At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade.
July 2023 Overall Thoughts
This July was characterized by several things, but on this blog it can best be described by the number “8.25”. Looking back at the month, I rated so many songs in this mid-to-lower “B” range, and that sums things up pretty well. By 2023 standards, July was slightly above average — nothing incredible, but highlighted by a handful of songs I liked quite a bit.
The “year of second-gen comebacks” continues, with new music from Bias List favorites Infinite, EXO and Teen Top, along with half of a Sistar reunion on member Soyou’s track and new material from 2NE1’s Sandara. Three out of five of these songs ended up underwhelming, and not necessarily the ones I would have expected (or wanted!). It’s great to have these second-gen legends back in the industry, but they’re at their best when leveraging their strengths rather than seeking to replicate trends that newer groups have already flooded the market with.
With this said, I’m kind of crestfallen that my all-time favorite group Infinite aren’t among my top three songs of the month — especially since I’ve waited so long for their return. New Emotions is fine, but there are at least five or six title tracks this July I’m more compelled to listen to.
(I honestly can’t believe I just wrote that…)
I guess it could be worse. EXO’s title track didn’t even make my honorable mentions!
On the plus side, I really like my top picks and there are some genuine contenders that exist just outside these three choices. Songs by Teen Top, NCT Dream and ZEROBASEONE all could have been chosen in a different month. Even though there weren’t any “knock my socks off” standouts this July, there was plenty of strong material. I waffled back and forth between my number one and two choices, but ultimately opted for the song that I think will have more staying power (and that I just can’t stop playing the past few days).
As has become the trend this year, J-pop’s month was more competitive. I’ve got six 9+ rated J-pop songs this month, meaning some highlights were inevitably left out of my top three. I’d encourage curious readers to check out Naniwa Danshi’s LAI-LA-LA, Ami Suzuki’s I Just Feel Good and Generations’ Beautiful Liar if you haven’t already. Recent songs by Fantastics, One Love One Heart and Snow Man may also get there eventually. I’m kind of cheating with my top pick, since its video came out in June. But with J-pop’s fluid release schedule I think I can get away with it!
I’m very much looking forward to August. Last year set a precedent that will be hard to match. Four of my top ten songs of 2022 came from the month of August, and I hope the same happens this year! There are numerous comebacks I’m anticipating in the next few days. At least one or two of them have to deliver, right?
Month Cumulative Rating: 7.8
(compiled by averaging the scores of every K-pop review from this month)
J-Pop Highlights
New & Noteworthy J-pop: Week One
New & Noteworthy J-pop: Week Two
New & Noteworthy J-pop: Week Three
New & Noteworthy J-pop: Week Four
New & Noteworthy J-pop: Week Five
TOP J-POP SONGS OF THE MONTH
2. XY – Crazy Love (review)
2. Travis Japan – Candy Kiss (review)
1. Tokyo Gegegay – Break The Romance (review)
K-POP
Honorable Mentions
(G)I-DLE – I Do (review)
ENHYPEN – One And Only (review)
HORI7ON – SIX7EEN (review)
ILY:1 – My Color (review)
Infinite – New Emotions (review)
IVE – I Want (review)
Jungkook – Seven (ft. Latto) (review)
Koyote – Wish (review)
NCT Dream – ISTJ (review)
NewJeans – ETA / Super Shy (review / review)
NMIXX – Roller Coaster (review)
n.SSign – Higher (review)
Oh My Girl – Summer Comes (review)
Saturday – Stay (review)
Teen Top – HWEEK (review)
ZEROBASEONE – In Bloom (review)
This Month’s Risers and Fallers
This Month’s Global Pop Round-Up
TOP THREE SONGS
3. Soyou – Aloha (ft. Bora) (review)
2. from20 – Beat It (review)
1. The Wind – Summer Vacation (review)
Top Three K-Pop Songs Of June 2023
Top Three K-Pop Songs Of May 2023
Top Three K-Pop Songs Of April 2023
Top Three K-Pop Songs Of March 2023
Top Three K-Pop Songs Of February 2023
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Not EXO being considered a “2nd-gen” group 😂😂.
I’m just glad we got to see a bunch of legendary groups release something over the past few months; they are well missed.
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Haha I guess they’re technically third, right? They’re definitely on the cusp. I still associate them so strongly with 2012-2013 which feels more like the tale end of 2nd gen to me.
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I think I am still mulling over the July releases for a real ranking, the few I did buy.
Except I will gladly list this Teen Top “HWeek sped up” version as crafted =just for me= and ranking quite high on the Personal Camp in Kpop short list. Like they heard me or something, going on again about something something analogue versus digital speed, 33 vs 45, yeah yeah all that.
Sharing, because sharing is caring.
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Here are some things I liked.
Oneus – Unforgettable
Odd Eye Circle – Love Me Like
SHINee – Juice
The Wind – Summer Vacation
EXO – Hear Me Out
NCT Dream – Starry Night and Pretzel
Xikers – Koong
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You threw that last one on just to spite me, didn’t you? Haha
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I actually like it. But then again I like Lay’s solo catalog a lot.
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Minus one point for Scalyyy
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I am LIT.
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In Bloom is an easy #1 for me, I honestly never expected to like it this much. the album is also my favorite bg release so far. #2 would be Roller Coaster by NMIXX and #3 ISTJ by NCT DREAM.
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And I like everything. Every time there is something new that leaves a mark on the heart.
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SEVENUS “Wonderland” deserves a spot. People stop sleeping on some talent
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OEC and NewJeans take the cake for me this month.
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putting a group of children as your number one song and this incessant complaining about infinite is pretty petulant. you’d think somebody of your age would learn how to accept the better things – most groups don’t even make it to this point. anyways, curious to see what you rate Time Difference, if you can even tone the passive aggression down enough to give it a timely release. disappointed in how much this page has gone down the drain
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I don’t know what my top song of the month has to do with my thoughts on Infinite’s new single, but whatever…
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roller coaster and summer vaca are THE warm weather bops.
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1. Shownu & Hyungwon (MonstaX – Love Me A Little – I thought it was fantastic and suited both of them very well.
2. From20- Beat It
I’m in love
3. NCT Dream – ISTJ
Very Kpop
HM: 2. TeenTop – Hweek
Fun and catchy
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