Archive for the ‘BTS’ Category
K-Pop in 2021
When looking back at K-Pop in 2021, the news that was still in my head as it struck midnight was the announcement of Gugudan’s disbandment. The first season of “Produce 101” is likely what jump started my re-introduction to K-Pop and the girls from Jellyfish Entertainment—Kim Sejeong, Kang Mina, and Kim Nayoung—were front and center in my mind.
Throughout the year, there were even more disbandment announcements, along with groups not renewing with their respective labels, all of which made for some very depressing moments in 2021.
After “Produce 101: Season 1” wrapped, despite anticipating amazing stuff from the newly-formed I.O.I, I was immediately excited to hear Sejeong, Mina, and Nayoung would be debuting with Gugudan. The nine-member group launched with a VERY cutesy “Wonderland.” It was fine but it wasn’t until their next single—the massively underrated “A Girl Like Me”—and I was all-in.
The visuals; the concept, which looked at different aspects of their second album’s name: “Act. 2 Narcissus”; and the attitude of the song should’ve catapulted them higher. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, it wasn’t to be.
After “Chococo”, which was not one of my favorites, they came out with their fourth album, “Act. 4 Cait Sith,” and the single, “The Boots.” This was another opportunity for the girls to explode on the scene. Aside from the song being another banger, they also put out an acapella version where you could really hear their vocal talent.
By November 2018, Gugudan put out the latest version of the group (minus Hyeyeon) with “Not That Type”. Arguably, the most polished of their releases. Fast forward three years later and no new music, one could imagine a disbandment announcement was coming.
The other news that hit me hard was GOT7 announcing they would not be renewing with JYP Entertainment. As much as the guys insist they are still GOT7, it was still heartbreaking to know that (for now) they were going their separate ways.
Following the news of their departure from JYP, the guys did come together and put out the song, “Encore,” under Warner Music Korea. It literally brought me to tears as it felt like the end but, then again, it’s an “encore,” fans should expect another performance from the guys (hopefully).
The growth the guys have shown since their debut is incredible.
One can see how polished they’ve become over the years, progressing from a mostly hip-hop group to all-around entertainers. At this point, they are, clearly, ready to venture out on their own—and they haven’t disappointed. Jackson has been massively successful with his Team Wang label. In 2021, he dropped the poignant “Alone (一個人); along with “LMLY,” which was accompanied by one of his now-signature theatrical music videos.
Additionally, Bambam released the upbeat “riBBon;” Youngjae came out with “Vibin’” (however, I preferred one of the B-sides, “Tasty”); and Mark dropped “Last Breath” in November.
While IZ*ONE’s disbandment was already part of their contract, which was a shame since just about every song they put out was a hit (although Yujin and Wonyoung have bounced back pretty well with IVE), one disbandment I did not see coming was GFriend. While not the biggest fan, I hadn’t heard any indications that they were on their way out; especially when “Mago” is—without a doubt—my favorite GFriend song of all time and just missed last year’s Top 20.
In addition to GFriend, Lovelyz’ disbandment was also a surprise.
Two groups that I am very wary of are Mamamoo and Apink. Both groups had members opt out of renewing—Apink’s Naeun joined YG Entertainment’s acting division and Wheein of Mamamoo signed with Ravi’s label, The L1ve. While both have vowed to remain active, I’m skeptical about how long it lasts. Mamamoo in particular, since, amid the shake-up, they dropped the powerful single “Where Are We Now,” but with an album that was, essentially, a “Best Of.”
Moving away from the sad news of disbandment, there were also a number of rookie groups that shined in 2021. One of them was TRI.BE.
Starting with “Doom Doom Ta” in February, the song is a fantastic dance track and was a regular on the gym playlist.
This was followed by “Rub-A-Dum,” which had a similar vibe and just as addicting as their debut single; and it wouldn’t be until October that they released “Would You Run,” another fun one.
In the span of one year, TRI.BE has proven themselves to be great entertainers, just hoping they get the opportunity to grow even more in 2022.
Weeekly, who debuted in mid-2020, made waves this year with their song “After School”. They got off to a good start with “Tag Me (@Me)” and “Zig Zag” but their 2021 release is the most solid of the tracks they’ve put out so far.
(Spoiler alert: More rookies coming further down in the article)
Along with rookies, there were also much-awaited comebacks.
Rain released his first album in three years with “Pieces by Rain”, which include tracks with JYP; Chungha; and (my personal favorite) “Magnetic” with Jackson Wang—a pairing dreams are made of.
After five years, 2PM made their much-anticipated comeback with “Must,” which included the hot single, “Make It”
The comeback had me declaring: Normalize K-Pop idols in their thirties!
Finally, it’s been 10 years since Sung Sikyung put out an album but, in May of this year, he blessed the world with his velvety voice with the release of “Si OK” and the single “I Love U.”
2021 Top 25
With every year, the decision process becomes more and more detailed and, this year, the year-end list is once-again expanding. When this first started, it was just a Top 10, it then became a Top 20, and now it is a Top 25.
25. Jessi, “Cold Blooded”
Badass. Jessi completely embodies the term and this track exemplifies just how much of an impact and influence she has made on K-Pop, especially with the music video featuring some amazing choreography performed by the contestants of Mnet’s “Strong Woman Fighter.”
Jessi topped last year’s list with the iconic “Nunu Nana” and it looks like she is continuing to go strong.
24. Hyo, “Second (feat. Bibi)
After the ultra-catchy “Dessert,” Girls’ Generation member Hyoyeon (a.k.a. Hyo) dropped another fun dance track.
The song also came a dance challenge, which, once again, included her fellow Girls’ Generation members, various SM Entertainment artists, and none other than the SM CEO Lee Sooman.
After years put in as a member of one of the biggest K-Pop groups in history, she’s definitely proving her worth as a solo artist.
23. Ciipher, “I Like You”
The first boy group produced by Rain’s management company debuted this year with “I Like You” and it was a fun one. There’s definitely a youthful charm with the members and, looking at how their CEO has matured over the years, the future is bright for these guys.
Just like Kim Taehee at the end of the video, you’ll find yourself singing the chorus throughout the day.
22. Ravi, “Cardigan (feat. Wonstein)
The moment Ravi’s deep voice drops at the opening of the song, it hits immediately. The mid-tempo track, mixed with Ravi’s blend of both slow and quick-paced rapping, made this one of the smoothest tracks of the year.
Wonstein’s addition offers a welcome contrast to Ravi’s voice and the two harmonize well.
21. GOT7, “Encore”
As mentioned above, GOT7 not renewing with JYP Entertainment was a shock; especially after they put out so many amazing tracks last year—they occupied three spots on last year’s Top 20. However, they assured fans they were still together and, as the lyrics note, “We will sing for you / Encore.”
Regardless, it still brought me to tears.
20. Laboum, “Kiss Kiss”
Like Gugudan, Laboum is another grossly underrated group.
Since their debut in 2014, the once-six-member group has put out a number of great songs but none have ever really made a huge impact. However, they did see a revival of their 2016 song “Journey To Atlantis” climb the charts this year.
It’s been a couple years since their last major release (“Firework”) and the disbandment rumors popped up throughout their hiatus. Thankfully, they dropped “Kiss Kiss” in early November and it was classic Laboum.
In a way, they harken back to the earlier K-Pop girl groups. There’s a familiarity to the tune of their songs and the purity of their voices.
19. Parc Jaejung, “I Loved You”
Ever since watching him on “Superstar K,” I’ve been mesmerized by Parc Jaejung’s voice. Every note is so rich and felt to the bone. With one of the best voices in K-Pop, anything he puts out sounds amazing and “I Loved You” is no different.
18. BTS, “Butter”
Commercially, this was a biggest K-Pop song of 2021 and it finally earned the guys (the well-deserved) Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards.
Hopefully, they get their first Grammy with the solo nomination earned for the song; however, even an incredible track like “Dynamite,” (#2 on the 2020 list) and how deserving it was of trophies, it still didn’t earn them the big win.
Nonetheless, this song still rocked the world in 2021.
17. Jessi, “What Type of X”
After taking the top spot on the 2020 list, Jessi logged her second track on this year’s list with this beat-heavy track. Like “Second,” this also came with a dance challenge, including one with P-Nation CEO PSY.
The chorus hits so hard but it’s the only way Jessi knows how to roll.
Also, given each season of tvN’s “Sixth Sense” opened with the girls mimicking Jessi’s choreography, with the show picked up for a third season, looking forward to how that premiere kicks off.
16. IU, “Celebrity”
Just like Jessi, somebody else who had a pretty big year was IU. She put out multiple songs throughout 2021 and (as usual) they hung around the top of the charts for a while.
“Celebrity” is a fun track, which was composed and written by IU herself. For me, I’m used to her releasing soft, mellow music where her voice just lulls you in. While it’s a great track, not used to IU bringing a pretty addicting dance break.
15. Ravi, “Bum (feat. Chillin Homie and Kid Milli)
Any fan of “2 Days, 1 Night” had this song on repeat at the beginning of the year (the song dropped on February 8) with Ravi promoting it on the show and even getting the rest of the cast to do the dance.
The rapping in the video is pretty epic, Ravi and the featured performers are all so talented, but the real standouts of the song are the pansori singers who deliver some incredible notes throughout the chorus.
In the video, they can be seen in the background dressed in traditional and ornate hanbok.
Given the track’s longevity, this sat close to the top of the list during the first half of 2021.
14. IU, “Strawberry Moon”
There are songs that I describe as “leisurely walk down the street” music and this is absolutely one of them. It’s classic IU, where the song’s gentle tones and her soft voice draws listeners right in.
This one also goes on the “happy” list.
During one of my walks back from the gym (which is slower after a workout), this served as the perfect soundtrack and kept it on repeat while enjoying the sunshine and cool breeze.
13. Oh My Girl, “Dun Dun Dance”
After falling in love with “Dolphin” last year (#10 on the 2020 list), Oh My Girl has remained on my radar, especially with Arin hosting “Music Bank” up until the latter end of this year.
Just like “Dolphin,” this song was nothing but fun and cute. After naming “Dolphin” the “cutest song of the year,” Oh My Girl may have retained that title for the second year in a row.
12. WJSN, “Unnatural”
While still awaiting the full comeback with all 13 members (it’s been teased for years but has yet to happen), “Unnatural” is one of the fiercest songs to drop in 2021. In contrast to “Strawberry Moon,” this one makes you pick up the pace when walking, especially during the chorus.
The song is so dynamic with each of the girls shining on their own (which is difficult with so many members). Plus, Yeonjung’s vocals are always one of the standouts when listening to WJSN.
11. StayC, “ASAP”
StayC arrived on the scene last year with “So Bad,” which was a good debut. However, in 2021, “ASAP” dropped in early April; the girls come in with some fun choreography; and it was, essentially, a brand new debut.
While the song may not have shot to the top of the charts immediately, it did have staying power.
For myself, it got regular plays throughout the year and, after a couple months, it was soon floating around the Top 5.
They followed the song up with “Stereotype” later in the year, which was another solid release.
10. Twice, “Alcohol-Free”
After entering K-Pop by falling in love with Wonder Girls, followed by Girls’ Generation and APink, Twice are definitely up there among all-time favorite girl groups. On the inaugural list in 2019, they took #2 with “Feel Special;” the following year, “I Can’t Stop Me” came in at #8.
This year, the tropical-sounding “Alcohol-Free” was definitely the summer song of 2021 as it sat at #1 for most of mid-year. A nice, mellow dance tune about “feeling drunk” just by being around somebody, I especially love the part when they start naming off various drinks.
The accompanying video is visually stunning—so fun and colorful.
9. Bumkey, “The Lady (feat. Moonbyul)”
Without a doubt, the coolest song of the year and another fitting tune for a leisurely stroll. Bumkey’s vocals are so smooth, which is only complemented by Moonbyul’s flow.
This song remained high on the list since its release in early May. As new music continued to come out, the low-key vibe of “The Lady” saw it drop off a bit but, after giving it another few listens, this definitely deserved a spot in the top half of the list.
8. Stray Kids, “Thunderous”
This song owes its spot on the list for frequent play at the gym. Like a lot of recent releases by Stray Kids, it hits hard, which makes it a good partner for the recumbent bike machine.
In addition, the video also offers a cool contrast between their modern sound and fashion with Joseon-inspired background performers.
Meanwhile, despite not being a fan of the extensions they gave Felix, his voice, just like in “God’s Menu” (#19 on last year’s list) cuts right through.
7. Twice, “Scientist”
In a similar way to how I responded to “I Can’t Stop Me” on last year’s list, following its release in November, this song really grew on me the more I listened to it. The peppy chorus telling you to follow your heart and not take love too seriously was accompanied by cute choreography, which was all over social media with tutorials featuring each of the members.
The song also shows more of Twice’s development. As they’ve progressed in the industry, the girls have managed to transition without losing their voice. From the cute and playful to more mature themes, and it’s beautiful seeing their success continue.
6. IU, “Lilac”
In contrast to Twice’s releases about falling love and how to explore those feelings, “Lilac” talks about fleeting love. Singing “Love me only until Spring / Like the warm breeze,” the song takes a lighter look at love (“Love resembles a misty dream”).
Similar to “Strawberry Moon,” this is another leisurely stroll song.
Among all of the songs IU put out this year, “Lilac” showcases her vocals the best.
The Top 5
5. 2AM, “Should’ve Known”
After getting hyped for 2PM reuniting and putting out new music, the 2AM comeback almost came as a surprise. I knew there was talk but it didn’t hit me until the video for “Should’ve Known” popped up on my YouTube suggestions. Seeing the thumbnail and remembering it has been seven years since their last release, there was so much anticipation.
From the light piano tones and those opening lines from Jinwoon, I was done. It was classic 2AM—some of the best ballads and harmonies in K-Pop. Then, the moment Jo Kwon dropped that first big note, it was immediate goosebumps.
Now, while the music video was beautiful, the special clip put out by 1theK was fantastic.
It is really awesome seeing the four of them singing together and hearing those rich voices harmonizing once again. With such an amazing ballad (in a genre where slow songs usually take a backseat), it brought you to a whole other place.
The entire album, “Ballad 21 F/W,” is filled with amazing tracks. Another notable one is “No Good In Goodbye.”
4. BTS, “Permission To Dance”
“Permission To Dance” was arguably the most encouraging song of the year. The track was so inspiring, the UN was cleared out for them to perform throughout the building. After so many have faced a multitude of challenges these past couple years, “Permission To Dance” says: “We don’t need to worry / ‘Cause when we fall we know how to land.”
The music video, depicting various individuals stepping away from the normal and breaking into dance, lifts the mood every time.
Towards the end, the shots of people gleefully removing their masks and revealing smiles underneath, also offered encouragement in these still-difficult times. Plus, incorporating sign language in the choreography allows the song to reach even more communities; spreading their positive message even further.
3. Astro, “After Midnight”
This song is all about the vibe. It’s a cool track with amazing vocals and smooth rap breaks, and one that you can dance to or use as accompaniment while walking down the street.
Just like a couple other picks on this year’s list, it calls on listeners to let everything go: “After midnight, in the moonlight / Let go of all the worries.” Then, during the rap section, the song suggests not worrying about others and just “making the bad ideas go away.”
The video is also very visually-appealing (it’s Astro) and Moonbin opting for sleeveless shirts did not go unnoticed.
Given current times, taking an evening to let go of it all is a very welcome recommendation.
2. Kim Sejeong, “Warning (feat. lIlBOI)
As noted at the top of this article, through “Produce 101,” Kim Sejeong became one of my favorite people in Korean entertainment. As a singer, actress, and frequent variety show guest, she is truly a multi-faceted entertainer. Her voice is so pure and every single released as a soloist—beginning with the amazing “Flower Road”—has been magical.
“Warning” dropped a day before my birthday and quickly became one of my “happy songs” of 2021. The lyrics tell listeners to “fly high” and to not be afraid of the warnings.
In particular, given the circumstances of 2021, the song offers the kind of encouragement to keep moving ahead. It’s OK if things might be going slow but keep going forward and, in the end, treading carefully past the “warning” will be “worth it.”
For most of the year, this song remained at or near the top of the list and, even while penning this final draft, and re-listening to songs, “Warning” was one that made a few last minute moves.
1. Twice, “The Feels”
Twice ruled my 2021. Every song they put out was great and “The Feels” was just spectacular. The song is their first English-language single and they delivered on the vibe, choreography, and visuals.
Following up on the summaries of “Alcohol-Free” and “Scientist,” their 2021 songs guide listeners on the process of falling in love. Getting those initial butterflies with “Alcohol-Free,” then acknowledging those emotions in “The Feels,” and “Scientist” telling you to manage love by following your heart.
The video has an adorable prom theme, showing the girls getting ready and having fun at the event as they admit their “feels.”
This song quickly moved to #1 after it was put on repeat during walks to and from the gym. Even at the gym, the pace and beat of “The Feels” also earned it plenty of plays.
2021 was another great year in K-Pop. There was a lot of variety, promising rookie groups, and welcome comebacks.
Definitely looking forward to 2022. Happy New Year!
K-Pop in 2020
Amid the unprecedented nature of 2020, with circumstances slowing down activities such as concerts and other live events, K-Pop continued to deliver. The year saw a multitude of hits, debuts, along with BTS earning their first Grammy nomination and being named “Entertainer of the Year” by Time Magazine. Sure it was a difficult year but the music helped the days go by.
With last year’s list produced as a purely “end-of-the-year compilation,” throughout 2020, I have been keeping tracks of songs released (there’s been a lot of extra time on all of our hands) and—the most important facet of my list—monitoring which songs have been on repeat. In addition, this year’s list also expanded from a Top 10 to a Top 20.
However, before diving right into K-Pop, there were a couple exceptional acts on the outskirts of the genre that caught my eye this year; one of whom was mentioned in last year’s list: Jackson Wang.
After dropping songs like “Bullet to the Heart” and “Dway!” last year, the Hong Kong-born musician proved he is much more than a rapper. This year, he released “100 Ways;” along with “Pretty Please,” a collaboration with Galantis. The music videos for both tracks were beautifully shot—very cinematic, especially “100 Ways”—with the first track featuring the GOT7 rapper’s signature raspy voice, then switching to a falsetto with the latter.
In addition, he also put out a super chill track with JJ Lin in mid-December called “Should’ve Let Go.” The two harmonized beautifully.
Aside from music (including two incredible GOT7 albums), he also opened his first Team Wang pop-up shop offering original streetwear, which only furthered his reach into the fashion scene.
Another musical highlight of 2020 was Leenalchi, a group that performs traditional Korean music on top of a funky beat. They rose to fame this year after being featured by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) as part of their “Feel the Rhythm of Korea” campaign. Putting out videos featuring the group together with the Ambiguous Dance Company, KTO highlighted Seoul, Busan, Jeonju, Andong, Mokpo, and Gangeung and, as of this writing, each video has surpassed 35 million views on YouTube. The videos were so huge, the cast of KBS variety show “Two Days, One Night” were tasked with producing their next video.
The videos truly present an impressive spectrum of what South Korea has to offer tourists from around the world. Released throughout the summer, KTO took a positive spin on the current global situation and, as their hashtags indicated, “Cheer up the world” and “Meet you later.”
With so many songs to pick from this year, there were several tracks that just missed the cut.
After coming in at #4 on last year’s list with “Follow,” Monsta X released “Fantasia,” another upbeat dance track that is only enhanced with the group’s incredible visuals.
Hyoyeon of Girls’ Generation—who is known as Hyo nowadays—also put out an amazing dance track, “Dessert,” together with Soyeon of (G)I-dle and Loopy. In addition, the song featured a dance challenge. Hyo promoted the song with TikTok videos doing the dance with each member of Girls’ Generation; aside from a great song, it was welcome nostalgia for some of the “OG K-Pop stans.”
Speaking of (G)I-dle, they released one of the top summer songs of 2020 with “DUMDi DUMDi.”
Two divas delivered some great songs this year. Hwasa of Mamamoo blessed the world with “María” (Mamamoo also dropped hits with “Aya” and “Dingga”); while Sunmi, who was last year’s #1 with “Lalalay,” released “Pporappippam.”
NCT had quite the year with their two-part album “Resonance,” mixing and matching the units and rocking the world. One of the songs was the multilingual “Home.” The group featured Taeil, Yuta, Kun, Doyoung, Renjun, Haechan, and Chenle; with lyrics in Korean, English, Mandarin, and Japanese—a true representation of NCT’s global reach.
Two acts that made last year’s Top 10 also released a number of tracks in 2020. Twice, who came in second place last year with “Feel Special,” released the addictive “More & More;” while BTS, who took #7 last year with “Boy With Luv,” started the year with the booming track “On.”
Two songs that found themselves hopping in and out of the Top 20 were GFriend’s retro-sounding “Mago” and GOT7’s “Last Piece.”
20. Mino, “Run Away” (October 20, 2020)
“XX,” the debut solo album released by Mino of Winner in 2018, remains one of my favorite albums of all time because of the original sounds and impactful songs. The quality he puts out as a solo artist never disappoints. “Run Away,” which didn’t get as much play as his earlier solo tracks, such as “Fiancé,” offers one of the most moving songs of the year, a great chorus, a very cool music video, and Mino continues to prove he is one of the best rappers in Korea.
19. Stray Kids, “God’s Menu” (June 17, 2020)
Despite being a major fan of JYP artists, for me, Stray Kids has always been on the periphery. However, this year, “God’s Menu” immediately grabbed the audience’s attention. The beats are intense, the song brings a powerful chorus, and then there’s Felix’s voice. For a while, the song also served as a pretty effective alarm clock.
18. Ong Seongwu, “We Belong” (January 9, 2020)
Aside from last year’s “Heart Sign” promotional single, “We Belong” was the official solo debut for the former Wanna One member (and my personal bias). The song is a romantic ballad with a unique quivering sound heard throughout. His debut album “Layers,” which dropped later that year on March 25 (right before my birthday) included a number of fantastic tracks (hopefully, that isn’t my bias speaking).
17. GOT7, “Not By The Moon” (April 20, 2020)
While under lockdown and with no gym to go to, several of the songs that made the list were those where I studied the choreography in order to have some type of physical activity—“Not By The Moon” was one of them. As evident throughout their career, GOT7 has some of the smoothest moves and catchiest music, and this track was no different.
16. Ong Seongwu, “Guess Who” (March 25, 2020)
One of the notable B-sides on “Layers,” the song was performed on the weekly music shows alongside the single “Gravity.” Personally, this song—an upbeat, funky track—got more play than the heavier ballad. The playful nature of the song also works well with Seongwu’s public persona, easy-going and happy-go-lucky.
15. Itzy, “Wannabe” (March 9, 2020)
What clearly turned out to be one of the most iconic dances of the year (and another routine studied during lockdown), Itzy, who has released nothing but hits since their debut last year, definitely made a mark on the year with this one. This is the type of song that has an international appeal and still maintains that K-Pop soul.
14. Zico, “Summer Hate (feat. Rain)” (July 1, 2020)
Without a doubt, this was 2020’s summer song. Aside from relatable lyrics about suffering in heat, the song also brought about a fun dance challenge. Additionally, the video was pretty “steamy”… melting fixtures (including Zico himself), sweaty bodybuilders, and Rain looking amazing as ever.
13. Dawn, “Dawndididawn (feat. Jessi)” (October 9, 2020)
The artist formerly known as E’Dawn dropped one of the coolest dance tracks this year. The song makes it clear who he is and calls on listeners to look him up in case they still weren’t sure. Personally, this was a much better release than his solo debut last year, “Money.” Teamed up with fellow P-Nation talent Jessi, the two vibe so well together and even manage to drop shoutouts to Hyuna and PSY.
12. GOT7, “Breath” (November 23, 2020)
GOT7 always seems to come in at the end of the year with an amazing album. If there’s any word that I have used excessively with GOT7, it’s cool. Their choreography is always so polished, the transitions in the video were fantastic, and “Breath” does a great job showcasing each of the guys’ talents—Youngjae’s vocals especially stood out.
11. NCT U, “Make A Wish (Birthday Song)” (October 12, 2020)
If there was a “treadmill song” of the year, it would go to NCT U’s “Make A Wish.” One of the reasons this got so much play is because it was one of few songs that could be put on repeat while on the treadmill and I didn’t immediately get winded—neither by the song nor cardio. Not to mention, opening the video and live stages with Lucas close-ups also made it extra compelling.
10. Oh My Girl, “Dolphin” (April 27, 2020)
Cutest song of the year? It’s always surprising for a B-side to perform on par (or outdo) the single—“Nonstop”—but, with “Dolphin,” Oh My Girl showed their most adorable side. Given their popularity boost this year, it is extra satisfying to support them after learning they were nearly disbanded three years ago. Thankfully, combining an addicting chorus and cute choreography, the ladies put out one that easily gets stuck in your head (in a good way).
9. NCT 127, “Kick It” (March 4, 2020)
Another song whose choreography was studied during lockdown—probably one of the most athletic routines, lots of quick movements accented with a high kick—this was one of the hottest tracks this year and, personally, one of the first NCT songs I really got it (aside from anything released by WayV). In addition, the homage to Bruce Lee was a nice touch.
8. Twice, “I Can’t Stop Me” (October 26, 2020)
To be honest, this song grew on me in the weeks after its release. As a huge Twice fan, liked “More & More” but didn’t love it and when “I Can’t Stop Me” came out, it felt like a different sound; something I wasn’t accustomed to from Twice. However, after hearing it over and over again, I really started getting into the sound and it was Jihyo’s solo at the 2020 KBS Music Festival that pushed the song into this year’s Top 10.
7. N.Flying, “Oh Really.” (June 7, 2020)
This is a song that is difficult to skip when it shuffles. It offers such an upbeat sound—my Dad even said he found the song to be reminiscent of The Beatles. When I used to work in New York City, I always had those songs that accompanied a leisurely stroll to and from the office, this is definitely one of those. Plus, Hweseung’s voice is impeccable and watching him perform on “Immortal Songs” so many times between last year and this year, I have such an appreciation for the talent he brings to the public.
6. GOT7, “Poison” (April 20, 2020)
Another B-side on the list, GOT7 performed this song during their “Not By The Moon” promotions. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, they exude “cool.” The song talks about being in love even if that person is “poison” and the choreography is performed around a door frame—GOT7 can make a door frame look cool. The moment Jackson pops through in the opening, each of the guys takes turns showing their swag. This is also one of those “stroll through the city” songs.
5. Pentagon, “Daisy” (October 12, 2020)
This is probably my ballad of the year. A song about being deceived but, for whatever reason, still longing for that person. The song earned Pentagon their (long overdue) first music show win, taking #1 on the October 20 episode of “The Show.” The flow of the song is all emotions and the vocals are on point.
4. Zico, “Any Song” (January 13, 2020)
A song anybody could relate to, when finding oneself in a mundane, everyday situation, you can put on any song as a means of escape. The song has a fun beat and the dance challenge that went along with it really kicked off 2020 well.
Given what transpired throughout the year, “Any Song” delivered the right message: “Play any song anyway / Anything that’s exciting / Dance whatever I like / To look as if nothing has happened.”
3. Apink, “Dumhdurum” (April 13, 2020)
After Wonder Girls and Girls’ Generation as my all-time favorite girl groups, Apink is undoubtedly the next in line. The girls celebrated nine years since their debut and, have since, managed to drop an awesome track at least once a year.
“Dumhdurum” was also one of the routines picked up during lockdown and its forever etched in my mind after slamming my hand on a dresser knob while dancing. The song’s unique sound and addictive tune kept the song at #1 for most of 2020.
2. BTS, “Dynamite” (August 21, 2020)
Obviously, a 2020 list would not be complete without BTS and this song. The song took the world by storm, even topping the Billboard 100, a first for a Korean artist (it is also worth pointing out how different “Dynamite” is to second place “WAP”). The song garnered them their first Grammy nod and it is still one of the most fun songs this year. As 2020 transitions into 2021, you can still put this song on and it lights up the room.
1. Jessi, “Nunu Nana” (July 30, 2020)
There is no way to determine just how many times this song was played this year. In addition to personal play, it was on TV all the time. Jessi has been around forever and she is finally getting the fame she deserves—Jessi owned 2020! Aside from “Nunu Nana,” she was all over television where she showed the public one of the most refreshing personalities in all of K-Pop. The song also gave Korea another fun dance challenge that saw the likes of PSY, Sandara Park, Henry, Soyou, the cast of tvN’s “Sixth Sense,” comedian Kim Sook, among others take it on. Then, to cap off the year, she performed “Nunu Nana” at the 2020 KBS Song Festival with Jackson Wang… that’s a K-Pop boner.
While 2020 was anything but predictable, K-Pop managed to deliver nonetheless. Here’s to an amazing year in K-Pop and to a more festive 2021!
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