[Bonus] Best Of 2NE1

In January we watched KARA come to an end. Now in April, it's 2NE1's turn. Well, not exactly. Minzy has decided not to resign with YG and 2NE1 will continue with Dara, CL, and Bom. I may write a blog post on Minzy's (and 2NE1's) future, since she did (still does, really) have a spot in my heart. For now, I'll take the same path I did for KARA's disbandment, and reminisce on the very best of 2NE1. And no, "I Am The Best" will not be making an appearance on this list, sorry.

7. Go Away

2NE1 dropped a monstrous triple title track thread for the "To Anyone" album, before everyone else started joining the multiple title track bandwagon. At the forefront was "Go Away," the best out of the set and the rest of the album. There's some serious autotune action, but I never found it too overbearing to the point where the song would be unlistenable. 2NE1 has a few songs with that autotune disorder but this isn't one of them. This was a great example of a song with line parity. Everybody contributed (near) equal amounts, something groups of all sizes continue to struggle with present day. Oh and the video has explosions, and 2NE1 walking away from explosions.

6. You And I

It's been an eternity since we've heard from 2NE1, and even more of an eternity since we've heard Park Bom's unique voice. Considering that this was released in 2009, it's understandable some people forget or never knew about Bom's solo career, which started off with this fantastic track. Bom glides through the verses and overall isn't stretching her voice too much. In the few instances she is, she adds harmony to help distract which is good. The song is catchy, and was easily one of the best solo efforts during the 2009-2010 era of Kpop.

5. If I Were You

You'd never think 2NE1 to excel at ballads, but this (and a few others) from the "Crush" album proved otherwise. While the trio of Bom / CL / Minzy all have very rich voices and have all established themselves, Dara seemed like the odd member out. However, Dara's presence as a support vocalist is underappreciated and she acts as the glue for the group, bridging parts together in wonderful fashion. The individual performances in "If I Were You" exemplify every member's traits quite well. This song (and other 2NE1 ballads) is an incredible example of how important it is to have a rapper who can double as a vocalist, and CL's versatility is never missed.

4. Missing You

We just talked up how "If I Were You" showcased each member at their finest, but "Missing You" might supplant that immediately. Dara is lovely with the lower range and if not for my love for Minzy, I'd give her the best performance on this song. This was really the song that cemented Minzy's status as a talented singer, with all her notes sounding very clean. CL and Bom continue to do what they do best, providing consistency over and over again. In addition, "Missing You" boasts one of the most raw and emotional instrumentals, further amplifying the awe of this track. The ending does still leave the song on a flat note, but at least the segue into it was good enough.

3. Come Back Home

Like in my review of the song, the acoustic (no idea they called it "unplugged") version of "Come Back Home" is far superior. If nothing else, it removes the disaster that was the dubstep sections. This track is one that showed versatility (after all, there aren't just a million acoustic versions of song out there), but you know the saying: less is more. "Come Back Home" is much more polished without the distracting sounds of the regular instrumental, and once again puts each member's voice on the pedastal. CL's rap break is pretty much same in both versions, and a welcome addition to her resume given her previous string of less substantial raps.

2. Lonely

"Lonely" is a top tier ballad among all girl groups, so it's no surprise to see the song at this spot. This was one of the earliest tracks we saw CL singing, and most if not everyone was surprised by her range and steady voice. Minzy taking the lower register was a nice touch and she's got a better voice than Dara anyway when compared to say, "Missing You." The verses and chorus all exchange parts quickly, but they all flow into each other very well. The adlibs are short and sweet, making a beautiful ballad in every aspect. "Lonely" is my favorite 2NE1 track ever, but I can acknowledge another song as their very best.

1. Ugly

Thus far, 2NE1's best has been packed with slower songs and while I do think their skillsets thrive in such environments, the group is known for being loud. Whether that's through the tacky debut with "Fire" or  the hype sounds of "Can't Nobody," 2NE1 collected fans with their strong sound. So what happens when you combine those aspects? You get "Ugly." From the emphatic instrumental, the lyrics that pack a punch, Minzy's smooth lower notes, and Dara's beautiful bridge, "Ugly" is beautiful, start to finish. Let's not forget the bone they threw us by having the entire chorus in (perfect) English. It's the little things like that which help make a great song. Oh and an energetic MV that has the members walking away from another explosion. Good stuff.