Crush (2NE1 album)

Crush is the second and final Korean studio album and third and final studio album overall by South Korean girl group 2NE1. It is the group's first album release since 2011's 2nd Mini Album and second full-length album following 2010's To Anyone. Production of the album was handled mainly by Teddy with contributions from Choice 37, Dee.P, Masta Wu, Choi Pil Kang and Peejay as well as the group's leader, CL. Lyrics were written mainly by Teddy Park and CL, with contributions from Big Bang's G-Dragon and Choi Pil Kang. The album is classified as pop, but features elements of other genres, such as R&B, dance, hip hop, reggae and electronic music.[1] This was 2NE1's last release to feature Minzy as a member of the group before her departure in 2016.

Crush
Studio album by
2NE1
ReleasedFebruary 26, 2014 (2014-02-26)
June 25, 2014 (2014-06-25) (Japanese version)
Recorded2012–14
Genre
Length35:06 (Korean) and 36:12 (Japanese)
LanguageKorean
Label
ProducerTeddy
2NE1 chronology
Global Tour: New Evolution
(2012)		 Crush
(2014)		 World Tour Live CD (All or Nothing in Seoul
(2014)
Singles from Crush
  1. "I Love You (Japanese version)"
    Released: September 19, 2012
  2. "Come Back Home"
    Released: February 27, 2014
  3. "Gotta Be You"
    Released: February 27, 2014
  4. "Crush (Japanese version)"
    Released: June 25, 2014
Japanese edition cover
CD only and digital download editions cover

Crush was named the sixth best pop album of 2014 by Rolling Stone[2] and one of the best 40 pop albums of 2014 by Fuse.[3] The album also ranked at number 11 on Billboard magazine's year-end World Albums list, marking the first time a K-pop band has placed on the chart since its inception.[4]

Background

On January 15, 2014, a poster for the group's upcoming All or Nothing World Tour was revealed on their agency's website, with hints about a new album.[5] On February 19, it was revealed the album would contain of a total of 10 songs. All of the songs are new, except two; Scream, which was previously featured on their 2012 Japanese language album Collection and an Acoustic Version of the album's title track. It was further revealed that the group's leader CL co-composed and wrote lyrics for three and five songs respectively, a first for the group.[6]

Promotion and release

The digital download of the album was originally slated for release on midnight local time on February 24, 2014, but was pushed back to midnight local time on February 27, 2014, to coincide with CL's birthday on February 26. Two music videos for its lead single "Come Back Home" were planned for release on February 28: a regular version and an unplugged version, although they were not formally released until March 2.[7] The album in physical format was released on March 7.[8][9] The music video for "Happy" was released on March 2.[7]

Prior to the release of the album, 2NE1 held a private listening party for a group of 21 people selected from fans and music experts.[10] It was revealed the new songs would be showcased for the first time at the opening dates of the group's All or Nothing world tour in Seoul, South Korea on March 1 and 2.[7] On May 20, 2NE1 released the music video for "Gotta Be You".[11][12]

Reception

The album sold over 5,000 copies in the United States, and charted at number 61 on the Billboard 200 in its first week of release. In doing so, the album broke two records: the Best-Selling K-Pop Album (the record has since been beaten by EXO's album Exodus which sold 6,000 copies)[13] and the Highest-Charting K-Pop album on the Billboard 200, beating the records previously held by Big Bang's EP Alive (4,100 copies) and Girls' Generation-TTS's EP Twinkle (which had peaked at number 126), respectively.[14] The album was also chosen as the 'Favorite Girl Group Album' on the "Girl Group Week Readers' Poll" hosted by Billboard, beating Girls Aloud, Little Mix, Destiny's Child and Spice Girls album,[15] as well as being listed by Fuse as one of the "25 Best Albums Of 2014 So Far", alongside artist such as Coldplay, Michael Jackson, Pharrell Williams and Mariah Carey.[16]

According to Gaon's mid-year charts, the tracks from Crush have been downloaded over 5.2 million times.[17]

The album was named the sixth best pop album of 2014 by Rolling Stone, who says "Almost two years after K-pop first giddily barged into America's imagination, the genre hasn't sustained a post-"Gangnam Style" wave, but the Seoul machine keeps humming. Female foursome 2NE1, buoyed by a cameo on The Bachelor, moved more units of their album in its first week of release than any previous Korean act. That was about it for sales records, but the album itself was no stiff; in fact, it's a canny downshift from the wigged-out "I Am the Best" maximalist mash-ups of the past. "Happy" is a sunny, strummy jaunt with no manic gimmicks and the ballad "Good to You" soars and sweet-talks likably. But Crush's centerpiece is "MTBD," which spotlights group member CL on a bratty squirt of EDM-hip-pop with a bubblegum trap groove."[2]

Fuse also named the album one of the best 40 pop albums of 2014, stating that "After fans waited nearly four years for their second full-length album, the K-pop phenoms did not disappoint with a slew of forward-thinking, wholly-accessible tracks. Crush proves 2NE1's knack for genre-melding from the start, opening with the title track that blends Indian tabla drums and switchboard-button buzzing, followed by the reggae/trap-hybrid single "Come Back Home." Group leader and head rapper CL even takes center stage on the incredible solo track "MTBD," which sounds like an upgraded version of DJ Snake's "Turn Down for What."[3]

Controversy

Listeners accused the sixth track, "MTBD 멘붕(Mental Breakdown)" of having an audio sample of a young boy reciting Quran verses. This struck social media by storm amongst 2NE1's Muslim listeners, with even death threats being posted on both the group's and CL's social media pages. Because of this controversy, YG Entertainment released an alternate version of "MTBD" which omits the sample.[18]

Japanese edition

The Japanese edition of Crush was released on June 25, 2014. The Limited Edition (Type A) contains the both Japanese and Korean versions of the album on 2 CD's, as well as a bonus DVD with music video clips and "making of Crush". The Special Edition (Type B) contains the DVD and Japanese version of the album while the Standard Edition (Type C) contains only the Japanese version of the album, without the DVD. The Fan Club Special Edition (Type D) has DVD footage of a fan club event from 2013. The Music Cards also contain information from the group's 2014 All or Nothing tour.[n 1] All editions have alternate covers.

Track listing

Korean edition
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Crush"CLCL, Choice 37Choice 373:14
2."Come Back Home"TeddyTeddy, P.K, Dee.PTeddy, P.K, Dee.P3:50
3."Gotta Be You" (너 아님 안돼; Neo Anim Andwae)Teddy, Masta WuTeddy, P.KP.K3:52
4."If I Were You" (살아 봤으면 해; Sara Bwasseumyeon Hae)CLCL, Dee.PDee.P3:30
5."Good to You" (착한 여자; Chakhan Yeoja)Teddy, G-DragonTeddy, Choice 37Choice 373:41
6."MTBD (Mental Breakdown)" (멘붕; Menbung; CL solo)Teddy, CLTeddyTeddy3:16
7."Happy"TeddyTeddyTeddy3:37
8."Scream" (Korean version)CLTeddy, Dee.PDee.P3:40
9."Baby I Miss You"CLCL, Choice 37, PeejayChoice 37, Peejay3:12
10."Come Back Home" (Unplugged version)TeddyTeddy, P.K, Dee.PTeddy, P.K, Dee.P3:14
Total length:35:06

Japanese edition
Crush – Standard version
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Crush"Sunny BoyChoice 37Choice 373:14
2."Come Back Home"Teddy, Sunny BoyTeddy, Choi Pil Kang, Dee.PTeddy, Choi Pil Kang, Dee.P3:49
3."Gotta Be You"Teddy, Masta Wu, Sunny BoyTeddy, Masta WuChoi Pil Kang3:51
4."Do You Love Me"Teddy, Sunny BoyTeddy 3:35
5."Happy"Teddy, Sunny BoyTeddy 3:37
6."Falling in Love"Teddy, Choice37, Sunny BoyTeddy 3:46
7."I Love You"Teddy, Sunny Boy, Tatsuji Ueda, Izumi Soratani, KeisukeTeddy, Lydia Paek 3:57
8."If I Were You"Ritsuko TanifujiDee.PDee.P3:30
9."Missing You"Teddy Tatsuji UedaTeddy 3:39
10."Come Back Home" (Unplugged version)Teddy, Sunny BoyTeddy, Choi Pil Kang, Dee.PTeddy, Choi Pil Kang, Dee.P3:14
Total length:36:12
Crush Type A – CD (Disc 2: Korean edition)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Crush"CLCL, Choice 37Choice 373:14
2."Come Back Home"TeddyTeddy, Choi Pil Kang, Dee.PTeddy, Choi Pil Kang, Dee.P3:50
3."Gotta Be You" (너 아님 안돼; Neo Anim Andwae)Teddy, Choi Pil KangTeddy, Masta WuChoi Pil Kang3:52
4."If I Were You" (살아 봤으면 해; Sara Bwasseumyeon Hae)CLCL, Dee.PDee.P3:30
5."Good to You" (착한 여자; Chakhan Yeoja)Teddy, G-DragonTeddy, Choice 37Choice 373:41
6."MTBD (CL solo)" (멘붕; Menbung)Teddy, CLTeddyTeddy3:16
7."Happy"TeddyTeddyTeddy3:37
8."Scream" (Korean version)CLTeddy, Dee.PDee.P3:40
9."Baby I Miss You"CLCL, Choice 37, PeejayChoice 37, Peejay3:12
10."Come Back Home" (Unplugged version)TeddyTeddy, Choi Pil Kang, Dee.PTeddy, Choi Pil Kang, Dee.P3:14
Crush Type A and Type B – DVD (Japanese music videos)
No.TitleLength
1."Crush" (music videos) 
2."Come Back Home" (music videos) 
3."Gotta Be You" (music videos) 
4."Happy" (music videos) 
5."Missing You" (music videos) 
6."Do You Love Me" (music videos) 
7."Falling in Love" (music videos) 
8."I Love You" (music videos) 
9."Making of Crush" 
Crush Type D – DVD (Fan Club Limited Edition)
No.TitleLength
1."2NE1 1st FANCLUB EVENT 2013 ～DO YOU LOVE ME～" (only sale for Blackjack Nolza Shop) 

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Crush.[19]

Charts

Sales and certifications
Region Sales
Japan (Oricon) 7,000[26]
South Korea (Gaon) 66,004[27]
United States (Nielsen SoundScan) 10,000[28]

Japanese edition
Region Sales
Japan (Oricon) 12,000

Awards and nominations
Year Awards Category Nominee/work Result
2014 Bugs Music Awards Top 10 Album Crush Won
MTV Iggy Awards Song of the Year "Gotta Be You" Won
Gaon Chart Music Awards Song of the Year (March) "Come Back Home" Won
Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Female Group Nominated
Melon Music Awards Best Electronica Song Won
Album of the Year Crush Nominated
Best R&B Song "If I Were You" Nominated
Crush on year-end lists
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
Billboard The 10 Best K-Pop Albums of 2014 1 [29]
Fuse Best 40 Pop Albums of 2014 - [3]
KultScene Top 20 K-pop Albums of 2014 10 [30]
Rolling Stone 20 Best Pop Albums of 2014 6 [2]

Release history

Korean version
Region Date Label Format
South Korea February 27, 2014 YG Entertainment
KT Music		 Digital download
March 7, 2014 CD
Japan March 19, 2014 YGEX
Avex Trax		 CD, Digital Download
Taiwan April 3, 2014 Warner Music Taiwan CD+Pendant (Black)
CD+DVD (Pink)
Philippines March 29, 2014 Warner Music Philippines CD

Japanese version
DateVersionCatalog No.FormatLabel
June 25, 2014 Type A AVCY-58236~7/B[n 1] 2CD+DVD+Photobook Avex
Type B AVCY-58238/B[n 1] CD+DVD
Type C AVCY-58239[n 1] CD only
Type D AVC1-58240/B[n 1] CD+DVD
Music Card Type A AQZ1-76335[n 1] Digital download
Music Card Type B AQZ1-76336[n 1] Digital download

References

Discography

  1. "DISCOGRAPHY". 2NE1(トゥエニィワン) Japan official website (in Japanese). Retrieved June 4, 2014.

Other references

  1. "2NE1 Producer Teddy Opens Up About CL's Backlog Of 17 Songs". Kpopstarz. February 26, 2014.
  2. Aaron, Charles; Ganz, Caryn; Johnston, Maura; Spanos, Brittany; Walters, Barry (December 19, 2014). "20 Best Pop Albums of 2014". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  3. "Fuse". Fuse.
  4. "2NE1's 'Crush' Is First K-Pop Entry on Year-End World Albums Chart". Billboard.
  5. "2NE1 – All or Nothing". YG Life. January 15, 2014.
  6. "2NE1 – New album CRUSH Tracklist". YG-Life. February 19, 2014.
  7. Hong Gil-dong (March 3, 2014). "2NE1 releases videos for 'Come Back Home,' 'Happy'". Koreaherald.com. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  8. "News about 2NE1: Part 2". YG Life. February 19, 2014.
  9. Benjamin, Jeff (February 18, 2014). "2NE1 Announces Full-Length Album 'Crush,' New Singles Details (Updated)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  10. "2NE1 Invites 21 Fans to Their Private Music-Listening Event before Comeback". YG Life. February 18, 2014.
  11. Choi Hyun-Jung (May 24, 2014). "Billboard MV of 2NE1's 'Gotta Be You'". Yahoo Entertainment. Singapore. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  12. Benjamin, Jeff (March 15, 2014). "2NE1 Embraces Pop Art in 'Gotta Be You' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  13. "EXO Ousts 2NE1 as K-Pop Act with Biggest Sales Week, Sets New Records on Billboard". Soompi. April 17, 2015.
  14. "2NE1 Sets New U.S. Record for Highest-Charting, Best-Selling K-Pop Album With 'Crush'". Billboard. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  15. "2NE1, Spice Girls and Fifth Harmony Dominates Girl Group Week". May 3, 2014.
  16. "The 25 Best Albums Of 2014 So Far". FUSE. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  17. "2NE1 Charts 6 Songs on GAON 2014 Mid-Year Charts + Reaches 5.2 Million Downloads". YG Ladies. July 18, 2014. Archived from the original on July 25, 2014.
  18. "CL Receiving Death Threats From Alleged Muslims For Possible 'MTBD' Quran Verse On 2NE1 'Crush' Album". KPopStarz. March 10, 2014.
  19. Crush (booklet) (in Korean). 2NE1. YG Entertainment. 2014.CS1 maint: others (link)
  20. "2014年06月23日～2014年06月29日のCDアルバム週間ランキング". Oricon Style (in Japanese). July 7, 2014.
  21. "Gaon Album Chart". Gaon Chart. March 3, 2014. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  22. "2ne1 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  23. "2ne1 Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  24. "2ne1 Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  25. "2014 Year-End Charts – Billboard World Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  26. "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  27. "2014년 Album Chart" [2014 year album chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  28. Benjamin, Jeff. "Will a K-Pop Girl Group Take Over the U.S. Soon (Or Ever)?". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  29. "The 10 Best K-Pop Albums of 2014". Billboard. December 11, 2014.
  30. "Top 20 K-Pop Albums of 2014". KultScene. December 30, 2014.
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