Jada Wong wants to attract Refinery29's audience to 2NE1

[heartsolid.livejournal.com]

Why Everyone Should Be Listening To The Badass Ladies Of 2NE1

Fact: South Korean pop music has infiltrated American pop culture. After Psy's through-the-roof hit "Gangnam Style," more and more K-pop artists and groups have crossed the Pacific and made their marks stateside. Girl group f(x) "welcomed" Anna Kendrick as as their newest member, Big Bang took over Brooklyn for two music videos, and there's an entire section in Billboard dedicated to the K-pop scene. But, in an industry where the number of girl groups rival the number of instances in which Lady Gaga has made us go, well, gaga, it feels like all the ladies look and sound the same after a while. Perfectly executed singing and choreography with booty shorts, a cute-yet-sexy vibe, and a whole lotta hair flipping — it's like they're robots. Well, not 2NE1.



This four-member group is all about being badasses — and the more extreme, the better. Made up of Park Bom, Lee Chaerin (known as CL), Gong Minji (Minzy), and Sandara Park (Dara), the ladies produce some of the catchiest songs and most visually arresting music videos in the industry. If you don't believe me, maybe this will convince you: The group's second album, Crush, scored a #10 spot on the American iTunes chart when it debuted in late February, and the music video for the single "Come Back Home" has nearly 7.5 million views on YouTube. Not too shabby, eh?

So, what sets 2NE1 apart from the rest of the girl groups in the biz? Their ability mix multiple genres like hip-hop and dance with pop to create seriously catchy tunes, a fearless sense of fashion, and championing of girl power without any frills or sugar-coating. The quad prefers singing about being the best in the game over lost love (okay, there is a bit of that in their discography), kickin' it on stage in Jeremy Scott's wing sneakers over platform stilettos, sporting electric blue hair over blonde strands, and rocking grills over cutesy winks. Yes, there's a good dose of sexiness in the mix, but it's done with such an edge that you don't realize it until you've watched the music video twice — which you will, trust me.

Even though I've no idea what 2NE1 is singing about, I can still appreciate the infectious beats, fashion porn, and general badass, IDGAF attitude that the group embodies. Keep doing your thing, 2NE1, and don't stop the music.



Source: Refinery29

Sorry mods, fixed the source!

Comments

[hipployta.livejournal.com]

Someone's a new Blackjack LOL

[charlotterhys.livejournal.com]

"They're so much more unique and interesting instead of those 'normal' girls!"

I can't take this bullshit. 2NE1 is great and I'm not at all trying to say they aren't, and they've definitely worked hard for their recognition, but I am so sick and tired of Western journalists pulling the ~they're not like those other girls~ crap.

Yeah, that's about it.

[mercury-sound.livejournal.com]

Came in here to say this tbh. It's nice that she promotes 2NE1 like that, but this whole putting-everyone-else-down-to-make-your-fave-look-better thing is a boring old narrative that I could read on Tumblr, Twitter, etc. etc. every day if I wanted to.

[oppameansit.livejournal.com]

that's exactly what yg goes for though, the idea that they're not like those other "fake" girls





i like to put it as 2ne1 is the avril/p!nk of the pop world - just as marketed/"fake", but on the other end of the spectrum than the brit/xtinas

[heartsolid.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I wonder why LE, Miryo, and Tasha don't seem to be as popular as CL is

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

hmmm I always wondered what tasha's popularity was. I always thought she was hailed as one of the best rappers in korea and she's not an idol while Cl is so they probably do have difference audiences as well.

[heartsolid.livejournal.com]

What a flawless icon you have
True. I know she gets hate bc she's part black but I wouldn't think that would stagger her popularity completely (I could be wrong). It's interesting because she has some serious talent and she seems more...fluent with the genre. I know idols tend to be more popular and the fans are more concerned with gimmicks and looks but I figured since they know of her, she'd be more places mainstream. But you right, I think different fanbase and Tasha gets a different level of respect.

Maybe they think CL = good Kpop rapper, Tasha = great rapper?

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

thank you.

idols do seem like they would have more popularity but tbh I feel like they hold a small percentage of popularity in the entertainment business or definitely a lot smaller than what the international perception is.

and I'd like to think tasha isn't getting hate because of her racial background or atleast not to the extent she might have when she first started. plus i don't really think she is too concerned with trying to hit mainstream or atleast main stream in an idol sense.

[heartsolid.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, ok. I remember someone on here from SK saying that most people that actually care about K-pop were just kids/preteen/teenagers and the average person doesn't know much. And that college students/young adults were more into Jay park, Zion.t, tiger jk, etc. And the groups that we like actually aren't as popular as we think. Like 4minute had a bigger fanbase than here, and 2NE1 doesn't get a lot of radio play. Which was kind of a big surprise to me lol

I hope so. I don't hear about it anymore. Last I heard was the post about some people calling her son names.

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

Ugh yeah I remember that bunch of assholes. I'm sure there will sadly be people giving her and her family grief I just like to think it is to much lesser extent

[heartsolid.livejournal.com]

Seriously - you've got to be one lost soul to actually say harmful things to a child. Hopefully you're right! It was great to hear they were both on Running Man, I want to check it out

[charlieu.livejournal.com]

The same reason someone like Rihanna is insanely popular when there are so many who are far more talented than she is.

[chukachukachoo.livejournal.com]

Tasha and Miryo are a lot more respected than CL is though. but respect =/= popularity. And LE....I honestly don't know what girl group she is from. The perks of coming from the second most popular group in Korea.

CL's an idol, not a rapper. Her popularity comes from rapping/singing/dancing (leading 2ne1), commercials, photo shoots, her instagram/schmoozing with other famous ppl etc...it's pretty obvious why she's more popular than all of the other women you mentioned.

[curlylooks.livejournal.com]

Exactly. the collab stage Mommy T and Miryo did at MAMA (or gayo, i forgot) is...I dont even have the word to discribe it..

[racquelle2005.livejournal.com]

EXID AND GLAM? girl really?

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

What is wrong with glam? If we are going on this girl groups doing their own thing kick I'd like to think they fit the bill and from the couple of songs ive heard their song content is different/progressive

[racquelle2005.livejournal.com]

Theres nothing wrong with them. I like a few of their songs too but they dont really have the right amount of charisma. They are some cute girls with some decent songs but then again so are like 20 other nugu girl groups. They also need to work on their live performances..tbh they are probably gonna end up like Evol

[turdferguson.livejournal.com]

glam haven't even really proven themselves with two songs out, and i'm saying that as a fan

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

True but I assumed op meant showing girl groups that are a bit different whether they are well established or not.

[chukachukachoo.livejournal.com]

umm...I'll give you BEG but after looking up Exid and Glam, they just look (and sound) like every other nugu girl group. Glam sounded very kpop and looked like a mix of SNSD/4minute and Exid looks like a second generation BEG with a more basic sound so I guess they stick out more than Glam at least. But I'm not surprised about Miryo and LE being better rappers. They were both rappers before joining groups and CL was always an idol and lately she sings more than raps anyway.

and even comparing the music videos, 2ne1's mvs are probably more distinctive to a western audience. Exid and Glam's mvs were kpop videos I'm used to seeing.

[racquelle2005.livejournal.com]

but they arent like their peers...thats not a lie. They definitely have something that other girls in their age bracket are lacking. If they didnt they wouldnt be so ahead of them in terms of popularity and recognition.

[heartsolid.livejournal.com]

I liked the article but was a bit peeved by the approach. I dislike when authors say "K-Pop is making it's way into American mainstream!!" as well, especially when introducing it to new and potential fans. It’s a turn off and it allows people to get defensive or just laugh. Explain K-Pop as what it is and how it can be fun, how it’s entertaining. Explain the industry a bit. The high points and the low points. No need to make bold assumptions. Because outside of the American one-hit (so far) wonder Psy, the average, non-Kpop listening person doesn't know what you're talking about.

A lot of K-pop artists, especially 2NE1, model themselves after American hip hop, R&B, and pop - from phrases, dance moves, to bits of fashion. It’s written in their agency’s start up lol --- don’t be in denial about it. Say some K-pop take aspects of the American hip-hop and pop scene and (sometimes) turn it into their own music and persona style and they carry it to a new audience. Inside of K-pop, 2NE1 is innovative and different from the other popular girl groups but Americans aren’t going to know to compare them to GG, f(x), miss A, secret, etc, they are going to compare them to the American artists they know and are possibly fans of. Which 2NE1 isn’t so different, apart from the language and place of origin. ...And perhaps the knowledge that girl/boy groups are still popular in other parts of the world. Say the album is damn good, which it is. Make the artists real by giving facts and performance ex’s, give them personality by providing some great quotes. Tell how supportive they are of each other. Then Say there are even more great K-pop groups to check out, bc GG, miss a, etc are worth the enjoyment as well. Chill with the comparisons, the exaggerations and the but, but they’re ~different~!! shtick.

Annnnnyway, exposure is good exposure and I’m just happy the girls are back to doing what they love while getting lots of love in return. I def was surprised seeing this on Refinery29 lol.

lol tl;dr , sorry for essay

[lechuza-yoya.livejournal.com]

I agreed!