2NE1: "Our aim is to be aimless"

[crazyxcami.livejournal.com]

2NE1 is an interesting girl group. Just one month after they've shouted out 'I am the Best, even in my opinion, I'm kind of amazing, even if you were me, you'd be jealous of this body' (from 'I am the Best') , now they're singing, 'I'm not pretty, I'm not beautiful' (in 'Ugly'). 2NE1 is also a surprising group. Before the official release of their mini album, they released all the songs in intervals of 3 weeks, each time scoring first place on music charts. It has been 2 years and 2 months since their debut, but nevertheless, these girls' activities are always unforeseeable. At the press conference that took place on the 1st, 2NE1 responded to the questions of reporters in regards to their plans for the future, such as 'What kind of aim does 2NE1 have with the music that they pursue?', 'What is the bigger picture that 2NE1 is slowly painting?'. 2NE1 responded like this, "We don't know yet. Our aim is to be aimless." In an industry filled with cute, pretty and innocent girls, 2NE1 calls themselves the 'Playful Unnis'. They said uniformly, "I am the Best when I am on stage". We were able to hear from the girls themselves where this confidence come from.

Q. Your second mini album just came out, how do you feel? The songs have come out in the form of digital singles, however now they've come out in a single, completed album.

CL: It wasn't the situation in which we had made all the songs into a complete package, and then went on to release each song one by one, we had actually made each song slowly and then released it. 'Hate You' and 'Don't Stop the Music' were songs that were completed last year, however the remaining songs were each made as a demo at the beginning of this year, and then completed slowly one by one. Now that it's all combined into one album, it feels like everything's settled.



"We are the type to give our opinion about every aspect."

Q. Starting with Park Bom's solo song, 'Don't Cry' back in April, you released a new song one at a time every 3 weeks, and each time they would score first place. What was it like seeing this happen before the official drop of your album?

CL: First of all, since every single song was able to see the light of day, I was happy. Every song had a music video, and each time we wanted to surprise viewers with a different atmosphere, and so we focused our attention a lot on it. Especially for the 'I am the Best' music video, we hoped that many people would enjoy watching it, and so we came up with several ideas, and changed outfits several times as well. We also invested a lot of energy into our performances, and we would stay up all night creating our choreography. Because of that, I think that the quality of each song was heightened.

Sandara Park: Although it was slightly burdensome too, the one thing that I really enjoyed was the fact that the atmosphere for each song was different. It was fun when we spent time preparing for songs, thinking, "This time, I have to show this side of myself".

Gong Minji: Every time we release a new song, people would give us endless attention and so we thought to ourselves, "Wow we're really receiving a lot of love, we must continue to work harder."

Q. From personally directing the 'Ugly' stage, it seems like you were able to take part in a lot of the preparations for this album.

CL: Truthfully, we're the type to give our opinions about ever aspect. We took part in the choreography from the very beginning for 'I am the Best' and 'Ugly', and before Teddy-oppa had began composing 'Ugly', we talked and brainstormed together about what kind of message we wanted to convey. He asked us questions like "When do you guys feel unconfident? At those times, what do you feel like? What do you do when you're lonely?", and he drew inspiration from there to write the lyrics. Since we're originally very close to Teddy, we were able to answer him honestly.

Q. When are some times when you really feel unconfident?

Sandara Park: I can say that those times are kind of unusual. I frequently wear boyish clothing or have my hair in a weird hairstyle on stage. So sometimes when I wear girly clothing, it strangely makes me lose my confidence.

Gong Minji: I'm always trying to develop myself, however when it doesn't go the way I want it to, I lose a lot of my confidence.

CL: For me, rather than losing confidence, I sometimes fall into a slump.

Q. Has there been a period of time recently in which you fell into a slump?

CL: Between the time of our full length album and our mini album this year, I had a small vacation this year starting from January, and it was really tough for me at that time. We've kept on going since the moment we debuted, and then suddenly our work had stopped and they gave me free time. It felt harder to live as Chaerin instead of CL. I thought, I want to resume work again quickly, but at the same time, I want to give some attention to the person named Chaerin inside of me, and to give her some time off too.



"It was really hard for us to portray unconfident appearances on stage."

Q. 'Ugly' is a song that aims for band-style music, however the members are unable to play instruments on stage. It seems like you must have been troubled over it when you felt that on stage.

CL: We were also really upset that we couldn't have a live band on stage with us. There are some programs in which they allow for that, but it's hard to do it on the programs in which we regularly appear on. We worked hard to convey ourselves through the best choreography and outfits and motions. At the concert, though, we will be able to present it partially with a live band.

Q. Like the chorus in 'Ugly', CL's importance in terms of vocals seems to have risen for this album.

CL: When the demo for 'Ugly' first came out, the chorus was the most complete. At that time, I had went to go help out with the production of the demo, and when we first recorded it, my voice fit well with it, and so it was put into the album like that.

Q. Sandara Park's outfits and hats for 'Ugly' are very boyish. A while ago, you said that when you wear feminine clothing, you lose confidence, but are there still some times in which you wish you could try wearing some feminine styles?

Sandara Park: Strangely, I really don't have the desire to do anything like that. Truthfully, I had dressed up girly on my own once, but the fans left replies like OMG! They were quite confused. Haha. It seems like I can't be girly anymore.

Q. What do you personally think was the most feminine time for you?

Sandara Park: I was quite feminine for the 'I Don't Care' stage, and this time in 'I am the Best', I had attached silver bangs to my hair and wore a skirt too. The day before the performance, I thought I looked very feminine and believed that the fans would like it, but it wasn't so.

Park Bom: That wasn't feminine… (laughs)
Sandara Park: Ah is that so? Ha ha ha

Q. Something that's kind of interesting, is that you have 'Ugly', a song that tells the story of females with a complex about their outer appearance, and 'I am the Best' on the same album. What was it like to record these two complete opposite songs and sing them son stage?

CL: I think that most people have experienced both aspects. There'll be times when you feel really confident, and conversely, times when you have no confidence at all, and everyone has felt lonely before. However for us, we always have to display ourselves with a confident demeanour. It was really hard for us to portray an unconfident appearance or the lonely side of us."

Q. As a result, it seems like you have to work hard on your facial expressions during your own parts rather than showing unique choreography.

CL: 'Ugly' doesn't really have much choreography. There are more parts in which we're just standing and singing. We haven't tried practicing expressions on our own. We work hard to make expressions depending on how we truthfully feel we need to portray our part of the lyrics.



"No-dating clause shortened from 5 years to 3 years."

Q. Last week, the broadcast of Mnet < 2NE1 TV LIVE : WORLDWIDE > began. 2NE1 has almost never appeared on any variety program, however this program is already on it's 3rd season.

CL: When people ask me what is the thing I'm the least confident in I would reply variety programs. It's really hard to talk. And I lose all my confidence too. Instead, we try to show our true selves and our daily lives through < 2NE1 TV LIVE : WORLDWIDE >. We started filming it since back when we debuted, so we can't tell anymore where the camera is or what we're saying.

Q. When you were filming season one, your goal was to spread the name 2NE1, however now that it's been over two years since your debut, what are your hopes to do with this filming?

CL: From the very beginning, there was no concept. It was just our daily lives. We would film our selves, and if there was anything interesting, it would be broadcasted.

Sandara Park: There were times when the PD would film us too but we feel more comfortable filming each other. It's not only our daily lives, but it also shows the song-making process of several of our songs including Ugly. I'm also excited for this week's broadcast. You must watch it live. (Laughs)

Q. Sandara Park has been learning the guitar these days, have you succeeded at the F chord?
Sandara Park: I'm really close to succeeding. If I succeed at it sooner or later, the first thing that I want to perform is 'I Don't Care'. Because of this one chord, I can't do the song.

Q. When you debuted, Yang Hyunsuk laid down a clause of no dating for 5 years. How much is left now?

CL: The unnis' clause was reduced to 3 years.
Park Bom: I have one year left now.
Sandara Park: No, since it's May of next year, we have less than one year left now.

Q. So what's going to happen next year in May (Laughs)
Sandara Park: Actually, even if he lets us date, I have to have a guy first… that's the problem.
Park Bom: And we don't know for sure whether he's going to let us do it at that time either.

"We intend to show everyone what we've already done, whether it's in Japan or in Korea."

Q. A while ago, Park Bom had done a featuring for G-Dragon and Park Myungsoo's song, 'I went wild' for the MBC 'West Coast Line Highway Music Festival'. How was it like singing on a stage for a variety program instead of a broadcast?

Park Bom: It felt the same as when I had featured in the past. I didn't record my vocals on the same day as Park Myungsoo but he was very funny during our rehearsal and treated me kindly. I'm really excited since he'll be coming to our concert as a guest.

Q. How do you feel when you making a featuring regularly? Is it different from when you're on stage with the 2NE1 members?

Park Bom: It feels a bit different. When I do a featuring, it's mainly singing, and so I put more effort into that part. However with 2NE1, it feels like I'm just having fun. It feels like I'm comfortably playing around?

Q. < 2NE1 TV LIVE : WORLDWIDE > is broadcasted in several countries such as the US, Australia, Thailand and Vietnam at the same time. The number of foreign fans who are interested in 2NE1's music and daily lives have increased. What do you think the reason for that is?

CL: Teddy-oppa always says this. 'Rather than thinking of 'Where is this for? Who is this for?' it's better to widen your view, and make songs that absolutely anyone can relate to.' I think it's because our music, and our songs are good.

Q. Your official Japanese debut is coming up, are the preparations going well?

CL: Before we debuted, we have all studied Japanese before. We had originally planned on making our debut in March, however due to an unfortunate event in Japan, it was postponed till September. Truthfully, in March, we felt a bit troubled and anxious. At the time, we hadn't even showed our musical colours properly in Korea, and I wondered, are we advancing too fast into Japan? However this time, since we'll be going after the release of our mini album, in terms of our determination, and most aspects, I feel that we are now ready for sure. Rather than hoping to do something new and different in Japan, we are planning on presenting the things that we have already done in Korea up to this point.

Q. When is your Japanese single coming out?

CL: The Japanese version of 'I am the Best' has already come out as a digital single. We are planning on releasing a mini album after our concerts in September. Just like we did in Korea, we are planning on releasing each song one by one as a digital single in Japan, and so rather than choosing just one song as our title song, we are planning to present each of our songs equally.



"At the concert, we plan on presenting a variety of things from classical music to DJing"

Q. You'll be having your first concert from August 26th to 28th in Korea, and starting in September in Japan. In both locations, there was such hot response that you added an additional concert.

CL: Since we wanted the concert to be unique in itself, we ended up wanting to do a lot for it. We've been holding a lot of practices and meetings. Because people are coming to see us, coming to listen to our music, and coming to have fun and sweat along with us, we're preparing a concert in which all of that will be possible. In terms of music, we'll be showing a variety of things from classical to DJing, and we're planning on something special for each song. We're designing it so that from the moment it starts, till the very end, the audience won't be bored.

10. From the moment 2NE1 debuted, you have received a lot of attention, and as time passed, you are now making your Japanese debut, and working with Will.I.Am. Your horizon is really expanding. If you think about how far you've come, what was the last two years and two months for you as a 2NE1 member?

CL: After one year passed from our debut, I realized that time really does fly. After I started feeling like, I'll never again be able to return to this moment right now, I started thinking, I have to put my full effort into every single moment and remember this. Later when I looked back, because these past two years and two months were apart of my life, it seems like I'm going to remember this as a moment in time full of memories. Just like these two years and two months passed so quickly, in the future, 2 years or even 20 years could pass like this just in a moment, and so I'm worried about how I'm going to fill that time more.

Gong Minji: Since we were doing so many things during this time, I can't remember everything perfectly, but it seems like we've received a lot of love and interest. Personally, I hope that one day 2NE1 will be able to receive love from around the world.

Park Bom: It seems I've led a very busy life. I've really been so focused on my singing and dancing that I've thought about just pitching up a tent to sleep in at the YG building when I was a trainee. It was fun for me. (Laughs)

Sandara Park: It really feels like it passed in just a moment. I already miss that time of my life. It felt like both a short and long amount of time, but I hope to spend more time together in the future than what have gone through so far. Aigoo, I'm not good at talking about serious things. (Laughs)

Q. What kind of music do you hope to do in the future?

CL: We pursue music without a particular aim. I like how we aren't painting a bigger picture, but instead every time we are painting on a new canvas. I like putting my best effort into as I go on and just living day by day. If you were to ask me about my greatest goal, it's to enjoy ourselves until the very last day which we want to do the music we love.

Q. This is the last question. When do you feel like 'you are the best'?
Park Bom: For me it's when I sing. That's when I feel the most confident.

Gong Minji: For me it's when I'm dancing my solo part. There has never been a time when I dance without feeling, 'I am the Best'.

CL: I actually say something like that to myself before I go on stage. I do it the best, I am the best. I say it like that. If I don't feel like that myself, I believe that those that watch and listen to me will be unable to feel that s well.

Sandara Park: Everyone is probably the same, but I find that it's easy to feel that way when I'm on stage. While listening to the cheers of fans, your body tingles. During those 3 moments, I feel like 'I am the Best'.

Source: http://news.nate.com/view/20110803n04839
Translated by GEE @ ygladies.com

Comments

[la-geni.livejournal.com]

I'm convinced the stylists hates her because she puts her in the weirdest/ugliest shit. Sometimes I just want to tell her to chill the fuck out with trying to cover Dara up.