"CL says" - Exclusive Interview

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

“I miss you and want to see you.”

The lyrics were written in tears. 2NE1’s CL cried while writing the lyrics of the group’s last song. It is a letter to MINZY, who left the group last year, and to their fans.

2NE1 sent a courteous farewell to their fans by releasing a new single titled “GOODBYE” on January 21. 2NE1 announced its disbandment in November last year, and “GOODBYE” will be 2NE1’s last new song. It is a song to console their heartbroken fans.

We wanted to know what was in the mind of 2NE1 members when they were writing the lyrics. We succeeded in calling CL on January 21 and hear about how much she loved being in 2NE1 during the last seven years. CL said that she will keep fit so that they can reunite after 20 years. We can see that she chose her words very carefully.

- How have you been?
“I’m just glad that my US tour last year ended in success. Right now, I’m working on my US solo album.”

- 2NE1 has released its last song.
“We didn’t get to say goodbye properly when our disbandment was announced last year. Mr. Yang gave us a chance to say goodbye to our fans. I just hope that our fans get to know how we feel.”

- How did you get to release the song?
“The song was made a while ago. After MINY left, the three of us were preparing to release an album. We made the song as a letter to MINZY. I changed the lyrics so that it becomes a letter to MINZY and to our fans.”

- How long did it take to make changes?
“I act fast when given a task, so it didn’t take long.”

- It must have been painful for you to see 2NE1 disband after seven years.
“I’m very sad. I’ve known the members for ten years now. We have a lot of good memories and did many things together. I will miss them very much. We each have our dreams, and so does MINZY. I’m sad, but I’m sure MINZY had a good reason. I hope the best for all of us.”

- You must be sad that the remaining three members didn’t get to release an album.
“We’re all are sad. There are things that just don’t work out the way you want them to.”

- How far did you get in making the album?
“We were all set, but “GOODBYE” was the only song that we actually recorded.”

- The music video features pictures of 2NE1 in the early days.
“I realized that I’ve spent a lot of time and made many memories doing 2NE1.”

- Did you cry when you heard 2NE1 was going to be disbanded?
“This may not make any sense, but I still can’t believe it. We used to be together all the time for a long time. It still feels unreal to me.”

- What happened?
“After MINZY left YG, Mr. Yang wanted the remaining three to release an album. So, I stopped making my solo album and got ready to release the 2NE1 ALBUM. I really wanted this to happen, but something happened that made it all fall apart.”

- You posted a picture of all 2NE1 members together on your SNS page a week ago.
“I was cleaning my room, and I found the picture. It was taken when we were rehearsing for our MAMA performance in 2015. 2NE1’s last song was going to be released a week later. I wanted to share how I felt at that time with our fans.”

- How well do you think “GOODBYE” will do on the charts?
“It’ll be nice if the song did well on the charts. The song conveys our sincere feelings, and I hope that someone will be able to feel it. This song is like a letter.”

- Did you decide to write the lyrics right after listening to the melody?
“I heard the melody when I came back to Korea to make the new 2NE1 album. Words just popped up in my head as soon as I heard the music. I cried at that time. The lyrics were written in tears.”

CL Says She Wants 2NE1 to Reunite After 20 Years Like S.E.S so She’ll Have to Keep Fit

- You’ve gone solo now. Do you feel lonely?
“It’s been two years since I started preparing for my US solo album. I went through a lot in the US, and it was hard at times.”

- So what did you do during the last two years?
“Mr. Yang helped a lot, but I had to work with a lot of teams and go through a lot. When I first joined YG, I was a trainee for two and a half years. During that time, I learned who I am as an musician and learned how Korea’s music industry works. And, I’ve spent two years for my US debut. I think that the two years were my training period. I’m a rookie in the US. I’ve learned how an album is made in the US and how musicians communicate with the public.”

- You were already a member of a star group in Korea, and suddenly you announced your solo US debut. How was that for you?
“It was awkward because I already had fans in the US. I did feel a lot of pressure. I was worried that fans might forget about me if I’m gone for too long. So I released “HELLO BITCHES” and “LIFTED”. Mr. Yang was a big help in Korea, and in the US, Scooter Braun made arrangements for me to appear on TV shows. I’ve got a lot of help from these two. I haven’t debuted officially yet, but I’m really thankful to them. I really want to debut officially this year and release an album. I hope that fans will be able to wait for me. I’ll make it up to the fans with a good album.”

- You’ve already done many things in the US.
“I don’t want people to think that way. I haven’t even started yet. I’m still a trainee.”

- What have you been focusing on during the past two years for your US debut?
“Pop in Korea and pop in the US are very different. I’ve spent the past ten years doing the music I like. The past two years was a time for me to learn about pop in the US, what people like, and what kind of music I want to do. I want my album to have a message, and so I thought about the message I want to convey. I’m happy I was able to find the answers to these questions during the past two years. I can’t wait for the fans to listen to my album.”

- How did you find the answers?
“I just realized as time went by. I wanted to release an album right away, but it can’t be done alone. I did many things. I listened to a lot of music, met a lot of people, and went through a lot of failures.”

- What kind of failures?
“Failures about things. What I think is right is not always right. I’ve learned a lot from this. I’ve got to think a lot during the past two years, and I’m thankful that I’m getting a lot of help from people.”

- Why did you want to debut in the US?
“It was my dream. When I auditioned for YG, I gave a demo tape to Mr. Yang. I remember telling him that my dream was to become a pop star in the US. I was 15 then. I’ve listened to a lot of pop songs since I was a child thanks to my dad. Pop had the biggest influence on my music. I grew up listening to pop and dreamt about becoming a singer and a singer in the US at that.”

- Your first single “LIFTED” did well on the charts. It entered Billboard’s Hot 100.
“I’m thankful because it wasn’t a song in an official album. I’m practically a trainee, but I got to release a song. Mr. Yang really helped me out a lot.”

- What is Mr. Yang to you?
“He’s like a dad to me, but I don’t get to see him often. There are a lot of guys in YG. So, I didn’t get the chance to really become close to him. But when I have an idea or if there is something that I really want to do, he listens to me and gives me the chance to do what I want. He really backs me up.”

- He said during an interview that 2NE1 may reunite after some time like S.E.S.
“I see it happening too. Of course, all four of us have to agree, and the conditions have to be right too. I would be really happy if this happens someday.”

- Will we be able to see a four-member 2NE1 after maybe 20 years?
“I’ll have to keep fit to sing ‘FIRE’ in 20 years time. As you all know, our songs are hard to sing live. Our dances are fierce too. I’ll be getting ready for that time.”

CL Says Her Nickname is “newborn baby” and that She Puts on Heavy Makeup to Look Pretty

- You do mostly hip hop music. Is there another genre that you would like to explore?
“Hip hop is YG’s signature music genre. I listened to a lot of hip hop music when I was growing up. I think hip hop runs in me. Now, I’m trying out the pop genre. I think this may come across as something new to the fans.”

- Are you going to make changes to you fierce style?
“I’ll keep my fierce image. That is who I am. I’ve done a lot of genre as 2NE1. Even acoustic music. I don’t think I’ll be doing “THE BADDES FEMALE” kind of music all the time.”

- How did other member react when you decided to go solo in the US?
“They always support me. DARA is a big fan of CL (laughter). She even came to New York to come and monitor my concert.”

- Does she tell you what you need to work on?
“She has never said anything bad until now (laughter). She only congratulates me.”

- Any touching words from her?
“We don’t get to meet often. DARA came to see me during my US tour, and BOM sent a text. That was touching. And, we’re too close to say those things.”

- BLACKPINK debuted, and they are referred to as the next 2NE1.
“Seeing them reminds me of our old days. We used to work hard just like them.”

- Do you sometimes give advices?
“I’m not in a place to give advices. I’ve got things of my own to do.”

- How do you feel when people call BLACKPINK as the next 2NE1?
“When 2NE1 debuted, people called us the next BIGBANG. It’s only natural as we are on the same label. It means that we were that big of a group, so it doesn’t make me feel bad. And, 2NE1 and BLACKPINK have very different styles.”

- You have a fierce image. What are you like in person?
“I’m not wild or anything. I just go wild on the stage. The most important thing is to have a concept that matches the music. I only put on heavy makeup because I want to look pretty (laughter).”

- So there is no chance that you would one day go for a pure and innocent image?
“I don’t have double eyelids, so my nickname is ‘newborn baby’. I like looking pure and innocent. But the music I like doesn’t go with pure and innocent. You can’t really see me singing ‘FIRE’ in a frilly dress, can you (laughter)?”

- When will you release an album in Korea?
“I really miss my Korean fans. If possible, I want to release albums and do promotions in Korea and the US at the same time. I don’t intend to do music only in the US. That doesn’t mean I’ll only go back to Korea if I don’t get to release an album in the US. This is why I did a lot of pictorials these past two years. I wanted to communicate with my Korean fans through pictorials.”

- Do you have plans to do collaborations with DARA?
“That didn’t really cross my mind yet. I’ll think about it.”

- Do you want to say a word to your fan club Blackjack?
“’GOODBYE’ contains what we want to say to our fans. I just want them to know that 2NE1 is not gone. We’ll each be doing our thing. I’d like to thank our fans for their support. I really mean it.”

- Is there something that you want to say for the last time as the leader of 2NE1?
“I’d like to thank you our fans for their support. We have a lot of good memories thanks to our fans. Your love will give us strength to go on as solo musicians. I’ve got here and had fellow members thanks to 2NE1. The fact that we were all part of 2NE1 will always remain. We’ll each do our best hoping that, in 20 years time, we would be able to bring good news to our fans.”

- What is your ultimate goal?
“I’m interested in fashion as well as in music. But now, I want to focus on my album. Of course, I find many things fun, but I want to go on stage with good music. That is what I’m good at and what makes me happy. My goal is to work hard to show my fans what I’m good at.”

YGLIFE 1, 2, 3, my gif

Comments

[mc1a.livejournal.com]

I really wanted this to happen, but something happened that made it all fall apart.

Someone needs to spill asap.

- What kind of failures?
“Failures about things.



I'm surprised Lifted will not be on the official album.

[bunnyfries.livejournal.com]

Lol

kylie2016realizations.gif

[ponponway.livejournal.com]

MTE when I read that line lmao

[volume1995.livejournal.com]

kind of :/ at the part of goodbye being a letter towards minzy but there is no doubt in my heart now that cl loved 2ne1 a lot and it makes it even harder to let this fucking group go

i hope their reunion is a lot quicker than 20 years from now cause they'll be in their 40ies and no longer "내가제일잘나가"

[hellicoptajuuce.livejournal.com]

Im imaging 2ne1 in their 40s dancing to their songs lol

[bunnyfries.livejournal.com]

They can definitely do their ballad type ones! If their voices are still in good shape

[typhlogirl.livejournal.com]

I still can't bring myself to watch "GOODBYE" smfh

they didn't deserve to end like this

[timetobegin.livejournal.com]

She keeps talking about 'things' that made the trio!2NE1 album fall apart, just spill the beans already girl!

[seulgibear.livejournal.com]

2ne1 were the group that got me into kpop but i feel strangely meh about their whole disbandment. i've distanced myself from any and all yg groups. they've been dead for 2 years anyway, it's a a shame this is how it really ended

But when I have an idea or if there is something that I really want to do, he listens to me and gives me the chance to do what I want. He really backs me up.
PLEASE

[lily-of-west.livejournal.com]

Now that the song is out and this whole mess is behind I hope there are no more distractions and putting her album on hold for shit that doesn't pan out.

I love that she stayed classy and didn't shade anyone and I honestly feel sad she suffered and is suffering this much. I might not care for the group but she loved the group and all 3 members so much and gave so much of herself for the good of the group it's sad she got nothing in return especially from those claiming to care about the group calling themselves blackjacks.

Hopefully now her kindness and selflessness will be repaid and all this waiting disappointment and failures that made her grow will pay off.

[impatiences.livejournal.com]

the fanfics you write in the comments section always crack me up

[lily-of-west.livejournal.com]

squints.gif

[angela-derp-otp.livejournal.com]

LMAO

[melloniel.livejournal.com]

LMAOOO

[hellicoptajuuce.livejournal.com]

Weird how the same person that disbanded the group (yang) was the one that allowed a last song.

[xxyumekaxx.livejournal.com]

Seriously, 2NE1's disbandment just showed to me how impulsive and random YG is. He randomly kicked Bom after x years after
the scandal out, he randomly disbanded 2NE1 and after a whole lot of mess he randomly gave us a goodbye song (though who knows how much the girls had to fight for it).

I'm tired of everyone bashing everyone, but whatever. I'll patiently wait for that comeback in 20 years when Dara and Bom hit their 50s, haha.

[carra-mia.livejournal.com]

Long dragged funeral of this group started circa 2012 aka when their own company lost all interest they had in them and from this moment it was done. They were treated with care when BB was on korean break/doing solo stuff/recovering after scandals but when Fantastic baby happend, Kpop star started and new acts appeared good days finished.

Every single member was robbed in some way or another through the years and the same company that elevated them then unceremoniously crushed their existence. Truly sad end of wasted chances.

[supersunshiner.livejournal.com]

who made her say all of this bc we all know she wanted 2ne1 to prosper, girl was like 17 when she debuted she grew up with these girls and had it ripped from her because some talent-less frog-faced piece of shit told them they weren't good enough when they literally ushered in a new era for girl groups


but ok chaerin we'll believe you lmao

[dynamite-state.livejournal.com]

This was probably my favorite interview of hers so far, and it's a lot of information to process.

We each have our dreams, and so does MINZY. I’m sad, but I’m sure MINZY had a good reason. I hope the best for all of us.

I hate the word "classy" but I'll make an exception here and say she's a class act.

“After MINZY left YG, Mr. Yang wanted the remaining three to release an album. So, I stopped making my solo album and got ready to release the 2NE1 ALBUM. I really wanted this to happen, but something happened that made it all fall apart.”

I was afraid this had happened (that she put the solo project on hold). And she kept touching on something happening throughout the interview but doesn't reveal what that was...

“We were all set, but “GOODBYE” was the only song that we actually recorded.”
Looking forward to listening to the non CL written tracks on BlackPink's album later this year.

I was worried that fans might forget about me if I’m gone for too long. So I released “HELLO BITCHES” and “LIFTED”.
“I’m thankful because it wasn’t a song in an official album. I’m practically a trainee, but I got to release a song. Mr. Yang really helped me out a lot.”

The "buzz single" saga continues in 2017 I see. ENOUGH!

Mr. Yang was a big help in Korea, and in the US, Scooter Braun made arrangements for me to appear on TV shows. I’ve got a lot of help from these two.

...???????? Unless I'm horrible at keeping up with her, what TV shows is she referring to?? She performed Lifted on TV once. Should I make a Twitter account just to bombard Scooter with "promote CL!!" messages?

Now, I’m trying out the pop genre.
I don’t think I’ll be doing “THE BADDES FEMALE” kind of music all the time

THANK YOU, JESUS. She's finally ready to leave previous backlass behind AND save pop worldwide.

- How do you feel when people call BLACKPINK as the next 2NE1?

Don't hold back, interviewer sis.
Also, I feel like this has been the first time she generally acknowledged that group lol.

[kyokomurasaki.livejournal.com]

Should I make a Twitter account just to bombard Scooter with "promote CL!!" messages?

He's too busy posting about Israel on Beiber's account

[dynamite-state.livejournal.com]

I'll disguise myself as a little Belieber, Bieber profile pic and all, he'll be in my dms in no time. It could work!

[jileader.livejournal.com]

I can't believe that they had songs ready for an album and that didn't happen

[smilish.livejournal.com]

Good luck cl , hard work always pays.... sooner or later

[mjspice.livejournal.com]

She's tone deaf in some of the answers she gave.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Some of her answers are lacking, some sound like she's throwing shade but it could be mistranslation...

[dynamite-state.livejournal.com]

The only part I found shady was this:

- Do you sometimes give advices?
“I’m not in a place to give advices. I’ve got things of my own to do.”

But that's only because I projected lol. It depends on the tone you read it.

I wonder which parts you found shady.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

When she was asked about the disbanding and she said "I’m sad, but I’m sure MINZY had a good reason" somehow implying the disbanding was Minzy's doing. At least, that's how I understand it.

It feels a bit off with the rest of her answer.
But I don't read korean so I don't know if it's mistranslated

[dynamite-state.livejournal.com]

hmmm yeah, I see what you mean. I read it less as "it's Minzy's fault that we disbanded" and more as "we were not ~2ne1~ anymore after she left" since she was talking about 2ne1's memories as a foursome before that quote. I don't think our interpretations differ in meaning so much as tone. I don't pick up any malice in her quote, is what I'm saying.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

That's why I found written interview to be tricky (especially translated one)

[sacryde.livejournal.com]

- Do you have plans to do collaborations with DARA?
“That didn’t really cross my mind yet. I’ll think about it.”

TBH I read that as shade more than anything else, because "I'll think about it" is generally the polite way of saying no.

[la-geni.livejournal.com]

I wonder if YG found something out about Bom that he wasn't willing to cover. The way this whole thing was treated was weird, even by YG standards. It's like what he did to se7en. He kept it secret he fired him till it was convenient. Yg isn't known for disbanding anyone. They just fade away. There is something they ain't saying and it feels like Minzy and CL are two steps from spilling if the press doesn't spill it first.

[bunnyfries.livejournal.com]

Yeah I agree. Even with accusations of sexism etc YG didn't do this to Gummy. And Gummy is pretty successful now after being helped and passed over to a different company.

It would have to be really bad though because he's pretty tolerant of his artists fucking up

[suehoe.livejournal.com]

okay uhm, i can't w this.

"Don’t be fooled
Don’t give into the temptation
Not everything lasts forever"

if she wrote this for minzy, she's basically passively blaming her for ditching 2ne1, when minzy had every reason on earth to leave (being shelved while cl became the primary focus in 2ne1.

i don't wanna paint cl in a negative light bc a girl's doing what she's gotta do for her own career, but at the same time, it kind of feels like minzy's being thrown under the bus.

[dynamite-state.livejournal.com]

She says the song was re-written to also address the fans

[bunnyfries.livejournal.com]

Hasn't Akmu shaded YG in the past? And Lee Hi too. Big Bang publicly do it especially seungri who will prob never get a solo again from YG lol. Why is CL being so careful to kiss ass?

[annhh.livejournal.com]

She most likely wants to release the album she's been working on for idk how long. If I were her, I wouldn't risk it either and just say YG is the best thing ever and get the album out already.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Unlike the others you named, I don't think she could be signed by any other company (at least in korea)

[bunnyfries.livejournal.com]

:( that's true, I didn't think of that.

The guy in your icon is cute btw

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Bob morley is very cute and talented
sadly he's in a shit show no one should watch (I'm only doing it for him and another cast member)

[angela-derp-otp.livejournal.com]

CL is questionable and sometimes she ain't shit, I don't have an opinion about Dara and Bom I think they are cool, but Minzy hasn't done anything to deserve such kindness from these girls after the mess she did before/after leaving the group.

Like I don't even check for 2ne1 but Minzy and her entourage have done nothing but prove to me that she was the problem. I can understand her having issues with her company and the Troll, but she never made an effort to separate her group members from her issues so that's says a lot tbqh.

[bob-dabuilda.livejournal.com]

Minzy was always on the backburner while CL, Bom, and even Dara had solo activities and while I haven't heard of her saying anything shady she can't control what her friends say. And I don't think Minzy was the problem because they still announced the disbandment almost a year after she left.

YG in general has issues with promotional activities and it seemed like she had enough.

[angela-derp-otp.livejournal.com]

IDK, the excuse that she can't control her friends doesn't roll with me, that's just not how real life works. She can either stop them because at the end of the day this affected her image/career, or she approves of it and is using them to say things she can't just put out there directly from her mouth (i'm not saying she directly incites them tho). I mean lets be real for a second here. If you run with people that don't listen to you after you tell them to shut up on social media and they still do it despite you telling them not to do so because its affecting you (that's the excuse a lot of people uses here), they just are not your friends, so why would you put up with it? She is a public figure she is not dumb about this kind of thing, idk why people act like she is this naive angel who can't control people around her lol.

I never said the group disbanded because of Minzy, I said that I think Minzy was the problem (why she left not because CL was doing her solo stuff or whatever people here says)

YG in general has issues with promotional activities and it seemed like she had enough.
Oh I totally agree. That's why I said that she clearly had problems with YG and the company, but she never made an effort to separate them from the rest of the members so to me that says a lot about her motivations to leave the company and the group.

[yolleh.livejournal.com]

You can’t really see me singing ‘FIRE’ in a frilly dress, can you (laughter)?”

WHY NOT THO? It can so be a thing.

[sacryde.livejournal.com]

- Do you have plans to do collaborations with DARA?
“That didn’t really cross my mind yet. I’ll think about it.”

In other words, she thought about it, and the answer is no.