Reheated but very tasty nonetheless.
2NE1 need no introductions – the four girls have become incredibly popular not only in Korea but have achieved success in Asia and overseas as well. Considering their growing fanbase, it was just a matter of time before they would debut in Japan. Once their first Japanese album NOLZA hit stores in September 2010, their first Japanese single GO AWAY became available in November.
GO AWAY will be nothing new to fans of the band; the track was written by Teddy Park and has already spent its time in the limelight on Korea’s charts. What we have on this release is the Japanese version of the song, which at first might seem… different, but only because it’s sung in a language different from the one we are used to. To make the song stand out a tiny bit from the original, the electronic and synthesizer elements were strengthened and so one might get the feeling that it is more techno/electro than the Korean counterpart. Apart from that, it is still the same infectious song, with the same crazy energy and that well-known ‘go away’ sung in the chorus.
For me it’s the B-side that shines the most on this single. The Japanese version of It Hurts sounds very fresh and attractive. The R&B track was praised, and rightfully so, for its unique sound and Park Bom’s singing, and it is the combination of the two that makes it stand out on this release. Close your eyes while listening to the song and you will see a dim, smoky bar before you with four members in shiny gowns singing on a stage. All you need to do is to enjoy your drink and thank the heavens for CDs and the replay button.
The single is a perfect balance of styles: it has a fast, addictive A-side and a calm, beautiful B-side. Perhaps the only issue with the single is that it has Korean songs dressed in Japanese clothes, but they are not entirely new songs. Although, considering that it was just the beginning of their Japanese career, one might turn a blind eye to it; the tracks may be reheated, but are still very tasty.
