With such a cheesy and unnecessarily gendered group name, Boyfriend’s image isn’t likely to entice many outside the pre-teen girl bracket, and that’s a shame because they have one of the strongest discographies among the poppier realm of k-pop boy bands. Working with Sweetune more often than not, I sometimes think of them as the younger, lighter version of Infinite. They have a surprisingly robust catalog of songs, which meant there are a handful of great ones that didn’t quite make my list.
- Updated 3/5/17
Honorable Mention:
Start Up! (2014) – A pure explosion of energy. It’s not likely to appeal to everyone, but it’s hard to argue with the song’s sheer pop force.
10. Bounce (2015)
A more mature pop sound for the group, with a powerful, synth-drenched chorus that sticks for days.
9. Be My Shine (2012)
A rare example of Sweetune producing for the Japanese market, Be My Shine thrives on its throwback chorus and strings-laden beat.
8. My Avatar (2014)
This is here for one reason: that surging, energy burst of a chorus. I could do without all the dubstep that happens during the verses, but the hook more than makes up for it.
7. I’ll Be There (2011)
Of all their Sweetune produced tracks, this has the most interesting and unique song structure, with a constantly morphing sound and light, breezy chorus.
6. Jackpot (2016)
Driven by its frantic, strings-driven beat, Jackpot is the crown jewel of Boyfriend’s solid Japanese discography, fusing the best of both their poppy and mature sides. (full review)
5. On & On (2013)
A hyper melodic piece of summertime pop, with a gorgeous, harmonic chorus. It absolutely explodes at the end.
4. Don’t Touch My Girl (2011)
Another amazing example of the classic, streamlined Sweetune sound. That hiccupy synth and unflagging momentum let this track soar.
3. Love Style (2012)
Take everything that was great about 80’s pop, throw it in a blender, and you’ve got Love Style. Each note, and every punchy rhythmic turn, could have functioned as a lesser song’s chorus.
2. I Yah (2013)
A hard-hitting sucker punch of dance pop, with rhythm guitar and synth accents to die for. That overpowering, layered hook is as aggressively awesome as the guys have ever sounded.
1. Janus (2012)
Boyfriend’s masterpiece, and one of Sweetune’s best tracks. From its orchestral backing to its heavenly backing vocals and flourishes, it easily secures its place at the top of the group’s discography. The touches of guitar add to the song’s stately, majestic feel, but nothing hits as hard as that surging, anthemic chorus.
~
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What do you think about “obsession”? People call it head-banging song.
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I think it was a good attempt at something different, but the song itself isn’t one of my favorites. I’m actually surprised that Sweetune wrote and produced it, since it’s a lot less melodic than their usual stuff.
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I Yah is definite their best song for me
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Nicholas James, thou renderest greate Service to the Publick with the features in thine Blog.
So, I recently found out about the Superstar games and decided on Starship for no particular reason, and there discovered Boyfriend. And when I wanted to know more about them after playing I Yah I immediately knew you’d be the man to look for.
It’s probably a dumb thing to say, but I can definitely hear the similarities with Infinite, specially at the end of I Yah, where I almost jumped with “sure this isn’t Infinite?” Now I know why. Sweetune. Gotta listen to a compilation those guys’ songs some day.
It’s funny that as someone who got into K-pop in what was still “the good ol’ days” (I think SHINee had just released Dream Girl at the time. What’s that? 2012, 2013?) I’m just now getting to know all of these great groups like Sistar, Boyfriend, VIXX and so on.
While watching the MVs I was thinking “jeez, this definitely wouldn’t fly nowadays. Not the song and definitely not the visual concept.” I mean, I like a lot of songs from nowadays, even from the awful 2020, and “stan” the rookies and not so much, but I couldn’t help thinking that if the best and most original/fresh/innovative we get nowadays is the likes of NCT/Stray Kids (no shade to them. I like them and they have their style) K-pop isn’t that far away from becoming just Western pop sung in Korean.
Oh well. We’ll always have the oldies with us. Only thing is actually getting to know about them. (Seriously, where does one even hear about Boyfriend in K-poppie circles? I didn’t, and damn if I haven’t researched my K-pop.)
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Always happy to see someone discovering Boyfriend!
Back in my K-pop infancy, I hesitated with this group because I hated their name. But, their discography is truly one of the best out there. The Love Style and I-Yah albums are particularly fantastic. But, even their Japanese material is super solid.
And to answer your question about where to learn about older groups, the solution is The Bias List! Let me be your shepherd…
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