The Bias List is a K-pop blog that also covers a fair amount of J-pop. But just like most music fans, I enjoy tracks from all around the world. So, I thought I’d start a monthly round-up of some of the non-K-pop songs that have caught my ear. No ratings — just highlights!
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Addison Rae – Aquamarine
A bit subdued, but this is a pretty good example of that specific vibe.
Andreas Lundstedt – Just Like That (I Like It) (ft. Alcazar)
Look, I’ll take new Alcazar crumbs where I can get them, and this is a disco-tastic burst of fun.
Benjamin Ingrosso – Angela / Back To You
Ingrosso released one of my favorite albums of the year last month. I want to spotlight two b-sides that are each incredible. Angela is perfect pop with a very ABBA-esque melodic sheen. Back To You is propulsive drama at its best.
Blusher – Somebody New
This really gets going during the chorus.
Chrissy Chlapecka – I Only Want You
This is such a jam. The beat has such a funky punch, melding 80’s with early-2000’s pop.
Ellen Benediktson – Catch Me
A great 80’s influenced synth banger.
Julie Bergan – Get It Together
She continues to lean further into high-octane club music.
Käärijä – Autiomaa / Ready To Go
I didn’t love many of his post-Eurovision singles but the album is actually quite strong. Autiomaa is a great atmospheric synth track while Ready To Go is an adrenaline-pumping album opener.
Lady Gaga – Disease
I should love this since it hearkens back to my favorite Born This Way sound, but the song itself isn’t doing too much for me. I really hope I love the upcoming album because I miss her pop persona so much.
Lil Nas X – Light Again!
This is an improvement over recent material but still not up there with his best. I’m cautiously optimistic, though.
Marcus & Martinus vs VIZE – Another Life
A very typical Euro-dance sound, but I’ll always enjoy songs like this.
Rose Gray – Wet & Wild
Her upcoming album is shaping up to be a real treat. This is another crazy-catchy dance track with 90’s undertones.
Sadye – Kiss Of Death
Thanks to the reader who recommended Sadye to me because she makes great pop music!
The Weeknd – São Paulo (ft. Anitta)
The vibe is great but I wish this song had a structure that felt more focused. I’m a little confused about the direction of his upcoming album, to be honest.
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I really like that Weeknd track. 2 of the 3 singles really work for me, and I think I’ll probably end up liking this album much more than the previous one, which didn’t do that much for me – it was a bit too much on the saccharine side of 80s pop for me – closer to The Girl Is Mine than Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.
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Haven’t gotten around to listening to their album from this year yet but I heard this song from salute (with Jessie Ware!) that’s been scratching an itch for me this week. Their song with Rina Sawayama is also really good!
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Not a new song by any means, but I rediscovered this old favourite recently and I can’t get over the synths:
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Also, Benjamin Ingrosso’s Back to You is sooo good, it sounds like a modern update to Richard Marx’s Should Have Known Better, which is also a very old favourite of mine. That piano!
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Not new but Jessie J’s ‘I Want Love’ has been my latest obsession. Underappreciated vocal powerhouse. Feel good pop.
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She’s so good! Domino is still one of those songs that makes me feel like I’m about to burst with happiness. What a sugar rush.
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This is niiiice! Also I really appreciate sharing songs that we’re obsessed with this month in addition to the new releases we love.
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I can’t believe you mentioned that horrible song by The Weekend
Anitta’s excerpt is terrible, the clip is terrible. And the worst part is that, being Brazilian, I understand everything she says and it gets worse 💀
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I will write about Kaarija below, but I am way too excited to share.. my November favourites!
Dystopia – ONE OK ROCK I’m sorry to my poor neighbors, but I promise I’m not always belting out this chorus on purpose. It’s a straightforward song, but somehow entirely stuck in my head. This was the final push for me to properly listen to the band’s entire discography, and in only a few days I believe I can now almost call myself a fan of theirs. I know, I am 10 years late! I’m sad about it too.
In My Bag – Meg Donnelly
I’m a bit ashamed to admit that I find a lot of new music via tiktok now, but for this song it feels appropriate: it has a super catchy chorus breakdown that became popular before the song was even out. I kind of expected the rest of the song to be underwhelming… but to my pleasant surprise it’s really quite good all the way through!
Back to Finland, Robin is releasing new stuff later this month! I’m //very// excited based on this preview.
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Ooh, I didn’t know we were getting new Robin. Exciting!
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Apologies for writing two comments, but it was getting thesis level long otherwise.
As someone who loves most of Käärijä’s discography, it is a crime that I haven’t listened to his album yet! Thank you for bringing it to my attention again.
Autiomaa– I love Käärijä for songs that go so hard, literally, that they deafen all of my thoughts. This song does not do that for me, not even at its most upbeat. It’s nice to see Käärijätry something a bit more moody and atmospheric, but it’s not for me.
Ready To Go – Now this is more my speed. I’m such a sucker for chant-along melodies and rock-infused beat drops. This had me dancing in my seat!
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Ugh, love the new Benjamin Ingrosso!!! It is such pop galore!
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It’s SO good. Every single song.
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Swinging back in to say I finally got around to listening to the new Käärijä album, and it’s probably immediately my album of the year. The effortless blend of pop melodies and growly rap on top of all that production??
Sex = Money is my highlight from it. That post-chorus is beautiful and one of the best musical surprises of the year for me.
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