After 10 years, 2NE1 finally reunited with Singapore Blackjacks for their “2024-25 2NE1 ASIA TOUR [WELCOME BACK] IN SINGAPORE”, held on both evenings of 21 and 22 December due to the overwhelming response here, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
On the first evening before the concert began, fans were already singing along to 2NE1 songs playing in the background. The excitement grew, and cheers erupted as ‘I Am The Best’ blared, which grew louder along with the music to signal the start of the concert.
Dressed in a striking blend of silver and black, 2NE1 made a spectacular return to the stage, greeting their Singaporean Blackjacks after a decade-long wait. The energy was electric from the moment they kicked off, with a dynamic introduction to ‘Come Back Home’, followed by the explosive ‘Fire’. CL and Minzy set the bar high, flawlessly commanding the crowd with their powerful rap sections in ‘Clap Your Hands’. By the time ‘Can’t Nobody’ hit its peak, nearly every Blackjack in the venue was up on their feet, jumping and singing along – and the concert was just getting started!
The members of 2NE1 warmly greeted their Singapore Blackjacks, and staying true to tradition, they rallied together on stage for their customary NOLZA cheer, a ritual they’ve upheld before every show.
2NE1 kept the energy soaring as they lit up the extended stage with ‘Do You Love Me’, seamlessly transitioning into ‘Falling In Love’. The crowd was fully in sync, clapping along with the members to the infectious beats of ‘I Don’t Care’.
During the intermission, the screens lit up with a heartfelt VCR featuring messages from fellow artists congratulating 2NE1 on their epic comeback concert. The star-studded lineup of well-wishers included IU, NewJeans, IVE, TWICE, BABYMONSTER, aespa, Stray Kids, (G)I-DLE, KISS OF LIFE, BOYNEXTDOOR, Zico, TREASURE, G-DRAGON and even Pharrell.
A row of flags dramatically parted to reveal 2NE1’s charismatic leader, CL. She owned the stage with her solo hit ‘GZB’ and kept the energy at its peak, headbanging to ‘MTBD’, showing everyone who’s the baddest female.
Another show-stopping moment came courtesy of 2NE1’s all-male dance crew, who left fans in awe with their impressive physiques. The crowd went wild as the dancers ended their introduction with a bold, shirtless, sexy dance routine. Fans had their moment to shine during the dance challenge, where selected audience members captured by the cameras showed off their moves to 2NE1’s iconic hits.
2NE1 transitioned into a series of slower-paced hits, showcasing their emotional depth. Each member appeared on four individual staircases, delivering a stunning performance of ‘Missing You’, before sitting down to pour their hearts into ‘It Hurts’. Park Bom’s flawless execution of her high notes drew loud cheers from the audience. The group followed up with ‘If I Were You’, and the entire arena joined in a singalong to their timeless classic, ‘Lonely’.
2NE1 made their way back to the stage with ‘I LOVE YOU’, continuing on the extended stage. The energy peaked again as they followed up with the iconic ‘UGLY’, getting the entire crowd to sing along. After ‘GOTTA BE YOU’, Singapore Blackjacks surprised the group with a heartfelt banner event, unveiling the message ‘우리 앞으로 꽃길만 NOLZA’ (Let’s only NOLZA on the flower road from now on).
2NE1 warmly thanked the fans for the surprise banner event, expressing their heartfelt gratitude. They reminisced about their previous tour in Singapore, sharing how meaningful it was to return to the same venue after 10 years.
“Thank you so much for waiting for us for 10 years, we have so many memories!”
Sandara Park expressed her love for Singapore, gushing about Universal Studios Singapore, Sentosa, Singapore Flyer, “and everything about Singapore!” She also fondly recalled the SingTel Presents 2NE1 Live At Clarke Quay guerrilla concert in 2012, playfully suggesting to the telco that the group would be open to a contract renewal.
As the first day of the concert neared its end, 2NE1 made sure to keep the energy high with even more of their greatest hits (because let’s be honest, every single one of their tracks is a classic!). The crowd went wild as the group performed ‘Come Back Home’, ‘I Am The Best’ and ‘Go Away’. By this point, the entire venue was singing their hearts out with the girls, turning the atmosphere into an unforgettable high.
2NE1 delighted Blackjacks with a festive surprise, appearing on stage for their encore in Santa hats and Christmas-themed headbands to perform Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ – truly the perfect Christmas gift from 2NE1 to their fans!
After ‘In The Club’, 2NE1 thanked fans for the encore, sharing that they could hear the fans’ chants all the way from backstage. CL revealed that this ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ performance marked the first time they had ever performed a Christmas song together, making the moment incredibly special. She admitted it had been a long time since they had learned a new song, and the experience brought them back to their trainee days. The group expressed heartfelt gratitude to their Singapore fans for giving them the chance to reminisce about the good old days in such a meaningful way.
Day 1 of 2NE1’s comeback concert in Singapore came to a close with a high-energy medley of ‘Crush’, ‘I Don’t Care’, ‘UGLY’, ‘Go Away’ and ‘Can’t Nobody’. It was the perfect finale to an unforgettable night, leaving fans buzzing with excitement and nostalgia at their first concert back at the same venue after a decade.
As a second-generation K-Pop fan, seeing 2NE1 reunite on stage after so many years was nothing short of heartwarming. Hearing them belt out those familiar, iconic tunes brought back a flood of memories. Tears welled up as I watched the VCR documenting their journey from pre-debut to the present — it was a powerful reminder of everything they’ve been through. Witnessing their interactions in person felt surreal, a dream come true for any Blackjack. I’m certain many fans shared the same overwhelming emotions. 2NE1, welcome back!
Photo Credits: Live Nation SG / YG Entertainment
