With the release of "Goodbye," 2NE1
officially said farewell after nearly eight remarkable years together.
The new single is the first new song from the K-pop outfit in almost
four years and is the final release since announcing their official
disbandment in November 2016.
But while weeping through our
multiple listens of "Goodbye," one inevitably began considering where
the touching ballad falls in comparison to the 2NE1's past material.
After its premiere on Friday, Jan. 20, "Goodbye" marks the 18th official
2NE1 single and while there have been a ton of great B-sides and
promotional songs (shout outs to "Don't Stop the Music," "Crush" and "If
I Were You"), it's time to see how their farewell track fares in
comparison to the quartet's past singles.
Continue on for Billboard's ranking of every one of 2NE1 singles:
18. "Clap Your Hands"
A
generic electro-pop track that tried too hard to sound like what was
going on with Top 40 radio at the time -- which was still trying to
figure itself out when this dropped in 2010. Even highlights like the
catchy chorus get bogged down by saturated production and overuse of
AutoTune. 2NE1 were worthy of such better bangers.
17. "Do You Love Me"
Sounding like a rehash of their
earlier material, the throwaway single only highlighted a creative
standstill 2NE1 was in at the time while trying to secure the sound for
their sophomore full-length album.
16. "It Hurts"
When it dropped in 2010, this
jazz-inspired track showcased a refreshing, rather soulful musical side
of the group. Yet in comparison to all the other genres they've tackled
through their careers, this one just didn't do them enough justice.
15. "I Don't Care"
The reggae-inspired beat was a
welcome addition into 2NE1's early sound, but the verses fall too flat
in a song where the most remarkable part was the super-simple chorus.
14. "Fire"
Ah, the song that started it all. The
group's leader opened the band's debut track, boasting, "I go by the
name of CL of 2NE1" over exciting, twinkling synthesizers. "Fire" set
the groundwork for much of the act's future singles -- catchy
electro-pop bangers with loads of attitude -- with this track as our
proper introduction.
13. "Falling in Love"
A cute, reggae-lite bop for
the 2NE1 ladies, "Falling in Love" was perfect song to soundtrack the
summer when it dropped, but didn't particularly bring anything new to
the table for the group despite Dara sounding as if she had found a new
burst of confidence.
12. "Try to Follow Me"
The 2010 single felt like
2NE1 securing who they were as a group with each lady rising to the
occasion on this snappy dance track with the underrated Minzy
particularly stealing the spotlight during her lines.
11. "Go Away"
There's too much AutoTune on the
verses to the songs detriment -- CL's un-AutoTuned moments are fierce as
hell -- but Bom's chewy, bubblegum-y chorus is undeniable.
10. "Ugly"
"Ugly" is one of the most unexpected
tracks in the group's discography which opens with simple electro-pop
production before diving into it's rock-out chorus where the band
deprecatingly yell, "Just like her I wanna be pretty / I wanna be pretty
/ Don't lie to my face / 'Cause I know I'm ugly." While it wasn't the
most mature execution -- the guitars sound awfully fake -- it was a rare
glimpse into the supergroup's human side and undoubtedly forged a
deeper connection with empathizing fans.
9. "Can't Nobody"
Big choruses, fierce rap sections,
hooks upon hooks: This is classic 2NE1. It's not as inventive as some
of their other singles, but one can't deny it's explosiveness.
8. "Goodbye"
A smoky, heartbreak ballad, the first
(and only) release for 2NE1 as a trio certainly stands up compared to
the group's strong discography. Gone are the superwoman personas and
instead the members cry, "Does anyone know? Does anyone know how it
makes me feel?" over simple guitar strums. CL co-wrote the track and revealed it was originally a dedication to departed member Minzy, making the track all the more heartbreaking.
7. "Come Back Home"
Always ones to head straight
forward into new trends, "Come Back Home" embraced zippy trap production
with a nod to their reggae days. Trap and reggae elements are all over
the songs at the top of the charts today and 2NE1 was all over that in
2014.
6. "Missing You"
As touching as "Goodbye" is, the
best 2NE1 ballad would have to be "Missing You." While slow and tender
at its core, the experimental track incorporates unexpected
electronic flourishes and alien-like harmonies before its soaring guitar
line brilliantly evolves into a pounding piano chords for the ladies to
belt over. In 2013, CL first spoke to Billboard about the track,
saying it doubled as a message for fans she missed seeing and we think
fans might take more comfort listening to this gorgeous track than the
bittersweet "Goodbye."
5. "Gotta Be You"
The underrated second single from Crush indicated
the exciting new directions 2NE1 could have taken if they stayed
together longer. The trappy, synth-pop cut was bordering on uber-trendy
house music and saw Minzy effortlessly belting alongside the group's
main vocalist Bom. If this track was hinting at where they could have
gone with a third LP, who knows how much further their dominance would
have extended.
4. "Lonely"
A cut that showcased the group's softer
side and that underneath their glamorous getups, there were four women
who could portray vulnerability just as well as ferocity with this
single acting as the living proof.
3. "Hate You"
Everyone knew 2NE1 could slay
bombastic club cuts, but this underrated, melancholy cut showed 2NE1
mastering the art of subtlety with this biting kiss-off track. The
swelling electronica and controlled delivery only makes the song that
much more icy.
2. "I Love You"
At the time, the 2012 single
tackled a topic the quartet had never sung about -- love, of all things
-- and 2NE1 proved they boasted hearts screaming for affection with
this lush, moody synth gem. Yet, brilliantly, in the last 30 seconds,
the cut flips on itself for an all-out, punky-party jam that only the
most formidable of pop acts could successfully pull off.
1. "I Am the Best"
The group's signature song, K-pop
has much of its overseas travel to thank for this absolute monster of a
pop smash. From its the simple-yet-incredibly-empowering chants to the
Middle Eastern-inspired bridge, "I Am the Best" was an ambitious track
that still anyone in the world to sink their teeth into. Even in 2017,
the beat still sounds fresh and explains why huge brands and U.S. radio embraced
it years after its release. One of the most recognizable K-pop songs
around the world, the track speaks to 2NE1's legacy as a bonafide,
complete act with each woman turning into a superstar on her section and
proving why she's a necessary part of this perfect-pop product. Among
all the K-pop bangers, ballads, synth jams and experimental musical
moments, "I Am the Best" can still start a rush within you the moment
those booming synthesizers begin. How could it not be No. 1?
Source: Billboard
