Crush (2NE1)

Crush
Type	Studio
Artist	2NE1
Released	February 27, 2014 (digital) March 7, 2014 (physical) March 19, 2014 (Japan) June 25, 2014 (Japanese ver.)
Format(s)	CD, download, streaming
Recorded	2012–2014
Length	35:06
Label(s)	YG Entertainment YGEX (Japan)
Distributor(s)	YG PLUS Avex Trax (Japan)
Release chronology
Previous	"Missing You"
Next	"Goodbye"

Crush is the second Korean full-length album by 2NE1. It was released on February 27, 2014. "Come Back Home" served as the album's title track with "Gotta Be You" as their follow-up track. A Japanese version of the album was released on June 25, 2014.

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. 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.

Concept

The packaging design is based on the visual concept of "Merkabah", a spiritual symbol originating from early Jewish mysticism. "Merkabah", which figuratively means "thing to ride in", is reputedly the divine light structure used by ascended masters to connect with, and to reach those in tune with the higher realms. The album won a 2015 Red Dot Award for music packaging, acknowledging its "distinctive design" and "harmonious unity".

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. The album in physical format was released on March 7. The music video for "Happy" was released on March 2.

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. 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. On May 20, 2NE1 released the music video for "Gotta Be You".

Reception

Upon release, the main promotional single "Come Back Home" was listed on Instiz.net's "All Kill" list, where it topped nine of Korea's online music charts. A second single, "Gotta be You," placed at number two on many of the same charts.

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) 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. 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, as well as being listed by FUSE as one of the "25 Best Albums Of 2014 So Far", alongside artist like Coldplay, Michael Jackson, Pharrell Williams and Mariah Carey.

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

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."

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."

Track list

Korean ver.

1. "Crush" - 3:14
2. "Come Back Home" - 3:49
3. "Gotta Be You (너 아님 안돼)" - 3:51
4. "If I Were You (살아 봤으면 해)" - 3:30
5. "Good To You (착한 여자)" - 3:40
6. "MTBD (멘붕)" (CL Solo) - 3:15
7. "Happy" - 3:36
8. "Scream" - 3:39
9. "Baby I Miss You" - 3:12
10. "Come Back Home" (Unplugged Version) - 3:13

Japanese ver.

1. "Crush" (Japanese ver.) - 3:14
2. "Come Back Home" (Japanese ver.) - 3:49
3. "Gotta Be You" (Japanese ver.) - 3:51
4. "Do You Love Me" (Japanese ver.) - 3:35
5. "Happy" (Japanese ver.) - 3:37
6. "Falling In Love" (Japanese ver.) - 3:46
7. "I Love You" (Japanese ver.) - 3:57
8. "If I Were You" (Japanese ver.) - 3:30
9. "Missing You" (Japanese ver.) - 3:39
10. "Come Back Home" (Unplugged Version) (Japanese ver.) - 3:13

CD 2 (2CD+DVD edition only)

1. "Crush" - 3:14
2. "Come Back Home" - 3:49
3. "Gotta Be You (너 아님 안돼)" - 3:51
4. "If I Were You (살아 봤으면 해)" - 3:30
5. "Good To You (착한 여자)" - 3:40
6. "MTBD (멘붕)" (CL Solo) - 3:15
7. "Happy" - 3:36
8. "Scream" - 3:39
9. "Baby I Miss You" - 3:12
10. "Come Back Home" (Unplugged Version) - 3:13

DVD (2CD+DVD & CD+DVD editions only)

1. "Crush" (Japanese ver.) music clip
2. "Come Back Home" (Japanese ver.) music clip
3. "Gotta Be You" (Japanese ver.) music clip
4. "Happy" (Japanese ver.) music clip
5. "Missing You" (Japanese ver.) music clip
6. "Do You Love Me" (Japanese ver.) music clip
7. "Falling In Love" (Japanese ver.) music clip
8. "I Love You" (Japanese ver.) music clip
9. Making of "Crush"

DVD (Fanclub edition only)

• 2NE1 1st Fanclub Event 2013 ~Do You Love Me~

Gallery

Track list

Album packaging detail

Album packaging detail (Pink ver.)

Album packaging detail (Black ver.)

Video links

Korean ver. "Come Back Home" music video Making-of "Gotta Be You" music video "Happy" music video "Come Back Home" dance practice "Gotta Be You" dance practice Album trailer

Japanese ver. "Come Back Home" (Japanese ver.) music video (Short ver.) "Gotta Be You" (Japanese ver.) music video (Short ver.) "Happy" (Japanese ver.) music video (Short ver.) "Crush" (Japanese ver.) music video "Do You Love Me" (Japanese ver.) music video (Short ver.) "Falling In Love" (Japanese ver.) music video (Short ver.) "Missing You" (Japanese ver.) music video (Short ver.) Album trailer TV spot