Song Review: Minzy (2NE1) – Calling

I’m not sure current K-pop acts even know how much they owe to 2NE1’s influence. For girl groups especially, 2NE1 practically invented many of the tropes so popular today. They also did a more compelling job deploying them, but that’s beside the point. This is all to say, it’s always nice hearing from one of these founding mothers again.

I would love nothing more than a dynamite performer like Minzy returning to show everyone how it’s done. Unfortunately, her solo work has left much to be desired and new single Calling is firmly within ballad territory. 2NE1 have some excellent ballads to their name, so slower tempos don’t necessarily mean we should be checking out, but Calling has a generic, “play it over an Ozempic commercial” sheen that doesn’t really work for Minzy. Its faux-gospel bombast has the potential to be interesting, but feels more like an affectation than a true baring of the soul. I appreciate the theatricality. I just don’t know if this particular version of it is for me.

Grade: C