

4. Live Performance – 2PM > Kim Hyun Joong > 2NE1

2PM (3 Stars): Live performances are important for singers. Out of the “BIG 3,” 2PM is the most stable. Each singer is assigned to a part of the song that matches their vocal talents, so they manage to perform well live. Granted, with an easy melody line, there is no opportunity for them to showcase their singing abilities.

Kim Hyun Joong (2 Stars): Even in SS501, he wasn’t a main vocal. As a solo artist, he has revealed his limitations. He seems uneasy while singing because of his quiet voice and his weak pitch when hitting high notes. However, we gave him bonus points because he’s singing the whole song by himself.

2NE1 (2 Stars): CL’s rapping and Park Bom’s singing are decent. However, it was hard evaluating their live performances because the entire song was drowned out by the electronics and a whirring sound. It was impossible to even hear, let alone evaluate, their natural voices with all the whirring. We took off points because the song did not allow us to hear them singing live.

5. Audience Response – 2PM > Kim Hyun Joong > 2NE1

2PM (4 Stars): The stage becomes one with the audience. The members said, “I want to have fun,” creating a chance for them and the audience to do so together. During the chorus, the audience puts up their hands and sings along. 2PM goes off the stage to sing and hold their fans’ hands. The shouting and screaming was definitely the loudest for them.

Kim Hyun Joong (3 Stars): Kim Hyun Joong knows what the audience wants. As he dances, he shows off sexy dance moves. He has many good points, such as shaking his butt and showing his muscles when he puts his hand to his chest. Whenever he does a sexy move, the audience cheers and screams a lot.

2NE1 (2 Stars): It’s hard to enjoy the performance together with the girls. For their comeback stage, they received a lot of cheers and applause. However, the performance was not meant for the audience to join in on the fun. The melody line for “I Am the Best” is totally hectic and complicated. It’s a bit hard for the fans to find a spot for them to cheer and cry out names or encouragements. So of course, it is inevitable that the response is pretty weak. Simply put, it’s a stage put on only for the 2NE1 members themselves.

Overall, Nate News rankings for the “BIG 3″ put 2PM on top with the best scores. Following them was Kim Hyun Joong and then 2NE1 in last place.


Source & Photos: Nate
Credits: Allkpop

2NE1's Performance from Seoul Osaka Music of Heart 2011!

In support of the affected areas from Japan’s Great Tohoku earthquake, some of the top K-pop stars came together to hold a concert back on June 7th. The concert aired earlier today through SBS.

TVXQ, 2PM, 4minute, 2NE1, IU, MBLAQ, U-KISS, FT Island, B2ST, f(x), T-ara, and Rainbow all performed at the event which was held at the Osaka Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan.

Check out 2NE1's performance below!







Source: Allkpop

Monday, June 27, 2011

Who wore it BEST? Dara or Lee Yeon Hee?

In this edition of "Who Wore It Best," we're comparing two lovely ladies who were both recently spotted wearing the beaded neon chartreuse shell from Christopher Kane's S/S 2011 collection: Lee Yeon Hee and Sandara Park!

At the United Asia Management launch party held yesterday at the Banyan Club, Lee Yeon Hee went the matchy-matchy route, pairing the top with a laser-cut leather A-line skirt in the same color. Perhaps because the outfit was already quite eye-catching, the actress kept the accessories and styling very simple: a few thin bangles and simple black sandals completed her look.

Sandara Park wore the same top for 2NE1's "Lonely" MV, but paired it instead with a patent-leather biker jacket from Burberry Prorsum and striped jeans and a studded belt from Balmain. In doing so, the singer definitely played up the top's rock-chic aspect.

So now we ask you: Who do you think wore it best, Lee Yeon Hee or Dara?

Source: YG Entertainment, Newsen
Posted by melkimx @ soompi
Credits: Universal Records PH

2NE1’s “I Am The Best” certified a ‘perfect all-kill’!

Just two days into its release, 2NE1′s comeback track, I’m the Best“, has been certified a ‘perfect all-kill’ by Instiz!

The song swept the charts moments after its release, topping MelOn, dosirak, Bugs, Mnet, Cyworld, Soribada, and Monkey3 live. YG Entertainment’s blog, ‘YG-Life‘, took notice of the achievement and shared a screen capture of Instiz’s certification.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise though, especially considering the streak of success the girls have been showing all year with “Don’t Cry” and “Lonely“.

Congratulations!

Source + Photos: Star News
Credits: Allkpop

Park Bom reveals the secret behind her doll-like figure!

On the June 26th broadcast of SBS ‘Inkigayo, 2NE1’s Park Bom revealed the secret to her doll figure!

MC IU asked Park Bom, “Recently, your doll figure is becoming a hot topic. What is your secret?” Park Bom replied to the compliment,Thank you for seeing it like that. The secret is eating a lot of watermelon. Instead of rice, I have been eating watermelon lately.

To MC Sulli’s question, “Will we be able to see 2NE1 frequently?”, Sandara Park responded, “Through ‘Inkigayo’, it is planned that you will see us often. We’ll see you next week again.”

Here is the video below:
Meanwhile, 2NE1 had their comeback stage on ‘Inkigayo’ for their single track, “I Am Best”.

Source: Nate
Credits: Allkpop

2NE1 at #3 spot at Instiz Chart Singles Ranking for the fourth week of June!

The Instiz chart combines the overwhelming variety of charts that South Korea uses to rank music sales, and it’s what fans use to determine whether their favorite artist has achieved an “All-Kill”.

Check out the chart rankings for the fourth week of June below!

Instiz Chart Singles Ranking
1. 2PM – “Hands Up” – 11,546 Points
2. f(x) – “Hot Summer” – 9,542  Points
3. 2NE1 – “I’m The Best” – 8,002 Points [ALL KILL]
4. Park Jung Hyun – “Stupid” (From “I Am A Singer”) – 4,663  Points
5. IU & Kim Yuna – “Ice Flower” ft. Kim Se Hwang – 4,390 Points
6. 4MEN – “To Live At Least Once” – 4,006 Points
7. SECRET – “Starlight Moonlight” – 3,310 Points
8. 8eight – “Covering Those Lips” – 2,996 Points
9. Kim Bum Soo – “Love Is Leaving” – 2,887 Points
10. B2ST – “On Rainy Days” – 2,172 Points

Source: Instiz iCHART 
Credits: Allkpop

Sunday, June 26, 2011

2NE1 "I Am The Best" Comeback Performance on SBS Inkigayo!

After a near 9 month hiatus from performing regularly on music shows, the 2NE1 girls are back on SBS “Inkigayo” with a powerful new performance of their latest release, “I Am The Best“.

Having originally been offered a 10 minute comeback stage by SBS, YG decided against it and went with just the 1-song performance of “I Am The Best”.

“I Am The Best” is definitely shaping up to be one of the hottest dance tracks of the summer. Previously described by producer Teddy as an electronic hip hop track reminiscent of “Fire“, “I Am The Best” has been climbing its way to the top of the hottest club playlists throughout Seoul and beyond.

Equipped with a heavy bass line and a catchy hook, “I Am The Best” is an infectious party track that will have fans reaching for the replay button over and over for the rest of the week.

The ladies prove their worth by supplying the track with their unique vocals, from CL’s swaggtastic raps to Bom’s throaty melodies.

Check out their hot comeback below!




Source: Allkpop
Video: CodeAnalysisSeason5

Friday, June 24, 2011

2NE1'S Cyworld Interview for their new Digital Single, "I'm The Best"

Hello~ All the members of Cyworld~!

2NE1 is back with exciting club tune, “I Am The Best.”

After a long time, we are finally back, we really appreciate your patience in waiting for us~^^

Please introduce your newest single “I Am The Best.”

CL: “I Am The Best” is a song by Teddy-oppa, who is one of YG’s producers. It’s very different from our previous song, “Lonely,” in that it shows a different color of 2NE1. From the title, you can already feel that it is provocative, and the lyrics are empowering, it’s a really exciting song that is quite similar to our debut single, “Fire.”

Dara: We also have the choreography that’s called “The Best Dance” ~ We practiced really hard for the dance, so our actions would come out better? I showed a bit of how I looked like during I Am The Best practice, so it’s a lot of fun~ Please give us a lot of expectations~!

You will be coming back after a long time, what are your plans for “I Am The Best” activities?

CL: It’s been a long time eve since we did broadcast activities, so we are looking forward to meeting everyone again through our single! Then in July, our mini-album would be released, then 2NE1′s solo concert on August 27 and 28!!! This summer, we really expect to be active.
Please tell us what 2NE1 song is the most meaningful to you.

[Dara's Recommended Song] For me, it’s “Fire!” This is our debut song, and also, it’s more meaningful, I think, because through this song, we got to meet our fans for the first time

[Park Bom's Recommended Song] It’s my solo that was revealed a while ago! It’s “Don’t Cry.” It showed me that I have a lot of fans, so everyone, thank you so much for giving me a lot of love!

[Minji's Recommended Song] The one that received so much love ~ “I Don’t Care” it means a lot to me when people sing and follow us when we sing it because it shows that they love it too!

[CL's Recommended Song] It’s been a while since we did any activities, so instead of recommending a past song, I’d go with “I Am The Best.” It’s been 9 months since we met the fans directly, so this would be quite meaningful!
As a singer, who is your role model? Please recommend their music also.

[Dara's Role Model - Uhm Jung Hwa] Whether it’s on stage or work ethics or portraying a new look, my role model has always been Uhm Jung Hwa sunbae (T/N: Sunbae = senior). Whether she’s acting or singing, this rabbit never fails to feel excited and think highly of her, and I try to never miss out on anything new. I would like to recommend her collaboration with YG, the song, “D.I.S.C.O.”

[Parl Bom's Role Model - Beyonce] On stage, she exudes such charisma and powerful vocals, and she always amazes the audience with her brilliant performances. I really think that she’s the perfect artist. From her new songs, I’d recomment her single, “The Best I Never Had.”

[Minji's Role Model - Michael Jackson] Michael Jackson, do I need to say anything more? The name alone is already a legend, Michael Jackson will always be my rolemodel. My recommended song would be “Thriller.”

[CL's Role Model - Madonna] She has her own phiosophy and originality, and she always looks passionately to try out something new, so I look up to her. For my recommended song, it’s “Celebration,” which is a collaboration between her and Akon.

Source: Cyworld
Translated by:
WeLoveDara & OhDara 
Credits: 21Bangs

2NE1's First Solo Concert Announcement!

Hello this is YG Entertainment.
After their debut, this is the their first ever solo concert!!
A fantasy-like stage that makes the hearts of fans flutter with their true talent and singing abilities!!

Finally it'll be this coming August!!
3 years after their debut, we are hosting 2NE1's first ever solo concert at the Olympic Hall.

With their live talent, as seen through their hits 'Clap your Hands', 'Go Away', 'Can't Nobody', 'Don't Cry', 'Lonely', etc. that have swept away the charts, and along with the nation's best directors.

They will be having dynamic stages that have never been done before by other girl groups, and we are planning to really heat up the concert hall.

August, 2011!
More amazing and passionate than you can imagine, you mustn't miss this fantasy-like stage !

Please refer to the bottom for the full details.

Concert details
- Concert name: 2011 2NE1 1ST CONCERT
- Date: August 27th, 2011 at 6PM (Saturday), August 28th at 7pm (Sunday)
- Location: The Olympic Hall inside the Olympic Park
- Ticket price: Seats 88 000 Won (Tax included)
- Host/Supervisor: YG Entertainment

Ticket Open Announcement
- Ticket Reservations: Gmarket Only (www.gmarket.co.kr)
- Inquiry Line: 1566-5702
- Reservation Open Date: Thursday July 7th, 2011 at 8PM
* For the full details, we will be releasing a second announcement later.

We hope that everyone will show their support and interest for
2NE1's first ever concert which will be packed full of heat.

Thank you.

Source: YG-2NE1
Translated by: GEE @YGLadies.com

2NE1, Music Chart ALLKILL!





















Source: YG Life Blog

2NE1 First Comeback Stage & M/V Release Date!

About the First Comeback Stage..

The first comeback stage of 2NE1’s new single, “I Am The Best”
has decided to SBS’s “Inkigayo” on coming Sunday.

The broadcasting station showed consideration to allow 10 min for comeback stage
but YG requested politely to perform only 1 song.

It is normal wish for artists and producers to get even 1 more min for comeback stage
but the reason that YG requested to shorten the length is

we think it’s more important to focus on one complete performance
with more concentration on the final stage of practicing “I Am The Best”.

M/V Release Date

The music video, “I Am The Best“ will now be released two or three days later
than its expected release date, June 24th 00:00 AM.

The problem was that we had set the bar too high..
Might be overambitious for great work? We spent more than twice the amount of money
we had spent on previous videos, and the scale of the video grew larger than expected,
which lengthened the post-production time.

Deepest apologies to all of our fans
and hope you can stay tuned with full support. Thank you.


FROM YG.
Source: YG Life Blog

4MEN covers 2NE1’s “Lonely” on KBS’s ‘Yoo Hee Yeol’s Sketchbook’

On June 24th, 4MEN guested on KBS’s ‘Yoo Hee Yeol’s Sketchbook‘ and performed a jaw-dropping cover of 2NE1’s hit track, “Lonely“.

‘89er maknae Shin Yong Jae wanted to prove that he could perform idol music that peers his age performed and chose 2NE1’s “Lonely”, a song that he always enjoyed listening to, to cover in his own style. Not only did he re-arrange “Lonely” into a ballad version, but played the piano live, melting the hearts of listeners and viewers.

When later asked what their goal for the year was, they revealed, “To win #1 on ‘Music Bank‘.” They explained, “Whenever we sing the OST for a drama, the lead male actors always end up enlisting in the army.  When a drama does well, we hope to ride on that success and maybe advance into Japan, but the success stops there.”

MC Yoo Hee Yeol asked, “Do you want to advance into Japan?” to which they replied, “We still have a lot left to do in Korea, so it’s okay.”

When asked what they would like to do in Korea, they replied, “We want to win #1 on ‘Music Bank’.  How do you think we can?”

Other performances on the show included SECRET and hip hop duo Rimi and Gamja
< Shin Yong Jae – “Lonely” >



Source + Photos: BNT News
Credits: Allkpop
Video: Hoya110608

2NE1’s “I Am The Best” achieves an all-kill on the music charts!

To no one’s surprise, 2NE1 has reached the number 1 spot on all of the music charts!

Though their new single “I Am The Best” was released only a few hours ago, it has managed to climb to the number 1 spot on nearly every chart including Melon, Cyworld, Mnet, Dosirak, Soribada, and Bugs.

What an amazing accomplishment for 2NE1 to get another all-kill and completely dominate the charts in such a short amount of time!

Source: Allkpop

2NE1 unleashes their newest single, “I Am The Best”!

It’s been a long time coming, but Korea’s fearsome foursome is finally back in action: 2NE1 has just dropped its newest single, “I Am The Best“!

Despite the brevity of the four song teasers revealed earlier this week, it was clear from the get-go that “I Am The Best” would shape up to be one of the hottest dance tracks of the summer. Previously described by producer Teddy as an electronic hip hop track reminiscent of “Fire”, “I Am The Best” will surely be climbing its way to the top of the hottest club playlists throughout Seoul and beyond.

Equipped with a heavy bass line and a catchy hook, “I Am The Best” is an infectious party track that will have fans reaching for the replay button over and over for the rest of the week. The ladies prove their worth by supplying the track with their unique vocals, from CL’s swaggtastic raps to Bom’s throaty melodies.

Anyway, enough with the talking… feast your ears below!
So what do you think of “I Am The Best”?

Tell us in the comments section below!

Source: Allkpop
Video: Daily2NE1

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

2NE1 to give away a concert ticket through a special iPad event!

Girl group 2NE1 has crafted an interesting promotional event for their fans.

On June 21st and 22nd, member Sandara Park will launch a special event titled ‘Find Director Park’s MP3 Player!’. Sandara will post hints on her me2day about an Apple retail store that hosts a specific iPad; fans who solve the hints will get the opportunity to listen to 2NE1’s “I Am the Best“ ahead of its release date.

Those who find the correct iPad will have to submit a “proof shot” to Sandara’s me2day page. One lucky fan will be selected personally by 2NE1 to win a VIP ticket for their first concert.

YG Entertainment commented, “2NE1’s honorable communications director, Sandara Park, is excited to start promotions again, so she’s been planning this special event with the company staff for days. Please anticipate Sandara’s event and 2NE1’s new song, ‘I Am the Best’.”

2NE1 will release “I Am the Best” on June 24th, marking their comeback to the music industry after a nine-month-long hiatus.

Source: My Daily via Nate
Credits: Allkpop

Who designed 2NE1’s jacket photo for “I Am The Best”?

YG Entertainment had many fans doing a double take when the jacket picture of 2NE1’s “I Am The Best” was revealed yesterday, unveiling colorful four cartoon caricatures of the quartet. To compliment their fierce image, each girl was drawn with smokey make-up, wielding brightly-colored sub-machine guns and pistols in hand. So the question is, who was behind these cartoons?
After widespread curiosity sparked regarding the identity of the artist behind the design, Mari Kim revealed on her personal blog that she was the one that had created the four works.

As a graphic artist rooted in the “pop surrealism” art form, Kim used her eye-popping style to design the striking artwork for 2NE1’s jacket image.

In a 2009 interview, Kim revealed that many had dubbed her art style as “sensational” and “frightening”, and that she herself considers her works to be paintings instead of characters. “I like cult and zombie movies and I’m a metal rock lover,” she explained. “I want to express this identity through my work.

Kim received a bachelor’s degree in multimedia and a master’s in animation studies at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Since then, she has been invited to the Berlin Pictoplasma Art Festival, which focuses on contemporary character design and art. In 2007, her collaborative video art piece, “Goldfish in a throat” was screened at the Busan International Video Festival. Nowadays, she gives lectures at Chungkang College of Cultural Industries and is preparing to publish a book this fall.

She has also collaborated with Young Mean Kang to produce a MV for SORO (서로)’s “Beengle Beengle”.
You can check out more of Mari Kim’s artwork here.

Sources: Kim Mari’s blog, designdb, The ChungDae Post
Credits: Allkpop

2NE1 releases second “I Am The Best” teaser!

YG Entertainment has proven itself to be the master of teasers — although the agency had previously only revealed ten seconds of 2NE1’s upcoming track “I Am The Best”, the public response has been absolutely explosive!

Yesterday, we got our first earful of the bass-pumping dance track and a taste of CL’s fierce vocals. Today, Blackjacks can enjoy an extended 20-second preview of “I Am The Best”, which reveals more of CL’s part as well as a (very brief) snippet of Minzy’s introduction. Check it out!
With three days left to go, we can expect daily song teasers introducing Dara and Bom before the full song is unleashed on June 24.

Source: Allkpop
Video: 2NE1

Style Highlight: 2NE1, Korea’s fashion icons!

Welcome to the first edition of “Style Highlight“, a new feature on allkpop that takes a comprehensive look at the styles of popular Korean celebrities.

Since debuting in 2009, 2NE1 has been known to be the most fashion-forward out of the numerous girl groups that have entered the music scene over the past few years.

The girls developed a reputation for taking bold risks in just about every fashion aspect: from Sandara’s palm tree hairstyle to CL’s hanger dress, we chronicle some key moments of 2NE1’s style.
Their debut song “Fire” caught everyone’s attention, with no shortage of thanks going to 2NE1’s off-the-wall styles, which consisted of bright colors, wacky patterns, eye-catching accessories, and Sandara’s palm tree hairstyle. I also can’t help but draw my eyes to Bom’s hot pink leggings and CL’s ‘tail’!

It’s no coincidence that the girls were noticed immediately for their fresh, vibrant style – after all, they were helped by fellow label mate and ‘fashion king’, G-Dragon.
Through their next song, “I Don’t Care”, we can see the girls begin a style transition. They start to show us more feminine silhouettes, but they don’t forget to add colors and patterns from their “Fire” phase.

Look at the variety of patterns in just their bottoms choices alone!
Returning to the music scene with a triple song comeback, 2NE1 showed us a sexier and more mature style.

Decked out in black, each member has a distinct style that still creates a cohesive palette. The new hairstyles are also very flattering for each member. We can also see youngest Minzy looking more mature than ever.
2NE1 also later made headlines for their close relationship with designer Jeremy Scott.

They attended the ‘2010 Style Icon Awards’ with the designer himself, and each member wore a piece from his Fall 2010 collection. The most eye-catching piece of the night was CL’s hanger dress.

Can you imagine having to hold a hanger attached to your dress the entire night? That right there is enough to prove anybody’s dedication to the fashion world.
This dress in Bom’s “Don’t Cry” music video created headlines when fans found out it was Alexander McQueen’s final creation. It’s apparently worth $20,000 USD, but has potential for higher value.

What I love about 2NE1 is that their separate styles are just as amazing as their group looks. This dress fits right in with Bom’s usual style, showing off her long legs.
Most recently, 2NE1 came back with “Lonely”, and once again, 2NE1 shows us a look that’s both edgy and mature, with each member looking sleek and sexy.

Personally, I love that 2NE1 shows us that they can be feminine but powerful at the same time. They have a way of using their clothes to exude a certain sexiness, but at the same time, leave enough to the imagination that they don’t compromise their strength as women.

Comparing “Lonely” to “Fire”, there’s a clear evolution in 2NE1’s style journey, and dedicated Blackjacks and fashion fans alike can’t wait to see what they have in store next.

Source: Allkpop

Monday, June 20, 2011

2NE1 to be on PLAY SMART Music Festival!

2NE1 will be participating on PLAY SMART Music Festival on September 1, 2011. 2NE1 will be with their fellow YG Family, PSY and SE7EN and other k-pop groups & individuals like Rain, 2PM, CNBlue and 4Minute. 



Video: 2011PSMF

Which K-Pop Artist will Make it Big in Europe?

Now that we’ve seen the massive popularity of K-Pop in Europe, following the giant success of last week’s “SM Town Live World Tour Concert in Paris,” the whole industry is scrambling to find out which artist would make the biggest splash in the European market.

SM’s live concert itself had historical meanings for being the first-ever full concert held by a Korean entertainment agency on European soil. Also an array of activities surrounding the SM concert in Paris reflected K-Pop’s growing presence in the European region. Nearly a month prior to the concert, a massive flash mob event was organized by local French fans to appeal for another concert, as tickets to the first and only scheduled event were all sold out in less than 15 minutes. SM eventually budged and added an additional concert which also sold out in a matter of few minutes. Extensive press coverage was provided for both concerts, as five of SM’s most popular artists—DBSK, Super Junior, SNSD, f(x), and SHINee—put on a show for the ages in front of more than 14,000 fans.

But despite such explosive fanfare, K-Pop is still considered a novelty in many parts of Europe. Compared to Hollywood stars or other western singers, or even Japan’s manga culture, K-Pop perhaps has a smaller following, albeit growing at a rapid pace, in Europe. In order to expedite this growth, many entertainment agencies are expected to follow suit and plan for something similar to what SM has done in Paris last week.

So, in order to help the industry do a better assessment of K-Pop’s presence in Europe, Soompi has put together a list of celebrities that are deemed most popular and appealing to European fans. If you have other ideas or disagree with the list, please feel free to speak up because it could possibly influence the way agencies map out their plan in European markets—your voice matters!

Here goes the list (in random order):
2NE1 is by far one of the most versatile and talented groups in today’s K-Pop. From rap and hip-hop to slow R&B, the four member girl group is basically capable of singing any type of genre to near perfection. Even with less TV promotions, compared to other mainstream artists, 2NE1 has been able to sustain popularity in Korea and beyond— for instance, the 2NE1 dance cover contest running in conjunction with YG Entertainment and Soompi has received tons of entries so far from all over the world. Furthermore, Will.I.Am, the star producer/rapper of Black Eyed Peas has recently visited Korea to plan for future collaborations with YG and 2NE1. He’s often expressed his fascination with the group through various interviews and Tweets, describing them as someone “special” and a potential “super star across many countries.” 2NE1’s versatility and top-notch talent, plus their colorful fashion, make them a top candidate to make strides in Europe. Also, language barrier won’t be a problem as the girls are capable of speaking six different languages: French, English, Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.

Big Bang is arguably the hottest band in Korea right now and their presence overseas continues to grow as well. Similar to other idol bands, they have a huge following in other parts of Asia, especially in Japan. Originally starting out as a hip-hop inspired band, Big Bang is particularly gaining recognition from fellow hip-hop musicians worldwide. U.S. rapper Flo Rida has admitted to being a fan of G-Dragon as he even invited G-Dragon as a special guest for his concert in Korea. American DJ/Producer Diplo, who’s previously worked with Kid Cudi, Snoop Dogg, and Bruno Mars, lauded GD & T.O.P as “rapper rappers” with “crazy flow,” adding they have a rapping style far superior to that of American musicians. In a recent poll in Japan, fans went as far to pick G-Dragon as a better rapper than Eminem. But Big Bang’s musical style has changed to incorporate a lot of different musical genres including electronic and rock, and fan response has been higher than ever. Plus they are choreographed by Shaun Evaristo, one of the most renowned dancers in the world, giving fans more reasons to follow their acts. Last February, Soompi and YGE ran a joint “Big Bang Contest” where more than 900 contestants from 30 different countries, many of which were from Europe, participated. TIME magazine once described Big Bang as the “most promising” Korean musician to advance into Japan, and we see no reason why they won’t succeed in the European market as well.

Girls’ Generation (SNSD) is widely considered the most popular girl group ever in K-Pop history. Their every move is closely being watched as the most representative pop icon from Korea. They are credited in large part for initiating the current K-Pop wave led by idol bands, and thus have a huge influence in many parts of the industry. They recently ventured into Japan and has seen explosive popularity too, once again cementing their position as the top girl group in K-Pop. Recently during a Japanese TV show, Canadian singer Avril Lavigne even expressed her interest in working together with them, and if that becomes true, there’s no doubt we’ll see SNSD signs plastered all over Europe. The sensational girl group’s venture into the global market has just begun and we’re anticipating much larger success in the coming future.

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Source: Soompi