Step 2/4

Step 2/4 (stylized as step 2/4) is the debut solo extended play (EP) by South Korean singer and actress, Gain, a member from girl group Brown Eyed Girls. With the help of executive producer Jo Yeong-cheol and Lee Min-soo, the album was created with a sexy, spirited, striking and mature theme. It was released on October 8, 2010 and distributed by both Nega Network and LOEN Entertainment. The EP features six tracks in total.

Step 2/4
EP by
Gain
ReleasedOctober 8, 2010
Recorded2010
Genre
Length20:55
LanguageKorean
Label
ProducerJo Yeong-cheol
Gain EP chronology
Step 2/4
(2010)		 Talk About S
(2012)
Singles from Step 2/4
  1. "Irreversible"
    Released: October 8, 2010
  2. "Bad Temper"
    Released: December 21, 2010
Music video
"Irreversible" on YouTube
"Irreversible (Dance ver.)" on YouTube

Upon its release, the album quickly became a success, debuting at number two on the Gaon Weekly Albums Chart. It went on to sell approximately 9,700 copies, only after her sophomore release Talk About S (2012). It also received critical acclaim from music critics, praising its strong tango influence and the "distinctive persona", with some called it "one of those unexpected masterpieces that come around only once every often."[1][2]

Two singles were released from the EP, with the lead single, "Irreversible", became her first massive solo hit. An unreleased track from the album, "Bad Temper", was released as a digital single on December 21, 2010 to modest success.

Background and composition

In 2010, it was announced that the members of girl group Brown Eyed Girls would start their own solo careers, beside their group activities. Following this announcement, Gain was revealed to be the second member to pursue a solo career after Narsha's solo debut.[3]

The album was produced executively by Jo Young-cheol, whom would later go on to be the executive producer of her materials, along with collaborators like lyricist Kim Eana and producer Lee Min-soo. The album also featured productions from Ra.D and Saint Binary, whom had previously remixed for Brown Eyed Girls' previous hit "Hold the Line". Musically, the album is a K-pop record blended with tango music and dance-pop while focusing on topics such as love, seduction and personal stories.

Singles

"Irreversible"

"Irreversible" (Korean: 돌이킬 수 없는; RR: Dorikil Su Eopneun) is the album's lead track, written by Kim Eana with producer Yoon Sang and Lee Min-soo, whom have been working with Brown Eyed Girls for a long time. A dance-pop song combines with tango, it tells the story of a girl trying to keep the relationship with her lover though he is abandoning her. Prior to the release of "Irreversible", two teaser videos were released online.[4][5] The 10-minute-long music video was premiered on October 8, 2010, followed by a choreography-centered version two days later.[6][7] The song became her first (and currently her only solo single as a lead artist) to top the Gaon Singles Chart.[8]

"Bad Temper"

Previously an unreleased track during the creation of the album, "Bad Temper" was released digitally, as a Christmas gift to her fans for their supports of her solo debut, on December 21, 2010, with a short video clip using the behind-the-scene cuts from her "Irreversible" music video. The song debuted and peaked at number eleven on the Gaon Singles Chart.[9] It received a R-19 rating due to the lyrics.

Release and promotion

Although originally intended to be released in August 2010,[3] the EP was pushed back to October of that year due to the singer's home group promoting their Japanese debut in August. Prior to the release of the album, two teaser videos for the lead single were revealed online on October 3 and 5, respectively.[4][5]

Gain made her solo debut stage on Music Bank (KBS) on October 8, 2010, the album's release date, followed by performances on Show! Music Core (MBC) and The Music Trend (SBS), performing the lead track while "Truth" (Korean: 진실; RR: Jinsil) was only seen being performed on Music Bank.[10] She then performed "Irreversible" again for SBS's Love Sharing Concert on November 14.[11]

Track listing
CD/Digital download[12]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Nitchell (Baby-G Mix)"Saint BinarySaint Binary2:10
2."Irreversible" (돌이킬 수 없는; Dorikil Su Eopneun)Kim EanaYoon Sang, Lee Min-soo3:48
3."Tango the Night"Bak Chang-hakHaihm3:56
4."Esperando"Ra.DGrace Eun, Ra.D4:01
5."The One Who Sings (歌人)" (가인, Gain)Kim EanaSaint Binary3:33
6."Truth" (진실, Jinsil)Kim EanaYoon Sang3:33
Total length:20:55
Digital download only[13]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Bad Temper"Kim EanaLee Min-soo3:30
Total length:4:24

Charts
Chart (2010) Peak
position		 Sales
South Korean Gaon Weekly Albums Chart[14] 2
South Korean Gaon Monthly Albums Chart[16] 12
South Korean Gaon Year-End Albums Chart —

Awards and nominations

Annual music awards
Year Award Category Recipient Result
2010 2nd MelOn Music Awards Hot Trend Song Award "Irreversible" Nominated
Music Video Award Won
12th Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Music Video Nominated
25th Golden Disk Awards Main Prize in Digital Releasing Nominated
Popularity Award Gain Nominated
20th Seoul Music Awards Bonsang (Main Prize) "Irreversible" Nominated
Popularity Award Gain Nominated

Music program awards
Song Program Date
"Irreversible" The Music Trend (SBS) October 31, 2010[17]

Release history
Region Date Format Label
South Korea October 8, 2010 CD+DVD, digital download LOEN Entertainment
Worldwide[12] Digital download

See also
  • List of number-one hits of 2010 (South Korea)

Footnotes
  1. Sales figures as of October 2010.[15]

References
  1. Samantha Her & Alona (November 20, 2012). "Kmusic Review: Ga In's 2nd Solo Mini Album "Talk About S"". Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  2. Jung Bae (October 14, 2012). "Quick Reviews: Navi, Glen Check, and Ga-in". Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  3. http://kpopnewsnsd.blogspot.com/2010/06/brown-eyed-girls-narsha-and-gain-to.html
  4. officialBEG (October 3, 2010). "Gain Solo 1st Teaser '돌이킬 수 없는" (YouTube).
  5. officialBEG (October 5, 2010). "Gain Solo 2nd Teaser '돌이킬 수 없는" (YouTube).
  6. officialBEG (October 8, 2010). "Gain Solo '돌이킬 수 없는 Irreversible' Full Ver" (YouTube).
  7. officialBEG (October 10, 2010). "Gain Solo '돌이킬 수 없는 Irreversible' Dance Ver" (YouTube).
  8. "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – The 42nd Week of 2010". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  9. "South Korean Gaon Chart: Overall singles – The 1st Week of 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCVYt-jLhTk
  11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KKILBVG460
  12. "iTunes - Music - Step 2/4 by Gain". iTunes Store. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  13. "iTunes - Music - Bad Temper by Gain". iTunes Store. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  14. "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – The 42nd Week of 2010". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  15. Sales reference for Step 2/4:
  16. "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – October 2010". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  17. "Which designer bag did Jo Kwon buy Ga-In?". Allkpop. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
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