2017 Favorites: K-Pop, Part 2
The second half of the trip through some of the best K-pop singles of the year from Lovelyz, Red Velvet and more
You can browse part one here. You can also stream these selections on this Spotify playlist or watch the music videos on this YouTube playlist. If you got the time, I recommend you experience the music through the latter platform because the visuals behind K-pop are simply incredible.
Honorable mentions: “Orion” by Apink; “Miracle” by Cosmic Girls; “You and I” by Elris; “Deep Blue Eyes” by Girls Next Door; “Party After Party” by Good Day; “Memory Clock” by Hur Young-Ji; “Blue Moon” by Hyolyn x Changmo; “Aphasia” by Moon Yirang ft. Hoody
Here are the rest of my 40 favorite K-pop songs of 2017. One single per artist.
Oh, and if you’re wondering, my favorite K-pop song of the year is IU’s “Palette.”
“Eclipse”
Kim Lip
Kim Lip nails a graceful mid-point of LOONA in “Eclipse” by binding the professionalism behind the work of her preceding members with the slick dance-pop production that guiding the ones after her.
“Now, We”
Lovelyz
Lovelyz one-ups “WoW” with their state of speechlessness in “Now, We”, now trying to take in the surreal fact they are officially a couple, while the song’s chiming bells tops the group’s follow-up, “Twinkle.”
“Doong Doong”
Moon Hyuna & E.U Erine
Former 9Muses members team up for an ethereal drift into the seas over one lush beat to come from the tropics-obsessed pop craze. E.U Erine drops brief rap hooks while Moon Hyuna sings a dreamy refrain.
“Girl Front”
Odd Eye Circle
All shining with a fluorescent wash, a series of candy synths joins together LOONA’s already synth-savvy trio. Full of multiple tricks, the electronic thrills rush speedy and dynamic as JinSoul’s solo effort.
“Want You to Say”
Playback
A sun-kissed dance beat soothes Playback’s impatience over a boy who just can’t catch a sign. They may play dumb, but they’re not naive. From Hayoung’s rap, it’s also probably best he makes a move really soon.
“Rookie”
Red Velvet
Red Velvet turn crushes too overwhelming to bear into pop so deceivingly sweet. Colors bleed, and the hook gets reduced to blabber, but “Dumb Dumb,” this isn’t: they know what they want too well.
“Paradise”
S.E.S.
Instead of revamping their style for the present, S.E.S. take K-pop back to their heyday by taking on good ol’ New Jack Swing. In a scene full of ’90s nostalgia, the group reminds who did the decade best.
“Don’t Say No”
Seohyun
The youngest SNSD finally goes solo, and she takes on a pack of pop sounds: slick ’90s R&B keys, a time-bomb tick of a drum line, and a boom-clap assisted bridge. A single ready for performance — just like her main group’s.
“Don’t Wanna Cry”
Seventeen
One of the best Chainsmokers singles this year came from Seventeen, who co-opt the duo’s bouncy, summer-ready drops for their plead to get back the one that got away — a deceivingly heartbroken piece of pop.
“Gashina”
Sunmi
The squeaky beat drop dangles the titular word as the hook of “Gashina” as if to forever remind exactly who did what to who in the break-up. More than barbed jabs, Sunmi’s unaffected cool digs into their nerves.
“Yes No Maybe”
Suzy
The tense, woozy synth beat never settles, and neither does Suzy. True to the titular hook, her emotions sway from right to wrong. The headache can’t be helped if she makes the wrong sound so enticing.
“What’s My Name?”
T-ARA
Ebullient as the lush beat bounces, especially come the chorus, T-ARA’s in no mood to dance with a change of heart from the other in their once-shining relationship, now almost fully faded away.
“I Got Love”
Taeyeon
For a more adult transformation, Taeyeon lures you deeper into one icy, goth beat. What lies in its center is a serpentine hook crinkling this industrial squeak — one of the best sounds in K-pop this year.
“365 Fresh”
Triple H
Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic” serves as a jump-off to re-introduce HyunA and Pentagon’s Hui and E’Dawn as Triple H. The funk pastiche also provides a space for the three to do what they can’t in their main acts.
“Likey”
Twice
The second Twice installment inspired by mobile apps might sound like a smoother ride than “TT” given the bubbly beat, but the craze behind their self-maintenance feels just as restless.
“My Turn”
The Unit
Atop a slick house production, the booming chorus of “My Turn” layers together hundreds of The Unit contestants until it sings as one male and female star. Eerie from one angle, a curious single from another.
“Shangri-La”
VIXX
Rich as they sound, the string plucks tangled around the synths mislead to take it as the main texture of “Shangri-La.” It all unravels when the beat unleashes one dynamic drop out of those flashing synths.
“Energetic”
Wanna One
Layers and layers of breezy pianos slowly peel off until it reveals its club-synth core. By the time it all collapses to a sweep of clipped voices, the second Produce 101 group shows their true feelings.
“Kiss Later”
Yeojin
After a string of high-art ballads from her group mates, Yeojin debuts with a twee big-band pop about being too shy to kiss and a video featuring a frog prince — one charming entry point to the LOONA universe.
“New”
Yves
November made way for Yves, a LOONA who gets drawn to a more treacherous side of love. Equally sinister is the hall of pitched-down, specter-like voices, shined by dim roller-rink synths.
