I didn’t watch this season of Kingdom and don’t hold any particular allegiance to any of the participating groups, but I thought it might be fun to take a listen to the series’ original songs and do a little ranking anyway. Because I have no context around these releases, my opinions are entirely based on the music itself. Unfortunately, nothing stood out as an instant highlight. ONF’s New World remains the undisputed champion of Kingdom songs.

5. ONEUS – I Know You Know

Ooh, I like the dramatic flourishes that usher us into this track. The instrumental stabs do a great job capturing the theatricality of a show like Kingdom. Unfortunately, the song diminishes from there. Its chorus is among the worst in this list. Not only is the melody irritatingly repetitive, but the 80’s funk vocal effects don’t work within this genre at all. That’s a shame, because there’s a decent song buried somewhere in here.

4. The CrewOne – Hit The Floor

I’m already side-eyeing this song as the percussion starts. I feel like I’ve heard this exact tone countless times in other boy group efforts. The rhythm works well but the choice of instrumentation is a bit cloying. A bright pre-chorus switches things up before we move into an uninspired chorus. Weirdly, parts of the groove remind me of Blackstreet’s No Diggity, which only serves to showcase how dull Hit The Floor is in comparison.

3. YOUNITE – Faith

YOUNITE have the longest song of the bunch and also the most ambitious. Dramatic verses give way to a chugging chorus that quickly blooms into a vocal-heavy centerpiece. It’s a compelling sound but probably works better as a performance piece than a piece of music on its own. Faith loses momentum as it constantly shifts gears to accommodate what I assume will be great visuals. Melody takes a back seat to bombast, leaving little for listeners like me to grab hold of.

2. 8TURN – Speed Run

Like so many songs in this genre, Speed Run’s intro reminds me of old K-pop (H.O.T specifically). The guitar during the pre-chorus adds a welcome dose of funk and the vocals in the chorus are nice. The melodies aren’t doing much for me, but I’m happy the guys aren’t just shouting their way through the hook. Overall, this feels like a solid idea that could have used a few more revisions.

1. CRAVITY – Historia

This song feels a bit more subdued from the start, but its gradual build soon leads to a dramatic chorus that unfolds with weight and theatricality. Historia continues to grow from here, navigating a tricky second verse on its way toward a standout bridge. Nothing here stands out as particularly amazing, but in a very weak set of songs I think this is my favorite. That’s mainly down to its vocal-heavy chorus. It’s the only track that feels anchored by a satisfying centerpiece.