Everyone sings ‘COME BACK HOME’ Together in 10 Years…The Return of a ‘Legendary Girl-group’ That Made Jamsil Stadium a Singing Room

[스포츠조선=정빛 기자] “What’s up, we are 2NE1! Let’s have fun!” The sisters are back. After 10 years, the group 2NE1 has announced their ‘Come Back Home’ as a legendary girl group.

2NE1 held their ‘2024 2NE1 Concert [Welcome Back] in Seoul’ at the Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Songpa, Seoul, from the 4th to the 6th, meeting a total of 12,000 fans.

This 2NE1 concert marked the complete return of the members, themed ‘Welcome Back.’ It’s actually their first solo concert in about 10 years and 6 months since March 2014, heralding the glamorous return of the K-pop legend girl group. The event also gained additional significance as it coincided with their 15th debut anniversary.

The competition for tickets was fierce. As soon as the ticketing opened, over 400,000 concurrent users logged on, and seats sold out in record time, a testament to how much fans have missed and longed for 2NE1. For three days, the Olympic Hall was filled with 2NE1 fans.

Opening with hits “Fire,” “Clap Your Hands,” and “Can’t Nobody,” 2NE1 were greeted with cheers from the audience, expressing their joy. CL greeted with their signature phrase, “What’s up, we are 2NE1!” and said, “Are you all enjoying yourselves? I can see everyone, even those on the second and third floors, so have fun!” MINZY added, “It’s MINZY, the youngest. It’s been too long!” DARA also spoke, “Fresh vocals DARA here. I missed you all so much. Before we start in earnest, if you’re part of Blackjacks (official fan club), you’d know what to do. It’s been a while, let’s shout ‘Let’s play’ together,” prompting the audience to join in.

The powerful chant of “Let’s play” led into “Do You Love Me,” and 2NE1 heated up the atmosphere with “Falling in Love” and “I Don’t Care.” CL’s solo tracks “MTBD” and “The Baddest Female” turned the concert venue into a club scene, while 2NE1’s ballads “Missing You,” “It Hurts,” and “If I Were You” also deeply moved the audience. The venue erupted in explosive cheers thanks to their compelling live performances and charismatic stage presence.

The parade of 2NE1’s nostalgic hits was more than enough to further heat up the fans’ fervor. The performance began with a ‘2NE1 TV’ video that reflected on their days as trainees and their active career, leading into a sequence of songs like “Lonely,” “Ugly,” “Gotta Be You,” “Come Back Home,” and “I Am the Best,” which unified 4,000 attendees in a massive sing-along, creating a breathtaking spectacle. 2NE1’s songs have transcended time and genres, continuously beloved to this day, making the event a festival that spanned generations. 2NE1 also displayed their matured artistry, reaffirming their status as the original queens of K-pop.

The attention to detail in the setlist, arrangements, stage design, choreography, and costumes, all prepared by the members themselves, showcased their authenticity. The concert, aptly titled “Welcome Back,” was seen as an effort by 2NE1 to create the best performance possible in gratitude for the fans who had waited so long.

The special love for the fans was evident as 2NE1 made a point to connect closely with the audience, making eye contact with fans throughout the venue and delivering an emotional performance. They also prepared dance challenges using the catchy parts of songs like “Fire,” “I Don’t Care,” “Clap Your Hands,” and “I Am the Best,” adding fun elements that engaged the fans.

Furthermore, a talented band and dance team enriched the sound and scale of the performance, supporting 2NE1’s robust live performances. The production expertise of YG, refined through numerous world tours, contributed significantly to the event’s success.

The guests included YG’s new girl group BABYMONSTER, who took the stage to celebrate 2NE1’s first solo concert in ten years, marking a point of origin for YG girl groups. In addition, a variety of global K-pop stars including IU, NewJeans, IVE, TWICE, aespa, Stray Kids, (G)I-DLE, Kiss of Life, BOYNEXTDOOR, ZICO, TREASURE, and G-DRAGON celebrated the 2NE1 concert through video messages. As 2NE1 has long been considered ‘stars of stars’, many celebrities also attended the concert. Notable attendees included G-DRAGON, NewJeans, Jung Yong-hwa, Yoon Do-hyun, WINNER’s MINO, JINU, Jung Joon-ha, Noh Hong-chul, Shin Bong-sun, As One’s Lee Min, and LISA, all of whom made their way to the venue.

Towards the end of the concert, a video showcasing 2NE1’s achievements was played, accompanied by a medley of their hit songs “Crush,” “I Don’t Care,” “Ugly,” and “Go Away,” intensifying the afterglow of 2NE1’s concert after a decade. The fans responded enthusiastically, chanting “Let’s play more” and participating in a sing-along to “Don’t Stop the Music,” moving the members with the slogan “Let’s play again next time.”

2NE1 expressed their reluctance to part, hinting at an encore concert. DARA mentioned the overwhelming ticket demand, saying, “It’s been a ticket frenzy, and I’ve heard many couldn’t make it. We have to do an encore concert. You must come if we arrange it,” and CL suggested, “Perhaps we should move to a larger venue next time.”

The emotional weight of reuniting after ten years was palpable. BOM shared, “I’ve missed you so much, it feels surreal to see you all again. I’m overwhelmed with emotions.” MINZY added, “It’s like a scene from a dream. To see the four of us together with you all, just as I dreamt it—it has come true. Thank you for always staying by our side.”

DARA tearfully expressed her gratitude, saying, “I’m so thankful to the BABYMONSTER for performing on stage. It reminds me of our early days when we guest-performed during the BIGBANG tour. I’ve missed the YG family so much, really wanted to see them, and I love them. Though we pursued solo activities, we wanted to be together.”

CL concluded, “Just four months ago, the group was on pause. There have been many processes, but it feels like a dream to be with you all now. This has been a healing experience for us, all thanks to you. I want to say thank you. If there’s something you want to do, even if it seems daunting, I encourage you to try. I hope you return with twice the good memories and feelings you’ve given us.”

2NE1 will start their Asia tour, covering nine cities in 15 shows, beginning with this Seoul concert. They plan to step into Manila, Jakarta, Kobe, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok, and Taipei, aiming to connect with more global fans.

2024. 10. 7.