Different groups are loved for different reasons, but one of my favorite concepts within pop music is the “imperial phase” — a (usually) brief era when every promoted song an act releases is absolutely superb and iconic.
This got me to thinking: what are K-pop’s greatest imperial phases? I combed through my exhaustive playlists and looked for those stretches where an artist’s singles were rated nine or higher by yours truly. I disregarded Japanese releases, sub-units/solos, and non-promoted releases like CFs, prologues or epilogues (unless the song was directly deemed a “title track” on its accompanying album or repackage).
I ended up with twelve artists who each had highly-rated singles runs consisting of five songs or more. The results surprised me, as some of my favorite acts suffered due to a more inconsistent run of title tracks – even if their peaks were higher than a few of the artists that made it onto the countdown.
What do you think, Bias List readers? What are your favorite, uninterrupted K-pop singles runs?
FIVE-SONG RUN
2NE1
From 2011-2012
Lonely > I Am The Best > Hate You > Ugly > I Love You
The Peak:
Astro
From 2016-2017
Hide & Seek, Breathless, Confession, Baby, Crazy Sexy Cool
The Peak:
B1A4
From 2012-2014
Baby Good Night > Tried To Walk > What’s Happening? > Lonely > Solo Day
The Peak:
Bigbang
From 2011-2012
Love Song > Blue > Bad Boy > Fantastic Baby > Monster
The Peak:
GFriend
From 2015-2017
Glass Bead > Me Gustas Tu > Rough > Navillera > Fingertip
The Peak:
Golden Child
From 2017-2018
DamDaDi > It’s U > Lady > Let Me > Genie
The Peak:
Kara
From 2009-2012
Mister > Lupin > Jumping > Step > Pandora
The Peak:
SIX-SONG RUN
SHINee
From 2012-2015
Sherlock > Dream Girl > Why So Serious? > Everybody > View > Married To The Music
The Peak:
EIGHT-SONG RUN
EXO
From 2012-2015
What Is Love > History > Mama > Wolf > Growl > Overdose > Call Me Baby > Love Me Right
The Peak:
Seventeen
From 2015-2018
Adore U > Mansae > Pretty U > Very Nice > Boom Boom > Don’t Wanna Cry > Clap > Thanks
The Peak:
TEN-SONG RUN
BTS
From 2014-2017
Danger > War Of Hormone > I Need U > Dope > Run > Fire > Save Me > Blood Sweat & Tears > Spring Day > Not Today
The Peak:
THIRTEEN-SONG RUN
Infinite
From 2010-2016
Come Back Again > She’s Back > Before The Dawn > Nothing’s Over > Be Mine > Paradise > The Chaser > Man In Love > Destiny > Last Romeo > Back > Bad > The Eye
The Peak:
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Ahh, Astro was only a quarter of a point from making this list! Shame, Nick, shame. Baby deserved that 9 and you know it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know what? You’re completely right, and the post has been edited to reflect that.
For whatever reason, I don’t have a singles playlist for Astro in my iTunes and they slipped from my memory (I know… how dare I?)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like they’ll also be eligible for a “ten best songs by” post after next month’s comeback!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, sweet! Was not expecting my complaint to yield any results, but I certainly won’t complain. Astro has really had one of the strongest runs of any K-Pop group to me, which is supper gratifying given that they’re the first group I ever really followed. I’ll forgive you for the sacrilege since you righted your wrongs 😉
Also, unpopular opinion: I LOVED Blue Flame. It’s tropey, sure, but the guys absolutely sell it and I think it’s one of the stronger offerings of that subgenre, especially the chorus. All Night is actually the song that falls flat for me. Go figure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pinocchio – Electric Shock – Hot Summer – Rum Pum Pum Pum – Red Light – 4 Walls (!)
That, KARA’s and EXO’s would be my personal top 3.
LikeLike
I’m one of those weird people who finds f(x)’s singles run to be somewhat uneven. I admire a track like Red Light and think it’s super solid, but it’s not something I choose to listen to often.
In fact, I’d argue that f(x) are the rare K-pop artist whose album tracks are largely of higher quality than their singles.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah, I totally understand Red Light (the song) or Pinocchio being quite divisive. And though I LOVE that 6-singles run, I agree that probably a “best albums run” kind of list suits them more!
LikeLike
This is a really interesting idea! My list would look something like this
12 Songs
EXO – History, Mama, Wolf, Growl, Miracles in December, Overdose, Call Me Baby, Love Me Right, Lightsaber, Sing for You, Lucky One, Monster
6 Songs
Girls’ Generation – Gee, Genie, Oh!, Run Devil Run, Hoot, The Boys
f(x) – Pinocchio, Hot Summer, Electric Shock, Rum Pum Pum Pum, Red Light, 4 Walls
LOONA – Singing in the Rain, Love Cherry Motion, Girl Front, Sweet Crazy Love, new, Heart Attack
5 Songs
BTS – Danger, War of Hormone, I Need U, Dope, Run
Mamamoo – Decalcomanie, Yes I Am, Paint Me, Starry Night, Egotistic
Twice – Yes or Yes, Fancy, Breakthrough, Feel Special, Fake & True
Stray Kids – District 9, My Pace, I am YOU, Miroh, Side Effects
LikeLiked by 1 person
Man, that’s a strong SNSD run.
See… this is where my eligibility criteria gets me into trouble. I included Way To Go in this singles run since they promoted it on music shows and it had a (bts) mv. And for me, Run Devil Run and Hoot aren’t *quite* “9’s”. I know… sacrilege!
Still, a super solid run that deserves mentioning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is why I need a A-Z on SNSD. I gotta know why RDR and Hoot aren’t nines.
LikeLike
LOONA’s 2017 run of music was like crack to me, I was so hooked back then. I still love them but nothing they’ve done post-debut has been as interesting and engaging as everything they had going on back then musically, visually, lore-wise…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, to be an orbit (or a kpop fan) in 2017. Loona must’ve been such a fresh and exciting group to see
LikeLike
it was really fascinating to figure out which songs had broken the streak for you– I Love You (2NE1), Sweet Girl (B1A4)– Damaged Lady (Kara)????? i would beg to disagree but i also don’t have as distinct a ranking/rating system as you, so i have nothing to back myself up with.
anyways, loved the idea behind this post!! finding out that even Seventeen’s Thanks had rated high with you back then was somewhat of a surprise, a pleasant one! 🙂
LikeLike
Falling In Love, Sweet Girl and Damaged Lady are all 8.75’s for me, if it’s any consolation!
LikeLike
oh my god, they were so close!!!!
i think if anything, their quality just feels extra compelling in the midst of our current K-pop trends. i already had a Kara MV watching party the other day and was a mess afterwards… i don’t even want to THINK about having a 2NE1 one any time soon!!
LikeLike
“Tri-Angle”
“Hi Ya Ya Ya”
“Rising Sun”
“Tonight”
“Dongbangui Tuhon”
“‘O’-Jung.Ban.Hap.”
“Balloons”
“Mirotic”
“Wrong Number”
“Keep Your Head Down”
“Before U Go”
“Catch Me”
“Humanoids”
“Something”
“Spellbound”
LikeLiked by 1 person
See, this is the kind of run that shows the limits of my approach to this post. Looking at that long list is just staggering — like, some of the best K-pop ever released.
It just so happened that some of these songs that I’d rate in the high 8’s (Wrong Number, Something, Tonight, etc) fall in spots that prevent TVXQ from racking up five or more 9’s in a row. It sucks, because this run is pretty damn legendary when looked at as a whole.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a solution,
Fighting spirits of the east
Purple Line (which I forgot)
O Jung Ban Hap
Balloons
Mirotic
Also feel sorry for SNUPER, Suju, and SNSD
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looking at this list gives me shivers. I mean a good title track being released one after the other each building up and establishing a group’s image? There’s honestly nothing better.
LikeLiked by 4 people
It’s really interesting to see how you shift between Navillera and Rough as Gfriends peak! Gfriend and Infinite’s imperial phases are the only ones where almost every song would get a 10 from me, with Glass bead being the exception for Gfriend and The eye, Destiny and Bad being the exceptions for INFINITE.
In my opinion, 9muses 2011-2013 would also stand up there with the best.
Figaro – NEWS – Ticket – Dolls – Wild – Gun
With NEWS being the Peak for me!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Now you…….. have taste!!
LikeLike
Yes! I was quite surprised that they didn’t make it (although it’s maybe possible that Dolls doesn’t exactly hit the 9 mark).
LikeLike
What about VIXX?
On & On – Hyde – GR8U – Only U – Voodoo Doll – Eternity – Error.
I didn’t go back and look at your rankings but imo these are all classics. I may be extremely biased though since they’re my ult group. Also for EXO how come Miracles in December is missing?
LikeLiked by 2 people
AGREE!!!! was hoping so much VIXX would be on this list. being a VIXX fan circa 2013/2014 was SUCH a good time, every release went beyond expectations
LikeLike
Definitely Bigbang and SHINee there. I’d say it’s only nostalgia, but I think these, specially SHINee’s, are some of the most powerful songs in K-pop.
I still don’t get Sherlock though, sorry (whenever it begins I think they’re gonna sing Spoiler, which suits me a lot more.), so it’s a 5-song run for me.
Now that I know about it, I think B1A4 easily make my third place, too.
LikeLike
Wow… so many of these songs are legendary classics. Makes me wonder if we’ll ever see anything of the sort again?
LikeLike
I have so many groups but I will do my favorites(They are not in order):
5 SONG RUN
———————
Kara:
Pandora
Damaged Lady
Mamma Mia
Lupin
The Peak : Step
Nine Muses :
Hurt Locker
Ticket
Wild
News
The Peak : Figaro
6 SONG RUN
——————-
Beast:
Beautiful Night
Fiction
Good Luck
Breathe
Ribbon
The Peak: Shadow
B.A.P:
One Shot
Stop It
Feel So Good
Power
Angel
The Peak: Warrior
2NE1:
Lonely
Ugly
I am The Best
Missing You
Come Back Home
The Peak : I Love You
Block B:
H.E.R
Jackpot
NaliNa
Nillili Mambo
Be The Light
The Peak: Very Good
7 SONG RUN
———————
100%:
Missing You
U Beauty
Want U Back
Bad Boy Beat
Sketch U
The Peak: Better Day
BigBang:
Love Song
Fantastic Baby
Bad Boy
Blue
Let’s Not Fall In Love
Haru Haru
The Peak: Monster
Seventeen:
BoomBoom
Adore U
Don’t Wanna Cry
Very Nice
Clap
Pretty U
The Peak: Mansae
Astro:
Baby
Crazy,Sexy,Cool
Cat Eyes
Confession
Breathless
Always You
The Peak: Hide and Seek
Boys Republic:
Hello
The Real One
Get Down
Orange Sky
Dress Up
Party Rock
The Peak: You Are Special
9 SONG RUN
———————-
BTS:
Run
Dope
War of Hormone
Danger
Fire
Save Me
Blood , Sweat and Tears
Boy In Luv
The Peak : I Need U
EXO:
What Is Love
Love Me Right
Growl
History
Wolf
Overdose
Call Me Baby
Lucky One
The Peak : Mama
VIXX:
On and On
Eternity
Dynamite
G.R.8.U
Rock Ur Body
Hyde
Love Equation
The Peak : Error
10 SONG RUN
————————
NCT ( ALL UNITS):
My First and Last
We Young
Limitless
Chewing Gum
Super Human
Highway To Heaven
Baby Don’t Stop
Boom
Switch
The Peak: Without You
Shinee:
Good Evening
View
Married to the Music
Dream Girl
Why So Serious
Replay
Everybody
Lucifer
Tell Me What to do
The Peak: Sherlock
11 SONG RUN
———————
Infinite:
Be Mine
Paradise
Man In Love
Destiny
Last Romeo
Nothing’s Over
Before The Dawn
Come Back Again
Bad
The Eye
The Peak: The Chaser
12 SONG RUN
———————————-
B1A4 ( My Favorite Group of All time!!):
Baby Good Night
Sweet Girl
A Lie
Solo Day
Beautiful Target
O.K.
Rollin
Baby I’m Sorry
Tried To Walk
Only Learned Bad Things
Lonely
The Peak: What’s Happening
LikeLiked by 3 people
Maybe it’s my bias speaking, but ATEEZ seems to be gearing up for a VERY strong singles run. All their title tracks have gotten 9+ for me so far. Looking forward to ITZY and TXT too. Stray Kids are one of my ults too, and I’m excited to see what they’ll do in the future.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even though they’ve only been around for a close to two years now I would say Ateez. Especially due to the fact that they’ve released do title tracks twice. So Treasure > Pirate King > Say My Name > Illusion > Wave > Wonderland > Answer. At such a young age Ateez I believe started out their career with an imperial phase. Hoping this will continue with their next comeback 🤞
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know your rating system and the other criteria is probably what prevented a lot of groups from being on this list. That said, it just feels wrong that groups like SNSD and T-ara. I think it’s rather ironic that Sistar had a streak of nine number one songs, and they still didn’t make the list.
LikeLike
Fuck Savage, man. A.C.E’s discography would otherwise be my runaway favorite in the entire industry. But alas, that only numbers 4 songs before Savage took it for a nosedive.
SISTAR, though!
So Cool > Alone > Loving U > Give It to Me > Touch My Body > I Swear > Shake It > I Like That
Monstrous.
LikeLike
Also, fingers crossed for ITZY, who released 3-for-3 9+ songs for me so far.
LikeLike
Agreeing with some comments above, i would have added VIXX, 100%, T ara, and f(x) for at least the 5 singles lists. i love being reminded of the 2ne1/infinite singles runs, i remember being so excited for each release and making a big deal out of watching the mvs as soon as they came out and being genuinely blown away by some of them (hello, destiny? last romeo?). good times
LikeLike
Seems like every group i could think of gets mentioned by everybody, so…..
Sunmi || 5 Songs Run
24 Hours > Full moon > Gashina > Heroine > Siren
LikeLiked by 1 person
The fact that I haven’t listened to half of these means that I have some serious catching up to do. Also it really excites thinking of the artists that might join this list in the future
LikeLike
Nine Muses is left out in the cold AGAIN ;____;
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a huge 2PM fan so I’m 100% biased but you have to admit their entire Korean singles run (except for Promise (I’ll Be)) are stone cold classics.
10 out of 10 -> Again and Again -> Heartbeat -> Without U -> I’ll Be Back (even Don’t Stop Can’t Stop, promoted at the same time is an underrated gem) -> Hands Up -> ADTOY/Comeback When You Hear This Song -> Go Crazy -> My House
It’s actually insane to me how so many of these songs are songs that almost all kpop fans would know
LikeLike
BoA’s Korean discography alone this past decade: look at the material!
Hurricane Venus
Copy & Paste
Only One
The Shadow
Disturbance
Where Are You
Kiss My Lips
Camo
Nega Dola
One Shot Two Shot
Woman
Feedback (I keep coming back to this one lately- it’s a grower)
Starry Night
I suppose Only One would be her peak here but she has consistently released bops since. Can honestly say I love all these songs (with Disturbance being my weakest link). Highly anticipating her 20th anniversary album this year !
LikeLike
AOA
Confused->Miniskirt->Short Hair->Like a cat->Heart Attack
LikeLiked by 1 person
Apink’s 5 song run of My My, Hush, No No No, Mr Chu and Luv is stiff to miss out. That’s some essential kpop there that brought the lighthearted concept back into vogue. Throw in I Don’t know and Remember and you could even sneak it into the 7 run bracket.
LikeLike
Why did it stop at Pandora? I think Damaged Lady and Mamma Mia were excellent too.
LikeLike
I’ve come back here to mention that Sistar deserves a place in this list!
Alone > Loving U > Give It To Me > Touch My Body > I Swear > Shake It.
It’s six 9+ singles one after the other!
LikeLike