The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, things kick off with the big one… The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday.
To be eligible for this top 50 list, songs must have had a Korean release as a title or promotional track between Dec. 1st, 2018 and Nov. 30th, 2019.
Curious about last year’s countdown? Check out the masterpost here!
30. Youngjae – Forever Love
A dark horse candidate for this list, B.A.P’s Youngjae came out of nowhere with a confident EDM dance track that generated (and sustained) the kind of anthemic energy that has been missing from so many recent offerings of this genre. (full review)
29. AB6IX – Breathe
My biggest grower of the year, Breathe won me over in a big way thanks to its slick, fashionable chorus and hooky verses. It may not be unique among K-pop’s endless supply of deep house inspired fare, but AB6IX brought an undeniable polish and personality to the genre. (full review)
28. ONF – We Must Love
ONF took the top spot in last year’s countdown, but tumble a few ranks with We Must Love. This shouldn’t discount the song’s dynamic energy, which pushes the group in angstier directions without sacrificing the pop melodies of their best work. (full review)
27. DAY6 – Time Of Our Life
DAY6 can cast off an anthem with the best of them, and Time Of Our Life is as festival-ready as any rock track this year. Over a driving drumbeat, the guys belt to the rafters, relishing the opportunity to deliver a galvanizing slice of good old fashioned power pop. (full review)
26. Pentagon – Sha La La
Pentagon’s sound has encompassed many iterations over the years, but the propulsive dance-floor pulse of Sha La La may just fit them best. They were the first of many boy groups to tackle this style in 2019, and set expectations sky high. (full review)
25. SuperM – Jopping
As addictive as it is ridiculous, Jopping‘s the rare concession to Western audiences that actually works. That’s a testament to its confident sense of goofiness and embrace of the classic SMP sound that powered so many first and second generation K-pop acts. (full review)
24. AB6IX – Blind For Love
Blind For Love isn’t all that different from Breathe, but AB6IX one-upped themselves by keeping the tempo high and filling the track with a series of sneaky hooks. That chunky house piano that supports each post-chorus is an inspired touch. (full review)
23. Golden Child – Wannabe
I dreaded the day that Golden Child’s music would take a darker turn, but the guys proved me wrong with a very Infinite-esque slow-burn that twisted some of my least favorite musical tropes in interesting (and catchy) directions. Their slick, commanding performance seals the deal. (full review)
22. VERIVERY – Tag Tag Tag
VERIVERY were at their 2019 best when releasing songs with three-word titles, and Tag Tag Tag matured their new jack swing style just enough to hint at funkier horizons. It’s a track with irresistible energy, stuffed full of charismatic turns and bright rookie energy. (full review)
21. Cosmic Girls (WJSN) – Boogie Up
The more cosmic that Cosmic Girls go, the better. However, the buoyant Boogie Up is an exception to that rule. Kicking off the summer music season with aplomb, the track’s synth-disco hook is about as carefree and spirited as you can get. (full review)
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Wow, I thought Time Of Our Life was gonna be higher on your countdown. I really do not know what songs end in your top 10.
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Act III
ATTENTION: The entirety of Act III has been deemed unfit for viewing by people with good moral fiber. This act contains unnecessary nudity, excessive profanity (including copious uses of our Lord’s name in vane), vulgar references to intercourse including one gesture of an extended finger on one hand violating a round circle on the other hand, and countless instances of behavior that defies normalcy. Initially, we tried removing only the unsuitable content, but were only left with 4 minutes of disjointed and incoherent material. We now continue this production from this point.
Act IV
Anchor: “Good Evening and welcome to WKPP News. I’m Shep Shepardson and we have breaking news. A disturbance erupted at Dream High School earlier today resulting in police and paramedics being called to the scene. We have a reporter at the scene.”
Reporter: “Good afternoon. This is Sue Deaunews reporting live from the school where authorities and faculty alike are still trying to piece together the events that have left this school in turmoil. From bits and pieces we’ve been able to gather, it appears one student has, in the words of one teacher, “Taken the loony boat to crazy town”. Let’s hear from some others.”
[Reporter approaches two girls on the sidewalk]
Reporter: “Hello; Sue Deaunews, WKPP. Can you tell our viewers what happened?”
Hailey: “We saw everything. And I mean.. ..EVERYTHING. The day started out norm. Emma was showing off her new nail polish, Jake wore his skinny jeans, Hannah was caught chewin..”
Reporter: “What about the individual they took away in the ambulance?”
Hailey: “Oh, him? I don’t know anything about that.”
Kaitlyn: “I know some of what happened. I was at my locker across from the music department. Mr. Thebiaslist, our music teacher, had just updated the third display in front of his class.”
Reporter: “Thebiaslist? Is that Greek?”
Kaitlyn: “Dunno. Anyways, shortly afterwards I saw, what looked like, a side-view mirror from a car duct taped to a broom handle peering out from around the corner at the end of the hall. Then I saw Xeno come around the corner. He started slowly walking to the display cases. He was mumbling. He almost sounded like he was speaking in tongues. Then he stopped in front of the third display case.”
Reporter: “..and then?”
Kaitlyn: “Then all heck broke loose. He started running up to different people shoving one raised finger in everyone’s faces and screaming “One!”, “Only One!”, “Not 2 or 3, but 1!” Everyone started backing away from him. Then the shop teacher, Mr. Brachydactyly, slowly approached Xeno to try to calm him down.”
Reporter: “Brachydactyly, is that..”
Kaitlyn: “Dunno. Then Mr. Brachydactyly tried to calm Xeno down by mimicking him. He raised one finger and said, “One.” Unfortunately, the finger he raised was just a nub, because of last years bookend fiasco. Xeno stared at the nub and his eyes went even more crazy. He started shouting, “One!”, “Not One!” “Un One!”, “Anti-One!”, “No One!”, “I AM NO ONE!”. Things like that.”
Reporter: “Then what?”
Kaitlyn: “Then his eyes rolled into the back of his head. He ripped off half his clothes. Then started running throughout the school, in and out of classes, shouting all sorts of things you shouldn’t say.”
Reporter: “What was he saying?”
Kaitlyn: “I shouldn’t say.”
Reporter: “and then?”
Kaitlyn: “Then they took him away.”
Reporter: “Well, Shep, needless to say, this has been a harrowing day for the teachers and students at this school. Back to you.”
Anchor: Thanks Sue. We’ll keep our viewers updated as more details become available. And now, we return you to your regularly scheduled programming.”
To be continued…
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I figured this would be the day that broke you!
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Please, please, please, let him get what he wants. Lord knows, it will be the first time.
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If you can’t wait until Friday, I’ll give you the top ten right now:
Crown – TXT
Mirror – Stray Kids
Under Cover – A.C.E
Wonderland – ATEEZ
Missing – TRCNG
Run Away – TXT
Ring Ring Ring – VERIVERY
Wave – ATEEZ
Superhuman – NCT 127
Valkyrie – ONEUS
Sorry fellow girl group stans, but this is going to be a boys only top ten. I bet DALLA DALLA comes closest at like 13.
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Day6 is on my list in the middle of the muddle, so I guess we agree on this one.
For Pentagon, I have “Cosmo” ranking very high, but “Sha La La” is just off the short list.
I paid Youngjae a compliment: I bought the song. Of the late 2nd gen solos-before-military this year, I thought it was pretty OK. I also bought ONF and Golden Child this year, but none of them ranked on my list.
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