“We Are Finally Back…” Original Heroines Back to Show What K-POP is About
[헤럴드경제=고승희 기자] “Finally, We Are Back.”
The beloved warriors of yesteryear have returned. It took a full decade for 2NE1 to reunite, each member having followed their own paths. Aptly titled “Welcome Back,” this concert was highly anticipated, given the long wait for their reunion. Originally planned as two shows, the demand led to an increase to three performances, held from the 4th to the 6th of October at the Olympic Hall in Jamsil Sports Complex, Seoul, where 2NE1 had their debut concert, meeting 12,000 fans.
The concert began with overwhelming emotion. Displaying the bold and confident style that everyone had been waiting for, 2NE1 announced their return as queens with the opening song “Come Back Home.” As the flawless live performance and stage show commenced, the audience greeted the four members with a massive sing-along and cheers.
2NE1 has always been seen as the original queens setting the standard in K-pop. Throughout the concert, they showcased YG’s legacy of performance expertise, accompanied by a live band session featuring guitars, bass, keyboards, and drums, along with YG’s dance team. Every moment was filled with explosive energy and charisma, not merely a trip down memory lane but a demonstration of the ongoing legend of their solid skills.
The New Evolution of K-POP…They Were Still Legends
2NE1 emerged in the 2000s K-pop girl group scene, which was predominantly divided between ‘sexy’ and ‘innocent’ concepts, and became synonymous with the “New Evolution of the 21st Century.” Their skills on stage, akin to their heyday, was undiminished. CL, with her overwhelming presence, let everyone knew of the return of a ‘world-class’ empress. The ‘unnie line,’ consisting of 1984-born DARA and BOM, showcased tireless performances despite approaching middle age. While the earlier DARA was fresh and lovely, the current one possessed a mature grace. MINZY, the group’s youngest and main dancer, displayed evolved live skills, and BOM, who set the standard for YG’s female vocals, enchanted the fans with her unchanged vocal power, bringing back the essence of the 2010s.
At the concert, 2NE1 began their performance with three songs straight, and greeted the long-missed fans with a call to “play together,” launching into a full-blown stage. They boosted the self-esteem of their female fans by presenting a strong image of women with “I Am the Best,” and maintained a cool and confident demeanor even in the face of a breakup with “I Don’t Care.” Their performance exceeded all expectations, providing a new benchmark for junior artists, as countless hit songs of 2NE1 resonated throughout the venue. BABYMONSTER, a symbolic group that inherits 2NE1’s lineage and YG’s DNA, appeared as guests on Saturday and Sunday, continuing the legacy of ‘talented girl groups.’
The concert also offered a trip down memory lane. Unlike their on-stage charisma, the members, who were usually not known for their variety show skills, were brought closer to the public through “2NE1 TV.” The young 2NE1 during their debut days was a group that always craved novelty in a monotonous music industry. They could endure tough times with each other’s robust support, and DARA expressed her longing from those days, saying, “I still want to be together.”
What makes 2NE1’s stage special is the confident and self-assured demeanor that each of the four members naturally exudes. CL, the leader who is seven years younger than the ‘unnie line,’ encouraged everyone, saying, “It’s not about doing well or not, it’s about being yourself.” On stage that day, CL showed many unexpected facets. Known for her strong charisma without a trace of a smile, CL was often seen smiling that day. Whether it was when Minzy showcased her solid vocals and powerful dance, when DARA joined her for a couple’s dance, or when hearing the fans’ enthusiastic cheers, a warm smile appeared on CL’s face. CL’s special affection for the group was evident in 2022 when she was invited to perform solo at Coachella in LA, USA, and she took that opportunity to bring together the 2NE1 members for a long-awaited comeback stage.
When 2NE1 performed “Ugly,” CL energized the entire crowd, uniting BLACKJACKS who rose as one, filling the Olympic Hall with a thunderous drumbeat. The group’s pristine stage manners and their ability to deliver perfect vocals while executing intense dance moves demonstrated why they are precisely the spectacle K-pop needs today, a group showcasing destructive talent.
As fitting for the “legendary girl group’s” comeback, the concert saw a who’s who of current music industry influencers. Stars like BLACKPINK’s JENNIE, NewJeans, Stray Kids, CNBLUE’s Jung Yong-hwa, iKON’s DK, BOYNEXTDOOR, WINNER’s MINO and JINU, BIGBANG’s Daesung, SE7EN, Gummy, G-DRAGON, Lee Soo-hyuk, Yoon Do-hyun, SHINee’s Key, and aespa’s Winter, among many others, came to celebrate 2NE1’s return.
The event was filled with enjoyable surprises. The appearance of a ‘Dance Challenge’ segment midway through the concert, rather than during the encore, was unexpected but was part of a planned celebration, largely to showcase the faces of the many juniors and seniors who attended. When the debut song “Fire” was performed, the five members of NewJeans, who have introduced new paradigms in the music industry since 2NE1, filled the screen and took part in the dance challenge. They, along with other audience members, waved 2NE1’s lightsticks and stood throughout the concert to support their senior performers. During “I Don’t Care,” second-generation K-pop peers from CNBLUE’s Jung Yong-hwa and YG family members like BIGBANG’s Daesung, Gummy, and SE7EN were featured. Yoon Do-hyun dazzled during “Clap Your Hands” and Noh Hong-chul splendidly adorned the “I Am the Best” dance challenge, earning tremendous applause from the crowd.
Among the numerous congratulatory messages from artists both domestic and international, the greeting from pop star Pharrell was particularly memorable. Pharrell stated, “I was going to do this without a mic, but for CL, I’ll wear one,” adding, “Congratulations to CL and 2NE1 on your comeback. Now, it’s your time,” celebrating the return of the four members.
“A Momentary Pause, A Frozen Group… For Us, This is Healing…The Story of 2NE1”
This day’s performance was once again a testament to the exceptional skill and talent of the four members, well-known even 15 years ago. It is a group where each member’s outstanding talents overflow and complement each other, forming a combination that is unimaginable now.
BOM, who once wondered what she would look like in the distant future, continues to sing with her unique voice that is as distinctive as a fingerprint. MINZY remarked, “This moment is like a scene from a dream. I dreamt of the four of us coming together to meet you all again, and seeing it actually happen makes me believe that dreams do come true.” DARA, an emotional soul, said, “Although each of us has been focusing on solo activities, I truly wanted us to be together like this,” as she held back tears about to spill.
CL, always the elder sister of the group, reflected, “Just four months ago, we were a group that had momentarily disappeared and paused, but after many phases, being here together feels like a dream.” She continued, “This moment is healing for all four of us. It’s all thanks to you, and I want to express our gratitude. And to all of you who have something you want to pursue, even if it seems scary and overwhelming, we, 2NE1, encourage you to take on that challenge.”
After heartfelt stories from the past, the stage relit with “Come Back Home,” marking a resounding restart. As the last of the eighteen songs concluded, the crowd filling the Olympic Hall chanted “Let’s play more” and called 2NE1 back for an encore. The sentiment of not wanting the night to end was unanimous. The audience, undeterred for even a moment, clung to their mobile phones and light sticks. No one thought of heading home, and the final performance stretched on for an impressive two hours and thirty minutes. Even as the show ended, it didn’t feel like it had; the pounding drum beats kept the audience jumping and continuously shouting “Let’s play.”
The concert attracted a diverse age range. Blackjacks who had grown up with 2NE1 through their teens and twenties came to witness the performance. Each show saw a mix of attendees from their 20s to 40s. Jenny, 28, who flew in from Hong Kong, said, “There’s a scheduled performance in Hong Kong, but I wanted to come to Seoul as soon as possible. I wanted to attend all three days, but could only get tickets for the last show.” She added, “From my early teens, 2NE1 was my only idol, and they made me like BLACKPINK too.” Juri Kim, 26, who has been a fan since elementary school, shared, “2NE1 has been a part of more than half of my life. They were unlike any other artist, a group with unique concepts and overwhelming talent, and I am proud to be a fan. It’s been tough and sad realizing today is the last day of their performances.”
There were also families in attendance, including a 20-something daughter and her parents in their 50s. Jin-hyung Kim, a father who came well-prepared with a 2NE1 light stick, mentioned, “My daughter is a fan of 2NE1, and I’m familiar with their famous songs too. Modern idols are good, but 2NE1 is surprisingly superior in skills and every aspect.”
Having wrapped up the Seoul concert, 2NE1 is set to begin a 15-show Asia tour across nine cities including Manila, Jakarta, Kobe, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok, and Taipei, aiming to meet more global fans before planning an ‘encore performance.’
2024. 10. 7.
