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Top K-Pop Songs of 2023 (So Far)

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Bias List Mid-Year Best OfI’m heartened by the fact that only two (!) of my top ten singles of 2022 were released before the month of July.

That’s a pretty striking figure, and one I can easily see replicating this year. It’s no secret that I’ve been underwhelmed by the first six months of 2023. It’s not that K-pop quality has been universally terrible. There have been many decent songs. There just haven’t been many standouts that get me excited about where the industry is going.

With that hesitant introduction, I’m here to share my favorite songs of 2023 so far. I plan on doing the same for J-pop and global pop in the coming days, but today it’s all about K-pop.

The list isn’t very long this year, and there’s only one song I would lock into my top ten right now. Two or three others might get there in time, depending on the strength of the next few months. I’ll let you guess which song(s) I’m talking about 🙂

What were your favorite singles during the first half of 2023?

TOP SINGLES

IVE – I Am

An undisputed knockout from one of the most consistent groups in the industry. The final chorus is pop excellence, delivering a guitar-fueled climax worth waiting for. (full review)

Key – Killer

Key continues to expand his worldview, embracing synthwave for this propulsive stunner. At this point, he’s mastered this sound. (full review)

SHINee – The Feeling

SHINee’s pre-release turned out to be the finest moment on their new album. The Feeling is an absolute joy bomb, stuffed with thumping percussion and muted brass flourishes. (full review)

Tempest – Dangerous

I’ll always be a sucker for a robust funk beat, and Tempest delivered the most head-nodding groove of the spring. Its bounding energy became a staple on my playlist. (full review)

U-KISS – The Wonderful Escape

Second-gen sounds return with this bombastic dance track. It’s so nice to hear an older group embrace upbeat energy, putting it all on the line with powerful vocals and unyielding pace. (full review)

OTHER SONGS I ENJOYED

aespa – Spicy

(full review)

B.I – Die For Love (ft. Jessi)

(full review)

CRAVITY – Groovy

(full review)

from20 – Bad Revenge

(full review)

NCT Dream – Broken Melodies

(full review)

STAYC – Teddy Bear

(full review)

The Wind – Island

(full review)

39 thoughts on “Top K-Pop Songs of 2023 (So Far)”

    • Love seeing that Pierre Blanche Phantom remix on this playlist, it was shockingly good. Confirmed how I felt when Phantom came out, which is that it has good bones and the guys did a great job with it, but the arrangement was just a little flat.

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      • I agree! And it’s an SM remix of all things! Usually I have to turn to fan-made ones. My only gripe with it is that it could have gone to 5-6 minutes total – it was so hypnotic.

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  5. Top 10 (alternating)

    Onew – Circle
    Seventeen – Dust
    Tan – Fix You
    Cravity – A to Z
    Key – Killer
    fromis_9 – Attitude
    Team 23:00 (DGNA) – Chamomile
    NCT Dream – Tangerine Love
    Monsta X – Beautiful Liar
    Moonbin and Sanha – Your Day

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  6. My top 10 so far (in no particular order):

    1. Super – Seventeen (I’m usually not a fan of this style but this song is a HUGE exception. Wonwoo’s opening verse is such a pull, Vernon’s lines is so catchy, and the choreography is such a treat to watch.)

    2. Wind and Wish – BTOB (I love the euphoric chorus. The verses are mixed-bag but that bridge made up for it.)

    3. I Am – IVE (This is the best K-Pop song of the year, so far. Perfection.)

    4. Shining Bright – CSR (You better sing, girls! That chorus is heaven…)

    5. Spring Breeze – Jaehwan (The whistle hook is probably the only thing that sticks with me but this song gives me comfort everytime I listen to it.)

    6. Without U – Yuju (Yuju is my ult, I love her voice. Pair it with a sentimental, heart-wrenching song and I’m sold.)

    7. Teddy Bear – STAYC (That chorus is a winner. The raps are also fun highlights.)

    8. Rose Blossom – H1-KEY (At first listens, I found this song underwhelming. But the melodies wormed their ways into my head and now, I’m rooting for Hwiseo and Riina in the Queendom Puzzle.)

    9. Twinkle Twinkle – ILY:1 (Joint forces with CSR for bringing back the Christian Horse Girl music. That chorus is a bliss.)

    10. VIBE – Taeyang ft. Jimin (The melody is soooo sticky. I find the dynamic verses better than the chorus, but either way, I will dance to it because it’s such a, you know it, vibe.)

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    • why it took me so long to listen to Rose Blossom? I can’t understand myself, I just did it yesterday and I adore it, the lyrics are fantastic!
      *Btw i’m also rooting for Hwiseo and Riina in QP

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      • Yeah, the lyrics is so inspring…

        H1-KEY girls have so much potential. Hwiseo is a triple threat and Riina have charisma for days. My picks so far in QP are Kei (main vocal), Yeeun (main rapper), Juri (variety), Nana (it girl), Suyun (great performer) and the H1-KEY girls.

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  7. my top 5 favorite singles so far are
    1. I AM – IVE
    2. Broken Melodies – NCT DREAM
    3. Spicy – aespa
    4. Kitsch – IVE
    5. Perfume – NCT DOJAEJUNG

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  9. Every once in a while my list making tendencies kick into overdrive and produce The Unnecessarily Thorough List.
    This is one of those times.

    ~Goyangi’s Mid-Year K-pop Assessment~

    *b-sides are denoted with asterisks

    On Repeat:
    🔹DreamNote – Lemonade (I’ve been under its spell for weeks)
    🔹NCT Dream – Broken Melodies (probably the most excited I’ve gotten over a song this year lol)
    🔹JuJu Secret – Lonely Night (a lovely good time. Did not know Park Jin-joo also sings)
    💎SHINee – Identity, Like It*, Sweet Misery* (still in recovery from SHINee 127, but I will snatch these three and run into the night thank you)
    🔹Agust D, Woosung – Snooze* (not quite First Love greatness but comes decently close)
    🔹The Wind – With us* (very baby boy, but the soaring sung togetherness!)
    🔹Xdinary Heroes – Freakin’ Bad (it’s not my fault they keep coming with the guilty pleasure hits)

    Also half decent:
    💎SHINee – The Feeling, Satellite* (in 2023, these will also pass)
    🔸BLITZERS – Question Mark* (omo a song sung in a decent register! Very refreshing)
    🔸BXB – Fly Away (harkens to former times)
    🔸Dreamcatcher – Propose,* Bonvoyage, Reason (points for consistency and committing to concept)
    🔸TRENDZ – New Dayz (idk the chorus keeps playing in my head unsummoned)
    🔸Changmin, Ha Hyun Woo – Hybrid (all hail the power rock vocals)
    🔸IVE – Blue Blood*, I Am, Not That Girl* (a dramatic announcement of arrival, a final chorus worthy of the name, & a moment of happy summer girl pop)
    🔸DAWN – Dear My Light (oh man. The breakup song has arrived. He’s got a bit of that “when YG rappers sing” thing going on which is always nice)
    🔸1CHU – Siren (the unique vocals!)
    🔸Taeyang – Seed, Nightfall* (the vocals more so than the songs, but also a little bit of the songs. Does not touch RISE album though)
    🔸KEY – Heartless,* Easy*
    🔸TWICE – Blame it On Me* (rock Twice!)
    🔸n.SSign – Monologue (what in the EXO is this?! Who are these people?)
    🔸Purple Kiss – Sweet Juice, Autopilot* (continuing to build their half-haunted house then breaking for some synth-y goodness)
    🔸REN – Autofill
    🔸U-KISS – The Wonderful Escape (Indeed. The wonderful escape from current gimmicks and trends. Infinite and Teen Top, please take note)
    🔸B.I – The Island of Misfit Toys,* Beautiful Life (feat. Crying Nut),* Michelangelo*

    I might like these a little bit please don’t tell anybody:
    ▫️ATEEZ – BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS) (Halazia and This World are superior of course, but this is a riot. It has a magnetic absurdity that I can’t resist)
    ▫️P1Harmony – Jump (JUMP!)
    ▫️xikers – Rockstar* (FEELING LIKE A ROCK STAR)
    ▫️NMIXX – Young, Dumb, Stupid (🤷‍♀️ I have nothing to say for myself)

    uh.….no thank you:
    ▪️NewJeans – OMG (something about this is almost physically repulsive. Especially when paired with the mv)
    ▪️GOT the Beat – Stamp On It (The worst iteration of the SM sound. Terrible in every way)
    ▪️Twice – Moonlight Sunrise (just…no)
    ▪️Taeyong – SHALALA (imagine taking the worst bits of 127 and making a whole song of just that. At least I don’t have to worry about the good bits being ruined)
    ▪️TXT – Happy Fools* (breaking out in hives)
    ▪️XODIAC – Throw a Dice (ugh)
    ▪️Stray Kids – S-Class (I can’t with these people anymore)
    ▪️I would say Kai – Rover but it kinda makes me laugh so I can’t be too much annoyed with it

    Stop the presses we have a great album:
    🎸WOODZ – OO-LI (continuing on his rock journey bless him)
    💎 SHINee – IDENTITY – The 8th…Not Quite Album

    (There, I fixed it)

    Not quite stop the presses worthy but still pleasant/a cut above the company/did not send me into a coma:
    ⭕️ ONEW – Circle (this has grown into one of my favorite releases this year. It’s nothing flashy, but there’s something so comforting/calming about it and I keep coming back. It’s hard to pick particular songs to shout out because it’s one of those albums that feels like it should be consumed as a whole, but Expectations is a highlight every time I spin it)
    🔑fromis_9 – Unlock My World (don’t care for Wishlist, but the rest is nice especially Attitude, In the Mirror, What I Want, Eye Contact)
    🏡BOYNEXTDOOR – WHO! (I need to hear more, but I thought this was a fun start. I can hear the Zico which is a plus in my book)

    Random shout-outs:
    🔺Thank you, BLITZERS, for injecting a little bit of silliness back into Kpop (Macarena song, mv, relay dance, it’s Live, etc). They really committed to this, bless them.
    🔺iKON’s U & Tantara mvs for being fun and nostalgic feeling. One of my favorite types of mvs will always be the running free with the bffs ones.
    🔺CIX’s Save me, kill me’s dark, dramatic storyline mv. My other favorite kind of mv. This one’s almost too dark though. But they’re so rare these days I gotta appreciate what I get.
    🔺BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS) & Already Go Ready for being real titles to real songs. I love Kpop.
    🔺That one girl in Fifty Fifty with the really lovely, unique voice.
    🔺The floor work in Dream’s Broken Melodies choreo!
    🔺Lee Chaeyeon for the fun mv (Knock)
    🔺JTBC’s Peak Time for being a well executed survival show with good vibes
    🔺Song (Yunhyeong) for throwing a full-on trot song in the middle of iKON’s album. It might be my favorite one on there haha
    🔺BTOB’s appearance on Killing Voice!!!! Long live BTOB vocals.
    🔺BOYNEXTDOOR and &TEAM for bringing The One Girl back in their mvs.
    🔺Also &TEAM’s Firework mv is kinda stunning? Hybe has their moments sometimes I begrudgingly admit. The song kinda slaps too…
    🔺Last but definitely not least.…Taeyong’s Ay-Yo hair

    Stay tuned to see if I have the energy to do this again at the end of the year…

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  10. xikers’ Rockstar at the top for me. It’ s not just my favorite song of the year so far, but it’s also somehow grown into an easy top ten contender for any song I’ve ever heard. I’ve listened to it like fifty times already, but I still get chills.

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  11. I just recently commented my favourite stuff of the year so far on Reddit as well so this is really great timing hehe.

    I’m with Nick and most others here that I AM and The Wonderful Escape are a clear cut above the rest. Them alongside PLAVE’s Wait For You and The Wind’s Sirius (thank fuck it’s a full track 😭) would form my top four of the year as of now 🤩

    Speaking of PLAVE, here’s a couple more virtual artist highlights that would be top ten for me:
    🔒 ADDICT!ON by Airi Kanna – a very satisfying Odo-like, equal parts tongue-in-cheek and ethereal complete with charismatic vocals
    ✨ Like a star by GIRL’S RE:VERSE – just downright gorgeous

    Songs that received middling fanfare on this blog which I personally love:
    🕊 FREEDOM by JOOHONEY – I love his style
    🌶 BOUNCY by ATEEZ – …truly the guiltiest of all pleasures, kinda hate how fond I am of this one to be honest

    Further proof of Edenary magic:
    🌏 BONVOYAGE by Dreamcatcher – they don’t disappoint
    🤘 ROCKSTAR by xikers – cannot stop replaying this one

    Personal favourite b-sides not featured as buried treasures here:
    🚙 TRIP by YOUNITE – the vibes are so damn good here
    ❤️‍🩹 Busted by WOODZ – great compelling ferocity to it

    Lastly, I just want to highlight this cheesy dance track because it’s some of the most quirky and unhinged fun I have had with the genre in a while 🤭

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  12. Key – Killer
    Yena – Wicked Love
    IVE – I AM
    The Wind – I Will Give You the Light
    ILY:1 – Twinkle Twinkle
    Huh Yunjin – I ≠ DOLL
    Fifty Fifty – Cupid
    CSR – Shining Bright
    from20 – Bad Revenge
    Vanillare – Life Sentence

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  13. I felt like last year our tastes aligned very closely (RoaD-B, OnlyOneOf, Golden Child, NewJeans), but this year my favorites so far are much different from yours.

    1. NewJeans’ Ditto. It came out in late December last year, and it’s still my favorite tune of 2023. The two music videos are easily my favorite MVs of the year as well. When the song came out, I felt it was slight and not up to the standards of Hype Boy and Attention; I never imagined it could have the staying power that it’s had over me.

    2. Nine (OnlyOneOf)’s beyOnd. I loved the Underground Idol series, and their last entry from early January put an exclamation point on what I consider to be their finest work.

    Others that I’ve loved so far include Yeeun’s Strange Way to Love, LE SSERAFIM – Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife, JuJu Secret – Lonely Night, Jimin’s two singles, Purple Kiss’ Autopilot & Sweet Juice. A tune or two by SHINee might be among my favorite as well, they just haven’t sunk in yet, it’s been a busy month of moving and whatnot.

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  14. Just listing favs in release order:

    – Ditto – Newjeans (probably the only song i love love from them)
    – Teddy Bear – StayC (it’s cute!)
    – O (Circle) – Onew (beautiful, don’t listen to it unless i’m in the mood but a perfect song for a gloomy day)
    – Rover – Kai (ass shaker + good performance, what can i say)
    – Perfume – NCT DJJ (very fun and one of the few promising nct projects as of late)
    – A couple of good IVE bsides (Cherish, Lips, Hypnosis)
    – Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife – LSF (ass shaker, once again)
    – Spicy – Aespa (huge bias coming in here, but also i love hold on tight a lot)
    – Bite Me – Enhyphen (not a great song, but it’s catchy and short)
    – Bon Voyage – Dreamcatcher (perfect song, along with Daemon)

    Hoping that the EXO title track turns the fuck out + I’m really looking forward to Chen’s (if nothing happens) supposed rock album in Japan.

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  15. I have pretty much the same list, so I’LL JUST ADD a few songs that are definitely going to be on my top 20 so far this year:

    – Max Changmin x Ha Hyun Woo – Hybrid
    – CSR – Shining Bright
    – Yaeji – Done (Let’s Get It)
    – JISOO – All eyes on me
    – JuJu Secret – Lonely Night
    – Kep1er – Back to the city
    – Aespa – Welcome to my world
    – Hi-Fi Un!corn – Over the rainbow

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  16. I will add to the Onew O/Circle love here too, easily has a place on my half-year list.

    At top of my list is Forestella “Utopia” from late Dec22. Of all the Forestella songs, I don’t even like it that much, but apparently, I listen to it rather often. It sounds like a bonkers Abba Eurovision Queen wannabe rock opera song and more, with bucu melodyne building up their trademark four part harmony. Maybe it’s all the glissadi. ‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C6e5DQUalg

    I lie. At top of my list is Depeche Mode “Ghosts Again, but that is not kpop.

    Others:
    SF9 Puzzle
    SF9 Tight
    Monsta X Beautiful Liar
    TAN “Fix You”
    Blitzers “Macarena”
    “beat” by someone named mill, with a lowercase m. I don’t know who this is, but this is my Do Han Se fill in flash rap for this year.

    Last but not least, my spicy food song of the half-year = “Cheetos” by someone named YongYong, just edging out Mark I don’t know how to make eggs. I’m spicy chee toes! I am seriously addicted to this song. hot! hot!

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  17. My Highlights:

    💕Titles:
    Aimers – Fireworks
    Blitzers – Macarena
    Xodiac – Special Love
    NCT Dream – Broken Melodies
    TAN – Fix You
    IVE – Iam

    💕Honorables:
    Monsta X – Beautiful Lies
    BxB – Fly Away

    💕Solos:
    From20 – Bad Revenge
    HelloGloom – Eyes on Me
    Woodz – Journey
    Ash Island – Wonder
    JunHyung – Post It
    Bobby – Cherry Blossoms

    💕BSides:
    Shinee- Satellite
    Xeed – Stargazing
    OnlyOneOf – BlueBlueSeoul
    Jihoon – Crashing For

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  18. Pretty sad that this is all we got so far. Hopefully the second half turns up. Im grateful for the few gems we’ve already received

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  19. Some great gems, thanks for sharing your lists! I’ve been too preoccupied and delighted by SHINee’s comeback album, HARD, that I havent ventured out. It seems my favorites are rotating daily. Currently 10X, Insomnia, Identity, Like It, and Gravity are at the top, interspersed with the solo work from Onew, Key, and Minho. Of course, I’m looking forward to Taemin’s imminent comeback as well. (Somehow I’ve been dancing to Juice and HARD alot lately!)

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  20. Honestly? I’ve just been regressing into my early teen years – I’ve been listening to a lot of Taylor Swift and One Direction members (especially Nialls new album).

    In terms of kpop, SHINee’s album is growing on me more and more. I think it’ll be a standout of the year for me. The only songs that really stuck with me otherwise are IVE’s, especialy I Am and After Like.

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  21. This is a weird year where all my favorite songs are B Sides. Twice’s Got The Thrills, VIVIZ Vanila Sugar Killer, SHINee’s Satellite, Kep1er’s Back To The City, NewJeans OMG, and IVE’s Lips and Blue Blood are some of the songs I’ve either listened to the most this year. I also really love CSR’s Shining Bright. Cotton Candy by Jinyoung I couldn’t recommend hard enough. I LOVE that song with all my heart and soul. VIXX’s Gonna Be Alright is also really really good. Everything else I think was already mentioned. I’m happy with this year so far. Some title tracks fell flat for me but almost always a bside fixes it. I have no complaints so far.

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