2Yoon

2Yoon
Origin Seoul, South Korea
Genres K-pop
Years active 2013–2016
Labels Cube Entertainment
Associated acts 4Minute
Website 4min.co.kr
Past members

2Yoon (Hangul: 투윤, commonly stylized as 2YOON) was the first sub-group of South Korean girl group 4Minute, formed by Cube Entertainment in 2013. The sub-group consisted of Gayoon and Jiyoon.[1]

History

Gayoon and Jiyoon were the lead singers of 4Minute.[2] Cube Entertainment CEO Hong Seung Sung wanted to pair them in a sub-group after watching the duo perform live at the 2011 United Cube in London.[1]

The duo were known to fans collectively as Ssangyoon[3] (Hangul: 쌍윤) (a portmanteau of the Hangul word for "twins" and the last characters of their given name "yoon").[4] However, as the pronunciation of "Ssangyoon" involves a tensed consonant, it was deemed to be ill-fitting for the group's cute image. As such, the sub-unit was renamed as 2Yoon.[5] In addition, "ssangyoon" could be potentially misheard as a profanity,[6] further supporting the basis for the name change.

2Yoon appeared on MBC's Weekly Idol as Ssangyoon, since the show was recorded before the official name change.[7]

Career

On January 7, 2013, Cube Entertainment announced that the 2Yoon debut album, Harvest Moon, was slated for a mid-January release, with "24/7" confirmed as the title track.[8] On January 22, 2013, 2YOON released its album and accompanying music video for "24/7."[9] 2Yoon made its television debut on M! Countdown on January 18, 2013.[10]

2Yoon's members revealed through an interview that they felt motivated and encouraged by Girls' Generation members after a listening session. Gayoon, through another interview, also revealed she lost weight rehearsing to the song's choreography. Due to their innovative efforts, Time Magazine showed interest in 2Yoon's music and observed Korea's potential in the world's music scene.[11] 2Yoon became the first Korean girl group to be interviewed by Time.[11] In the interview with TIME, the members cited that they listened to artists like Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift, and that they were used as inspiration to the recording sessions.[12]

24/7

The video starts with both of the group's members entering "Dream Village."[13] It is apparent through their dressing style and baggage that they are newcomers to this village. Both of them change their outfits to rodeo-attire. Farm workers are shown performing various farmwork tasks (such as feeding animals enclosed by fences, floor brushing, harvesting, and carrying and dropping hay on the floor. One of them pretends to be mounting a broom bronco). When the duo comes in, the farmers bow. The scene changes, showing both of them standing in front of two microphones, singing to the bridge "to the left, to the right" while background actors perform as percussionists among others. The scene continues changing back and forth, also showing them engaging in farmwork and housekeeping tasks. The speed of the tasks increases. When it reaches the chorus, it recedes down while a member brings an old sound system and starts dancing to the chorus. One by one, people stop what they were doing and join the dance. A fireplace is shown with 2Yoon's members drinking from a metallic mug. The video changes its view to a crowd in front of a western saloon (with a saloon sign featuring the group's name), waving at the musicians while they are standing and singing in front of two microphones. The video once again changes its scene back and forth with its intensity increasing as it reaches the chorus, while one of the members pick up what seems to be a flower that is going to be used as a dart. She throws the flower dart at a dartboard but misses it, actually hitting a BTOB member. All of BTOB comes in and starts a dance break. There is also what seems to be fighting scene involving them. The duo is once again shown with backup dancers and comedian Jung Hyung-don riding a mechanical bull while spilling water. There is an emphasis on the second chorus' hook. Several dancers dance to the "boom, clap" refrain. The final bridge of the song showcases each member singing to their respective parts, featuring all previous scenarios shown. In one of them, Gayoon is seen spinning with a young boy while Jiyoon sings her verse with the crowd in the back. By the ending the majority of the cast dances to the remaining respective chorus and hook, and 2Yoon ends the song with their arms interlaced.

Marc Hogan of Spin called 2Yoon's music video "as giddily irresistible as you'd hope," commending the pair for incorporating elements of country music without losing the "characteristically hyper-melodic, electronica"-ness of K-Pop.[14] Lily Rothman of Time lauded 2Yoon for attempting the "unlikely union" of Country Music and K-Pop, showing the symbiotic influence that both American-music and K-Pop exert on each other.[15] Park Hyun-min of Mnet praised the "light and joyous" execution of the lead single.[16]

"24/7" received polarized reviews, some praising its innovative attempt into bringing country music to Korean Pop, while others criticizing aspects such as melody, lyrics, rap style and technique, claiming the song as an experimental failure.[13][17][18]

Members

2Yoon had two members: Heo Ga-yoon (허가윤) and Jeon Ji-yoon (전지윤).

Artistry

2Yoon has been praised by both foreign and domestic music magazines for being the first K-Pop act to release a country-inspired track.[19][15][14][16]

2Yoon became the first sub-unit of a Korean music group to be promoted in Thailand,[20] performing and giving interviews.[21]

Discography

Extended play

Title Album details Peak positions Sales Track listing
KOR TWN East Asian
Harvest Moon 7 12
  • KOR: 6,134
  1. "24/7"
  2. "Nightmare" (악몽) (feat. Il Hoon Jung)
  3. "Why Not"
  4. "Se Se Se" (쎄쎄쎄) (feat. Kikaflo)
  5. "Black Swan"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
 KOR
K-Pop
[23]
2013 "24/7" 6 13 572,159 Harvest Moon
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Notes

    References

    1. 1 2 Lee, Eun-jung (December 26, 2012). 포미닛 가윤·지윤, '쌍윤' 결성..1월 신보. Yonhap News (in Korean). Retrieved February 25, 2013., translated to English at "Ssangyoon Sub-Unit to Debut in January". 4-minutes Forum. December 24, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
    2. ↑ "4Minute JAPAN OFFICIAL SITE". 4minute-japan.com. December 4, 1999. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
    3. ↑ Eom, Dong-jin (February 4, 2013). 컨트리팝’ 선보인 투윤 "쌍윤은 욕 같아서…. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved February 27, 2013. - translated into English at "2YOON Talks Dreams, Expectations, Foreign Attention and Online Comments". 4-minutes Forum. January 10, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
    4. ↑ "투윤 원래 이름, "'X윤'이었지만… 된소리 발음때문에 포기!"". The Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). February 18, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
    5. ↑ 투윤 "원래 이름은 쌍윤이었다". Kookmin Ilbo (in Korean). February 18, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
    6. ↑ The Star (February 18, 2013). 투윤 원래 이름, 삼촌 팬 도망갈 이름 '쌍윤?'. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved February 27, 2013.
    7. ↑ Hosted by Jung Hyung-don, Defconn (January 13, 2013). "Guest: 2YOON". Weekly Idol. MBC.
    8. ↑ Kim, Young-jin (January 10, 2013). 종합 포미닛 첫 유닛 `투윤` 타이틀곡 `24/7` 확정. Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Retrieved February 25, 2013. - translated into English at "4Minute's First Unit Group, 2YOON's Title Track Confirmed". 4-minutes Forum. January 10, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
    9. ↑ 4Minuteofficial (January 16, 2013). "2YOON - '24/7' (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
    10. ↑ Choi, Joon-yong (January 17, 2013). 허가윤·전지윤 뭉친 투윤, 오늘(17일) ‘24/7’ 첫 무대. The Asian Economy Daily (in Korean). Retrieved February 25, 2013.
    11. 1 2 Cha, Hanna (16 February 2013). "2Yoon is the first girl group to be interviewed by Time". Korea.com Communications Co. Korea.com. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
    12. ↑ Rothman, Lily (February 15, 2013). "Trend Alert: K-Pop Meets Country Music (and New Jersey)". Time Entertainment. TIME. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
    13. 1 2 Hogan, Marc (17 January 2013). "K-Pop Goes Kountry in 2YOON's Marvelously Faux '24/7' Video". Spin Magazine. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
    14. 1 2 Hogan, Marc (January 17, 2013). "K-Pop Goes Kountry in 2YOON's Marvelously Faux '24/7' Video". spin.com. Spin. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
    15. 1 2 Rothman, Lily (February 15, 2013). "Trend Alert: K-Pop Meets Country Music (and New Jersey)". entertainment.time.com. Time. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
    16. 1 2 Park, Hyun-min (February 10, 2013). "Why 2Yoon′s Attempts are Worthy of Applause". enewsworld.mnet.com. Mnet Media. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
    17. ↑ Chong, Joelle (4 February 2013). "2Yoon – Harvest Moon". Xin Entertainment. MSN. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
    18. ↑ Kim, Jin K. (13 February 2013). "2YOON Interview: Quiet Jun Ji Yoon vs Daring Heo Ga Yoon". Korea Star Daily. Yahoo! Entertainment Malasya. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
    19. ↑ Peterson, Jacques (January 10, 2013). "4minute's 2Yoon to Bring Country Music to K-pop With 'Harvest Moon' Mini-Album". popdust.com. popdust.com. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
    20. ↑ Park, Hyun-min (March 25, 2013). "4minute Unit 2Yoon Returns to Korea after Successful Promotions in Thailand". enewsworld.mnet.com. Mnet Media. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
    21. ↑ "ทูยุน (2YOON) ยูนิต 4minute บุกไทย โปรโมทซิงเกิ้ลแรก 24/7 ในงาน 2YOON in Thailand". Pingbook Entertainment (in Thai). December 26, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2013., translated to English at "2YOON's Thailand Presscon: Immense love for Thailand, closest with BTOB, Jiyoon's international top secret!". 4-minutes Forum. March 22, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
    22. ↑ "Harvest Moon-EP". itunes.apple.com. January 22, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
    23. ↑ "Korea K-Pop Hot 100". Billboard (magazine). Retrieved March 13, 2013.

    External links

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