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I Don't Care (2NE1 song)

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"I Don't Care"
Reggae Mix Version cover
Single by 2NE1
from the EP 2NE1
ReleasedJuly 1, 2009
Recorded2009
Genre
Length3:59
LabelYG
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Teddy Park
  • Kush
2NE1 singles chronology
"Fire"
(2009) 		"I Don't Care"
(2009) 		"Clap Your Hands"
(2010)
Music video
"I Don't Care" on YouTube

"I Don't Care" is a song by South Korean girl group 2NE1 from their eponymous debut extended play, 2NE1 (2009). Written and produced by Teddy Park and Kush, the song was released as the EP's second lead single on July 1, 2009, by YG Entertainment. The track has been characterized as a mid-tempo dance-pop track that incorporates elements of R&B and reggae, and was noted for marking a stylistic shift in the group's mainly previous hip-hop image. Lyrically, the song revolves around the theme of independence after a break up.

"I Don’t Care" was a commercial success following its release, becoming the best-selling single of 2009 on various South Korean networks. It won Song of the Year at the MAMA Awards and Cyworld Digital Music Awards for 2009 and was named one of the most loved songs in the history of Bugs! in 2020. The accompanying music video for the single was directed by Cha Eun-taek and was filmed over the course of two days in late June. It features the members visiting a fortune teller who then freezes time in order to play sabotage on their cheating boyfriends.

To promote the single, 2NE1 appeared on various music programs in South Korea throughout the months of July and August 2009. Two remix versions of the song were recorded and released to digital outlets: a reggae mix and a remix by Son Baek-young. A Japanese version of the track was later added to the group's debut Japanese studio-album, titled Collection (2012).

Background and release

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On June 25, 2009, YG Entertainment announced that a new single, titled "I Don't Care", would be released on July 1, with the group's debut mini-album set to be released soon thereafter on July 8.[1] The single follows the first lead single "Fire", which was released in May and was met with positive critical and commercial reception.[2] The song marked a change in the group's image, as "Fire" showcased a stronger and edgier feel; in contrast, YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun-suk stated that "I Don't Care" would enable the group to display a softer and more feminine image. In an interview, member CL stated that the song was "a warning message for the men and advice for the women". "I Don't Care" was then officially released for digital download and streaming on July 1, 2009, as the second single off of the mini-album.

Two remixes of "I Don't Care" were also recorded and made available for digital download, an unplugged reggae version mix that was released on September 3, 2009, and a remix by former 1TYM rapper Song Baek-kyoung which was released on September 28. The reggae mix was a more laid-back and reggae-tinged version of the song. It was arranged by Sunwoo Jung-ah, who also arranged and composed 2NE1's later single It Hurts (Slow), and features instruments such as wah wah guitars, horns, and timbales. The reggae mix was later added to the group's debut studio album To Anyone (2010). A Japanese-language version of the track was additionally recorded and included as part of the group's first Japanese studio album titled Collection, which was released by YGEX on March 28, 2012.[3]

On December 21, 2020, more than 11 years after its release, the song trended in the Philippines following a domestic incident that occurred a day earlier.[4]

Music and lyrics

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"I Don't Care" (Original Version)
A 21-second sample of 2NE1's "I Don't Care, which highlighted the group's shift into a more feminine image."
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The release of "I Don't Care" marked a switch in image for the group, in comparison to 2NE1's debut single "Fire" earlier in the year, which carried a bold and fierce concept. According to YG Entertainment, "I Don't Care" was intended to possess a concept that focused on enhancing femininity rather than intensity, simultaneously allowing for a more "public friendly" image.[5]

Musically, the song has been characterized as a medium-tempo pop track, containing a somewhat softer melody as compared to the group's debut single, in addition to incorporating influences of R&B and reggae.[6] Written in the key signature of C♯ major, the song contains a tempo of 132 beats per minute.[7] The integration of reggae was made due to the perception that South Korea had previously been a wasteland for the reggae music market, since reggae is strongly associated with summer music around the world. It was reported that through "Fire", it showed that reggae could work well in Korea, and "I Don't Care" aimed to further advance reggae-like styles into the country's mainstream music scene.[8] Lyrically, the songwriting revolves around the themes of independence and confidence. It depicts the emotions of someone feeling the sense of renewal after initializing a break up with their troubled lover.[5]

Commercial performance

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2NE1 at 36th & 37th Cyworld Digital Music Awards

"I Don't Care" was a commercial success, topping the daily charts in South Korea short after its release. It was ranked as the most downloaded track in the second week of July, and was subsequently named the month's best-selling single.[9][10] Additionally, "I Don't Care" achieved first place on various South Korean music programs, including KBS's Music Bank, Mnet's M! Countdown, and SBS's Inkigayo. The group achieved their first triple crown (or three total wins) with the song on Inkigayo, and further led the Music Bank and M Countdown chart for multiple weeks.[11]

"I Don't Care" was named by Bugs! as the best-selling single of 2009, leading its year-end chart with four of the group's other songs in the top 100, making 2NE1 the act with the most top 100 songs during the course of 2009.[12] It was also 2009's best-selling single on Mnet and Monkey3[13] and was ranked the most popular song of the year by Cyworld, thus becoming the third consecutive track by a YG group to be named so by the network, with the previous two songs being "Lies" (2007) and "Haru Haru" (2008) by labelmate Big Bang.[14]

Accolades

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"I Don't Care" won 12 first place trophies on domestic music programs, including triple crowns on M Countdown and Inkigayo. It won the Song of the Year prize at both the 2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards and Cyworld Digital Music Awards, making 2NE1 the first group to win a daesang (grand prize) in the same year of debut.

Awards and nominations for "I Don't Care"
Organization Year Award Result Ref.
Bugs Music Awards 2020 20th Anniversary – Most Loved Music Won [15]
Cyworld Digital Music Awards 2009 Song of the Year Won [16]
Song of the Month – July Won [17]
Bonsang Award (Top 10) Won [18]
Best Rookie Group Won
GQ Awards This Year's Song Won [19]
Korean Music Awards 2010 Best R&B & Soul Song Nominated [20]
Melon Music Awards 2009 Song of the Year Nominated [21]
Mnet 20's Choice Awards 2009 Hot Girl Group Style Nominated
Mnet Asian Music Awards 2009 Song of the Year Won [22]
Best New Female Artist Won
Best Composition[a] Won
Best Dance Performance Nominated [23]
Rhythmer Awards 2010 R&B Song of the Year Nominated [24]
Music program awards
Program Date Ref.
Music Bank July 17, 2009 [25]
July 24, 2009
July 31, 2009
August 7, 2009
August 14, 2009
M Countdown July 23, 2009 [26]
August 6, 2009 [27]
August 13, 2009
August 27, 2009
Inkigayo July 26, 2009 [28]
August 2, 2009 [29]
August 9, 2009 [30]

Music video and promotion

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The music video for "I Don't Care" premiered on Melon on July 9, 2009, and was uploaded to YG Entertainment's official YouTube channel on August 27. It was later re-uploaded to the group's official channel on September 5, 2010. The video was directed by Cha Eun-taek, who had previously directed the video for labelmate Big Bang's "Lies", and was filmed over the course of two days on June 22 and 23, 2009.[6] It features the members going to a fortune teller for advice after finding out about their cheating boyfriends over the phone. The fortune teller then freezes time and the members set off to find their boyfriends, who are seen flirting with other girls. They then set them up in unfavorable positions and play sabotage on them for fun. Actor Lee Jong-suk plays Dara's boyfriend in the music video.[31]

Promotions for the single featured 2NE1 appearing on various music programs in South Korea throughout the months of July and August. The group debuted the song live on KBS2's Music Bank on July 10. The performance was met with positive reception among netizens, who complimented the youthful choreography matching the soft reggae melody, and further praised 2NE1 for their ability in showcasing a "different charm".[32] The song went on to achieve the first-place position for multiple weeks on Music Bank, M! Countdown, and Inkigayo. It led the Music Bank chart for 5 consecutive weeks, becoming only one of the handful songs to do so.[11] An unplugged "reggae" version of the song was performed on Inkigayo on August 30, signaling the end of regular promotions for the song. However, due to the remix's popularity, it was further released to digital outlets on September 3.[33]

Track listing

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  • Digital download
  1. "I Don't Care" – 3:59
  • I Don't Care – Reggae Mix
  1. "I Don't Care" (Reggae Mix Version) – 3:52
  • I Don't Care (Baek Kyoung Remix)
  1. "I Don't Care" (Baek Kyoung Remix) – 4:14

Charts

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"I Don't Care" (Reggae Mix)
Chart (2010) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon)[34] 92
"I Don't Care" (Original)
Chart (2024) Peak
position
South Korea (Circle)[35] 112

Notes

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  1. ^ Teddy Park was credited as nominee, along with "Fire"

References

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  1. ^ "2NE1, 7월1일 첫 미니앨범 타이틀곡 선공개" [2NE1, first mini-album title song pre-release on July 1st]. Joynews24 (in Korean). June 25, 2009. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  2. ^ (in English) 2NE1 Comes Out on Top at Music Bank . The Korea Times. July 18, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2009.
  3. ^ "Collection by 2NE1". Apple Music. March 28, 2012. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  4. ^ (in English) '2NE1' trends on Twitter after policeman shoots unarmed mother and son in Tarlac Archived December 21, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. GMA News Online. December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "2NE1 아이돈케어 '힙합전사에서 귀여운 여인 깜짝 변신'" [2NE1 transforms from hip-hop warriors into cute women]. Newsen (in Korean). July 1, 2009. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Kim, Hyung-woo (June 25, 2009). "2NE1 7월1일 레게풍 신곡발표 열풍 잇는다 '트리플히트 성공하나'" [2NE1 July 1st Reggae-style New Song Announcement Fever Continues 'Triple Hit Success']. Newsen. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  7. ^ "Key, BPM of I Don't Care By 2NE1". Musicstax. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  8. ^ "2NE1, '신비 버리고 친화 전략' 1일 미니앨범 발표". Asian Economy (in Korean). July 1, 2009. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "2NE1 '아이 돈 케어' 음원차트 첫 1위" [2NE1 'I Don’t Care' ranked first place on the music chart]. Edaily (in Korean). July 14, 2009.
  10. ^ Hyun Ji-hyang (August 22, 2009). "Golden days for girl groups". The Korea Herald. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  11. ^ a b Kim, Hyeong-wu (August 14, 2009). "2NE1 5주 연속 뮤뱅 1위 대박 기염 '최고신인, 가요계 석" [2NE1 Tops Music Bank Chart for 5 Weeks Total, Best New Group]. JoongAng Ilbo. Archived from the original on September 13, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2009.
  12. ^ Kim, Yoon-hee (November 18, 2009). "음악포털 벅스, '2009 벅스 뮤직 어워드' 진행" [Bugs, a music portal, hosts the '2009 Bugs Music Awards']. JoongAng News (in Korean). Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  13. ^ "2NE1 '아이 돈트 케어' 올해 최다 다운로드 음원" [2NE1's 'I Don't Care' is the most downloaded song of the year] (in Korean). Naver. December 30, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  14. ^ "2NE1, '아이 돈 케어' 연간 최고 인기곡..YG 3년 연속 1위" [2NE1, 'I Don't Care' ranked as the most popular song of the year..YG No. 1 for 3 consecutive years]. Asia Economy (in Korean). January 8, 2010.
  15. ^ "20주년 어워즈 – 가장 사랑받은 음악 20" [20th Anniversary Awards – 20 Most Loved Music]. Bugs! (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  16. ^ Biong, Ian (October 16, 2020). "Watch: Sandara Park releases 'I Don't Care' cover with Park Bom for reaching 1M subs on YouTube". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  17. ^ 지난 시상식, Page 5. Cyworld (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  18. ^ [SS포토] 2NE1 "큰상 주셔서 감사합니다" [[SS Photo] 2NE1 'Thank you for the big prize']. News Inside (in Korean). March 1, 2010. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021.
  19. ^ "2009 GQ Awards". GQ Korea (in Korean). November 2009.
  20. ^ 윤상과 이소라, 소녀시대... 과연 승자는? [Yoon Sang and Lee So Ra, Girls' Generation... Who will win?]. OhmyNews (in Korean). March 15, 2010 – via Naver.
  21. ^ "소녀시대'Gee' MMA 대상 올해의 노래상 수상 '6관왕' 기염" [Girls' Generation's 'Gee' won the Song of the Year award at the MMA Awards 'six crowns']. Newsen. December 16, 2009. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  22. ^ "2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards Winners | 2009 MAMA". Mwave. Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  23. ^ P1 2009 MAMA Asian Music Awards in MACAO. April 28, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2021 – via YouTube.
  24. ^ "2009 Rhythmer Award Winners". Rhythmer (in Korean). March 12, 2010. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  25. ^ 2NE1, KBS '뮤직뱅크' 5주 연속 1위 달성 [2NE1 ranked 1st on KBS 'Music Bank' for 5 consecutive weeks]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021 – via Naver.
  26. ^ 2NE1 '아이 돈트 케어', 2주 연속 '뮤직뱅크' 1위 [2NE 1'I Don't Care', ranked 1st on 'Music Bank' for 2 consecutive weeks]. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  27. ^ "2NE1 - YG Entertainment". YG Family. Music program wins are listed under "TV performances" on the right hand side. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  28. ^ 2NE1, '인기가요'서 첫 뮤티즌송 수상…'2NE1 천하' [2NE1 won the Mutizen Song on 'Inkigayo'... '2NE1's World']. Asia Economic Daily (in Korean). July 26, 2009.
  29. ^ '뮤티즌송' 2NE1, '아이돈케어' 인기 '거침없이' 이어져 [2NE1 wins 'Mutizen Song' for 'I Don't Care', popular 'without hesitation']. News Inside (in Korean). August 3, 2009.
  30. ^ 2NE1 '아이 돈 케어', '인기가요' 3주연속 1위 [2NE1 'I Don't Care', ranked 1st on 'Inkigayo' for 3 weeks in a row]. Star News (in Korean). August 9, 2009.
  31. ^ "이종석 과거, 2NE1 뮤직비디오 출연 '독특한 헤어스타일 눈길!'" [In the past, Lee Jong-seok appeared in 2NE1's music video 'with a eye-catching unique hairstyle!']. MTN News (in Korean). January 15, 2013. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  32. ^ "2NE1, 신곡 '뮤직뱅크' 첫 선, 네티즌 "색다른 매력"" [2NE1, the first debut of the new song on 'Music Bank', netizens praise "Unique Charm"]. Star News (in Korean). July 10, 2009. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  33. ^ Hong, Jeong-won (September 1, 2009). "2NE1's "I Don't Care" Reggae Remix Received Hotly, To Be Released Digitally on the 3rd". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 13, 2009 – via Newsen.
  34. ^ "2010년 38주차 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). September 11, 2010. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  35. ^ "2024 Week 44 Digital Chart". Circle Chart (in Korean). November 2, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
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