2YOON, “Idol music too, has to change now!”

[girlsday.livejournal.com]

Last year, agencies were met up with a crisis in the idol industry are now facing the reality of “idol music too, now has to change ”.

Following the repetition of mainstream idol groups’ electronic sounds and dance music, there were thoughts of searching for a different and distinctive music to breakthrough.

Heo Gayoon and Jeon Jiyoon, who have formed 4minute’s unit project 2YOON, had such worries when there were plans for releasing an album. When asked for a ‘fresh sound’ from the composers, they came up with the country genre that would attract ears.





The title track ’24/7′ from their first album ‘Harvest Moon’ is a country pop. America famous music magazine SPIN has also gave good commentaries on 2YOON’s music as ‘an reinterpretation of Country (genre) through K-POP’.

Recently in an interview, 2YOON nodded that they “think that idol singers’ music should change too”.

“As we always sing 4minute’s songs, when we received this song, it was very fresh. It is probably that we’re tired of the electronic music. Last year when we went to meet a producer in America, he said that ‘K-pop is perfect, but only at its frame. But it was standardized with the arrangements of the song and electronic sounds.’ Therefore, he suggested that we should try songs of different genre.” (Jiyoon)

Gayoon added, “In fact, it was hard to follow 4minute’s music and dance” and, “Our parents were saying, ‘It’s my daughter’s songs but it’s really hard to follow’. We want people to sing and dance along together, a song that appeals to the public”.

At the end of all these frustration, they have chosen to transform musically as well as changing with a natural image.



In the team, Jeon Jiyoon with powerful vocals, ‘neutral unnie’ and Heo Gayoon with her pretty music style, ‘chic unnie’, have transformed with a fresh and youthful image. They explained that they put on light make up and came up with a simple dance, creating a totally cute image.

Among the members, both of them have expressed tiredness (of the team’s concept).

Gayoon said, “Among the five of us, we talked a lot about music, and that’s why we’re close” and, “Both of us matched well during our duet cover of Ke$ha’s song in our family concert in England and Brazil. Fans have already called us ‘Ssangyoon’. It was thought that ‘Ssangyoon’ would be our name then, but due to some pronunciation issues, we’ve decided to change to 2YOON,” she smiles.

Both of them have also participated in the making of their very own album.

Jiyoon participated in writing and composing for track ‘SseSseSse’. Jiyoon who has shown passion for composing went to Los Angeles, America in October last year to work on it.

“In hopes to find a new music, I’ve gone to America. BTOB member Peniel’s brother-in-law is a music producer and through his connection, I get to go to a famous studio. I was able to meet and have meals with album producers for Katy Perry, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and many more. I even get to meet Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am personally too. I’ve let them listen to songs that I’ve composed and made some new songs with them. It was really a great experience.”(Jiyoon)

Gayoon, on the other hand, participated as a visual director and even prepared props for their jacket shoot, as well as giving her own fashion style suggestions.



Thanks to their passion, their album this time around has gained good responses from abroad.

Gayoon commented, “There were lots of reaction videos for ’24/7′ on Youtube, we were shocked of the amount of them” and, “It felt amazing when fans even called us by our individual names. K-POP’s strength is indeed great. We even thought that 4minute won’t die”, she laughed.

The expression ‘won’t die’ has let out an endless competitive crisis vibe.

When asked about it, “Our debut song ’Hot Issue’ had received attention but as time passed, we always felt insecure and there were times (where we thought) it would die. All the members are greedy, but we couldn’t express that. So we’ve promised among ourselves often, to ‘let’s work even harder’. We did overseas promotions, and gained strength with all the loves felt. This year, 4minute will be preparing for an album, in order to solidify our base.” (Gayoon, Jiyoon)

What is girl groups’ hardest challenge?

“We have to go on diets while preparing for our album, that’s quite hard. With our busy schedules, it’s hard to eat on time, and there were times where we feel like binge eating. I’ve lost quite some weight this time too.” (Gayoon)

With this, Jiyoon continued, “I think I don’t have the same mindset as girl groups” and, “There are sweet potatoes, bellflower drinks and many other wrapped food in my bag. I focus on having a healthy eating”, she smiled.

Famous as a team with a good relationship, they too, have shown love for their members.

Regarding member Hyuna’s solo activities which have received the spotlight, Gayoon explained, “Hyuna (was from Wonder Girls and) when she was debuted, it is only natural that she’ll gain attention. We don’t think that she’s competing with us in a different direction” and, “Hyuna received attention as a sexy soloist, Jiyoonie as a composer, Jihyunnie in acting and many more, so we never fight. I feel that Hyuna is cool.”

This is followed by Jiyoon, “During our duo promotions, there are some members who have free period” and, “But they feel rather sorry. Our maknae Sohyun has cheered us and supported our album through SNS, it’s really pretty and we’re grateful to her”, she expressed.



i really like this interview~ even though the song may have not lived up to chart expectations (it's been up and down and up again, etc), it got great reviews from korean reviewers for doing something new. i'm really happy they experimented because kpop is getting way too uniform and predictable. i hope 4minute keeps experimenting and staying ahead of the curve!

SOURCES | loveindacube | yonhap

Comments

[flumes.livejournal.com]

this is interesting esp considering the last post (i didn't read it all but it kind of said the same thing) but only one of their songs on the mini was like country pop? altho why not is like angsty teen rocker stuff

hm @ gayoon doing the visual director stuff lol. cute tho.

anyway, i love them a lot. i hope 4minute's comeback (??? lol) is great and it's cute what gayoon said

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

Ever since k-netizens pointed out Gayoon's jaw surgery that's all I can see. She looked better before.

[hellodee16.livejournal.com]

It's barely noticeable but it rly made a diff imo.
her face definitely got prettier even tho I already found her pretty before.

[fabledlamb.livejournal.com]

Yeah, her head was all I noticed when they started their activities as a duo. It almost makes me a little sad she went through such an invasive surgery only to look like every other cute kpop clone in the end. I'll never get Korea's aversion to even just slightly angular jaws.

[love-keiko.livejournal.com]

dammit! i knew there was something different and i thought she had just lost weight, lol.

[21banged.livejournal.com]

lmao that's what I thought it was as well :X

[frantastic.livejournal.com]

oh, the bg information about the production of the mini is really interesting. I get appealing the international media but what about the local response on the mini? Did they do good?

That being said, I wished the mini was more cohesive. If you're going to do a country-esque concept, make the whole mini country and not just the title track.

[girlsday.livejournal.com]

The mini was well reviewed by reporters, especially giving Cube credit for doing something with Hyuna indirectly or directly involved.

[frantastic.livejournal.com]

that's great.

what about the public? are they selling well?

[girlsday.livejournal.com]

not really. it's been all over the board, top 30, top 20, top 10. it's very volatile~

[heartsolid.livejournal.com]

I think these girls are sweeties but -

I don't get the - we need "new" music so lets go to America bit. Unless the motivation is to reinvent and find your own sound with the help of known producers - I just find it as going shopping to get things that have already hit mainstream in another country and translating lyrics into the Korean language with the same beat/dance steps and stereotypical/common sightings that fit into the genre (bulls, cowboy boots, etc).

I wouldn't label their new song country - more like Hannah Montana meets Taylor Swift country pop.

[girlsday.livejournal.com]

it's a start though. 4minute from the beginning has been taking inspiration from everywhere. muzik was based in the euro club scene, volume up was romanian pop, mirror mirror was just a clash of a bunch of different things. they're really good at experimenting. i'm glad they're not doing the norm (dubstep, etc)

[heartsolid.livejournal.com]

That's true - I will give them...IDK, is "praise" the right word? lol - for be willing to explore and shy away from the norm.

[hellodee16.livejournal.com]

I hate 24/7 but I'm sad for them cuz I rly wanted them to do well.

[toshi830.livejournal.com]

I may not really like 24/7 all that much as a song but I do appreciate and like that they tried to do something new. They had a point about 4minute's electronic music over dose. I kinda missed Heart 2 Heart before it got drowned out by Mirror Mirror.

[taylorniw.livejournal.com]

I agree, but maybe something a little more different than a typical kpop song that just happens to have a banjo in it.

[21banged.livejournal.com]

24/7 wasn't my cup of tea, but I was hoping these girls would do well. Still, I'm glad idols are realizing that they aren't going to last long if they keep churning out the same tracks. Now they just need to start doing something about it.

[jorge-callas.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard their new music yet but they look really good here and it's great that Jiyoon and Gayoon are making the most of their opportunity to experiment, get involved in the production process and network.

[rikayla.livejournal.com]

Last year when we went to meet a producer in America, he said that ‘K-pop is perfect, but only at its frame. But it was standardized with the arrangements of the song and electronic sounds.’

yes this

[4minutesluts.livejournal.com]

necroposting because I've been away all week to wag my finger at u because everything other than 24/7 and the one with the btob guy is rly rly good

[weerainbow.livejournal.com]

Their music isn't my cup of tea but I admire their courage to go with something very different from the norm because it's what they want to try out.

[melluransa.livejournal.com]

But I listened to it and it's not country.