The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, we’ll 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 track or promotional video between Dec. 1st, 2019 and Nov. 30th, 2020.
Curious about last year’s countdown? Check out the masterpost here!
Previously: Honorable Mentions // 50-41
40. StayC – So Bad
Given the pedigree of their production team, StayC’s debut was always going to be great. But, the girls’ robust suite of vocal tones buoyed So Bad’s already catchy hooks, making this retro track a real grower. (full review)
39. Treasure – Boy
Though not perfect, Boy has moments of absolute greatness. And, even its awkward, overly-cluttered turns revealed their charm with time. The song is like the aural equivalent to adolescent growing pains – perfect for a debut group like Treasure. (full review)
38. The Midnight Romance – Midnight Romance
The Midnight Romance announced themselves with a self-titled track, and repeated their moniker often just in case you didn’t get it the first time. But, frontman Minue has definitely found his sweet spot with this style of hazy synth rock. (full review)
37. SSAK3 – Beach Again
SSAK3 was 2020’s most unlikely sensation – a teaming of two K-pop legends and the “Nation’s MC” for a summer-themed unit group with a 90’s flair. Beach Again captured that energy perfectly, and has already established itself as a new summer classic. (full review)
36. SuperM – One (Monster & Infinity)
SuperM’s One has its (incredibly) cheesy moments, but as soon as the track climaxes in its towering, synth-fueled finale, it’s hard not to get swept away in just how awesome SM’s musical super powers can be. (full review)
35. GHOST9 – Think Of Dawn
Following in ATEEZ’s bombastic footsteps, GHOST9 debuted with the aggressive dance-pop stomp of Think of Dawn. Its lumbering structure holds a few surprises – chief amongst them that soaring, anthemic chorus. (full review)
34. UNVS – Sand Castle
Like many 2020 debuts, UNVS are still striving to claw their way to public recognition, and a laidback dance track like Sand Castle really should have accomplished that. Released at the wrong time of the year, this has summer written all over it. (full review)
33. ITZY – Wannabe
After a stellar 2019, breakout rookies ITZY made a strong return with the big, ballsy Wannabe. The song draws upon everything that makes the group great – dynamic hooks, brilliant energy, and attitude to spare. (full review)
32. Jeong Sewoon – Say Yes
A bit of a sleeper hit for me, Jeong Sewoon’s Say Yes had just the kind of funky synth energy I was craving this summer. The track reinvented his music with a more electronic bent, but his warm vocals retained a strong sense of personality. (full review)
31. CRAXY – Aria
Though CRAXY didn’t go on to release anything else of note in 2020, the bonkers Aria still stands as an impactful moment. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying the sheer energy that this hybrid-fusion-whatever-you-want-to-call-it oddball supplies. (full review)
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I am scared for Answer and Scream now… I love both songs! And I still can’t believe March went down like that…
but There are tons of songs which I thought wasn’t gonna come to the list..
Maybe you should call 2020. the Year of “Growers”
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Quick Question Nick, how many of these songs would make it onto your Top 50 K-pop Songs of 2019?
Just want to compare both years quality
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Yass, So bad it´s one of my favorites!!! I like Wannabe and i don´t understand its epicness with the dance and all, but i like Not Shy better… I know i´m alone on this haha.
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i meant “I understand its epicness”
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I really thought Wannabe would be in The Top 20 or Top 10!!!!!
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Now it’s time to switch my opinion , I guess.
Wannabe you were practically such an amazing song but writing is too influential , you are now Deemed Top 40…. O-K-A-Y, Top 30..
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No need to switch your opinion on account of me! My taste definitely does not equal everyone’s taste 😉
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I was joking, of course😅
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but aside from that, I just hope you know that your writing is great! I don’t know the reason but there is something so…… Amazing about it.
Just read this post of yours! It’s so Awesome! This is such a great analysis:https://thebiaslist.com/2020/07/31/the-100-best-k-pop-songs-of-all-time-number-1/
Also I know words such as Cathartic , Potent , and Idiosyncratic and all of them are my favorite words. I know many music genres, your writing really does something that makes me approach these type of songs and listen to them with a clear ear.
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True Point!
Also, I never realized how much Nick uses those words. If you look at his Alienhits writing, he uses propulsion a lot too lol.
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Yes, I certainly have my favorite words! haha
But, those words tend to sum up my taste in music as well.
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Oh No…..
I was hoping Aria would make the top 10, I absolutely adore that song, and I am just sad it did not break into at least the top 15…..
Also, surprised to see Wannabe and Midnight Romance so low, this was a shocking moment…
Oh, and last night, I had a distorted nightmare of the real world. It was weird and creepy. Don’t believe me, IZ*ONE’s Vampire topped yours, Kbopped’s, and Kpopreviewed’s top songs of 2020 countdown, talk about creepy!!!
March Peak: No.31 – Craxy – Aria
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Oh, and I have started my own end of year lists with the top rookies of 2020!!!
Please check it out: https://108ent.blogspot.com/2020/12/top-25-rookies-of-2020-honorable.html
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Sewoon literally just dropped a ‘coming soon’ hint for Part 2 of his album, what timing haha. I’m very excited for it, I prefer his calmer music but in general I just really like his voice.
This blog introduced me to the Midnight Romance and I’m so glad for it, their kind of dreamy synth music has been absolutely riveting for me so thank you!
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Well, gosh darn it, time hurries on, and here we are three days into the top hits of 2020, and I have only now started making my own list,
I have StayC “So Bad”, Craxy “Aria” and Ghost9 “Think of Dawn” aka “Dig of Dug” all in the 20’s. The rest are alright.
Speaking of which, where is Craxy hiding out? Only one promotion for us this past year?
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They later released a song called ‘To Dante’, and a remake of a 90s track with pre-debut girls from the same agency, they also promoted ‘My Universe’ in February briefly. But still, none of those songs touch Aria
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Didn’t CRAXY tease a months-long promotional blitz this fall? I fear that they could be one of those under-the-radar groups whose career gets thwarted by Covid’s economic effects.
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Their agency have money, it was made by Indonesian billionaires I believe. I am hoping that they are just delayed an have even more epic comeback coming soon!
Either that or I am denying reality. But in 2020, we all have denied reality once…
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I just didn’t like Super M’s “One”! It doesn’t do much for me and while the chorus grew on me a little, the rest is forgettable noise. The cheesy intro also instantly puts me off.
Glad to see StayC’s “So Bad”! A great debut for the girls and that chorus is addictive.
Ooo and I made my first discovery! Really liked Jeong Sewoon’s “Say Yes”, so thanks for that Nick!
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Infinity is far superior to One in my book. The verses from Monster just ended up dragging the whole thing down a bit.
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Actually, the Monster verses ended up growing on me. I always liked One, but the Monster verses proved catchy, making the whole thing a grower.
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Glad to hear it! Say Yes is a great track. Album’s good, too. It’s very summery.
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I’m so glad Craxy made the list. They personally resparked my love of k-pop in 2020. Don’t get me started on that music video
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Glad to see Say Yes on here! Sewoon is at his best when he’s doing upbeat music.
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