Sandara Park: Where the Heart Is

By Anjie Blardony Ureta (originally published in F Magazine Singapore/ September 2014 issue)

What do you do when your reality has far exceeded your dreams? For K-Pop superstar Sandara Park, success brought a deep yearning to retrace her roots and come home to where her exciting journey began.

For most people, it’s hard to believe that it has been a decade since this winsome girl from Busan, South Korea, won second place in the ABS-CBN reality show, Star Circle Quest. Her quirky personality immediately drew the attention of the viewers, earning her the endearing moniker “krung-krung”.

Sandara, who came to the Philippines when was only ten, became an overnight sensation with a string of television programs, commercial endorsements, movie projects and recording deals that kept her constantly in the public eye. She was even named Best New Actress at the 21^st Star Awards for her very first movie, while her debut album went double platinum in the charts.

When her family moved back to Korea in 2007, she signed up with one of the country’s biggest and most influential agencies, YG Entertainment. Despite her earlier success in showbiz, she went back to basics and entered the company’s training pool for another two years before joining rapper-leader Lee Chaerin (CL), power vocalist Park Bom and dance prodigy Gong Minzy to form the girl group, 2NE1. And the rest is, quite literally, K-Pop history. 

            Since its 2009 debut, critics and music lovers all over the world have hailed 2NE1 as a game changer, smashing all Korean girl group stereotypes with its brash attitude, fearless fashion sense and loaded arsenal of chart-busting, multi-genre music. As one-fourth of this phenomenal group, she took on the stage name “Dara” and became one of the most recognizable faces in K-Pop, leaving particularly strong impressions with her extreme hairstyles and offbeat wardrobe choices. Moreover, her stunningly beautiful visage has also made Dara a staple of cosmetic ads that one can hardly walk through the shopping districts of Seoul without seeing her image on huge billboards lining the streets or from posters peeking out of shop windows.

            Above all, there is the music. Last February, 2NE1’s second album, Crush, set a new US record for the highest-ranking, best-selling K-Pop album when it opened at #61 on Billboard 200 in just three days. At the wake of this astonishing success, the group launched its second world tour -- All or Nothing -- which kicked-off in Seoul last March and has since visited 12 countries, including the Philippines and Singapore.

                       

            The tour made its Manila stop last May 17, playing to a frenzied crowd of over 12,000 screaming fans at the Mall of Asia Arena. It was an auspicious date that coincided with the group’s fifth anniversary. Not surprisingly, Dara revealed the timing wasn’t entirely coincidental. “They showed us the tour schedules and I saw that we were performing on May 17. Sabi ko, dapat sa Manila ito! Sobrang special day para sa amin ‘yan at siyempre gusto ko kasama namin ang mga fans sa Pilipinas.”

            Dara arrived three days ahead of the group and went through a grueling marathon of television appearances, pictorials and media interviews. Nevertheless, she always had a radiant smile as she went tirelessly from one engagement to the other, often breaking through tight security to greet loyal fans who waited for hours at every venue just to get a glimpse of the girl they still lovingly called “Sandy”.

            When the other members arrived Dara lost no time in teaching them basic Filipino words and phrases, which they gamely used at every opportunity. At the concert, they even delighted their Filipino fans with a surprise performance of Dara’s 2004 hit song, “In or Out”, as a special anniversary treat.

             “I really wish we could visit Manila more often. Performing here as part of 2NE1 is a dream come true -- hindi ako makapaniwala!” she enthused.

              

            Now 29, she still spoke Tagalog with ease, admitting that she gets a lot of practice from watching Filipino movies on video. “I miss acting,” she revealed. “One of my dreams is to make another movie in the Philippines -- maybe a romantic comedy? It seems far-fetched at the moment but given the time and opportunity, I would really love to do that.”

            Beyond speaking the language, Dara’s lifelong bond with the Philippines has likewise remained strong and enduring in the little nuances of daily life. Fans all over the world have become familiar with her Tagalog messages on social media when conversing with Filipino friends, her fondness for sinigang na hipon, gambas, ChocNut and Chicken Joy, her admiration for acoustic group MYMP, as well as her trademark greeting “Mahal ko kayo” which comes with a playful wave of the hand.

            Even in the field of foreign relations, Dara’s loyalty to the Philippines has not gone unrecognized. Last October, she joined state officials, industry leaders and members of the diplomatic corps at a formal banquet hosted by South Korea’s President Park Geun Hye in honor of visiting Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, emphasizing her personal contribution to the cross-cultural exchange between the two countries.

            In a culture that values a deep sense of gratitude (utang na loob), it is certain that Filipinos will always have a soft spot for this Korean star who has done more than her share in promoting the country and its people, and who continues to embody the admirable qualities of humility, hard work and resilience despite the trappings of fame.

            Most of all, Dara – who proudly calls herself the Pambansang Krung-Krung ng Pilipinas -- has shown her affinity with the Filipino people when it mattered most. At the height of Typhoon Haiyan’s devastation, she and her brother Cheondung (from the boy band MBLAQ) launched an online campaign to raise funds for rehabilitation efforts. In her video appeal, Dara urged the public to donate generously in helping a country she affectionately called her “second home”.

            Every now and then, she admitted that she still gets homesick for the country where she grew up. “I miss the food, the beaches, the people… especially my friends and fans who are like family to me. This is a place where I received so much love and support. Those memories will always be precious to me.”

*******

*PHOTOS COURTESY OF YG ENTERTAINMENT

Dara's Meg Magazine Interview (English Translation)

I noticed that many international Blackjacks and fansites are ordering the Meg Magazine July 2014 issue with Dara on the cover. Since there are many portions of the interview written in Filipino, I decided to upload a full English translation for the sole purpose of helping the foreign readers understand the article better. I am also doing this in gratitude to the many volunteer translators who have generously contributed to making articles in Korean, Japanese and other languages accessible to English speakers. Pay it forward, pay it back. No copyright infringement intended.

(Unofficial English translation of bilingual Q and A from Meg Magazine July 2014 cover article written by editor Bianca Gonzalez. Translated for this blog by @angelpilgrim. For private reading purposes only. Please do not re-upload and kindly quote with appropriate credits.)

Switch on: Dara

“Mahal ko kayo” – I love you all!

Q: Sometimes you go to the Philippines in secret and for fun. What is it about the Philippines that makes you keep coming back?

A: I like the place! I like the beaches and the food. There are so many good memories from the Philippines that I cannot forget.


Q: When you’re here, you prefer doing interviews in Tagalog. Why?

A: Because at first, during SCQ, I wasn’t articulate in Tagalog*. People would say I shouldn’t be voted for because I didn’t speak Tagalog. When I eventually became better at it, I became more comfortable using Tagalog. For the fans as well, so that they will be glad to know I’ve not forgotten Tagalog.

(*Translator’s note: “Tagalog” is the national language of the Philippines and is officially known as Filipino in its standard form. However, there are some 175 regional and ethnic languages spoken throughout the Philippines.)
 

Q: Aah, okay! I am curious about that because before in SCQ, your fan base was purely Pinoys. Now your fans are from all over the world! Yet you still hold your Pinoy fans so dear to you.

A: I’m not sure, but I feel that my biggest fan base is still here in the Philippines. As expected, since we’ve been together for a long time. They’ve being supporting me for ten years. We’re more like friends by now.


“Kaya Ko ‘To” – I Can Do This

Q: I don’t know if you remember the feeling, but let’s go back to when you joined SCQ. When you auditioned, did you think you would win?

A: No, I never imagined it.

Q: What did you think? What were your expectations?

A: It was more like, okay I want to try this just for the experience. But I never imagined I would make it to the top 50, then the top 20, then top 10. I really never imagined it.

Q: Did that experience change you? Did you become more confident? Imagine, you exceeded even your own expectations.

A: At first, I was such a crybaby! When I made it top 10, top five, I would always end up crying. But for the sake of the fans, I tried to show more confidence. I would see the banners that had my name on them, I would hear them screaming… And it made me feel like, “Yeah, I can do this…”


“Gusto Ko Maging Ganito” – This is Who I Want to Be

Q: You decided to move to Korea around 2007, and then you started training for dancing and singing. And you were telling us earlier that at that point, you weren’t receiving any income yet because it’s really just for training. When you started there, did you think you would make it this big eventually?

A: Again, no. It didn’t cross my mind as well. But I always imagined that this is what I want for myself – to be onstage. That’s probably the secret of success.

Q: You used to visualize that your where singing and dancing onstage?

A: Mmm… That’s what was constantly playing in my mind.

Q: So after all the training, all the hard work, when did you acknowledge to yourself that you’ve made it?

A: When we started recording, I wasn’t really sure because I can still be pulled out (of the group) even after recording, so I was still nervous then. But I started feeling it when we shot our first commercial as a group, together with Big Bang. And then finally, when we shot our music video for “Fire”, I said to myself, “This is it! This is for real!”

Q: Do you remember the first time you heard your song on the radio or saw your video on TV? What was the feeling like?

A: I couldn’t believe it! When I first heard our song being played, we were walking and we all stopped. I said: “Wait! Let’s listen to it first!” It happened that way. Like a dream come true.


“Sobrang Hirap, Sobrang Takot” – So Much Hardship, So Much Anxiety

Q: Of course, all the public see is when you’re made up in magazines or performing on stage. In short, they just see all the glamour. How tough or how difficult does it get behind the scenes?

A: It’s very difficult. Because when you’re a trainee, you never know when you will debut. You don’t even know if you will become successful. Those are really hard times and I was very anxious. Besides, it’s cold in Korea. So you feel the exhaustion, the huger, the cold, all the difficulties are there.


Q: You mentioned to me that before you arrived here in Manila, you’ve not slept properly for three days. Why?

A: Ah, because we shot a music video for our Japanese album, so we all went without sleep for three days. Then after that, we still had a photo shoot for the Japanese album. From the studio, I went straight to the airport.


Q: Wow, I can imagine how exhausted you must have been yet with your work, when you’re on cam, you’re expected to look and be 100%. How do you deal with that?

A: Perhaps… I was born to do this. (Laughs.) Because I’m happy when I’m in front of the camera. So when I’m in a shoot, it’s like… magic.


Q: What do you love most about your job?

A: I like photo shoots. I also like tapings. But what I like the most are live shows with an audience. The energy is really different.


Q: Do you still get nervous? Like during the final countdown when you’re about to go onstage?

A: No! For me, that’s my favorite part of the entire show. When you don’t see anything and you can only hear the audience screaming. That is the most exciting time!


Q: So you don’t get nervous anymore? That’s interesting!

A: Not anymore. But I was nervous a while ago when I entered as a guest at the PBB (Pinoy Big Brother) house.

Q: Really? Why?

A: Because I have no idea what will happen next! Onstage, I know exactly what I have to do. When there’s music, I don’t get worried. But when there’s none, I get a bit shy.


“Hindi Ko Binabasa” – I Don't Read Them

Q: Now you have so many fans, but when you were starting, of course there were some haters. When you started in SCQ, there were a lot of people who didn’t believe you can do it, they feel you’re not gonna make it. What is your advice to girls like you who have a dream but are surrounded by people who tell them “You’ll never make it, why even bother trying?”

A: I do recall that I used to have a lot of haters. But I guess I survived because I also had a lot of fans that supported me. So I would always remind myself that I can do it. Because if there’s just one single person who believes in you, that would be enough. Just try your best to improve.


Q: What’s your attitude towards bashers?

A: I don’t read them. If I already know that it's upsetting, then I don’t bother to read it so as not to dampen my mood.


“Baka Gusto Ko Na” – Perhaps I might want to…

Q: What else do you want to achieve in your career?

A: I want to tour different countries. I want to go to Europe, also to Brazil. To faraway places. And I have one more dream: I really want to come back here and do a movie. That’s one of my dreams.


Q: That would be great! You think it’s possible given your very busy schedule?

A: Yeah, when I’m not too busy anymore. Because there are periods of time where we really get busy, but there are also times when we’re not. So that’s what I’ve been imagining these days.

Q: What kind of project would you want to do if ever? Because before, your movies were mostly comedies that are love stories.

A: It’s still the same! Romantic comedies are my favorite. They bring a certain kind of thrill.


Q: But then who will you be paired with? There are so many new actors these days!

A: I know. They should find a new partner for me. Or just give me John Lloyd!* (Laughs)

(*Translator’s Note: John Lloyd Cruz is a top Filipino actor whose box-office hits are mainly dramas and romantic comedies. He and Dara knew each other from her ABS-CBN days.)


Q: How about your personal life? What else do you want to achieve?

A: Personal, of course I want to have a love life in the future. But at the moment, I’m not too interested to have a boyfriend because I am enjoying what I do. When I’m no longer too busy, perhaps I might consider it.


Q: Are you allowed to date?

A: Mmm, yeah, because our boss said after three years, it would already be okay. But now it’s already our fifth anniversary… so is it really okay? (Laughs)



“Believe in Yourself.”

Q: If you were to give life advice to a young girl reading this, what would you want to tell her?

A: As I always say, when you want something, try until you succeed. Never give up. Like in my case, I used to be stereotyped as sweet, right? But my dream was to also acquire some swag, to have charisma on stage, so I really tried hard to become a member of 2NE1. At one point, our boss even pulled me out because he felt I didn’t fit in, that being cute was all I could project. So you should really try your best.

Q: Really? What convinced him to put you back in 2NE1?

A: That time when I performed “Get it Right” by JLo. It was a hip-hop song and I practiced it everyday for two months. I almost didn’t sleep just trying to perfect it. So when I went to show the boss again, he went (nods her head in approval). Then he said, “Okay you can practice together with them again.”


Q: Looking back at everything you went through, if you were to give advice to the 20-year-old Sandara, what would that be?

A: Be happy. Don’t go krung-krung (crazy) anymore. Behave. That’s all. I want to tell her to be confident because that’s what was lacking before. Believe in yourself.

(END)

Throwback: My Article on ABS CBN News Online 050414

Exclusive: Backstage with Sandara Park

By Anjie Blardony Ureta (originally published in ABS-CBN News Online on May 4, 2014)

The author with 2NE1's Sandara Park just three hours before the All Or Nothing concert in Seoul on March 2, 2014

Fifteen minutes. That was all I had to interview former Kapamilya turned K-Pop superstar Sandara Park of the phenomenal girl group 2NE1.

Braving the icy weather of post-winter Seoul to watch 2NE1’s All or Nothing world tour launch, I had resigned myself to the idea that speaking with any of the girls would be next to impossible, especially with such short notice. But since the 12-city tour was headed for Manila, I felt compelled to at least try and take a chance.

With the help of the local concert producer, I went ahead and fielded my request. The initial response was as expected: The girls were extremely busy and there was no time to squeeze in an interview. But then a second email arrived – Dara can meet us briefly after rehearsals on the second night. It was nothing short of a miracle and I grabbed that fleeting opportunity, thanking the music gods for making it happen.

Less than three hours before the show, it was still unusually calm backstage at the SK Olympic Handball Stadium where the concert took place.  Along the winding corridors that led to the interview site, dancers and staff moved casually about as muffled conversations and occasional bursts of laughter rang behind closed doors. In an incredibly surreal moment, I even caught a glimpse of 2NE1 leader CL in an oversized black t-shirt, stepping out of her dressing room while munching on a piece of bread!

At the VIP lounge, Dara arrived clad in her black-and-gold costume and braided hair, welcoming this writer with her warm and amiable smile. She appeared incredibly younger than her 29 years, looking just as fresh and vibrant as she did during her Star Circle Quest days a full decade ago.  Even more remarkable was the fact that she still spoke Tagalog fluently and with the same characteristic lilt that Filipino fans have always found endearing.

To break the ice, I handed her a small packet of dried mangoes as the customary pasalubong from home. Her eyes widened as she clutched the humble gift as though it was something utterly precious. “Paborito ko ‘to!” (This is my favorite!) she shrieked as she thanked me in a manner so disarming, it made me wish I had brought an entire crate. It left a mighty good feeling to know that fame has not spoiled the nation’s favorite quirky girl.

New songs, new image

According to Dara, the concept behind All or Nothing was just as the title suggested: a crucial turning point that is approached with a do-or-die attitude. “After five years, we’d like to showcase a new and improved 2NE1 – one that’s more mature, more daring, with new music and moves. We really pushed our boundaries and went all-out this time.”

For her part, Dara’s image overhaul called for showing off her scrumptious abs, achieved through a strict diet and exercise regimen. “Working out was fine,” she said. “It was the dieting that was difficult because I had to give up some of my favorite food, like ramyun. Nagutom ako! (I got hungry!)”

She also revealed her recently acquired guitar skills, strumming away in Seoul during the acoustic version of Come Back Home. Will she reprise this for the Manila show? “I want to,” she replied with a diffident chuckle, “but I need more practice, especially with the F-chord!”

Then of course, there’s that naughty “lap dance” portion while performing their hit single, I Love You – a routine that was such an unexpected detour from the girls’ fierce image, it had fans shrieking from both sheer delight and shocked disbelief. “Ganun ba ka-daring ang ginawa namin? (Was it that daring?)” she murmured coyly with a slight blush. “Siyempre gusto namin ipakita ang bagong side ng 2NE1... Pero sa concert lang namin gagawin ‘yan at para lang sa mga fans. (Of course we want to show the new side of 2NE1... But we will do this exclusively for the concert and only for our fans.)”

Anniversary celebration

All or Nothing in Manila goes onstage at the Mall of Asia Arena on May 17 -- an auspicious date that coincides with 2NE1’s fifth anniversary since debuting in 2009. Not surprisingly, Dara revealed the timing wasn’t entirely by happenstance.

“During the planning stage, they showed us the tour schedule and I saw that May 17 had been blocked off. Sabi ko dapat sa Manila ito! Napaka-special ng araw na yan at gusto ko talaga sana makasama ang mga fans namin sa Pilipinas. (That day is very special and I really want us to spend it with our fans in the Philippines.)”

Dara added that their “group birthday” was so special for her and teammates Bom, CL and Minzy, they would mark each anniversary by exchanging identical gifts like rings, bracelets or pendants. Last year, she gave everyone matching pink sneakers (which they can’t wear that often because “masyadong cute”).

“We don’t celebrate in a big way,” she disclosed. “But we always make time to get together for dinner, just the four of us.”

Things will change drastically this time around as AON Manila promises to be their most extravagant anniversary ever. While they had visited the country twice, this will mark 2NE1’s first full concert here.

“Performing in Manila is a dream come true for me,” Dara remarked with unconcealed excitement. “Hindi ako makapaniwala (I couldn't believe it)… We miss our Filipino fans so much… Yung mga tili nila, iba -- sobrang saya! (Their screams are something else -- it's really fun!)”

“Pambansang Krung-Krung”

Without a doubt, Dara’s lifelong bond with the Philippines has remained strong and widely recognized. Fans all over the world have become familiar with her Tagalog messages on social media when conversing with Filipino friends, her fondness for sinigang na hipon and Chicken Joy, as well as her trademark greetings “Mabuhay” and “Mahal ko kayo!”

Going beyond lip service, the self-proclaimed “Pambansang Krung-Krung ng Pilipinas” has shown her affinity with the Filipino people when it mattered most. At the height of Typhoon Haiyan’s devastation, she and brother Sanghyun (a.k.a “Thunder” from the boy band MBLAQ) immediately launched an online campaign to raise funds for rehabilitation efforts. In their video appeal, the siblings urged the public to donate generously in helping the country they affectionately called their “second home”.

Wrapping up our quick chat, I asked Dara if she planned on doing anything special to mark her homecoming – which happily coincides with her tenth year in showbiz after being discovered by ABS-CBN in 2004.

Calling to mind her double platinum recording as a teen star, she playfully quipped: “Hmmm… siguro sa encore, puwede kong kantahin ang In or Out! Kung may mag-request lang naman at kung gusto nila! (Hmmm... maybe during the encore, I can sing In or Out. That is, if anyone requests for it and if the audience wants to hear it!)” 

(http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/05/04/14/exclusive-backstage-sandara-park)

Throwback: My Pulp Magazine Article April 2014 Issue

DO OR DIE WITH AN ATTITUDE:

2NE1 Kicks-Off AON World Tour in Seoul

By Anjie Blardony Ureta  (Originally published in Pulp Magazine, April 2014 issue) 

            They are the notorious bad girls of K-Pop, this gang of four. Not bad meaning bad but bad meaning good, you know. And for two nights in chilly, post-winter Seoul, the hottest place in the city was probably the Olympic Park SK Handball Arena whose stage virtually burst into flames as the fierce foursome 2NE1 kicked off their second world concert tour, All or Nothing, in a show that reminded everyone why they are considered one of the most phenomenal groups ever to storm out of Korea and into the global music scene.

            Living up to their girls-who-play-hard trademark, the group -- composed of Lee Chaerin (CL), Park Bom, Sandara Park and Gong Minzy -- entered the stage perched on a towering platform amidst a conflagration of fireworks, laser lights, spellbinding beats and that uniquely infectious exuberance which has long set their performances apart from the cute and sexy routines of their peers.

            As they chanted their familiar anthem -- “Nolza! Hey hey hey, nolza!” -- the impassioned quartet jumped, waved and shook their fists in the air, igniting a frenzied atmosphere as they summoned the feverish crowd to get up and party. Dutifully, their fans (known by the moniker “Blackjacks”) rallied and cheered, raising their winged light sticks towards heaven and thanking the music gods that the interminable wait for a comeback is finally over.

            All or Nothing comes after an extended and painful drought that saw the group releasing only two studio albums four years apart. Following the highly successful 2009 debut that catapulted them to the top tier of Korean girl groups, 2NE1 slayed music charts with their first full album, To Anyone, with its carrier singles Fire and I Don’t Care. In 2011, they made a triumphant return with a six-track mini that proved to be a treasure trove of hits, including the unsinkable I Am the Best, Can’t Nobody and Lonely. Before the year closed, they flew to New York City and were crowned MTV Iggy’s Best New Band in the World for their “unparalleled presence in the K-Pop music scene”. Basking in the afterglow of global recognition, the highly anticipated promise of second full album lingered in the air… Only for the excitement to be marred by a succession of postponements and delays that went on longer than anyone ever expected.

            Despite the lack of new material, the irrepressible quartet embarked on an ambitious world tour in 2012 – the first of its kind attempted by any Korean girl group – and played to packed venues around Asia and the US. Dubbed New Evolution, the tour enabled the girls to reach out to their international fans in a more intimate manner, temporarily sating the growing deprivation for new songs that was beginning to reach ravenous peaks.

            Homebound once more, last year saw the release of leader CL’s first solo track and three digital singles that foreshadowed the imminent transition of 2NE1 in both music and image. The temporary hiatus found the girls shedding off the frisky and aggressive persona everyone has been accustomed to and instead, putting on the more mature and even more powerful aura of full-grown women poised to enter their prime as musical artists.  

            Then somewhere amidst the growing excitement that mingled with equal doses of curiosity and skepticism, bam! News about a second world tour and the much-awaited second album scheduled for the first quarter of 2014 spread like wildfire and stoked the unflagging spirit of a patient fandom whose loyalty would prove to be richly rewarded.

            The new album, Crush, with its twin title tracks, Come Back Home and Gotta Be You, signaled the return of 2NE1 to their home sweet home: the top of the charts. Strategically revealed three days before the All or Nothing concert launch in Seoul, the album immediately zoomed up to the apex of Korea’s major music sites within hours of its digital release, achieving an all-kill before sundown. Remarkably, all ten songs in the album enjoyed an upper niche in the rankings. While waltzing the roof at home, Crush also rose rapidly overseas and landed on iTunes’ Top 100 albums in over 20 countries, where it continues to enjoy an impressive, upwardly mobile standing. Monitoring the album’s breakthrough success, US music channel Fuse described 2NE1 as “one of the driving forces in K-Pop’s international expansion” and gave Crush a clear shot at entering the Billboard charts if it continues its skyward sales trajectory.

           

            Against this heady and triumphant backdrop, the All or Nothing World Tour opened in Seoul last March 1 and 2. This early, a total of 15 shows have already been lined-up to cover 12 cities in Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, with negotiations still ongoing to meet the growing clamor for additional tour stops. 

            On both days, concert-goers milled around the venue as early as 1 p.m. to line up for tickets and merchandise, visit fan club stalls for giveaways, and basically just hang out together to “spazz” and rejoice at the return of their favorite girl group. When the gates finally opened an hour before the 6pm show, the excitement became even more palpable. Before long, the arena was filled with fans of all ages, many of whom were armed with light sticks, sign boards, and posters, while others carried with them gifts and trinkets that they could toss onstage or personally hand over to the girls if they got lucky.

            As the lights dimmed and the familiar thumping of the first song, Crush, filled the air, the crowd broke out in piercing howl of thunderous applause, with all their pent-up excitement breaking loose after a long and tedious wait. They were not disappointed as CL, Bom, Dara and Minzy swaggered defiantly onstage in their shimmering gold and black tailored outfits, grim and determined to prove once again why 2NE1 has gained a rock-solid reputation of raising the standards in fashion, professionalism, musical quality, and level of live performance in such highly competitive industry.

            Reminiscent of their early hits, the opening song (which was composed by team leader CL) is an electro-pop dance tune that immediately set the mood for the evening’s high-octane party. Immediately noticeable is how the four girls have blossomed into charismatic young women who are ready, now more than ever, to take on the world. Those who came expecting to see the same perky little ladies with bubblegum colored hair and furry frocks from their New Evolution days might be disappointed, but only in the best possible way. With their well-toned physiques and edgy styling, all four cut an awesome and commanding presence onstage that went exceptionally well with the tougher, wilder and sexier image they intended to project, which was obviously well-received by the audience.

            In terms of visuals, most conspicuous was the coming of age of the group’s maknae (youngest), Minzy, who became a full-pledged adult last year. The unrivalled dancing machine sizzled with her signature chest-popping, body waves and daring splits, particularly for her solo routine in Fire, all the while donning costumes that showed a lot more skin than she was previously allowed to.  The deceivingly fragile-looking Dara, meanwhile, revealed what could have been her best kept secret so far: eye-catching sculpted abs which became a hot topic on social media even while the concert was still in progress. On the other hand, with a cascade of long dark hair complementing her legendary legs and statuesque figure, main vocalist Park Bom gave off an enigmatic air despite her distinctively quirky, lovable personality. And CL, whose golden mane flew across the stage with fierce abandon, proved to be the “baddest female” indeed as she went through her routines with red-hot sensuality that belied her icy smirk and brazen attitude. (Be forewarned: her steamy solo stage for MTBD threatens to leave the faint and the weak of heart with exactly what the title suggests – a mental breakdown.)

            Living up to the All or Nothing theme, the girls played onstage with a “do or die” intensity that saw them moving seamlessly through genre-bending tracks that ran the gamut from electronic and hip-hop, to pop, reggae, rock and R & B, usually resulting in unique musical hybrids not usually associated with K-Pop. Ably supported by a six-member band that has also played with K-Pop superstars and fellow YG artists, Big Bang, one of the more interesting numbers was their head-banging version of I Don’t Care, simply because it was totally unexpected and out of the box.

            Definitely a concert highlight was their explosive performance of the new album’s main track, Come Back Home, with its rousing choreography and spellbinding lighting effects that were in complete contrast to the relaxed, acoustic melancholy of its unplugged version, which featured Dara playing the guitar alongside band member, Justin Lyons. 

            Sexy met sassy in a remixed version of I Love You, which featured a special portion where four lucky guys from the audience were brought up onstage to receive a “lap dance” from each member. Far from being a scandalous affair, the spot turned out to be cheeky and playful at best, leaving the audience cheering wildly as they rooted for the stunned male subjects with unconcealed envy.

            Unlike their first world tour, All or Nothing relied less on imposing sets and breathtaking special effects, choosing to focus more on the much-enhanced musical abilities of all four members. Even Bom, who is known for her forceful and robust vocals, presented a new dimension to her singing, adding more warmth and texture to her signature high notes, even venturing into a softer falsetto particularly in Gotta Be You.

            The dynamic tandem of Travis Payne and Stacey Walker, who previously worked with 2NE1 in their New Evolution concerts, reprise their roles as concert directors and main choreographers for AON. 

        With a 23-song set list that introduced some of their new songs alongside their more established monster hits, All or Nothing captures the best of 2NE1’s musical spirit, while at the same time allowing the girls to grow, explore new discoveries and constantly improve in their manifold abilities as performers. What is most significant in this concert is how each member has evolved not only in personality and looks, but more importantly in musical prowess, as their distinctly unique voices soared in impeccable harmony, finally liberated by songs that truly depict the inner musings of their hearts as women and artists in transition.

Throwback: My Pulp Live World Online Article 032714

10 Hot Reasons Not To Miss 2NE1’S AON Concert in Manila 

by Anjie Ureta  (Originally published in www.pulpliveworld.com on March 27, 2014)

 

In many of 2NE1’s music videos, you would see them wielding a bat. Later on, you will realize that they use this for crushing charts and breaking records. From the moment they debuted as a group in 2009, these formidable femmes – CL, Bom, Dara and Minzy -- have treated mediocrity with spite, choosing to blaze new trails in a music genre that was then dominated by four-letter words like “cute” and “sexy”. They wasted no time in creating a look, a vibe and a musical influence that was entirely their own – sharp, edgy, fierce and defiant. After sweeping scores of major awards from the Korean music industry, they flew to New York City where they were crowned MTV Iggy’s Best New Band in the World in 2011. The following year, they became the first K-Pop girl group to embark on a world tour, before promptly proceeding to do musical collaborations with the likes of will.i.am and Snoop Lion.

Things fell quiet in 2013 when they busied themselves wrapping up their second studio album and dropping a few singles that tickled but did not exactly tantalize. Then, boom – their agency, YG Entertainment, announced a second world tour scheduled to kick-off in Seoul by March 2014. And oh, that long overdue second album? It will drop a few days ahead on CL’s birthday, since she composed three of the tracks. What followed was absolute bedlam. Their fans – known collectively as Blackjacks – started dusting off their light sticks, printing new banners and pinching their allowance to purchase concert tickets, digital tracks and hard copies of the new album, “Crush”.

             

Meanwhile, the tour concert entitled “All or Nothing” (AON) caught people’s fancy with its sleek, sci-fi themed cinematic teasers and creative promotions that had the otherwise elusive girls appearing on variety shows, staging fan meets, hamming it up in their own YouTube videos and basically inundating their personal social media accounts with an enticing trail of photos and other sneak peeks leading to the show. To date, AON has announced 15 performances covering 12 cities in nine countries, with more stops still on the drawing board. However, the most important concert date for Filipinos falls on May 17, when 2NE1 brings AON to Manila at the Mall of Asia Arena. It has been three years since they first visited for a gig called “The Party” and this is the first time they are coming for a full concert, leaving their Pinoy fans breathless with anticipation.

To get a preview of what’s in store for us in May, this writer flew to Seoul to watch both nights of their AON launch at the Seoul SK Handball Arena. Despite the freezing post-winter weather, 2NE1 burned down the hall and everyone in it with the kind of frenzied conflagration only they can conjure. Here are some of the hottest reasons why watching AON is good for you, your friends and the entire human race:

1.     Dara’s goddess abs – In a word: yummy. You wouldn’t believe someone as seemingly frail as her could carve a four-pack but she did it in just two months, following a strict exercise and diet regimen which called for giving up her favorite ramyun and pumping iron every day under the eagle eyes of their company’s captain trainer. Undoubtedly, all the hard work paid off. The minute the girls step out onstage, those glorious abs are practically stamped as “Today’s Special”. So yes, I’d like a serving of Sandara Park’s scrumptious prime cuts served on a stretch of silky smooth, slightly tanned, honey gold skin… please!

2.     “EroMaknae” unleashed – The group’s recently legal Gong Minzy fires up the stage as she goes splittin’ and poppin’ and twerkin’ all night long. Discovered when she was only 11 and debuted as part of the awesome foursome at 15, this irrepressible dancing machine finally gets to throw off her shackles and show the world what the “ero” in her nickname “EroMaknae” really means. Everyone’s favorite baby sister does all those nasty moves you wouldn’t want your baby sister to do for 5,000 pairs of ogling eyes! 

3.     CL drives everyone “men-boong” – “Hot” does not even begin to describe charismatic leader Lee Chaerin (CL). Forget hot. She’s radioactive.  She begins her solo stage as The Baddest Female, descending like a mythical Valkyrie ready to send that screaming army of Blackjacks off to their noble deaths. Death by MTBD (mental breakdown). What follows is absolute carnage, ending with the slinky lionette sprawled on the ground, purring “How beautiful is this life? How painful is this life?” You will beg her to take you to Valhalla, pronto!

4.     Bom’s fabulous Terminator legs – She is not called the “living Barbie” for nothing. Park Bom’s interminable legs are the stuff legends are made of and every stage outfit she wears is designed to make sure no one forgets. The only thing that could probably stretch farther than her glorious limbs would be her remarkable vocal range. As my friend Gjie from Malaysia likes to say: “If electric companies generated power based on sexiness, Bom's legs would power an entire nation.” They truly deserve their own fandom.

5.   Fashionista fiesta - Hands down, 2NE1 is the most fashion forward girl group in the K-Pop music hemisphere. The girls are known to run around town garbed in the latest collection of iconic fashion houses like Chanel, Balmain, Saint Lauren, Givenchy, Versace, Balenciaga, Lanvin and other luxury brands, tastefully alternating or mixing them with the more progressive creations of up and coming talents from across Asia, Europe and the US. For the AON concert, the girls throw fashionistas a visual banquet as they romp onstage in funky glam fashion by Jeremy Scott (Moschino’s new design chief, CL’s bestie and a hardcore supporter of the group), SAM MC London, Ground-Zero, Cassette Playa, Ashish, Rick Owens x Adidas, Adidas Originals (where they are international brand models), among other distinctive labels. For a dash of flash, check out their Versace, Chrome Hearts and Ambush bling-blings that shine brighter than your future.

6.  Is this lap taken? – I hear you. “They’re doing whaaat???” Sexy is not usually a word associated with 2NE1 but what the heck – they’ll give lap dancing a try just for the fun of it. Four unsuspecting gentlemen are escorted onstage to join the girls for some schmexy time. It only lasts for a minute or two but this portion never fails to send the entire stadium rumbling with a collective “noooooohhhhhh” from the shocked and pretty much possessive crowd. Jealous much?

7.     Jaw-dropping male dancers – YG Entertainment’s resident male dancers, Hi-Tech, actually have their own fan clubs. I kid you not. These strapping, agile and stylish young men have become celebrities in their own right, particularly the forever shirtless Kwon twins -- Dony and Deukkie -- who have thousands of followers on their social media accounts. Check them out. Every other girl has.

8.     Travis Payne at the helm – Multi-awarded American choreographer, director and producer Travis Payne joins 2NE1 on a world tour for the second time. Known for his close association with the late great Michael Jackson, Payne has also designed unforgettable moves for such high profile artists as Madonna, Sting, Lenny Kravitz, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Britney Spears, Usher, Lady Gaga, Nicole Scherzinger and Beyoncé. As director and lead choreographer of AON, he and longtime associate Stacy Walker give the girls an upgraded image that is more daring and mature, but without losing their signature fierce and feisty appeal.

9.     Magnificent stage presence – If you think they sound incredible in their albums, wait ‘til you watch them onstage. One concert is all it takes for you to realize why they are the undisputed queens of live performance. How four tiny Asian girls can mesmerize an entire arena with their boundless energy, powerful choreography and impeccable live singing will astound you. As they go seamlessly through a lineup of 20 songs that range from pop, hip-hop and reggae, to R & B, rock and a little head-banging metal, you wonder how they even manage two or three encore numbers while smiling, dancing, jumping and doing fan service all over the place. The stage is their playground as they constantly prod the crowd to stand up and go crazy with them with their familiar battle cry: “Nolza!” Let it be known that every 2NE1 concert is a non-stop party, so please leave your stilettos at home.

10.  Chart-topping music – Saving the best for last, the hottest reason why you shouldn’t miss AON in Manila is because you get to hear those smashing tracks from their newest album “Crush”, which set the new US Billboard record for the highest charting, best selling K-Pop album only 72 hours after it was released. “Crush” opened at the 61^st slot on US Billboard 200, with all ten tracks dominating the Top 40 slots of its K-Pop Top 100. Now on its third week, “Crush” is still doing well, sitting comfortably at Number 6 on the World Albums chart. Domestically, its title track, “Come Back Home”, went straight to the top spot of all Korean music charts within eight hours of digital release, as well as topping the iTunes charts in over a dozen countries, including the Philippines. Aside from their latest hits, expect remixed versions of their previous knockouts like “I Am the Best”, “Can’t Nobody”, “I Don’t Care”, “Ugly”… you know the drill.

And because May 17 marks exactly five years since 2NE1’s debut, expect loads of anniversary surprises from their adoring Blackjacks, not only from the Philippines but also from all over the world. This early, international fan sites have been busy making plans to join in the celebration and send representatives to cover the event. And for this special occasion, Dara – still the self-proclaimed pambansang krung-krung ng Pilipinas – has hinted to this writer that she might just concede to a “special number” exclusively for the Manila show if the fans request for it. In fact, she might even ask the three other girls to join in. What is this special treat? You won’t know unless you’re watching. So are you in -- or out?

(http://pulpliveworld.com/news/pulp/item/236-10-hot-reason-not-to-miss-2ne1-aon-concert-in-manila)