Psychedelic music and bold female empowerment thrive at 2NE1’s sophomore concert in Malaysia.

IN a scene where girl groups are made of seductive stuff masked behind suggestive aegyo, 2NE1 (pronounced “twenty-one” or “to anyone”) could be regarded as a kind of triumphant anomaly in K-pop.

Where other all-female exports champion empowerment through girly sass (think SNSD, Miss A, Sistar and – if you’ll excuse the generalisation – the other gazillion or so Korean girl groups out there), the quartet’s approach of fierce grit is somewhat relatively unconventional.

And so, when a fellow member commented during the group’s appearance on hit television variety show Running Man that they’ve garnered a reputation for being “scary unnis” (a Korean term for “scary older sister” as addressed by younger girls) in the industry, it’s an observation that is not without its merit.

That particular remark has Running Man regular Yoo Jae-suk jokingly reply that the girls’ notoriety probably stems from their heavy eyeliner makeup.

But superficial aesthetics aside, the group plays a crucial role in delivering futuristic-sounding hip-hop and accessible R&B to audiences who ironically frown upon fluffy music in a market that’s famed for churning carefully manufactured saccharine pop by entertainment conglomerates.

Leader of the group, CL performed with fierce tenacity during her solo turn at the show.

Above all, 2NE1’s success lies in its clever exploitation of a universal template – powerful women, incredible danceability and infectiously catchy sound.

When a loud bang erupted to the cheers of thousands and the stage curtains fall over the sound of Crush’s pulsating electronic intro to reveal CL, Dara, Minzy and Bom at Stadium Negara last Saturday night, you know without a shadow of a doubt, that the aforementioned elements are irrevocably present at the group’s sophomore concert in the country.

“They love me cause I’m real, they love me cause I kill,” the girls sang in the booming chorus of the group’s latest full length studio release’s opening track.

It’s this sort of brash ethos that resonates with Blackjacks (as 2NE1’s fans are known). Some even camped out at the venue the day before the event and that devotion certainly paid off.

During the two-hour set, the group whipped up plenty of frenzy, performing a 23-song setlist that included mostly signature hits such as Fire, Clap Your Hands and Don’t Stop The Music interspersed with newer numbers such as Gotta Be You and Scream. Fans were even treated to a couple of numbers from guest boy band and the group’s labelmate Winner.

Just like the many colourful costume changes they don, the girls of 2NE1 are an eclectic bunch. CL was definitely the firecracker of the show, pumping plenty of bold attitude throughout the evening. She’s both aggressive and sultry as she danced, rapped and writhed during her solo turn on a medley of The Baddest Female and MTBD.

On the other spectrum, we have Dara who’s all skittish and sings in a luscious albeit thin tone that fares better on pop-esque tracks than powerhouse ballads. Minzy held her own, busting some serious high-strung dance moves on the stage. As for Bom, she performed with a coy detachment that’s both intriguing and deterring at the same time.

When it comes to vocal prowess though, they’re intent on shattering the autotune stereotype that’s often associated with K-pop on an unplugged rendition of the reggae-infused Come Back Home. But the crux of 2NE1’s music lies within the periphery of raves, as evidenced on the group’s high-octane performance of I Am The Best which saw the girls mounting massive motorcycles on stage.

Co-directed by renowned choreographers Travis Payne and Stacy Walker, the All Or Nothing concert features quirky stage setup and props that does well in enhancing 2NE1’s colossal sound. It’s just really unfortunate that a ludicrous stage design that’s deeply concave deprived those who packed the far left and right of the indoor arena from the complete view.

That little blot in the landscape aside, the girls of 2NE1 excelled at delivering a bombastic show that is worthy of their status as the Queens of K-pop.