I was super skeptical about YG Family stating that each 2ne1 member was fluent in English on their website. Sandara Park whose lived the bulk of her life in the Philippines, was an exception of course. A clip of the girls singing a live in-studio performance of Rihanna’s “Umbrella” for a radio show surfaced this week.

Prior to pressing play, I was super nervous for them. Simply because of the word “umbrella” itself. I’ve done time working with Korean ESL students to know that umbrella is SO HARD to pronounce! It’s almost a deal breaker for Korean ESL students — there’s just no way around it! Unless you don’t mind living out the rest of your English-speaking days saying, “Damn, it’s raining. Don’t wanna get soaked so I’ll use that stick that opens like a canopy above my head to defend me from the pouring rain by keeping me dry.” Or something to that effect. Watching this clip however, proves that YG doesn’t lie. These girls are indeed fluent, or pretty close to fluent in English. Oh, and talented:

2ne1 - “Umbrella” (Rihanna cover):