LIST: Channel your inner baddie with 13 of 2NE1’s most iconic hits
There’s something about 2NE1 that empowers us to bring our inner baddies into the light.
2NE1 has paved the way for girl groups to be unapologetic about their identity, even if they don’t fit in the mold of a typical woman. From sporting experimental looks to releasing head bop-worthy tracks, it’s hard to deny their impact on the K-pop industry. Perhaps, this explains why they broke the internet after they reunited at the Coachella festival after six years.
CL, Bom, Dara, and Minzy might’ve gone their own ways since their disbandment, but their legacy will always be remembered. So, allow us to list down 13 songs where 2NE1 inspired us to channel our fierce side.
Can’t Nobody
2NE1 pulls off the “tough girl” vibe down to a tee, but Can’t Nobody is an example of how a familiar concept can still stand out with the right details. The song is an embodiment of the members embracing their inner dangerous woman while still maintaining their powerful identity. Plus, who can forget the initial shock when we witnessed Minzy shaking her hips while singing the lines, “I’m so bad, but I’m so good” for the first time.
Falling in Love
“Touch me over here / Touch me over there.” There’s nothing more satisfying than hearing a summer song with a unique flair—and Falling in Love is the right way to do it. Combining reggae and hip-hop sounds like a recipe for disaster for outsiders, but they managed to bring them together seamlessly well.
In The Club
Who knew a quintessential walwal banger can actually be lowkey? In The Club has the elements of a classic party anthem, except that it’s an R&B mid-tempo track. The song, which talks about partying to move on from a past lover, attacks listeners with Bom and Dara’s vocals that are on full display.
Come Back Home
2nd-Gen fanwars aside, Come Back Home remains one of 2NE1’s most standout songs to date. The song infuses reggae, trap, hip-hop, and electro-pop without seeming like four different tracks (messily) stitched into one. It starts off on a sentimental and engaging note, as the beats continuously build to its peak—before hitting listeners with a refreshingly mellow chorus.
I Am The Best
One of the few K-pop songs that exploded in popularity without the internet—and deservingly so—is more than its fiery hook. The song that perfectly describes 2NE1 down to a tee, is probably one of the best hype bangers that YG Entertainment ever produced. Even so, there’s no group that can pull off its attitude and charisma other than the quartet themselves.
I Don’t Care
Contrary to what outsiders believe, I Don’t Care’s strength is not solely based on nostalgia. The song might seem like a typical pop song that moans about a cheating ex, but its lyrics prove otherwise. Compared to other sad girl anthems, the lyrics portray someone who knows her own worth and how much she deserves better. You go, girl!
Fire
Probably one of K-pop’s biggest debuts of all time, Fire is a powerful banger that grabs your attention at the first note. The song borrows Western elements, a rare occurrence in K-pop at that time, without losing the quintessential elements that make K-pop unique. Time and again, hearing the lines, “I go by the name of CL of 2NE1” will make any fan jam along at the top of their lungs.
Go Away
Relatable yet commanding, Go Away is probably the K-pop sad girl anthem of the 2010s. What makes this infectious song endearing, however, is its open-ended finish. While the lyrics talk about making an ex “go away” because “love is over,” the ending seems hopeful and bleak all at once. Will the persona move on with a hopeful heart or will she swear off dating forever? Maybe it’s up to our own interpretation—which works so well.
Pretty Boy
You’ve heard it from the members themselves—that boy might be pretty, but he’s worthless if he relies on his looks. Another quintessential 2NE1 hit, the domineering track embodies their hip-hop sound without being too monotone.
Ugly
“I think I’m ugly and nobody wants to love me / Just like her, I wanna be pretty / Don’t lie to my face / ‘Cause I know I’m ugly.” Probably 2NE1’s darkest and most relatable hit, Ugly gets real about our inner demons when it comes to dealing with society’s harsh beauty standards. Head bang-worthy chorus aside, the song makes any listener feel uncomfortable about how raw the lyrics are. Once you’ve gotten past the initial discomfort, you’ll find yourself relying upon the track as comfort.
Lonely
Yup, 2NE1 can pull off hard-hitting ballads too. Lonely is a refreshing surprise to their discography, thanks to the members’ powerful vocals and string-focused melody. Musical elements aside, it’s a reminder that the girl group has a soft and sentimental side too.
Gotta Be You
Gotta Be You seems like a signature 2NE1 banger at first listen, but what separates it from others is how the members seem to take their time with their parts. Usually, their classic songs showcase their charisma as a unit but this time, it’s a display of how CL, Bom, Dara, and Minzy are strong as individuals as well.
Missing You
Another hard-hitting ballad from 2NE1, yet the members allowed their emotions to take center stage. The song starts off with an alluring harmony before it pierces right through your soul with its vulnerability. While it’s rare for the girls to show their sentimental side in their music, it’s a peek into their emotions without relying too much on the drama.
