2Yoon

2Yoon
OriginSeoul, South Korea
GenresK-pop
Years active2013
LabelsCube
Spinoff of4Minute
Past members
Website4min.co.kr

2Yoon (Korean: 투윤, commonly stylized in all caps) was the first and only sub-group of South Korean girl group 4Minute, formed by Cube Entertainment in 2013. The sub-group consisted of Gayoon and Jiyoon.[1]

History

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Gayoon and Jiyoon were the lead singers of 4Minute.[2] Cube Entertainment CEO Hong Seung Sung wanted to pair them in a sub-group after watching the duo perform live at the 2011 United Cube in London.[1]

The duo were known to fans collectively as Ssangyoon[3] (쌍윤) (a portmanteau of the Hangul word for "twins" and the last characters of their given name "yoon").[4] However, as the pronunciation of "Ssangyoon" involves a tensed consonant, it was deemed to be ill-fitting for the group's cute image. As such, the sub-unit was renamed as 2Yoon.[5] In addition, "ssangyoon" could be potentially misheard as a profanity,[6] further supporting the basis for the name change.

2Yoon appeared on MBC's Weekly Idol as Ssangyoon, since the show was recorded before the official name change.[7]

Career

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On January 7, 2013, Cube Entertainment announced that the 2Yoon debut album, Harvest Moon, was slated for a mid-January release, with "24/7" confirmed as the title track.[8] On January 22, 2013, 2YOON released its album and accompanying music video for "24/7."[9] 2Yoon made its television debut on M! Countdown on January 18, 2013.[10]

2Yoon's members revealed through an interview that they felt motivated and encouraged by Girls' Generation members after a listening session. Gayoon, through another interview, also revealed she lost weight rehearsing to the song's choreography. Due to their innovative efforts, Time Magazine showed interest in 2Yoon's music and observed Korea's potential in the world's music scene.[11] 2Yoon became the first Korean girl group to be interviewed by Time.[11] In the interview with TIME, the members cited that they listened to artists like Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift, and that they were used as inspiration to the recording sessions.[12]

24/7

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Marc Hogan of Spin called 2Yoon's "24/7" music video "as giddily irresistible as you'd hope", commending the pair for incorporating elements of country music without losing the "characteristically hyper-melodic, electronica"-ness of K-pop.[13] Lily Rothman of Time lauded 2Yoon for attempting the "unlikely union" of country music and K-pop, showing the symbiotic influence that both American-music and K-pop exert on each other.[14] Park Hyun-min of Mnet praised the "light and joyous" execution of the lead single.[15]

"24/7" received polarized reviews, some praising its innovative attempt into bringing country music to Korean pop, while others criticized such aspects as its melody, lyrics, rap style and technique, claiming the song as an experimental failure.[16][17][18]

Artistry

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2Yoon has been praised by both foreign and domestic music magazines for being the first K-Pop act to release a country-inspired track.[19][14][13][15]

2Yoon became the first sub-unit of a Korean music group to be promoted in Thailand,[20] performing and giving interviews.[21]

Discography

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See also: 4Minute discography

Extended play

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[22]
Harvest Moon 7

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
[25] 		KOR Hot
[26]
"24/7" 2013 8 13 Harvest Moon

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b Lee, Eun-jung (December 26, 2012). 포미닛 가윤·지윤, '쌍윤' 결성..1월 신보. Yonhap News (in Korean). Retrieved February 25, 2013., translated to English at "Ssangyoon Sub-Unit to Debut in January". 4-minutes Forum. December 24, 2012. Archived from the original on January 10, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  2. ^ "4Minute JAPAN OFFICIAL SITE". 4minute-japan.com. December 4, 1999. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  3. ^ Eom, Dong-jin (February 4, 2013). "컨트리팝' 선보인 투윤 "쌍윤은 욕 같아서…" 컨트리팝' 선보인 투윤 "쌍윤은 욕 같아서…. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013. - translated into English at "2YOON Talks Dreams, Expectations, Foreign Attention and Online Comments". 4-minutes Forum. January 10, 2013. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  4. ^ "투윤 원래 이름, "'X윤'이었지만… 된소리 발음때문에 포기!"". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). February 18, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  5. ^ "투윤 "원래 이름은 쌍윤이었다"" 투윤 "원래 이름은 쌍윤이었다". Kookmin Ilbo (in Korean). February 18, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  6. ^ The Star (February 18, 2013). "투윤 원래 이름, 삼촌 팬 도망갈 이름 '쌍윤?'" 투윤 원래 이름, 삼촌 팬 도망갈 이름 '쌍윤?'. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 14, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  7. ^ Hosted by Jung Hyung-don, Defconn (January 13, 2013). "Guest: 2YOON". Weekly Idol. MBC.
  8. ^ Kim, Young-jin (January 10, 2013). "종합 포미닛 첫 유닛 '투윤' 타이틀곡 '24/7' 확정" 종합 포미닛 첫 유닛 `투윤` 타이틀곡 `24/7` 확정. Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2013. - translated into English at "4Minute's First Unit Group, 2YOON's Title Track Confirmed". 4-minutes Forum. January 10, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  9. ^ "2Yoon - '24/7' (Official Music Video)". YouTube. January 16, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  10. ^ Choi, Joon-yong (January 17, 2013). 허가윤·전지윤 뭉친 투윤, 오늘(17일) '24/7' 첫 무대. The Asian Economy Daily (in Korean). Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  11. ^ a b Cha, Hanna (February 16, 2013). "2Yoon is the first girl group to be interviewed by Time". Korea.com Communications Co. Korea.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  12. ^ Rothman, Lily (February 15, 2013). "Trend Alert: K-Pop Meets Country Music (and New Jersey)". Time Entertainment. TIME. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
  13. ^ a b Hogan, Marc (January 17, 2013). "K-Pop Goes Kountry in 2YOON's Marvelously Faux '24/7' Video". spin.com. Spin. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  14. ^ a b Rothman, Lily (February 15, 2013). "Trend Alert: K-Pop Meets Country Music (and New Jersey)". Time. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  15. ^ a b Park, Hyun-min (February 10, 2013). "Why 2Yoon's Attempts are Worthy of Applause". enewsworld.mnet.com. Mnet Media. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  16. ^ Hogan, Marc (January 17, 2013). "K-Pop Goes Kountry in 2YOON's Marvelously Faux '24/7' Video". Spin Magazine. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  17. ^ Chong, Joelle (February 4, 2013). "2Yoon – Harvest Moon". Xin Entertainment. MSN. Archived from the original on February 7, 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  18. ^ Kim, Jin K. (February 13, 2013). "2YOON Interview: Quiet Jun Ji Yoon vs Daring Heo Ga Yoon". Korea Star Daily. Yahoo! Entertainment Malasya. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  19. ^ Peterson, Jacques (January 10, 2013). "4minute's 2Yoon to Bring Country Music to K-pop With 'Harvest Moon' Mini-Album". popdust.com. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  20. ^ Park, Hyun-min (March 25, 2013). "4minute Unit 2Yoon Returns to Korea after Successful Promotions in Thailand". enewsworld.mnet.com. Mnet Media. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  21. ^ "ทูยุน (2YOON) ยูนิต 4minute บุกไทย โปรโมทซิงเกิ้ลแรก 24/7 ในงาน 2YOON in Thailand". Pingbook Entertainment (in Thai). December 26, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2013., translated to English at "2YOON's Thailand Presscon: Immense love for Thailand, closest with BTOB, Jiyoon's international top secret!". 4-minutes Forum. March 22, 2013. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  22. ^ 2013년 04주차 Album Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  23. ^ "Harvest Moon-EP". itunes.apple.com. January 22, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  24. ^ "2013년 01월 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  25. ^ 2013년 05주차 Digital Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  26. ^ "Korea K-Pop Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  27. ^ "2013년 Download Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
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