It was like a fever dream all at once. The year was 2016; and news outlets everywhere were burning in fury after an unexpected announcement. 2NE1, one of K-pop’s largest acts at the time, had just been disbanded by its parent entertainment company, YG Entertainment, a move that came as a shock to even some of the members themselves.
But in the recent months that have come to pass, their world has started spinning again. Two years on from that feverishly epic Coachella stage, the girls of 2NE1 have reunited and embarked on a whopping concert tour that Blackjacks (their fans) could only have dreamed about eight years ago. In classic K-pop terms: 2NE1 is on the cusp of a full-blown comeback. So what gives? Everything, and then some, it seems. For seven years, the quartet had given their all, right from the very moment they debuted with ‘Fire’ in 2009. Year on year, they worked tirelessly to release some of the industry’s greatest and most recognisable hits, from the nostalgic tune that is ‘Lonely’ to crowd-favourite ‘I Am The Best’. And now, despite it being eight years since the sudden disbandment, they’re embracing this second chance with steadfast fervour.
The Blackjacks couldn’t be any happier. A Welcome Back tour, variety show appearances, and tearjerking new interactions between CL, Park Bom, Sandara and Minzy are all over their FYPs. But there’s no denying that the happiest people in the room are the four themselves. “I thought we would definitely come back someday, and now is the time,” muses our December digital cover star Sandara Park.
So now that they’re back and on their way to our parts of the world with their two-day stop in Singapore, what else is there to do but go down memory lane to recall the greatest of 2NE1 hits? As we remember the spanning career of our digital cover star, there’s nothing quite like 2NE1’s incredibly extensive discography —the songs which still have the power to rouse entire crowds in their wake.
‘Gotta Be You’
Ask any Blackjack and you’ll easily be met with a resounding agreement for the sheer, underrated quality of this track—nestled deep in their Crush album. If anything, the near four-minute song gives its other title tracks a run for their money considering how well it combines the group’s addictive vocals and melodic rap verses with the urban-house music that only started gaining popularity later in the decade.
‘Come Back Home’
One might call this track a surprise package—for the journey it takes its listeners through upon the first play. From its mesmerising, trance-like tones at the beginning of the track to the clear reggae underpinnings of the song, this track was a perfect encapsulation of sweet, airy vocals mired by the quartet’s suave energy.
‘Ugly’
With the girls mostly belting out powerful vocals when they’re on the stage, ‘Ugly’ came as a welcome surprise for its emotional and raw lyrics—albeit delivered in a rock-style chorus. Its main message of insecurity was one that related to many of their fans and was definitely a peek into a more honest side of the K-pop quartet.
‘I Love You’
A love song—true and true. Whilst the opening line: “When you feel like there’s no way out/love is the only way” might point to the simple, romantic mood that the song seems to take, its otherwise riveting synth beats and titillating swerve at the song’s hook proves its true genius. This was also when Sandara famously claimed the stage with her half-shaved hair, upping the ante of K-pop transformations then.
‘Goodbye’
Their final song that took us all away—especially after knowing that this was supposedly dedicated to cherished member Minzy after her departure from 2NE1. A certified tearjerker for most Blackjacks, it was delivered with a raw guitar riff that made for a touching ballad.
‘I Am The Best’
Without a doubt, you didn’t need to be a Blackjack to know this one. Known to have risen the charts at a phenomenal pace upon its release in 2011, this was also the first music video from the girls to hit 300 million views on Youtube at that time. With its recognisable intro that got just about anyone in the room grooving, this electric, synth-led track was a bonafide hit that could get an entire crowd on their feet immediately.
