Dara Performs ‘Kiss’ On ‘Pinoy Boyband Superstar,’ Which Is Her First Performance Since YG Entertainment Girl Group 2NE1 Disbanded [Video]
K-pop fans, especially Blackjacks, around the world are trying to recover from the fact that 2NE1, one of the most popular K-pop girl groups to innovate the genre, has officially disbanded after being generally inactive for two years. The writing on the wall of their end started earlier this year when news broke that Minzy, the maknae of 2NE1, chose not to renew her contract with YG Entertainment. In doing so, she also officially left 2NE1. Minzy’s departure came as a shock to K-pop fans and Blackjacks, but many held onto the hope 2NE1 would make their comeback, even if it were just three members.
Apparently, much of that blind hope was enforced when Yang Hyun Suk, the CEO and founder of YG Entertainment, claimed 2NE1 would make their comeback as a three-member girl group. Sadly, like a lot of Hyun Suk’s promises, they did not deliver as 2NE1 officially disbanded just last month. In the wake of the debilitating news, the remaining members who rode the adventure to the bitter end, CL, Dara, and Bom, wrote heartfelt letters to their fans to express their own emotions towards the situation.
Eventually, the former members of 2NE1 had to move on from the bad news, especially CL and Dara, because they renewed their contracts with YG Entertainment. CL is busy assimilating into the U.S. music industry. Dara, on the other hand, is back in the Philippines taking care of hosting duties on Pinoy Boyband Superstar. It is on that Filipino music competition show that Dara treated her fans with something special: a live performance of the song “Kiss.” It should be noted that Dara’s performance is the first time she’s performed since 2NE1 disbanded.
Sandara Park, better known as Dara, performed on the December 9 episode of Pinoy Boyband Superstar. According to Officially KMusic, it was the first part of the “Grand Reveal Finale.” It would be expected that some special surprises would happen and one of those surprises was Dara performing “Kiss.” Her performance stunned both the judges, the live crowd, and viewers all around the world. The source says it best describing Dara’s performance as both powerful and sexy. She pulled off some great moves, which included dance tricks with a chair and ended the performance raised high above the heads of six handsome Pinoy boys.
For those who are unfamiliar with “Kiss,” it was a solo song performed by Dara six years ago. It was used as part of her promotions for the Oriental Brewery’s Cass Beer series. It also featured fellow 2NE1 member CL as the rapper. As for the music video itself, it featured two of the most popular K-drama actors in the industry today, Lee Min Ho and Kim Woo Bin. The former is currently featured in the extremely popular The Legend of the Blue Sea opposite Jun Ji Hyun, while the latter was featured in Uncontrollably Fond, opposite Suzy of Miss A.
It is great to see Dara perform again given the fact the last time she technically had a stage performance was back in 2015 during the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA), when she reunited with the other three members of 2NE1 for a stage return K-pop fans would never forget. More importantly, Dara performing might just be one of her ways to cope with the pain of 2NE1 disbanding. From what Dara’s official social media accounts show, she probably suffered the most in the wake of 2NE1 disbanding, despite the fact she was able to re-sign with YG Entertainment. Keeping up with her solo endeavors and supporting her younger brother, Thunder, a K-pop idol formerly of MBLAQ, who is now a soloist, may be her means to move forward.
K-pop fans, especially Blackjacks, can watch Dara judge contestants on Pinoy Boyband Superstar on ABS-CBN. For those who do not have access to Filipino channels, the music competition show can be viewed on TFC.tv for free with a week-long free trial. Afterwards, viewers must have a subscription to view full shows.
[Featured Image by Alto Broadcasting System-Chronicle Broadcasting Network (ABS-CBN)]
