Y'all... this really was the year for legendary comebacks. We started with a bang in January with IU pre-releasing Celebrity, which is just fantastic. Followed by SHINee that hadn't come out with an album since 2018. Then, unexpectedly, fucking 2pm. I have missed them so much and legit thought they disbanded since they hadn't come out with anything since 2016, but it turns out that they were all just in the military. We have been blessed. I have tried to keep better track of kpop songs that I have really liked this past year on a YouTube playlist, since that is where I find most of my kpop. I use Spotify(/Deezer because Spotify's ads have been driving me insane so I have been experimenting with other music streaming sites/apps) for bsides and indie music, so I have been trying to listen to more actual albums rather than just the title track. This took so long to write because 1. My keyboard does not work so I had to copy and paste all apostrophes, "g"s, and "h"s 2. I changed my mind like twenty times with 3 songs for making the top 10. 3. Classes ended up starting 🙃
Anyway, same rules as last year
1. 1 song per artist- This is to prevent the entire list just being SHINee's album and to give other artists a chance to shine.
2. B-sides are included- Sometimes they are better than the title track and deserve to be recognized
3. Korean lyrics- It gets really messy between what's considered kpop or jpop or American pop with the globalization of kpop. I'm always unsure if a kpop group making a Japanese song and promoting it in Japan is considered jpop or kpop. Is it considered an official comeback? I don't know. I've been listening to kpop for forever and am still confused, so I'm just having songs with predominately Korean lyrics on this list.
There also is no actual ranking because everything is dependent on my mood. Instead it's alphabetical. Let's just get into it.
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Astro- After Midnight
So, I was on Spotify and Astro's One started playing. I couldn't remember for the life of me if that song came out this year or last year so I clicked on Astro to see their band profile and saw that One did come out this year but that they also released another EP this year and I didn't even know. So, of course, I had to listen to it and it was a fucking bop. How the hell did I go several months without knowing this song existed? It has a very bright retro sound to it. The retro vibes also transfers to the video with the 70s inspired outfits. (Kinda unrelated but MJs blush is so good on him and I lowkey fell in love with him in his solo song).
Drippin- Young Blood
An absolute banger. I am obsessed with this song. When I found out about it, probably a couple of weeks after it came out, it was constantly in my head. I don't do kpop dances because physical activity is not my thing, but I dance along to the chorus every single time. And you can bet your ass that I also sing "Spring's around the corner" every time as well. There is just so many insanely catchy parts, it is impossible to not get stuck in your head. I never really paid that much attention to these guys while they were on Produce X 101 (with the exception of Alex because he wasn't on the show, and Yun Seong made my final 11), but it was nice to see them and I am lowkey a fan of Lee Hyeop now because his voice is just stellar. One thing I would love to see them improve upon in the next year is their stage presence. I watched a few music show performances of both Young Blood and Free Pass and just found that they lacked charisma and energy on stage. It just felt like they were going through with the movements rather than performing. Young Blood is an absolutely banging song though.
IU- Lilac
I knew as soon as Celebrity came out that IU will for sure be on this list. Upon listening to her album, my beliefs were affirmed, but I was conflicted (as always) over which song to put on this list since I love basically all of her songs. I would put Flu, Ah Puh, Troll, and Epilogue in top contenders as well. However, this song really brings that energy that the others don't. Obviously, this just preference (as is everything else in this list), but I just like a little more energy in my songs and Lilac has the perfect amount. I also love the saxophone solo at the end of the song. It really incorporates the retro feeling and brings a fresh new sound. Additionally, I love the music video. Is it anything revolutionary? No. But the aesthetics are there and somehow they were to make a comprehensible story that matches the song. The train, that has been a serious trend in kpop for some reason, is not only an amazing aesthetic choice but represents the love that she enters with rose colored glasses and disappears like a dream with the good bye of falling petals (which looks gorgeous in the video). Talking about gorgeous, IU looks stunning as always and I obsessed with the white dress that she wears during some of the choreography parts and the outfit that she wears at the very end.
Junny- Inside
I just found out about Junny this year via my Discover Weekly on Spotify. I happened to have his song, Movie, appear and I absolutely fell in love with his music. Needless to say, I was really conflicted on choosing a favorite song of his for this year. It was close between Inside and Hide and Sick, and I ended up choosing Inside. Both are so fucking good, though, so I definitely highly recommend both. Inside is just so nice to listen to. It's sort of calm but also energetic and happy, which completely matches the lyrics of the song of just enjoying staying at home. The instrumentation is also right up my alley, and his voice sounds amazing.
Loona- Wow
I think it is clear to say that Loona's B-sides are far superior to their title tracks. I have continuously found their title tracks disappointing, and their B-sides far more interesting and enjoyable. The creative person behind this needs to fix this. If they promoted a more interesting concept and song (like what we see in their B-sides) rather than promoting songs that I feel like I have heard before and overdone concepts, they would gain more success. We can see this through Star making the Pop Airplay chart this year. None of their title tracks have done that. Blockberry Creative really needs to get their shit together, and that could be a whole other post because their management is an absolute mess. Now to celebrate the girls, because they are busting their asses off to create absolute bangers like Wow. I love this song. It perfectly fits every members image with a bright and energetic sound for the girls with lighter and brighter voices, but is also jazzy which fits the deeper more soulful girls. It's not exactly cutesy but it's not girl crush either so it's a nice in between that fits everybody. That being said it is so disappointing that the line distribution is shit for this song (4 members got less than 10 seconds) because it really does fit everybody. Chuu is back at again a ton of lines. (Unrelated but I was just reminded of Chuu and Wyatt from ONF singing Naengmyeon, which lives in my head rent free). I love her voice and maybe what I have learned is that if she is singing the majority of the song it is going to be on this list.
Lucy- Rolling Rolling
Like last year, Lucy has made this so incredibly difficult for me. I swear to God, every track these guys make is gold. I don't know how they come out with so many absolutely banging songs in a year. I will say I am so happy that I waited for the year to be over before posting this because I could have missed out on including this song, which would be an absolute tragedy. As soon as I heard this song for the song for the first time I knew it would make it on the list. I listened a solid 10 times in a row for the first week and religiously ever since. It is just so fucking good. It is a headbanger, and can instantly lift up my mood. It really gives me anime jrock vibes, which I am so obsessed with. It is just constantly stuck in my head. Lucy really outdid themselves with this one and I don't know if they can top it, because this song is just perfection.
OnlyOneOf- libidO
You could probably tell that this song would appear on this list by looking at the posts that I have written the past year because this is one of the only songs I talked about. My feelings have not changed. I am still obsessed with this song, and it fought against a lot of stiff competition to get on this list. Since, I already talked about this song, I don't really have much more to say that I haven't already said here. Basically, it's a banging song and I highly recommend it.
Pentagon- Do or Not
This song is just so energetic, fun, and oddly nostalgic. It starts off with the old tv filter and 1960s music television vibes. The rest of the song, however, does not follow that sound but is still nostalgic. It really brings me back to early to mid 2010s kpop. Specifically, I find it really reminiscent of B1A4 OK and Big Bang's Sober for me. I just love this kind of sound. It uses the instrumentals commonly used in rock, but is clearly pop. Anyway, I get massive good vibes for this song. Unrelated, but I am obsessed with the packaging for this mini album. I love the manhwa theme. Like the art is so cute and I am obsessed with how it looks set of manga books if you collect all the members' special covers. As someone who doesn't buy physical albums because they are a broke bitch (I stream them legally to try to support them that way), I really want the romantic or sporty versions (mild version is just not my vibe, sorry). The packaging is just so fucking cute.
Red Velvet- Queendom
This entire mini album was amazing, but this song just really shone. It is just so bright, fun, and catchy. I also forgot how much I love Red Velvet until I heard this song. Their vocals are stunning. It also really feels like every member is able to stand out and plays a relevant part. Overall, I don't really have that much to say about the song. I just found it to be a really refreshing feel good song.
SHINee- Attention
We have been blessed with SHINee having a comeback after fucking forever. They have not disappointed. The album and repackaged album are absolutely amazing One thing that really stands out to me with this album as a whole is the amazing harmonies that only SHINee can do. They all have such distinct voices but are still able to blend them perfectly creating these stunning walls of sound. I had such a hard time picking out my favorite song. For the longest time, it was a four-way tie between Attention, Marry You, I Really Want You and Kiss Kiss. I finally chose Attention, but let's be real by tomorrow, I'll probably change my mind. Even so, I am really happy to talk about Attention because there are so many parts of this song that I am obsessed with. First off, the chemistry line. I could listen to that specific part on repeat for hours and we were robbed with not having Minho sing that part at least once. I understand that it is part that happens only three times, but everyone else was given that line except for him and I would kill to hear him sing it. Also, I really liked that he started the song. I feel like that doesn't happen a lot, I found it really refreshing. Another thing I am obsessed with is Onew's adlibs. As always, I am so obsessed with his voice and he sounds absolutely amazing. he also gets the bridge for this song which he absolutely kills.
Honorable Mentions
- My Treasure by Treasure- This was the first kpop song I listened to this year, and what a great way to start the year. It's just such a fun and upbeat song, that you cant help to smile and sing along to.
- Bambi by Baekhyun- So sexy and catchy. It's constantly stuck in my head, like the chorus is constantly looping. It's just so fucking good.
- We Go by fromis_9- Is this any Feel Good? No. Is it still an absolute bop? Hell yeah.
- Clicker by J.Don- I'm not gonna lie, when this song came out I lowkey preferred it to Hero and Don't Call Me, which is saying a lot since those are my favorite bands. This song slaps and it was in the top 10 for the longest time.
- Happy Death Day by Xdinary Heroes- They really brought more of a punk rock feel to the kpop rock/ krock scene in a sea of soft rock, which is just such a vibe. The chorus is so catchy, it constantly gets stuck in my head.
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So, I'd say I kinda have a theme for this year, which is upbeat retro. Tbh, that is my general aesthetic in life. I dress like an 80s mom, my hair is straight out of the 70s, I spend an inordinate amount of time looking at historical fashion, and other than kpop, I listen to a lot of retro inspired music if not songs from the 60s. Retro seems to also be a major trend in pop culture, so no surprise there. Additionally, I feel like I have said this multiple times before, but I cant listen to ballads or anything remotely depressing, so upbeat retro really makes sense to me. That is basically it for 2021, I might post something about songs that I found during the year that were released before 2021 that I slept on to show appreciation to those songs and artists. I am so excited for this year because so many great songs with Woozis Ruby, fromis_9s DM, and OnlyOneOf skinz. So... Um... Yeah...
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