Did it live up to the hype?
June 18th was a much anticipated date for the modest music program Mnet M!Countdown. The program may not have the best equipment and isn’t equipped with HD capabilities, but they tried to make up for it with the hot roster last night.
Let’s start with veteran girl group, Jewelry. Their official comeback is scheduled for August, but Jewelry wanted a piece of the hot summer action. For this special stage, the ladies sang their song, “Rally,” which is the theme song for the Mnet reality talent competition, “Superstar K.” Just got to say, I’m glad this isn’t their comeback song. Although it’s fast tempo and catchy, “Rally” isn’t hit material, and the constant repetition of the word “Rally” by their rapper Ha Joo-yeon (Baby J) in her gruff, gangsta can’t-pronounce-real-English-words-correctly voice really kills it for me. Guest rapper Nassun is a nice addition, and it’s always a surprise that he can look normal, since the image of him in Lee Hyori‘s “U-Go-Girl” is forever imprinted in my mind.
Sans pants, Lady GaGa sang her hit song, “Just Dance.” For a song called “Just Dance,” she doesn’t do very much and she is a tad stiff, but looking at some of her previous performances, that’s the original choreography. Dancing aside, Lady GaGa actually seems like she is happy to be there and her vocals, as always, are top-notch. She obviously has a lot of crazed fans in Korea because the energy was high and you can spot some fanboys in the front row.
New girl group, 4minute, had their debut stage with “Hot Issue.” Ex-Wondergirl Hyun-ah really brought the performance down. She can’t bring it like she used to. She finally has time to shine as the centerpiece of 4minute, but the best she can offer us is her whiny, high-pitched rapping voice and flimsy dancing. Despite efforts to constantly shove Hyun-ah down our throats, the rest of the girls were pretty good. The one that really impressed me was Ji-yoon. She has all the attitude and charisma that Hyun-ah should have brought to the stage.
Then we have current fan favorite, 2NE1. This is their first performance on M!Countdown, and the girls brought it as always. The stage design is modeled after the Street version of “Fire,” which is a pretty good idea because it’s more visually appealing to fill up a confined space than lack something on a big empty stage.
Now that you’ve seen them all, let’s put it to a vote.
Sorry i skipped out Jewellery’s perf since i was’nt interested in them.
Anw,from what i see,2NE1 totally rocked the stage.
even lady gaga whom i was anticipating did’nt really put on a energetic perf.
but who can blame her with that outfit on?
its not easy to dance.
4 minute was’nt too bad,but i can’t find anything special or refreshing with their song although the girl with red hair who came out first really stood out from the rest,performance and vocals wise.
i guess the rest need to do something to shine out abit more too?
2NE1 did really well in my opinion.
their song got me enthusiastic and their bubbly and energetic dance/personality shines differently from each member.
Minzy amazes me.does that girl ever gets breatheless?
CL & Sandara were their usual self.
Park bom seems a little off at times with her lines?
Only that bit disappoints me.
but anw,she was the only one wearing a dress without leggings i think,which makes me worried cos the dress might be pulling her back from dancing with power like the rest.
not interested..
I was really disappointed with Lady Gaga’s performance. I was expecting her to be a lot better and more upbeat while performing live.
I HATE Jewelry, so I didn’t even make it past the two-minute mark with their comeback performance.
4-minute is too much like 2NE1 meets After School.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE 2NE1. They are by far the best K-pop girl group. They have way more spunk and their live performances keep getting better and better.
i agree, i got chills watching this performance!
Lady GaGa was good, as always. I’m kind of wondering why she’s performing all her songs a few keys transposed down though, she’s been doing that ever since promoting ‘Paparazzi’… She still sounds good with the lower key though, so I’m not really complaining.
2NE1 was good as always. I think Bom is terrible with the vocals, but everyone else is excellent. I seriously think Minzy and CL should get more “singing” parts. Dara has a good voice but she’s nothing special (there are many clones of her voices in Girls’ Generation). Bom is just horrid… She’s like super straining on her throat, I just hope she doesn’t keep on doing it or she might have vocal node problems later on…
ji-yoon is way better than hyun ah! hyun ah tries to be cutesy with her first part of the song? it’s really annoying! ji-yoon has the best and powerful vocals of 4minute.
ilove 2ne1! i really can’t say anymore….i just love them! more 2ne1!!!!!!!
i just remember hyun ah and ji yoon in their perf.
hyun ah= errrr……
ji yoon= nice!
wth lady gaga is here perf in korea????
W.O.W.
2ne1 the best perf EVER!
no girl band can outshine them.
2EN1 is the best, there song can make you Fire! I love them… I also like Lady Gaga..
4minute….I’m not interested of them…
http://ipoll.kr/k_click/t.html
VOTE for SS501
click up and then + on the website.
SS501 FIGHTING
D
I’m gonna say Lady Gaga cause I think its really good of her to do a local program. Typically you just hear a foreign artist just doing a concert, mostly skipping out on scheduled promos…but Lady Gaga performed and interviewed!! Good for her!!
2Ne1 totally rocks here in the philippines…
the music video “fire” is #8 in the MYX M.I.T
MYX the no. music channel in the Philippines,
your choice, your music…
we miss you sandara!!!
good luck in your career…
aim high…
you’re doing good and still improving…
I do believe in you…
fight, fight, fight!!!
i think the problem with 4minute is that their clothes are hiding their personality. too much too much! I was expecting more from Hyun ah =(
2NE1 was quite obviously the best, hands down! I dunno why people compare 4min. to 2NE1, because it’s obvious who’s better..
Ugh, Hyun-ah was totally better in WG. Now she’s just really annoying. Ji-yoon (she’s the one with the short hair, right?) is the best out of all of them, she’s got that BAM.
Anyways, I hope 2NE1 continues to rise up!
2NE1 Fighting!
4 minute’s a bit boring,
compared to 2ne1 who always rocks!
YAY! 2NE1 FIGHTING1!!!!
THERE’S NOTHING REALLY SPECIAL WITH 4MINUTES ‘HOT ISSUE’. THE SONG IS REALLY FORGETTABLE.
THE GIRL WHO SING FIRST REALLY SUCKS!
I was particularly interested in the 2ne1 vs. 4minute performances.
2ne1: Good job. Felt the stage was cramped this time because of backup dancers, but glad they finally put them in. Dara’s gentler voice I think is more suited to ballads, but still nice perf. overall. Generally all 4 did well.
4minute: I cannot stand the squeaky nasally voice of I am assuming is Hyun-ah (first person to “rap”). The girl with the short hair sounds like she maybe can sing, but she sounded of key in a lot of her parts. What was with the girl in the hole-y tights? She had an angry look almost the entire time. Yeah uh-huh that’s not “trying to act hard” or “trying to be gangsta” at all. Song felt like it went on too long. But hey, I guess there’s a lot of room for improvement…maybe.
and forgot to add. I don’t appreciate the screaming of 4minute’s chorus when they should be singing.
gotta give this one to 2NE1. CL has enough swagger for the four of them.
well i am expecting too much from lady gaga i think ..but too bad she didnt met my expectation…
as for 2ne1 they are doing fine and keeps getting better.
jewelry sorry i didnt see their vidz lol
and lastly 4 min. the song is catchy at first but the more i listened to it i dont want to hear it again..lol
all in all i think 2ne1 rock the stage it live it to the hype…
im sorry i didnt watch JEWELRY becoz im not interested to them.
LADY GAGA is okay. i love her and of course her songs.
I didnt watch the JEWELRY’s song, i think its too boring. im not interested to them.
LADY GAGA is okay. i love her and of course i love her songs.
4 MINUTE??? eow………..eow….
I DONT LIKE 4 MINUTE!!!! they dont have any originality. they use the moves of 2ne1…they dont have any originality. they do all moves of 2ne1 and even the hair style of 2ne1.. eow…. 4 MINUTE boo!!! they all ugly..
i even hate their group name.
2NE1 is my favorite.. they have originality than 4 minute. they perform energetic.
CL is on fireee…for reals, this girl has swaggerr.
i love her stage presence and she looks like shes been doing this since she was born
Minzy has great energy, i think she’s adorable and i just love her…great performer, loved the splits she did :]
Bommie unnie disappointed me, her vocals sounded weak and her voice sounded strained…also, i think the tight, legging-less dress was holding her back….maybe next performance :/
Dara, dara dara dara…i really don’t think she belongs in 2NE1, she just looks like she belongs in SNSD or kara, i dont think she fits the image of the group.
She didn’t really stand out in the performance…for me, she was just like there…
vocals were ok i guess, nothing special, couldnt really hear her though
but im all for 2NE1, i think they’re super hot…best of luck to them
d0 minzy have b0nes? ahah
I think 2NE1 is really good. In my opinion they are really getting better everday.
I’m not really interested in the rest but I think everyone did a nice job.
P.S.
Can Dara at least visit the Philippines again? For the sake of her fans that is. I really like her to visit the Philippines. A lot of her fans are happy for her success in Korea but it’ll be nice to be back.
2NE1 it’s the BEST XD Saranghae yo Sandara unnie!!!
HATE 4minute cause they singing like my dog and they are copy after school music style and 2ne1 style too !!!
thank u
2NE1 is FIRST!!!
4minute EW EW EW EW EW EW EW
from that 2ne1 is best 2 lady gaga 3 4 minute 4 jewelry coz thier m…… not much boring in theeir muzik now