New Evolution Global Tour was the first world tour and second concert tour overall by South Korean girl group2NE1. It saw shows in 11 cities across 7 countries in Asia and North America spanning from July to December 2012. The tour marked the first world tour by a Korean girl group, while its show at the Prudential Center in Newark marked the first time a Korean artist held a solo arena concert in the United States.
The tour received positive reviews from music critics, who praised the production, the group's energy, and performance. It attracted approximately 180,000 attendees in total. YG Entertainment released a live album DVD of the Seoul concerts in December 2012, followed by a Japanese version of the Yokohama concerts in March 2013.
Background
The New Evolution Global Tour was officially announced on June 13, 2012 through the YG Family website.[1] Marking the first world tour by a Korean girl group, the announcement revealed that the group would hold concerts throughout Asia, North America and Europe.[2]
The tour kicked off at the Olympics Gymnastics Stadium in Seoul on July 28 and 29, following the group's "I Love You" promotions.[3] The tour was originally set to conclude on December 8 in Kuala Lumpur, however the concert was cancelled due to unresolved technical issues and ended instead on December 1 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Production
Three-time winner of the MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography, Travis Payne, served as the main director for production and choreography, along with Divinity Roxx (who previously worked on Beyonce's world tour) and Michael Cotten (who worked on production design for the Olympic Games). Beatrice Chia-Richmond served as the creative director and concert organizer.[4]
2NE1 performing in Singapore
The stages were transformed into a theme park, a club, a sporting arena, and a fantasy world which incorporated use of giant inflatable props, conveyor belts, and a video wall—where it simulated a rollercoaster ride during CL and Minzy's performance of "Please Don't Go".[5][6] The tour costumes were designed by long-time fashion collaborator Jeremy Scott.
Reception
The tour received positive reviews from music critics. Jon Caramanica of The New York Times ranked the concert at the Prudential Center in New Jersey number two in their list of the best concerts of the year, deeming 2012 "the year K-pop arrived" in the form of arena shows into the United States.[7] Reviewing the same concert, Jeff Benjamin of Billboard remarked that "This important show is the latest in a series of happenings that have allowed 2NE1 to emerge as one of the leaders (if not the leader) of the K-pop movement in America."[1]
Writing for The Korea Times, Kwaak Je-yup praised the group's vocals, energy, and choreography, and commented that the production of the concert was "consistently excellent".[8] SSTV stated that tour were some of the best concerts among any girl group,[9] while Newsis commented the tour was reminiscent of a summer rock festival and "the performance was more complete than anything else".[10]My Daily wrote that the tour "raised the quality of domestic concerts to a new level".[11]
2012 2NE1 Global Tour: New Evolution (Live in Seoul) is the second live album of South Korean girl group2NE1. The album was released on December 4, 2012, by YG Entertainment. The live album sold 10,613 copies in South Korea, while in Japan, it sold 6,000 copies.[21]
The album was recorded during the group's first world tour New Evolution during their Seoul dates on July 28 and 29 at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena.[22]
^Lee Jae-hoon (July 30, 2012). "[초점]2NE1 콘서트, 록페스티벌 방불케하다" [[Focus] 2NE1 Concert, Reminiscent of a Rock Festival]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved December 4, 2020 – via Naver.
^Choi, Ji-ye (July 30, 2012). "2NE1 월드투어, 국내 콘서트의 가능성을 끌어 올리다" [2NE1 World Tour Raises the Level of Domestic Concerts]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved December 15, 2024 – via Naver.
^"월드스타 2NE1, 2만 블랙잭과 함께한 광란의 2시간(종합)" [World Star 2NE1, 2 hours of madness with 20,000 Blackjacks (Total)]. TV Report (in Korean). July 29, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2020 – via Naver.
^"투애니원, 첫 월드투어로 20만 관객 동원" [2NE1's first world tour expected to mobilize 200,000 spectators]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Naver. October 19, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
^"2NE1 首次登台魅力無法擋" [2NE1's debut charm is irresistible]. Kpopn (in Chinese (Taiwan)). November 17, 2012. Archived from the original on November 21, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
^"2NE1動感攻蛋 吸金2890萬 － 4人輪流個人秀 勁歌熱舞high翻8500名粉絲 - 自由娛樂" [2NE1 earned 28.9 million in revenue--the four of them took turns singing and dancing in solo shows and attracted 8,500 fans]. Liberty Times Net (in Chinese (Taiwan)). November 17, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
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