[Review] 2NE1 - Come Back Home

Vocals: 8 / 10

Another 2NE1 song, another strong showing of vocals. Obviously led by Bom’s vibrant voice, everyone else continues to support her well throughout the verses and transitions, but what the hell is up with that garbage pseudo-dubstep break at the end of the choruses? It’s awful (Dara’s lines are actually probably worse than the dubstep use) and completely out of place, when you take into account the rhythym of the verses and the softer rap. For this reason, the acoustic / unplugged version of the song is much more enjoyable.

Appearance: 7 / 10

CL is absolutely regal in that blonde. And the hairstyle, too. Easily the best out of the group in this specific MV. It’s a more bleached blonde compared to the “Can’t Nobody” blonde, but again, just looks really good on her. Dara’s tomboy cut seems a little out of place, but the shots with her in blue hair looked pretty nice. Dara is the visual of this group, and continues to show that here. In a rare sighting, Minzy isn’t that good this MV. It’s a combination of the colour scheme and hairstyle, but she doesn’t look at stunning as per her standards. Bom has always flipped between “pretty doll” and “creepy doll” and unfortunately for her, she’s the latter this time around. The hair seems to frame her face awkwardly. As for outfits, it’s just 2NE1 being 2NE1. Wacky, tacky, fabulous?

Rap: 10 / 10

When I was talking about CL in the Girl Group Rapper Power Rankings, I wrote how I really liked the “old CL”, before more of the crazier, wilder stuff, and this rap is just in line with the old stuff that really drew me to CL as a rapper. It (the rap) also fits in really well with the rest of the song, or at least the acoustic version. How the dubstep just suddenly halts into CL’s rap is beyond awful and near “I Got A Boy” level bad. But anyway. CL delivers an excellent rap segment.

Music Video: 9 / 10

There’s a lot going on with this MV, but the most important is that 2NE1 and the producers / editors of this video took the special effects / graphics portion and executed everything way better than a certain other top girl group’s recent comeback video. The effects and distinctions for the whole “virtual world” that Dara’s boyfriend is so immersed in are all fancy. And the bizarre sets and costumes are per 2NE1 standard. This score would’ve been perfect it not for the rather disappointing lipsyncing. Actually, if I recall correctly, I had issues with 2NE1 and their lipsyncing in “I Love You”, as well. Fix this, 2NE1, and you’ll have a perfect MV score next time.

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Overall: 85 / 100

2NE1 is back, and like Girls’ Generation, is taking steps in the right direction after a seemingly lackluster performance last year. “Come Back Home” is a refreshing ballad (I’m not downloading the version in the MV) with a supplementing rap. I wouldn’t qualify this as one of the better 2NE1 ballads, but it’s still a solid title track regardless. By the way, releasing this review on the 21st was most certainly just a coincidence. Yep, definitely a coincidence.