Review

Random Shuffle Review: 2NE1 – Do You Love Me

Posted on by 21 Comments

With over 3,000 songs on my iPhone’s “K-Pop Singles” playlist, I thought it would be fun to add a bit of unpredictability to my song review posts. So as a result, we have the “Random Shuffle Review” feature.

The rules are simple. I fire up my playlist, press “shuffle,” and whatever song plays first gets the full Bias List treatment!

Year Released: 2013

2NE1’s Do You Love Me arrived as the centerpiece of a three-single run in the summer of 2013. Following on the heels of the reggae-tinged Falling In Love, the track takes a much more mainstream pop approach. This song could easily have been released by a mainstream Western artist, and is very much in keeping with the jagged electro textures of its era. Given the musical touchstones it draws from, Do You Love Me should really be my favorite 2013 2NE1 release. Strangely, though, I prefer both of its peers for their more unique pop takes.

That’s not to diminish Do You Love Me. This is still a charming, sturdy dance track, hinging on a titular refrain whose melody guides the backbone to much of the instrumental. Many of the hooks here actually remind me of the more melodic pieces of 2NE1’s iconic hit I Am The Best, which made the track feel just a bit reductive upon its release. Looking back seven years later, there’s a refreshing comfort to the song.

At this point, we’ve heard so many Teddy-produced tracks. We know all his tricks. Do You Love Me’s final, climactic refrain is emblematic of his chant-heavy approach, but it doesn’t feel lifted from an entirely different song. It helps that the melody is instantly memorable and repetitive to the point of almost becoming hypnotic. And when it comes down to it, Do You Love Me was never intended to be some genre-transforming masterwork. It’s designed as a fun summer track and works well in that context.

 Hooks 9
 Production 8
 Longevity 9
 Bias 8
 RATING 8.5

21 thoughts on “Random Shuffle Review: 2NE1 – Do You Love Me”

  1. I’ve never really liked 2NE1’s 2013 3 single run………………….. Comparatively it’s been pretty weak to their much better work but Missing You adds some meat to chew on , in an otherwise average single run from a Group which goes beyond great

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        • I hope They are not following their 2018-2019 schedule , where they abudantly released songs during 2018 but in 2019 only released one comeback at the tail end!

          Because right now It’s looking like that:
          Jan 2018 -It’s U
          Jan 2020 – Without You

          July 2018- Let Me
          June 2020 – One (Lucid Dream)

          October 2018 – Genie
          October 2020 – New comeback

          November 2019 – Wannabe
          November 2021 – Long hiatus comeback

          I hope Golden Child will be consistent this year like how they were consistent in 2018 and 2020!

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  2. I actually do not remember listening to this, maybe because I was not a fan of 2ne1 but is actually quite good.

    Summer in modern K-Pop seems to be associated with ‘Mellow’, I am missing the days where we could have a Rock/Electronic summer track, or at least something, I dunno, ‘Summer-y’?

    Imagine if Blackpink released this instead of Ice Cream, boy we all would love it.

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  3. I’ve been having a 2012/2013 era kpop throwback all day, this review is perfectly timed haha! As always you put into words how a song makes me feel. “a refreshing comfort” is spot on. I really, really like that chant at the end. Blackpink has done similar chants but somehow this one feels much better to me.

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  7. I have been listening to 2ne1 music each time I would like to escape the current kpop music genre and performances. I feel that 2ne1 has always got the right vibe on their music and stage presences

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