2NE1 might come back… 4 big reasons to expect 2NE1’s comeback despite YG’s efforts to keep it secret
[스타뉴스=길혜성 기자] A team who has the record of the highest-ever ranking (61st) on Billboard 200, American Billboard’s main albums chart, for any Korean singer, whether it is team or solo, man or woman. A team who has an impressive melody line which even people in their 30s and 40s can easily sing along, which is not a usual case among Korea’s girl groups. A team who can best-express both ballad and dance music. A team who proved that a girl group can be successful for the quality of their music and performance, not just for their good look. A team who has numerous hits such as “FIRE”, “I DON’T CARE”, “I’M THE BEST”, “GO AWAY”, “LONELY”, “UGLY”, “CAN’T NOBODY”, “IN THE CLUB”, “I LOVE YOU”, “CLAP YOUR HANDS”, “HATE YOU”, “GOTTA BE YOU”, “MTBD”, “IF I WERE YOU”, and “COME BACK HOME”. These are words that describe 2NE1, a girl group of four members: CL, DARA, BOM, and MINZY.
2NE1 enjoyed big popularity in and out of the country with their intense and unique style since their debut in spring, 2009. However, after releasing second full-length album “CRUSH” that took the 61st place on American Billboard’s Billboard 200 chart, they have been absent from the music scene for one year and nine months. After the release of album “CRUSH” with title track of “COME BACK HOME”, CL has been preparing for her solo debut in the United States and DARA has concentrated on acting and MCing. MINZY continued with her education and began a dance studio business. BOM has had some time for self-reflection, after an incident that took place last year.
Meanwhile, news that hints on 2NE1’s comeback after a long time of absence has recently been released. 2NE1’s label YG Entertainment posted a teaser image with words “WHO’S NEXT?” and “Nov. 21, 2015, 21:00” on the company’s official blog YG LIFE, on the 9 this month. The teaser image for the artist to release a new song on the 21 this month at 21 o’clock is repeatedly showing the number 21 which is deeply related with 2NE1. So, music industry insiders and fans are speculating that the team to come back on the day at that time is highly likely to be 2NE1.
YG is keeping secret about 2NE1’s plans, after the release of the teaser. However, as there are four big reasons to think that it is 2NE1 who is coming back this time, music fans are now paying keen attention to whether 2NE1 will really release a new song after their one year and nine months of absence.
The biggest hint is the teaser image proudly unveiled by YG. As YG is famous for its unique way of promotion, the teaser image with the number of “21” suggests a high possibility of connection with 2NE1.
The second hint is related with YG’s main producer TEDDY. TEDDY has worked with 2NE1 since the team’s debut and worked like the mentor for 2NE1 members, creating a lot of hit songs of 2NE1. Recently, TEDDY announced that he is establishing a new label of YG with KUSH, which means, 2NE1 might release a new album not through YG itself but through TEDDY’s new label which is a kind of YG’s branch. As for YG, many artists such as iKON, WINNER, and PSY are waiting for their comeback. Thus, it is also good for YG to release 2NE1’s new song through TEDDY’s label. As such, the establishment of TEDDY’s new label has raised the possibility of 2NE1’s new release both for YG and 2NE1.
The fact that CL has yet to begin her solo career in the States is another reason to believe that 2NE1 is coming back. CL, the leader of 2NE1 who is recognized as one of the best female idol singers in Korea, has practically finished preparations for her solo debut in the States. Indeed, the news of CL’s solo debut album release in the States was released in this fall. However, as she has postponed the time of her solo album release in the country, some music industry insiders have speculated that there might be a secret project for 2NE1’s comeback underway. That is a sufficient reason to think that 2NE1 is highly likely to release a new song this month.
The last reason is YG’s remark in the past. In this summer, YG unintentionally said to OSEN about a media outlet’s speculation over 2NE1’s dissolution, “That is a groundless rumor. 2NE1 even has a plan to release a new song within this year”.
As such, there are a series of reasons to believe that 2NE1 is coming back soon. Of course, it might not be 2NE1 who will release a new song on the 21 at 21 o’clock. However, the possibility of comeback of 2NE1 who has both original style and popular appeal is making music fans happy.
2015. 11. 11.
