This is a 2NE1 thread

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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Pflaume »

So, my best friend and I went to the Jersey show. We met up with sadude and his friends there.



We arrived really early and settled into a booth at a BBQ place right across from the Prudential Center and where the dance flash mob was set to happen. I basically just watched the flash mob (which sadude participated in) from a window while getting drunk, so my first impression on his friends was nothing if not interesting once they came inside to join us. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />



Then came the wait... That freaking wait. We didn't have VIP tickets, and so we weren't allowed in until about an hour later than we anticipated. I'd say the show began roughly an hour and a half later than scheduled, and it kind of set the tone in a way, because there were a ton of technical issues throughout the show.



We got lower level seats, which were great. I honestly feel a bit sorry for general admissions (non VIP) folk, because the Prudential Center put them pretty far back and some lower level seats ended up with way better views.



They performed all of their singles with a few fun extras. Fire got a cool remix, the reggae version of I Don't Care made an appearance, and there was a cute backstage video of the girls rushing to change set to Nan Bappa. At one point CL got up on a platform and pretended to DJ for a bit, playing everything from Cindy Lauper to Rihanna. It seemed to be basically the Japanese set list verbatim, but I can't verify that right now. Minzy had a cute dance battle segment, too.



I'd say Go Away and Scream were my favorite performances. People got pretty into those, and they were fun to dance to.



Malfunctions I spotted: a lot of mic issues. Some of the microphones outright didn't work, while others simply had bad sound. Very annoying, especially during Bom's solo and the song following. Bom also seemed to get behind after her solo stage, because she missed most of the following song (which I think was either Try To Follow Me or Don't Stop The Music). There was a segment with a dancer in a bubble... Apparently there were meant to be two and one malfunctioned? Also, a whole screen broke, and during the encore the entire inflatable set crapped out and they basically improvised crowd interactions instead. I also think they meant to bring someone from the crowd up during Kiss and it didn't happen? I'm not sure. Dara picked a guy and planted one on his cheek in the crowd anyway and he flipped out.



All the girls were great. Bom. Is. Adorable. Her little crowd interactions were gold. Minzy seemed really serious, Dara was as peppy and cute as you'd imagine, and CL performed really solidly. Oh, and Dara's English is adorable! They also were complete professionals about all of the issues, including CL apologizing for the wait, which I appreciate. It's a pet peeve of mine when artists are way off schedule and don't acknowledge it, so I was pleasantly surprised by that.



On a weird note, Bom is a lot thinner than I ancitipated. That girl is tiny. It kind of makes me even angrier at all the complaining about her weight I see.



So, right, the girls are great performers. All of the complaints I had were related to technical issues and the venue. If they ever come back (which I hope they do, the venue was pretty darned full) I would definitely go again.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by JPope »

So Kpop is officially a thing in the States. I own a costume shop in the Depot Town section of Ypsilanti, Michigan (home of Eastern Michigan University). The third weekend of every August brings the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival to our neighborhood, and along with it, about a hundred vendors and several musical and other talent type acts. Frog Island Park plays host to most of these acts, and as my wife and I were leaving the shop today, we heard 2NE1 blaring from the park. The day before, a group of young black students were in the shop singing along to "Gee" by SNSD, which was playing on my ipod at the time. I know a few hip blogs hype Kpop frequently -- most notably ONTD -- but I had no idea how popular it had caught on within the mainstream of young Americans. I was seriously gobsmacked.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Ap2000 »

[quote name='Plum' timestamp='1345342017' post='132088']



On a weird note, Bom is a lot thinner than I ancitipated. That girl is tiny. It kind of makes me even angrier at all the complaining about her weight I see.

[/quote]



She's been looking skinnier since I Love You imho. =(



Thanks for the detailed report.

It must have been frustrating for them too, to have this many technical issues.





Now if they'd just release the dates and locations for their Europe concerts...
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Pflaume »

The girls seemed frustrated about it, too. My friend and I caught all of the girls looking downright pissed at one point or another. I felt bad for them.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by rallyleo »

I can imagine. This is their first time performing in the states and they probably felt like they were making a terrible first impression.



I hope the LA show goes a little more smoothly.

LESS THAN A WEEK!!! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nceman.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' />
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Ap2000 »

[quote name='Rally' timestamp='1345407879' post='132108']

I can imagine. This is their first time performing in the states and they probably felt like they were making a terrible first impression.



I hope the LA show goes a little more smoothly.

LESS THAN A WEEK!!! <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... nceman.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':danceman:' />

[/quote]



They actually had a short live appearance for MTV Iggy (New York), where they performed Fire, Can't Nobody, Lonely and I Am The Best.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by rallyleo »

Sorry, I meant it's their first headlining solo concert extravaganza. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... hahaha.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':hahaha:' />
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Madara »

Jon Caramanica reviews the 2NE1 concert in today's New York Times. Here's the link:



http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/arts/ ... 1&ref=arts



I'd be curious to know what someone who was at the concert thinks of his review.



Also, I have a question that was not answered in the review: did the girls sing in English or Korean? If both, how much of one and how much of the other?



Thanks.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Ap2000 »

[quote name='Madara' timestamp='1345475839' post='132144']



Also, I have a question that was not answered in the review: did the girls sing in English or Korean? If both, how much of one and how much of the other?

[/quote]



(Nearly) every 2NE1 song has English and Korean lyrics.

Afaik there are no specific "English versions" of songs.

There Japanese versions however.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Zaeleus »

[quote name='Ap2000' timestamp='1345476721' post='132147']

Afaik there are no specific "English versions" of songs.

[/quote]

There's an English version of "CAN'T NOBODY" on To Anyone.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Pflaume »

[quote name='Madara' timestamp='1345475839' post='132144']

Jon Caramanica reviews the 2NE1 concert in today's New York Times. Here's the link:



http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/arts/ ... 1&ref=arts



I'd be curious to know what someone who was at the concert thinks of his review.



Also, I have a question that was not answered in the review: did the girls sing in English or Korean? If both, how much of one and how much of the other?



Thanks.

[/quote]



They performed all of their songs in Korean, with exception of Scream (which is Japanese) and Can't Nobody (which they sang the English version of).



I don't really agree with some of the review, because frankly even the vocal issues were technical ones. Bom's microphone was utter crap at one point, and when she tried to scream over it it didn't help. Additionally, they didn't lip synch, though there was a backing track for certain parts. When the mics went out there was often total silence because, you know, not lip synching.



I also think they danced well unless something was going wrong and they were confused, which sadly happened kind of a lot. Like I said... Technical issues yes, performer issues not so much. I will admit at one point I wondered if Bom was sick. But these are all things that might be hard to recognize if you aren't a fan that already knows the songs inside and out and has seen lots of live performances.



But the crowd was definitely a mix fashionable and awkward. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />
Last edited by Pflaume on Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Madara »

[quote name='Plum' timestamp='1345480421' post='132150']

[quote name='Madara' timestamp='1345475839' post='132144']

Jon Caramanica reviews the 2NE1 concert in today's New York Times. Here's the link:



http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/arts/ ... 1&ref=arts



I'd be curious to know what someone who was at the concert thinks of his review.



Also, I have a question that was not answered in the review: did the girls sing in English or Korean? If both, how much of one and how much of the other?



Thanks.

[/quote]



They performed all of their songs in Korean, with exception of Scream (which is Japanese) and Can't Nobody (which they sang the English version of).



I don't really agree with some of the review, because frankly even the vocal issues were technical ones. Bom's microphone was utter crap at one point, and when she tried to scream over it it didn't help. Additionally, they didn't lip synch, though there was a backing track for certain parts. When the mics went out there was often total silence because, you know, not lip synching.



I also think they danced well unless something was going wrong and they were confused, which sadly happened kind of a lot. Like I said... Technical issues yes, performer issues not so much. I will admit at one point I wondered if Bom was sick. But these are all things that might be hard to recognize if you aren't a fan that already knows the songs inside and out and has seen lots of live performances.



But the crowd was definitely a mix fashionable and awkward. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />

[/quote]



Also, what was the makeup of the crowd? Do you have any idea what the percentage of Korean to non-Korean was?



BTW, CNN just did a piece from Seoul on Korean performer Psy and his "Gangnam" style.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Pflaume »

Roughly 50/50, actually.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Madara »

[quote name='Plum' timestamp='1345483734' post='132155']

Roughly 50/50, actually.

[/quote]



Thank you for your responses, Plum. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':smile:' />
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by sadude »

The NYTimes review is kind of crap. It does a decent job of describing some of the concert, but it's peppered throughout with self-indulgent tripe and unnecessary mockery and condescension. It seems written from the point of view of an outsider looking in and not really getting it.



On one hand, I can't fault the reviewer too much. I assume that he had a word count target and was tasked with explaining KPop and 2NE1 to an audience that's completely unfamiliar with both. But it's tough to read this review. I don't really know where the reviewer himself is coming from since I haven't read anything else he has reviewed, so I don't know his likes and biases. The review unfortunately reads like it's written by someone who didn't want to be there and misunderstood certain things or just didn't bother to find out. Some of his gripes:



Delay: One of my friends flagged down a Prudential employee and asked about the delay. The VIP soundcheck went late, since they had technical issues there too.



"Ill-advised ballad run": I wonder if the reviewer realized that they were doing every song they've done, which includes some ballads. And that they've done ballads to showcase different skills in somewhat different genres instead of doing songs which are always similar.



Minzy as the anchor: I noticed her the least, which I guess makes this statement true. The reviewer and I probably look for and appreciate different things from concerts/performances/ 2NE1. His expectations and reasons weren't conveyed very well in the article, which is part of what makes this a poor review. I disagree with a lot of it.



Oh, and CL and Minzy are mislabeled on the picture up top.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by rallyleo »

[quote name='sadude' timestamp='1345498407' post='132163']

....The VIP soundcheck went late, since they had technical issues there too.



[/quote]



Any idea what ensued at the VIP Soundcheck?

I have VIP tickets for the L.A. show and little to no information has been given on how it's going to be organized. I know what a "soundcheck" is, but I'm also wondering / hoping if there's more to it than simply watching the crew and the girls set up.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by sadude »

No idea what the soundcheck was, no. I didn't have VIP tickets, so I didn't go to it. I'll see if I can ask someone who went as VIP.



And my review of the concert:



It was fun and met my expectations. I'm not super excited and won't gush about it, but I'm glad I went and would've have missed out had I not gone.



Let's see, where to start. I hadn't put much thought into what the setlist would look like, so it was a nice surprise that they did pretty much every song they've ever done. Nan Pappa, Lollipop, and She's So (Outta Control) were the only exceptions I could think of, and two of those are understandable omissions.



The concert felt short even though they did 26 or so songs. In a sense I was spoiled by SMTown last year, where the SM artists did a combined 53 songs at a 4 hour show. But given that 2NE1 is just one group and given how many songs they have, what they did was pretty much the best I could have hoped for and got.



One thing I was disappointed with was that there weren't more and longer MCs. I haven't been to too many concerts and I may be spoiled here by Japanese concerts which take MCs to ridiculous levels, but I would've liked to see more talking in between the songs. 3 of them are fluent in English, no? So use it!



The live band was a really nice touch. For what's essentially a pop/idol group produced by a large media conglomerate, this live aspect added a lot to the experience and gave it a less prepackaged feel. I'd call this the highlight of the show.



The girls all have great stage presence. I don't dislike her, but CL doesn't stand out to me on the songs or music videos. She really shined in the concert, just as she did at the MTV mini-concert in December. I get a newfound appreciation in seeing her live.

As I said above I noticed Minzy the least. She was solid all around and I liked her already, so I wasn't blown away or disappointed with her.

Dara may have become my favorite member with this. She's just all-around cute and fun.

And Bom is a weird performer. She's gone from being my favorite member (based on 2NE1 TV) to kind of creeping me out. First, she seems to be a shy performer. I mentioned that during the MTV mini concert she seemed out of it and either jet-lagged or sick, but after this concert I think that's just her style. It's a weird style for a pop idol to have.

The NYT review mentioned that Bom was less steady as the night went on, but I thought the opposite: she warmed up and seemed more into it towards the end, and her interactions with the crowd towards the end were cute. Her face, though... it seems excessively puffy and rigid and is what creeps me out about her. I don't know if it's plastic surgery or what, but her face doesn't seem natural anymore. The best way I can put it is that she seems right out of the uncanny valley.



Anyway, the concert was fun, and the experience enhanced by the people I was with and the way the day played out (even the wait outside, yes). I don't know how far I would have travelled if it weren't nearby, and I probably won't go to the Big Bang concert in November since I'm not as big a fan of them.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Pflaume »

I agree. Bom started off terribly shaky and warmed up by the end. Some parts of that review made absolutely no sense.



I laughed when he complained about them lip-syncing. What? They were singing live. I wish they'd just lip-synced, because then the broken microphones wouldn't have resulted in TOTAL SILENCE during my favorite songs. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... /laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />
Last edited by Pflaume on Fri Aug 24, 2012 9:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by rallyleo »

The L.A. show was incredible.



They must have learned from the New Jersey show, because the entire thing went off without a hitch. Everything began right on time, and you could hear every girl loud and clear through the whole show.

It was incredibly entertaining! The VIP Soundcheck was a tad bit underwhelming. It only lasted about 15-20 minutes at most, and while it was cool getting a little private show from the girls, they only half-performed 3 songs and talked to the crowd for a moment.



Notable things about this show:



will.i.am appeared for the final goodbye song with one of the other members of the Black Eyed Peas (the Filipino one). And I walked right by Jeremy Scott and his entourage making their way to the stage once the show ended. It was pretty cool to see all of these people in person.

It was amazing <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... joyful.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':joyful:' />





Funny thing -



AI was performing next door for her INDEPENDENT tour at some club. I wish I could have seen her as well - would have been kinda cool. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thumbsup:' />
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Ap2000 »

[quote name='Rally' timestamp='1345877721' post='132404']



AI was performing next door for her INDEPENDENT tour at some club. I wish I could have seen her as well - would have been kinda cool. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thumbsup:' />

[/quote]



A girl named Al ?
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Shoujo Q »

[quote name='Ap2000' timestamp='1345895682' post='132408']

[quote name='Rally' timestamp='1345877721' post='132404']

AI was performing next door for her INDEPENDENT tour at some club. I wish I could have seen her as well - would have been kinda cool. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thumbsup:' />

[/quote]



A girl named Al ?

[/quote]



Ai, Damn those capital I's?
Last edited by Shoujo Q on Sat Aug 25, 2012 6:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Ap2000 »

[quote name='Shoujo Q' timestamp='1345901803' post='132411']

[quote name='Ap2000' timestamp='1345895682' post='132408']

[quote name='Rally' timestamp='1345877721' post='132404']

AI was performing next door for her INDEPENDENT tour at some club. I wish I could have seen her as well - would have been kinda cool. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... umbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thumbsup:' />

[/quote]



A girl named Al ?

[/quote]



Ai, Damn those capital I's?

[/quote]



Oh, my other guesses were Takahashi or (more like) Kago... lol

Singers who just go by a simple first names that so many million people have really annoy me. Or if they're just two~three letters, so you can barely find them through google. There's a Yui, there's IU and now there's also an Ai now.



Enough with my OT, now back to topic. Thanks for the clarification !
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Pflaume »

"In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Ap2000 »

[quote name='Plum' timestamp='1347400859' post='133402']

Bom is a frigging alien.

[/quote]



Why did you have to put it this way !

(You're not even getting a question mark from me for that)



10 billion tons of makeup on those two faces in the "Intimate Interview" video...
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Pflaume »

You know as well as I do that I like her precisely BECAUSE she's such a weirdo.



And yeah, that makeup... Ugh.
Last edited by Pflaume on Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Ap2000 »

[quote name='Plum' timestamp='1347413454' post='133436']



You know as well as I do that I like her precisely BECAUSE she's such a weirdo.



And yeah, that makeup... Ugh.

[/quote]



I don't really consider her a weirdo. lol

I though you were pointing out she looks like an alien.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Melon »

I love me some Bom, but girlfriend is seriously getting a weird plastic face. <img src='http://mm-bbs.org/public/style_emoticon ... unsure.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' /> Get some self esteem or something, you're not ancient at 30!



I love their english. It's adorable! And their voices change when they speak english, d'aww~
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Pflaume »

No, the alien thing was referencing her constantly being spaced out and a bit "off" personality-wise, which is precisely what I love about her.



Both she and CL looked a bit unsettling in this video. To be honest, I think it's a makeup issue. Bom does have a face that's obviously had work done, but it isn't nearly as obvious when she doesn't have on ten pounds of makeup, massive circle lenses and fake lashes so huge they could take out Mothra in a wing battle.
Last edited by Pflaume on Wed Sep 12, 2012 12:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Pflaume »

2NE1 showed up in a Snoop Dogg (Lion?) video for Adidas. It was weird. I'm not sure how I feel about this existing.
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Re: This is a 2NE1 thread

Post by Ap2000 »

After the disappointing (seemingly no EU dates were announced) "World" Tour, CL said she's going to do some solo stuff this year:

http://antikpopfangirl.blogspot.co.at/2 ... oming.html



And in April they apparently have some new stuff out as a group.



In related news, Bom gained some weight again and looks sexy as fuck.
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