Upon its release, To Anyone received mixed reviews from music critics. While praise mainly centred on its production quality, critics were ambivalent toward the overuse of auto-tune software. Nonetheless, To Anyone was a commercial success in South Korea, debuting at number one on the Gaon Album Chart and was the number one album on Gaon's monthly chart. In total, the album has sold over 150,000 copies.[1][2][3]To Anyone went on to win Album of the Year at the 2010 Mnet Asian Music Awards and Melon Music Awards.
Several singles were spawned and promoted from To Anyone, including the "triple title tracks" "Go Away", "Can't Nobody" and "Clap Your Hands". All three singles were released in conjunction with the album and peaked within the top three positions on the Gaon Digital Chart. The final single "It Hurts", was released on October 31. The members solo singles from the previous year were also included in the album's track list.
Development and background
In August 2010, YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun-suk announced that 2NE1 will promote three title tracks for their first full-length album. Each promotional single would have a music video to accompany it. They were later announced as "Clap Your Hands", "Go Away", and "Can't Nobody". "Clap Your Hands" was written and composed by producer e.knock, whereas "Go Away" and "Can't Nobody" were created by Teddy Park. Two days before the release of the album, the pre-orders for the album had reached 120,000 copies.[4] By the end of September, the album had sold 100,000 copies.[5] On October 28, it was announced that the group would be re-releasing the album in Japan on December 8, 2010, under Japanese record label Avex.[6] The release of To Anyone in Japan would mark the group's debut there. However it was later announced that the album's release was delayed as both YG Entertainment and Avex wanted to develop the album further.[7] The album was also announced to be sold in Thailand on October 28.[8] YG Entertainment also announced a partnership with Universal Records to release the album in the Philippines.[9]
Music and lyrics
To Anyone is classified largely as a pop record,[10] but contains strong elements of dance[11] and R&B.[12] Lyrically, the album is about female independence. The main single "Go Away" is about telling a man to "go away" during a break-up.[13]
Promotion
Music videos for "Clap Your Hands" and "Go Away" were released on September 9 and 10, respectively.[14] "It Hurts (Slow)" was promoted after the initial three songs, with its music video releasing on November 1.[15]
The first stage performances for the album were on SBS's September 12 episode of Inkigayo. They performed their three title tracks, "Clap Your Hands," "Go Away," and "Can't Nobody".[16] The performances were recorded early in the day so they could perform at the Hallyu Dream Concert in Gyeongju later in the evening.[citation needed] They won first place on Mnet M! Countdown for "Clap Your Hands" on the day of their performances, followed by first-place win the next day on KBS' Music Bank for "Can't Nobody", and a first-place win the following week on SBS' The Music Trend for "Can't Nobody". Overall, 2NE1 had gained first place eleven times on the various music shows.[17]
After the group finished performing the three main singles of the album, YG Entertainment announced that 2NE1 would be resuming promotions with the album performing "It Hurts (Slow)" on music programs. The group began their first promotions with the song on SBS's Inkigayo during Halloween, October 31, 2010. The music video for the song was released on November 1, 2010, to accompany with the group's follow-up promotions.[18]
2NE1's 2009 hit "I Don't Care" was remixed and retitled "I Don't Care (Reggae Mix Ver.)" and was the album's first track to be released. It was first performed on the September 1, 2009, showing of The Music Trend. It was released on September 3,[19] and peaked at number twenty six on the monthly BGM Chart. "Kiss" was a solo song for Dara featuring CL, and served as the next single. It was released on September 7, and peaked at number five. "Kiss" was followed by Bom's solo song "You and I", released on October 28, 2009. The song reached number one for November. "Please Don't Go", a duet between leader CL and youngest member Minzy, was the last single of 2009 released for the album. The song, released November 20, peaked at number six. "Try to Follow Me" was a surprise release by the group on February 9, 2010.[20] It peaked at number one on February 13, 2010.
The group went under the radar until September 9, when they released their album along with the triple promotional singles. "Clap Your Hands" peaked at number three in South Korea and was the first track to have a music video, which was released the same day.[21] The song was praised for having top production quality and being aggressive. "Go Away" and "Can't Nobody" were the other two of the simultaneous track releases. They were both praised and had received positive responses overall. However, all three songs were criticized for use of auto-tune. "Go Away" peaked at number one in South Korea, while "Can't Nobody" and "Clap Your Hands" topped at the second and third positions. "It Hurts (Slow)" was the last promoted single from the album, and peaked at number four upon album's release. It was praised as one of the highlights of the album that focused on the group's vocal talents.
"Can't Nobody (Eng Ver)" was released as a ringtone in Japan to start their initial debut there but was delayed until November, due to the March earthquake.[22] "Go Away" was selected to be the first official single, with a release on March 9, 2011.[23]
Critical reception
To Anyone received mixed reviews from music critics. KBS World praised the album, stating the album showed that YG Entertainment was still "one of the top companies [...] in music production quality". They also stated that the album showed off a more "grown-up image" and that songs like "It Hurts (Slow)" showed off the vocal talent they possess.[24] In a mixed review, Han Dong-yun from webzine IZM said that the album triggers feelings of excitement, fun, and adrenaline; however he noted the rather excessive autotune and felt that it created a distraction. Han additionally commented that while the album is "full of energy", it is "difficult to find elements that stimulate the emotions".[25] In February 2011, To Anyone was selected as the Best Dance & Electronic Album at the 8th Korean Music Awards; selection committee member Kim Yun-ha said that 2NE1 stands out with their "unique charms", despite the "music created by several young composers under Teddy's direction not being perfect", and called the album proof of the group's "overflowing vitality".[26] Since its initial release, the album has been regarded as the work that introduced the group to a larger audience outside the K-pop realm.[27] In 2015, Bugs! included To Anyone in their list of the 19 Best Girl Group Albums since 1995.[28]
Commercial performance
Commercially, To Anyone debuted at number one on September 11, 2010. Additionally, the album charted at number one for the month of September to November. In the United States, the album peaked at number seven on the Billboard World Albums chart. In total, the album sold 122,845 copies by the end of 2010.[29] "Go Away", on its own, sold 2,444,933 digital downloads, and "Can't Nobody" had similar numbers at 2,327,146 downloads. "Clap Your Hands" was downloaded 1,841,485 times, and "It Hurts (Slow)" sold 1,703,377 copies. "Try to Follow Me" was the last song from the album to be downloaded over a million times, enjoying an early February release on its own as a digital single, at 1,770,787 downloads. "Love Is Ouch" and "I'm Busy", neither promoted or released as a single, were downloaded 903,293 and 902,101 times, respectively.[30]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Teddy, except where noted; all music is composed by Teddy, except where noted
^2010년 가온차트 부문별 Top 100위 [Gaon Chart 2010 Top 100 Charts]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. February 8, 2011. Archived from the original on February 13, 2011.
^2011년 Album Chart [2011 Album Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
^2012년 06월 Album Chart (국내) [Album Chart – June 2012 (Domestic)]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
^Moon, Wa-sik (October 7, 2010). 2NE1, '엠카' 1위..컴백 1달, 음악프로 1위 9번 [2NE1, first place comeback]. Star News (in Korean). MoneyToday. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^【リリース情報】『TO ANYONE』2010.12.8 in stores [Release: To Anyone 2010.12.08 in stores] (in Japanese). Avex Group. October 28, 2010. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
^"To Anyone by 2NE1". iTunes Preview. Apple Inc. September 9, 2010. Archived from the original on June 2, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^Park, Yeong-ung (September 10, 2010). '컴백' 2NE1, 댄스 타이틀곡 '고 어웨이' 뮤비 공개 [2NE1 comeback, dance title track "Go Away" music video released]. Star News (in Korean). MoneyToday. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^Mun, Wan-sik (October 31, 2010). '인기가요' 2NE1, 후속곡 '아파' 첫선 '4人4色' [2NE1 on Inkigayo, "It Hurts" song debut: 4 people, 4 colors]. Star News (in Korean). MoneyToday. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^Park, Yeong-ung (November 4, 2010). 가을 가요계는 女풍..쿨한 이별노래로 맞대결 [Fall's music industry: goodbye songs, the female style]. Star News (in Korean). MoneyToday. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^2NE1 - 아파 뮤직 비디오 [2NE1 - "It Hurts (Slow)" music video]. YG Life Blog (in Korean). YG Entertainment. November 1, 2010. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
^Gil, Hye-seong (October 17, 2010). 2NE1, '인기가요' 초유 4주연속 1위 [2NE1, four unprecedented first place titles on Inkigayo]. Star News (in Korean). MoneyToday. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^2NE1 - 아파 뮤직 비디오. YG Life Blog (in Korean). YG Entertainment. November 1, 2010. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
^Hong, Jeong-won (September 1, 2009). 2NE1 '아이돈케어' 레게믹스 반응 '핫'..3일 음원공개 [2NE1's "I Don't Care" reggae remix received hotly, to be released digitally on the 3rd]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Jcube Interactive Inc. Archived from the original on September 13, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2009.
^Park, Se-yeon (February 9, 2010). 2NE1 오늘(9일) 게릴라 신곡 깜짝공개 '날 따라 해봐요' [2NE1 Releases "Guerilla" Surprise Single "Please Follow Me" Today (the 9th)]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Jcube Interactive Inc. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
^CAN'T NOBODY (ENG VER) レコチョクにて独占先行配信開始! ["Can't Nobody (Eng Ver)" exclusive delivery via Recochoku!]. 2NE1 Avex Official Website (in Japanese). Avex Group. January 19, 2011. Archived from the original on March 22, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
^"最後の大物"２ＮＥ１、今春日本デビュー [2NE1 to debut in Japan this Spring]. Sanspo.com (in Japanese). Sankei Digital Inc. February 23, 2011. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
^"음악포털 '벅스'가 뽑은 걸그룹 명반 19선" [19 best girl group albums selected by music portal 'Bugs']. Money Today (in Korean). Naver. July 22, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
^2010년 가온차트 부문별 Top 20위 [Gaon Chart 2010 Top 20 Charts]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. February 8, 2011. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
^2010년 디지털 종합차트 [2010 Digital Combination Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
^Lee, Hyerin (December 15, 2010). 2NE1, 2010 멜론 뮤직어워드 올해의 음반상 수상 [2NE1 wins Best Album of the Year at the 2010 Melon Music Awards]. Osen (in Korean) – via Naver.
^"Gaon Chart Search: 2NE1". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
