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, follow-up or promotional video between Dec. 1st, 2023 and Nov. 30th, 2024.
Curious about past countdowns? Check out the masterpost here!
Honorable Mentions
Songs 50-41
Songs 40-31
Songs 30-21
Songs 20-11
10. Hello Gloom – Mamacita
House tracks are a dime a dozen these days, but many stake their claim on an instrumental centerpiece or – even worse – a repetitive anti-drop suitable for background music at a chic department store. Mamacita is having none of that nonsense, bursting into a galvanizing, singalong chorus that stands as one of the year’s most memorable. The song is over before you know it, but its concentrated intensity demands immediate replay. (full review)
9. BOYNEXTDOOR – Earth, Wind & Fire
There’s a song like this in my top ten almost every year: something that’s initially unwieldy but slowly and intentionally unveils its charms over time. Earth, Wind & Fire isn’t so much a song as it is a delivery method for personality. From its rapid-fire post-chorus to the second verse rap that only grew more ridiculous with each passing performance, there’s almost too much energy to contain. It’s also one of those tracks that’s permanently welded to its artist. No one could perform this in quite the same way as BOYNEXTDOOR. (full review)
8. Nayeon – ABCD
In a world of two minute TikTok songs, it can be difficult to deliver the full popstar package. Nayeon did this and then some on her bombastic ABCD. The track weaves between segments and rhythms – varying energy and intensity to lend the song’s multiple peaks as much force as possible. If most artists were serving snacks this year, ABCD rolled out the full course, complete with electrifying dance break and anchored by the power of pure charisma. This deserved to own the summer of 2024. (full review)
7. RIIZE – Boom Boom Bass
RIIZE established themselves as an instruments-obsessed group with last year’s Get A Guitar, and Boom Boom Bass doubles down on the conceit. The song does exactly as its title promises, offering a jolt of groovy rhythm that hits right from the start and never lets up. By the time we’ve reached its effusive finale, the guys have whipped the energy into a frenzy. Still, it’s the specific touches (especially that sticky dance break) that secure Bass‘s place in the pantheon of SM Entertainment funk-pop classics. (full review)
6. OnlyOneOf – dOpamine
OnlyOneOf seem intent to deliver quality over quantity. They return once in a blue moon, but often with music too potent to ignore. Like their best singles, dOpamine flirts with current trends but exists on the edges of the mainstream. Its drum and bass percussion gives way to a thrilling hook that incorporates jagged synth and icy funk riffs. However, it’s the dynamic bridge that truly elevates this above the pack. Junji’s power note leading into the final chorus is one of the mot exciting moments K-pop delivered all year. (full review)
5. TWS – If I’m S, Can You Be My N?
First encounters are hard, but it’s the follow-up that really matters. TWS’s debut year has been all about specificity in sound and message, and If I’m S, Can You Be My N? tells you everything you need to know from its incredibly unique title alone. The song is a grab bag of musical ideas, tied together by melodies so potent they cut through the noise in celebratory bursts of confetti. The singing is impassioned and joyful, but it’s Shinyu’s personality-rich rap that totally steals the show. (full review)
4. Trendz – Go Up
Veteran producers are becoming more of a rarity in K-pop, so it’s always thrilling to see the name of a legendary hitmaker attached to a song’s credits. Trendz scored a major coup by landing producer Brave Brothers for Go Up. The song sees him fully harnessing his upbeat blend of tropical synths, buzzsaw guitar and anthemic hooks. Most importantly, Go Up never forgets the power of a killer pop hook, lacing every moment with a dynamic range of melodies that give the song real heft. This is no more evident than during the chorus, which forgoes gimmicks in favor of a megawatt refrain that sweeps you off your feet. (full review)
3. TWS – Plot Twist
A great pop song is like a three-act play: set-up, rising stakes, payoff. And like a play, Plot Twist unfolds as a story. Not only does it set the scene for TWS’s idiosyncratic worldview, but it manages to encapsulate an entire youth drama in the space of two and a half minutes. The ability to stuff so many musical goodies into such a small frame is quite impressive, but it wouldn’t work without the members’ engaging personalities. Having watched Plot Twist performed three times in one weekend, I can testify to its place as the year’s best performance anthem, climaxing in an impossibly addictive “Na-na-na, na-na” refrain that gets everyone out of their seat whether they’re familiar with the track or not. The fact that the song went on to become a Korean megahit is the most deserved, exciting plot twist of the year. (full review)
2. RIIZE – Impossible
Is there a better combination than SM Entertainment and house music? Nine years after SHINee’s View forever tied the genre to the summer season, Impossible follows in those mighty footsteps with a refreshing sound of its own. From the first “Gimme that beat!” to the thrilling outro, the song never relinquishes its grip. Its percolating synth rhythm bubbles with intricate funk exclamations as the guys offer ultra-smooth vocals over the top.
As thrillingly taut as Impossible is, the track truly explodes when it defies expectations. Many 2024 singles would conclude after their second chorus, but RIIZE amp things up from here as a fist-pumping dance break collides with a synth-laced finale that retraces the song’s glories with added ceremony. This transformation feels almost cinematic, pummeling the listener with one last sonic whirlwind before they eagerly rush to replay the track. (full review)
1. TWS – hey! hey!
It’s become cliche to say “music is my drug,” but there is truly no better way to mainline an emotion than with a three minute blast of pop music. When it comes to hey! hey!, the emotions in question are optimism, excitement and affection. No matter where you are or what you’re doing, these feelings are always welcome, and with the push of a button they become accessible for three minutes and thirteen seconds. The outside world fades to the background, replaced with TWS’s vibrant vision of youth and opportunity.
TWS had a banner year and released music more technically daring than this, but from hey! hey!‘s opening guitar riff to the barreling energy of its bridge, no other 2024 song knocked me off-balance in the same way. Its structure and delivery have a timeless appeal, borrowing tropes from decades of rock and pop, but each time I hear the track my mind goes back to the same ineffable quality: it’s really about feeling. The song makes me feel something. It affirms core elements of the human experience: friendship, possibility, tenacity. These are simple yet complex ideals, most potently expressed through the sneaky simplicity of a pop song.
Yes, I’m sentimental. The sound and energy of a rookie group striving to accomplish their dreams will always affect me, especially when they do so with such obvious passion. You can feel that passion coursing through every note of hey! hey! and it’s an energizing emotion to return to any moment you may need it. Dohoon puts it best at the song’s exclamatory climax: “Run till we reach the very end.” This song makes me want to sprint. (full review)
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
My list, my rules.
1 “Beautiful” Kim Sung Kyu + Nam Woo Hyun from some OST. Our main men at their best once again with a burst of bright pop power. https://youtu.be/CicEVejS348
2 “Wave on the Sea” PITTA aka Kang Hyung Ho of Forestella – a banger rock anthem OST featuring his trademark speaker-busting range. With some traditional Korean instrument anchoring the bass, which is awesome. I bust my lungs out on this one.
3 KAVE ft Gaho – they are just going for broke aren’t they, a single and EP release every other month, Do I like “Venom” or “Stone” or “You” or “Legend” – why not all of them. This is the rock band JYP wish they had on their roster – theirs are doing fine in the market, but KAVE is making better music.
4 Yunsae “people don’t change” …. “people don’t change, we’ll do the shit again …” So true. Written performed produced by Yunsae. How to do English lyrics, full marks.
5 “If I’m S, Can You Be My N?” – TWS – I had to have one traditional kpop boy band, and this one is the one. That section at the one minute mark when it just lifts off is awesome – fully 4th gen with its heart in 2nd gen = the best of both worlds.
6 “Bibora” SF9 – solid solid solid pop song, and it keeps moving. If this is the bookend sound of this era for them, it’s a good way to do it.
7 Roy Kim “When Spring Comes” – I don’t even know what it means but it is lovely and sad and lovely and sad.
8 NMIXX “Dash” bonkers in a good way. If I must have a hyper-produced grating fried old school hip hop noise festival, this one is my choice.
9 Lim Young Woong “Home” – Corny sing along with a trot flair, but hey he sells out stadiums with his baritone. I’m not kidding – the live youtube version has 6m views and then you think wait who what where was I?
10 QWER (who?) yeah, QWER girl group who topped the Gaon charts and flew totally under the radar of the outside Korea kpop world. “TBH” > “Fake Idol”. All good fun. Spritely. They took the current 20-year old R&B fashion and said yeah na we will take that flavor of 20-year old Jpop fashion instead.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Kim Sung Kyu & Nam Woo Hyun’s Beautiful is definitely in my top 5 non-promoted songs of the year. Others would include TVXQ’s TRHM (thanks Nick, for alerting us about this one!) and NMIXX’s Passionfruit. Come to think of it, I think I accidentally listed some non-promoted songs by NewJeans in my top 10, so 2 of those would probably have to move over here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, was TBH in this year’s countdown at all?
Nick, your clear preference for boy groups puts us at odds lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
WOW ! Wave on the sea sound like a song straight out of the movie Queen of the damned (very Disturbed, 2000’s rock)
LikeLiked by 1 person
The way I knew the Top 3! Glad to see Go Up this high as well, loved it even if it’s been a while since I listened to it. Hey! Hey! just sounds both nostalgic, yet fun at the same time, like a bunch of friends working on a project together in their summer holidays. Definitely deserves its #1 spot.
Anyways, my top 10 would be:
1- hey! hey! – TWS
2- Supernova – aespa
3- Cosmic – Red Velvet
4- Impossible – Riize
5- I Got You – Twice
6- Go Up – Trendz
7- SN – TWS
8- ABCD – Nayeon
9- Hyper Tonic – TAN
10- Youth2Youth – EPEX
LikeLiked by 1 person
I share mine as well (title tracks and b-sides to me converge in the same chart):
G-DRAGON feat. TAEYANG & DAESUNG, Home Sweet Home
ENHYPEN, Brought The Heat Back
JIMIN, Who
ROCKY, Jealousy
RED VELVET, Cosmic
RIIZE, Boom Boom Bass
J-HOPE, Lock / Unlock
MYTRO, Bomb Bomb Bomb
PENIEL, MIoBI
D.O., Popcorn
RIIZE, Impossible
AESPA, Supernova
ATEEZ, Enough
MOON JONG UP, Twist Ya
KAVE, You
JIN, Running Wild
SORN, Heartstorm
SUPER JUNIOR-L.S.S., Suit Up
RESCENE, Love Attack
CIX, Lovers Or Enemies
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok, I’ve managed to procure 40 songs which I roughly divided into tiers. That I predictably was shuffling around up until the last minute 😆.
A Tier
3BANG – Home Sweet Home
ITZY – Imaginary Friend
VANNER – Jackpot
ARTMS – Virtual Angel
TWS – Oh Mymy, hey! hey!, If I’m S, Can you Be My N?
RIIZE – Love 119, Boom Boom Bass
J-hope, Gaeko, Yoon Mirae – Neuron
The Boyz – Nectar
Nayeon – ABCD
Kiss of Life – Midas Touch
Kim Sung Kyu, Nam Woo-hyun – Beautiful
B Tier
Rescene – Love Attack
aespa – Supernova
Kep1er – Shooting Star
RIIZE – Impossible
TWS – plot twist, Last Festival
Stray Kids – Mountains
tripleS – Girls Never Die
ZEROBASEONE – Good So Bad
Cravity – Love or Die
GD – Power
Cho Yong Pil – It’ll Be Okay
C Tier
Red Velvet – Cosmic
ITZY – Untouchable
SF9 – Bibora
IVE – HEYA
Boynextdoor – Nice Guy
Rocky – Jealousy
Rosé, Bruno Mars – APT.
NCT 127 – Walk
TXT – Deja Vu (Anemoia Remix)
Purple Kiss – On My Bike
Key – Tongue Tied
FTISLAND – Burn It
CIX – Lovers or Enemies
RIIZE – Combo
LikeLike
I’d really struggle right now to list 10 favorites from this year, but here goes. Of all the groups that are currently in the midst of their prime imperial phase, NewJeans are my favorite, and so even if their 4 songs this year aren’t quite at the level of their previous work, it’s still inside my personal top 10 (even if I realize it won’t be for music critics), so my list is heavily biased. I’m more comfortable with my top 5; so having said that:
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s a sense of urgency and desperation (complimentary!) to the song that I found really affecting, and it actually got me through a particularly rough summer – I don’t think such an upbeat and summery song has made me tear up as much as this one has before! Absolutely deserved spot on your list, thank you for giving it such a loving and thoughtful write-up.
LikeLike
I was so up in my feelings thinking about what the song meant to me this year, completely forgot to say this was about hey! hey! 😅
LikeLike
I’m glad it’s not just me who has a weirdly emotional reaction to this song!
LikeLike
I legit almost cry everytime I play it so I’m also glad it’s not just me 😭
LikeLiked by 1 person
long time lurker on this blog and first time im commenting to just say that i am exactly the same way. a lot of times when i listen to music in the background, it becomes just background noise to fill the silence. however i feel as if i derive meaning and sentimentality from hey! hey! every time i listen, whether that be on the bus home from school or in my room doing homework or with a good pair of headphones, eyes closed, with full intent to enjoy the music fully. the song is a mix of pure serotonin and dopamine and it’s so special to me as well (as it helped me through tough times). i also get weirdly emotional about this song 😅 the only other kpop song that has been able to do it for me is crooked (gdragon). i can just… hear the emotion in both songs and i simply love them
LikeLiked by 2 people
Have to say, I just didn’t see this song hitting #1. In fact, I kind of forgot about it. Re-listening to it now, I’m sure I must have heard it, cause it’s been on my playlist, but I just don’t remember it. I don’t really get it, best song of the year? Not hearing it. Maybe it’ll click one day…
LikeLike
I do think it plays everything pretty straightforward as a summer song, but I also think it executed on its concepts very well, and for myself it just happened to push the right buttons. As Nick alludes to in his last paragraph, I imagine sentimentality and the feelings the song evokes on a personal basis played a significant part in its placement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well put. I can totally see it. Sometimes songs and music will click with me in a big way, and it mystifies my wife and brother why I think it’s so special, for example.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I somehow went from feeling borderline indifferent towards hey! hey! initially to nearly crying when hearing it. A lot of this is thanks to Nick’s enthusiasm which led me to return to it. So thank you, Nick! It’s the 청춘 of it all. Gets me every time. Same reason why I ended up liking 119 so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“OnlyOneOf seem intent to deliver quality over quantity. They return once in a blue moon, but often with music too potent to ignore.” unfortunately… crazy to realize it’s been nearly a year since they released anything. i’m glad to see dopamine on 6th place though! it aged really well imo, although it’s not their strongest work. (instinct pt 1 is still my favorite release by any boygroup)
and it seems rookie boygroups released the best music this year! im personally not huge on tws but boom boom bass and earth, wind and fire are my favorite title tracks by both groups so. with earth, wind and fire i could really see that boynextdoor were becoming a group of their own, whereas their earlier releases didn’t have much of a personality. i’m excited to see where they’ll go next!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish I could love OnlyOneOf. Their Idol Series was one of my favorite things any group has done recently. Too bad they didn’t package it as an album, because it would be my favorite album by a male group in recent years. So I’ve wanted to like their post- (and pre-) Idol Series work, but it just hasn’t hit me at nearly the same level.
LikeLiked by 1 person
i agree, i think they really missed out on something by not making the underground idol series an album/ep. it’d be much more approachable for the general public this way, and considering they have a relatively small fandom it’d probably be the most profitable for them. personally, all my favorite onlyoneof works are from 2022 and earlier (unknown art pop, produced by [ ] pt1, instinct pt1, be free and because) their latest music is good, but really doesnt touch that level. i hope that i’ll like their next comeback, whenever it may be (it cant be long anymore, right? its been a year since their last release, so…)
LikeLiked by 1 person
TWS is just one of those groups whose appeal I just don’t see. But god knows Riize has been knocking it out of the park this year!
At any rate, let’s hear it for the worst year in kpop history yet. Not a single 10 for me and only a couple of 9s. Out of almost 400 songs (!!).
This is my top 9, though the quality drops pretty sharply after Impossible.
Riize – 119
IVE – Heya
Onew – Beat Drum
Illit – Magnetic
Riize – Impossible
Ive – Accendio
Taemin – Horizon
Le Sserafim – Smart
Ten – Nightwalker
Kiss of Life – Midas Touch
K.Will and Changsub also deserve a special mention for their respective albums. Back to back ballad goodness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to agree with you, this is the worst year I can remember in Kpop. My top 5 would go on my all-time favorites playlist (along with a handful of non-promoted tracks), but that’s about it. (If my current bias is NewJeans, my anti-bias is Illit – not because of the group, but because of the label – but I have to grudgingly say I like 3 songs by them quite a bit – even though I refuse to stream it or listen to it in any medium that will financially benefit Hybe, haha)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would say that for me, it’s been underwhelming in terms of albums. It’s crazy for me to say but I mostly liked album releases from solo artists, in a scene dominated by groups. I’m talking about Yugyeom, Jay Park, Jay B, Jaehyun. Mostly acts going through the R&B route.
I also can’t find any appeal in TWS, I think their style and the way they present themselves is not as attractive to me. Maybe because I’m in my early 20s but I don’t know. I’m guessing I would’ve liked them better as a teen.
Love Kiss of life and RIIZE on your wrapped. You ate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
TWS are too cutesy for me, but I definitely see the appeal for those who enjoy cute concepts. I would absolutely include them in a rookie top 5 even if they are not for me.
Personally, Riize are much more my vibe too, with stronger and more in-your-face sounds and choreo. I like showy!
LikeLike
I’m sad that Supernova didn’t made your top 10; but man your top 10 is stacked with big gems! I knew a TWS song was going to be 1st place, and it happens to be my favorite TWS song as well!
Here’s my top 10:
Some honorable mentions because I missed out on commenting on my top 50 rip:
11. TWICE – I Got You
12. Baekhyun (EXO) – Pineapple Slice
13. Ten (NCT/WayV) – Nightwalker
14. Kiss of Life – Midas Touch
15. Rose (BLACKPINK) and Bruno Mars – APT.
16. RIIZE – Boom Boom Bass
17. NMIXX – DASH
18. IVE – Accendio
19. Seola – Without U
20. OnlyOneOf – dOpamine
LikeLike
rip the numbers :((
LikeLike
A rough finals season + grad school apps has prevented me from finalizing a list of my own so far so I’ll just say for now its going to be quite similar to yours (TWS-heavy 🤭) and I’ll reply to this comment later with my list when I finish it
In the meantime, TWS takes 3 of the top 5! And more importantly, hey! hey! is #1!!! Your write-up for it is exactly what it feels like for me too and is also super validating 😅. On paper it might be a straightforward pop song but every time I play it…it just gets me idk 😭 at the risk of oversharing I’ll include this series of texts I sent to my groupchat about 2 months ago to kinda capture what this song does to me:
….um yeah. Maybe I’m not ok but hey hey makes me feel like life could be ok 👍 I ended up doing a full dance cover with my dance crew and I got so emotional over that too…but I think I’ll stop sharing now.
I’ll be back with my own list soon ™️!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that I know this is a safe space, I’ll admit that I shed a tear the first time I heard this song, too. 😅
It’s the only song to give me that reaction this year, so that almost instantly qualified it for the top spot.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad we can relate LOL 😅🤝 I don’t know if I’ve had this level of emotional attachment to any other song in a very long time so it’s just on another level for me too.
LikeLike
I’m jealous. I think there’s only ever been two Kpop songs that have elicited a tearful reaction, one being SNSD’s Into the New World, and the other being SHINee’s Satellite the first time I heard the chorus.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing what this song means to you, it’s really sweet to hear I’m not the only one affected by it!
For my part, I basically had a quarter-life/nearing-30 life crisis when I turned 29 this August, and hey! hey! struck a chord with me in several ways. That nostalgia for easier days of youth, for sure, but also it instilled a sense of urgency to not waste any time with the rest of my life. It also reaffirmed my desire to be a stronger presence in my nephew’s life, and to make sure he enjoys his youth and doesn’t take it for granted.
I think the only other song that got me this melancholic with nostalgia is TXT’s Crown (also a beautiful debut banger), but hey! hey! gives me the drive to actually do something about it and make good with the time I’ve got!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course, and I’m glad to hear what this song means to you as well! I definitely feel the same motivation from the song about making the most of my life too, and the part about your nephew is really sweet 🥹. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
are you literally me?? i had a similar experience, where i was mid breakdown over school (and a million other factors) and then i put on my headphones to listen to hey hey and just felt wow. life is so beautiful. happiness is a thing to be celebrated and youth is to be cherished. i’m exactly where i want to be and i’m so grateful to be human. i’m sure i sound dramatic as hell to anyone who doesn’t find the appeal in tws but who cares this is a safe space! (i left another comment in this comment section detailing more of my thoughts on hey hey but wanted to reply to yours as well just because i relate so, so much lol)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the other comment you replied to was also mine 😂 and don’t worry about sounding dramatic there’s clearly several of us who feel this way about this song 🤝
LikeLike
And there we go
10. Nayeon – ABCD
Embodying the spirit of an authentic 2000s pop diva, as if she were in the heart of Brooklyn, New York, enjoying the vibrant atmosphere, ABCD exudes style and sophistication comparable to EXO’s iconic tracks. The song harmonizes the best of Nayeon’s charisma with an engaging hip-hop, meticulously structured over an exuberant and effervescent dance-pop arrangement.
9. Trendz – Go Up
Based on a dance sound and a soft tropical house, Go Up presents a well-paced melody, configuring itself as one of its best proposals to provide fun at a party with a carnival atmosphere.
8. RIIZE – Boom Boom Bass
Boom Boom Bass is stylish and cozy, with a musical production that consists of strong, catchy basslines, catchy disco beats and danceable rhythms. The music evokes the feeling of walking through the streets at dawn, having fun with friends. From my experience, it’s a perfect track to play on a speaker at full volume. The guitar riffs are a pastiche for the song.
7. SF9 – Bibora
Based on deep house, Bibora is a fascinating and warm song, which develops from a groovy bass to a funky piano rhythm and a dynamic melody. The snappy chorus and verses represent the best that SF9 can offer.
6. TWS – Plot Twist
TWS set out to present a unique genre and succeeded in defining, with their own touches, a nostalgic pop sound. Typified by its refreshing vibe and harmonious combination of vibrant drum, guitar, and synth sounds, Plot Twist has been recognized for aptly embodying the feeling of revelry.
5. RIIZE – Impossible
Mixing an engaging and invigorating fusion of the pop dance genre with a rhythmic house beat and an enigmatic tonality synthesizer, Impossible stands out as a vibrant and energetic composition, reminiscent of an energizing drink. The track delivers genuine rhythms while unfolding in an atmosphere of authentic fun. The RIIZE group enters the game immersively, presenting a performance of admirable quality.
4. OnlyOneOf – dOpamine
Making the most of the fusion between drum-and-bass and garage, dOpamine presents a frenetic vigor and a voracious hook that becomes immediately captivating for OnlyOneOf. The group slides naturally over the genre, showing a melodic vocal side of remarkable beauty. A true sound spectacle.
3. TWS – If I’m S, Can You Be My N?
Warmed by subtle acoustic guitar percussion, If I’m S, Can You Be My N? moves through hybrid pop in constant transformation. Its vibrant energy combines funky rhythms and colorful synths, creating a captivating listening experience. The track is an invitation to have fun, evoking the nostalgic feeling of happy moments in an amusement park.
2. TWS – Hey! Hey!
Although they are novices, they demonstrate full artistic ability. They return with a previously explored production, but elevated to a level of sophistication that masterfully integrates the unique essence of freshness of TWS. The track Hey! Hey! features an intense guitar sound, grounded in rock, combined with a pulsating and electrifying drum beat. Its rhythm, which grows as it progresses, results in a composition of undeniable beauty.
1. TAN – Hypertonic
It’s unfortunate that my favorite song of 2024 was marked by TAN’s breakup. If I remember correctly, the official announcement took place at the end of June, although rumors were already circulating at the time of this single’s release. Fortunately, unlike Weki Meki, who also ended their activities this year, TAN gave us one last memorable single.
Last year, one of his releases made my top 10 K-Pop songs, but Hyper Tonic has reached a level where I can listen to it hundreds of times without getting tired of it. The track is a powerful, wild and turbulent electronic mix, with a complex beat and an impeccable electro crunch texture. Shinsadong Tiger contributed to this work—his departure was a loss, but his art lives on in me.
In the end, this is my list. I hope that next year we will have even better hits than the ones that occupied my list here… I’ll end my thoughts with the ending theme of Looney Tunes… That’s All Folks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great list and a great write-up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The #1 song doesn’t do much for me, but I wish a (new) song would make me as emotional and passionate as what you wrote about “Hey! Hey!”. Very good top overall, some of these will definitely be in my top 10 as well. I’m still compiling a top 60, and it’s been hard: too many good songs this year. Cheers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
2024 was a shit year but at least we got music. Speaking of, here is MY TOP 50 (not in any order)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lucky Girl is 11th on my list. Damn good song!
LikeLike
LikeLike
Here is my list. I don’t think it was a bad year for Kpop…I’d say it was a bad second half of the year. Now that I think about it, probably all of my favorites came in the first half.
1 ONF -Bye My Monster⭐️…boy group supremacy. Love at first listen 10
2 RED VELVET -Cosmic⭐️…girl group supremacy. Love at first listen 10
3 CIX -Lovers or Enemies⭐️…they are so different. Love at first listen 10
4 RIIZE -Impossible…this was a power riser 9.75
5 CRAVITY -Love or Die…classic boy group deliciousness 9.5
6 TWS -HeyHey!…classic boy group deliciousness 9.5
7 DAY6 -Welcome to the Show…It’s all about how it makes me feel when I listen to it 9.25
8 XHeroes -Little Things…same as above, but this was another power riser 9.25
9 DKB -FlirtingX…fun Kpop appreciation 9
10 YOUNITE -Geekin…super fun Kpop appreciation 9
Honorables:
ZB1 – Good so Bad 9
SF9 – Bibora 9
EVNEE – Badder Love 9
DRIPPiN – Beautiful Maze 8.75
TRENDZ – Go Up 8.5
AIMERS – Somebody 8.5
WAKER – Atlantis 8.5
AESPA – SuSuSuSupernova 8.5
KoL – Midas Touch 8.5
EPEX – Youth2Youth 8.5
TheBOYZ – Nectar 8.5
TXT – Deja Vu 8.25
ENHYPEN – Fatal Trouble 8.25
DREAMIES – When I’m With You 8.25
LikeLike
Ok so turns out I was correct about which songs would be from 10-6 but I did not see Hey Hey winning – it totally rules though!
Here would be my list of the top 15 singles of the year, based mostly on how many times I played them and a little on my own personal feelings at this moment.
15. Deja Vu- TXT had a mid year but I listened to both Deja Vu versions a fair bit. The chorus gives you all the feels.
14. I Got You – Such a feel good song, makes you think everything will be fine.
13. Dash – The first NMIXX song that I liked so much, all the percussions and temp changes were so nice!
12. Midas Touch – I saw Kiss of Life live a week back! All the four girls are great performers.
11. Boom Boom Bass – The word I would use to describe this song is professional. A professional song that gets your head nodding.
10. Love 119 – Idk how I ended up playing it so many times but they totally sell the song with the chorus delivery.
9. Drip – Haha, probably it is in no other list, but it is such a fun song!
8. Last Festival – I have replayed it so much since it came out. It will probably become no 2 in this list, if I redo the list after a year.
7. Hey Hey – Euphoria!!
6. Cheers to Youth – Seventeen, my ultimate bias group also had a mid year but the vocalists sang this so beautifully. I saw them live too and realized again how much I love this song.
5. If I’m S Can You Be My N – I don’t understand Korean yet but the lyrics is so beautiful and the translation of the bridge really is endearing. I love TWS so much!
4. ABCD – This was a pop superstar doing pop superstar things. Even Jungkook never reached this height last year.
3. Plot Twist – Somehow the way the song ends, you involuntarily hit the replay button. I felt the urge to relisten to the song so much through out the year. Probably in a year, the other TWS songs might overshadow it but for this year Plot Twist has the first mover advantage of being released in Jan and sounding like nothing else before it.
2. Impossible – Basically everything Nick said. It somehow mystically gets you.
1. Supernova – Supernova has transcended kpop and 2024 and is soon about to become one of my all time favorite songs. It has a strange stronghold on me and it energizes me in a weird way even today, after playing it for over 250 times.
Ranking songs with just your emotions is so tough and feels almost cruel. I am glad I used the crutch of numbers.
LikeLike
Luckily, emotions and play count happened to line up for me this year. That said, it was still a closely fought battle. Lots of great music at the top of the list this year.
Thanks for sharing your list!
LikeLike
My top 10 (in no particular order):
LikeLike
I prefer doing top 11-15 since I seem I can never do a Top 10. Here’s my Top 12 this year:
Love Or Die – Cravity
Brought the Heat Back – Enhypen
Impossible – Riize
Good so Bad – Zb1
H!-Teen – The Wind
Hey! Hey! – TWS
Official – Ichillin
GPT – Stayc
Curious – UNIS
Shooting Star – Kepler
Supernova – Aespa
Bye My Monster – ONF
LikeLike
Since we’re talking about TWS too:
I’m having trouble emotionally connecting to their discography. I’ve listened through their EPs and thought ‘wow this is great, there’s no one bad song!’ But that’s the problem: There’s no one bad song. I need to see and appreciate the way K-pop acts put heart into the music they perform, and that includes a song that fails to uplift them. It makes me appreciate the ‘good’ music more and I’m able to respect their work.
Weird criteria, I know, but one of the reasons I love Cravity is because they used to do ‘bad’ music; Throw it to the wall and see what sticks. Their growth shows their artistry. If TWS is good from the beginning then what’s there to watch?
Don’t let this mini rant take away from your perceptions btw. I’m happy to see a lot of people here finding TWS easy to connect. I just have specifics that need to be filled.
LikeLike
Not really sure if this relates in any way but my reaction to TWS was “yeah it sounds fine, I like it.” But then I never came back to their music. Another factor is the way they present themselves, I guess I don’t love it as much? Since they take so much from the school boy, boy-next-door image? Idk not trying to shade them, I just think we kind of relate?
Anyway, your wrapped ate!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m fine with the concepts, they usually don’t throw me off in a way music does, but I fully understand your point about not coming back. I love Hey! Hey! but I haven’t really streamed it since it was out, it’s just refreshing to hear on a playlist. The only song I have returned to is Last Festival. They don’t have the same staying power that The Wind has imo.
LikeLike
Here’s my top songs of the year in no particular order. I’m sure as soon as I post this I’ll remember a dozen I forgot to put on here. Oh well.
NemoNemo – Yena
Justice – Dreamcatcher
2 Rings – Dreamcatcher
Midas Touch – Kiss Of Life
Get Loud – Kiss Of Life
Sticky – Kiss Of Life
Dash – NMixx
Mr. Vampire – Itzy
Gold – Itzy
Heya – Ive
Accendio – Ive
Ice Queen – Ive
Supernatural – NewJeans
Chk Chk Boom – Stray Kids
Supernova – Aespa
Armageddon – Aespa
Whiplash – Aespa
Kill It – Aespa
Magnetic – Illit
Tick Tack – Illit
Drip – BabyMonster
Sheesh – BabyMonster
Howling – XG
Woke Up – XG
Mantra – Jennie
Rockstar – Lisa
NA – Hwasa
ABCD – Nayeon (My hot take of the year is that this song should have gone to Jihyo, but Nayeon absolutely killed it so I’m not mad.)
I’m Ready – Chungha
Debut – Katseye
Crazy – Le Sserafim
Pierrot – Le Sserafim
Chasing Lightning – Le Sserafim
Dopamine – Unis
Roll Up – Blackswan
If I had to pick a top 3, it’d be NemoNemo, Kill It, and Justice.
And for non-Kpop releases, my favorite albums this year are (in no particular order): From Zero by Linkin Park, Brat by Charli XCX, Negative Spaces by Poppy, Chromakopia by Tyler the Creator, and GNX by Kendrick Lamar. Oh, and Rise and Fall of A Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan, even though that was technically released last year. Say what you will about Kpop in 2024, but Western music definitely delivered this year. We got a lot of good releases.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I forgot G-Idle’s Super Lady, Fate, and Revenge!
Also in the Western music category, I made myself sit down and listen through Tyler The Creator’s new album, and that’s now on my list of top albums for the year too. Go check out Chromakopia if you haven’t yet. It’s incredible.
LikeLike
Great top! Tbh I was rooting for Impossible for the #1 spot but I knew it would be difficult with the songs TWS released this year and the connection you made with them.
Now I’ll show my top, I’d love to include a little comment for each song, but I suck at writing, so i’ll just show the ranking directly lol.
SINGLES.
40. ”Let It Burn”, H1-KEY.
39. ”Steady”, NCT WISH.
38. ”SAD SONG”, P1Harmony.
37. ”UNTOUCHABLE”, ITZY.
36. ”SOS”, FIFTY FIFTY.
35. ”Shopper”, IU.
34. ”SWEAT”, ZEROBASEONE.
33. ”TRIGGER”, THE BOYZ.
32. ”Shooting Star”, Kep1er.
31. ”Killin’ It”, P1Harmony.
30. ”Supernova”, aespa.
29. ”APT.”, ROSÉ & Bruno Mars.
28. ”But I”, Solar.
27. ”Horizon”, TAEMIN.
26. ”Armageddon”, aespa.
25. ”Rains in Heaven”, NCT DREAM.
24. ”Sticky”, KISS OF LIFE.
23. ”BIBORA”, SF9.
22. ”Dandelion”, JAEHYUN.
21. ”GPT”, STAYC.
20. ”Bye My Monster”, ONF.
19. ”hey! hey!”, TWS.
18. ”Boom Boom Bass”, RIIZE.
17. ”Classified”, OH MY GIRL.
16. ”DESERVED”, ONE PACT.
15. ”Nectar”, THE BOYZ.
14. ”Girls Never Die”, tripleS.
13. ”Virtual Angel”, ARTMS.
12. ”Earth, Wind & Fire”, BOYNEXTDOOR.
11. ”Accendio”, IVE.
10. ”Love wins all”, IU.
9. ”Midas Touch”, KISS OF LIFE.
8. ”Black Out”, CHANYEOL.
7. ”Magnetic”, ILLIT.
6. ”Pineapple Slice”, BAEKHYUN.
5. ”Bam Yang Gang”, BIBI.
4. ”Imaginary Friend”, ITZY.
3. ”Whiplash”, aespa.
2. ”Impossible”, RIIZE.
1 ”Cosmic”, Red Velvet.
Some B-SIDES that I also liked quite a bit:
LikeLiked by 2 people
This pineapple slice of meeeee
LikeLike
RIIZE AND TWS SWEEP RAAAAAA LET’S GOOOO
LikeLike
It so cool to see everyone’s lists! I kinda missed out on a lot of the releases this year, and I tend to forget lots of songs by the end of the year, so this year I won’t post my own list. Hopefully next year I’ll listen to more music and try to keep track of it. 😅
But overall, I would say that this year I enjoyed Lisa’s singles, Ive, some Riize songs, Chungha, Enhypen, Loosemble, Kave (i looooove their songs so much!!!) and I am currently trying to listen to Red Velvet’s full discography. The progress is slow, but we are getting somewhere. I only started my playlist this year, and it’s definately got lots of growing to do!
Since I’m new to kpop, I feel like I missed out on a bunch of really good music that was released before I became interested, so I think I’m trying to listen to older music first, and for some reason that makes me think I can’t listen to an artist’s current comeback because I don’t know their full discography. It’s kinda stupid, and I’m gonna stop. This this my personal music taste, and my time that I am using. I make my own rules for that. So what if I listen to someones new songs before their old ones? Anyways.
Sorry for the rant, but after seeing all the lists by everyone else, I’m really excited to listen to more music next year and to hopefully have my own list! Yay!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can always try web sites like last.fm. If you are a Spotify user, it will connect to your account and keep track of your music for you.
I totally understand your feeling about older music. That happened to me with ATEEZ and P1Harmony this year. I was like “I need to listen to their older music before getting into the new.” I didn’t really stop that though hahhaa. I just listened to their new music and started getting into their older discography once I was done with their latest EPs or albums.
That didn’t allow me to actually appreciate their older stuff, but it mostly worked for P1Harmony, I enjoy some of their singles and songs prior to Killin’ It. Then, for ATEEZ I came to the conclusion that it was a lost cause. I barely remember any of their “iconic” songs, just their new music mostly.
Not a rant, just a real feeling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
As you say , you can listen to music by your own rules! I end up doing your reverse – I hear the new songs and listen to the LP/ER to check out the sound and THEN go back to hit some of the older songs & B-sides. I flip back and forth with an artist’s discography and then figure out which songs go on my playlist. I also use the Spotify top five song list to help me out. I actually find I end up digging the B-sides and for groups that have a lot of ‘good’ songs, so much runs below the top five that I find to be excellent. And some groups, I listen just just a few of their songs that stick with me. So, anything goes!
LikeLike
It’s always this time of year when I finally try to catch up to what I’ve missed. The final exams are over, grades are submitted, and time to do a deep dive. Tonight I’ve discovered two songs I didn’t know exist, and now I can’t get enough of them: ONF’s My Monster, and Day6’s Happy. So I’d like to walk back my statement that 2024 sucked and add those 2 to my favorites list! (Tomorrow I’ll probably discover more tunes that passed me by! lol)
LikeLike
2024 was a little strange for me in that I was so busy that I listened to music much more sporadically than normal, plus I moved in July and as a result I kind of feel like everything after that was from another year entirely. I also spent a solid month listening to nothing but AOA which threw me off even more haha.
The highlights:
Tan – Hyper Tonic is an easy #1 for me – it held up all year, has stayed on rotation since the day it came out, and is still on my work playlist, which is about the highest praise I can give. Every time it comes on I can’t help but crank the volume.
Hello Gloom – Mamacita
Itzy – Untouchable
RIIZE – Impossible
Rescene – Love Attack
Yena – Nemonemo. This + Cheeky Icy Thang go together in my mind because of their sheer unadulterated kpoppiness that’s not trying to water itself down for an international market. A welcome blast of bubblegum pink in amidst all the beige!
Kiss of Life – Midas Touch
IU – Holssi. The lyrics are about flying on the wind like a dandelion seed, and I’ve never heard a song whose sound matched its subject matter so well. It reminds me of something that would have been on the singer Yoav’s Charmed & Strange album, sparse and a little spooky.
Aespa – Regret of the Times, Supernova
SF9 – Bibora. It’s rare that a rap segment is my favourite part of a kpop song but I love the rhythm of this one.
Vanner – Jackpot
Lisa – New Woman. There’s something about the slow build of this that I find absolutely electrifying.
There were plenty of others that were really good but that I didn’t listen to very often (ABCD, Cosmic, I Got You); mostly the songs that were stuck in my head on a day to day basis were the ones that were a little…silly? Novelty? I got a lot of mileage out of Summer Festa, Mantra, and Wife, basically. Like you I don’t believe in guilty pleasures, so it is what it is, especially coming from someone who spent all summer listening to this masterpiece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajyro157p-Q
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally feel you, I moved this year too and after May it felt like a different era lol. AOA has some bangers though, Like a cat and Good luck are BOPS. In your wrapped, I love RIIZE, aespa and Kiss of Life. We need to acknowledge KOF, their strongest year so far- Sticky, Midas Touch, their latest EP is great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s funny because I remember being disappointed when Like a Cat was released (I think I was hoping for something more like Confused?) but every time I listen to it now I’m impressed with how watertight the songwriting is. There are no dull moments. The ridiculous cheesecake in the music video always makes me crack up too.
LikeLike
Well, seeing both this list and the comment section, it’s pretty clear I need to give TWS a second chance, haha! I might just be missing out. Maybe I need to return to their discography before this year ends so that I can listen with more attention. I am also surprised to see that Supernova missed the top 10!
Honestly, Nick’s countdown has some bangers I really enjoyed this year. My highlights in his list are the RIIZE songs and Nayeon. As much as it annoys me a little bit that RIIZE isn’t choosing a sonic direction, I gotta admit Impossible is a total banger. Also, is it me or Nayeon is really giving early Beyoncé vibes? She didn’t keep that sound for the rest of her EP, but it still has some serious bops.
Here’s my wrapped. I’ll just write the first 10 K-pop singles I find in my most replayed songs of the year playlist, I that’ll pretty much will tell no lies about my fav K-pop this year:
Honorable mentions:
10. P1 Harmony – Killin’ It: I knew this group existed since like forever, but I gave their discography a chance this year finally and their sound is just right up my alley. It’s that combo of R&B with a little hip-hop and pop I can’t resist. The vocalists are amazing and I enjoyed their album as well, possibly my favorite album by a group in 2024.
09 . Rosé & Bruno Mars – APT.: I replayed the heck out of this song when it first came out. The way I couldn’t stop listening? Insane! I just think it has a beautiful pre-chorus and the most addictive chorus I’ve heard this year. I’m also a Bruno Mars fan and Rosé is my favorite BLACKPINK member, so yeah I expected it to go like this lol.
08. aespa – Supernova: I needed a few listens to let the song sink in, but once it did, I got into the hype train. This is aespa’s strongest single, and I say that as a R&B stan who would “support” Armaggedon over Supernova. I just think the song has become essential to them, much like Next Level has. The group is literally on a roll, Supernova is so good and Whiplash is too! Gone are the mid-times of Better Things and Drama.
07. RIIZE – Love 911: I liked this song first listen! There’s just this nostalgic R&B vibe that won me over, despite them literally yelling in the chorus lol. I learned to like that part and I even find it funny. Also the killer notes by Sohee? That on its own has so much replay value.
06. RIIZE – Impossible: What more can I say? This song is a total banger! I don’t know much about how RIIZE is doing in the sales department, especially after the drama with their former member. I just hope this song becomes essential to them and it was super popular in the charts, because it really is like a shot of adrenaline.
05. XG – IYKYK: Technically not K-pop? But at this point XG keeps taking a lot of K-pop elements and they mix them with their own style, so I’m including them here. I love everything about this song- the sample, the rap verses, their vocals. It is just soo dynamic but also so chill at the same time.
04. NewJeans – Supernatural: This is probably my second favorite NewJeans single after Attention. It just has that energetic feel that they needed after releasing so many songs that had more of a chill or “subdued” vibe (like Nick says). I also remember being critical of NewJeans lacking some vocal power in their songs, but this one doesn’t have that issue. I love their voices here and hopefully we’ll be able to find this type of vibe in future releases (if they happen…).
03. NMIXX – DASH: Before this song I was a very casual NMIXX listener, mainly because their mix-pop approach wasn’t so in line with me. But it all changed with this single. I started actively listening to their music and I enjoyed both EPs they put out this year. My favorite things about this track is how confident their voices sound, the harmonies and the hip-hop vibes.
02. XG – Something Ain’t Right: Similar to APT., I replayed this track over and over when it came out. My hype for it died down after some weeks passed, but it’s still amazing. At that point in the year, XG was really missing a pop single and this one totally was it.
01. LE SSERAFIM – EASY: Not surprised at all! This song was with me through the first half of the year, and I kept listening to the English version as son as it dropped. I know it might not be the most popular choice here (I remember it had a very negative in this blog), but it has elements I’m a sucker for: R&B vibes, some rap-sung verses and a little Y2K influence. My only critique is how altered their voices sound, but it’s a “con” I can roll with, I mean I can’t ask for them to have their voices crystal clear when I actively listen to Future or Charli XCX lol.
LikeLiked by 2 people
oops, I got lazy and didn’t write any honorable mentions
LikeLike
I didn’t get to check out many releases this year (it went by too fast!!) but this was notably the year I got to really reconnect with kpop music, I created a big playlist of all my fav kpop songs throughout the 5 years I’ve listened to it and been listening to it on repeat while working so that’s reignited my interest in kpop as of now! I’ve also listened to snippets of the song on the list and already added some to the playlist! NMIXX’s Dash notably has been playing in my head since I heard it lol
Highlights of the year for me were
TWICE – I Got You, One Spark
DAY6 – Welcome to the Show, Melt Down
Dreamcatcher – Justice
Red Velvet – Cosmic
aespa – Supernova(!!!), Whiplash
LE SSERAFIM – Crazy
Jin – Super Tuna
Rose & Bruno Mars – APT
LikeLiked by 1 person
hi, i’ve already left two comments on this thread about how much i love hey! hey! but i wanted to write just one last summary about how i feel about it that’s more specific to your review. you captured my feelings with this song so perfectly and i’m so glad to know that someone out there feels the same way about this song!
honestly i’m not a huge fan of 4th-5th gen music, i’ve never been able to get into it as much as i have with 3rd gen (and to an extent 2nd gen). i’ve lurked on this blog for ages because we seem to have similar tastes and i’ve always been able to find hidden gems and good recommendations here. it was a friend who introduced me to tws through SN, and then i came to this blog to see that you rated hey hey higher and was like huh, interesting, let me take a listen. i’ll admit that the first time i listened, i thought that SN was better by miles, but somewhere down the line something clicked for me about hey hey.
to draw a parallel between hey hey and my favourite kpop song of all time: crooked (tws and gdragon… who would’ve ever thought?). like you said, songs are about feeling, and both songs are jam-packed with so much feeling and (also like you said) the core elements of the human experience. with crooked, it’s the sense of unfairness, occasionally helplessness, a perhaps childish petulance, rawness and desperation, the feeling of being trapped and fighting tooth and nail to get out. with hey hey, the opposite: the magic of youth, the magic of happiness, friendship, chasing your dream, exploring the fullest extent of joy that an individual could possibly experience. both songs, though vastly different in feeling, come down to one core element for me: the human experience, the fact that i’m right here, right where i’m standing/sitting/lying down, with the ability to feel the full range of emotions, happiness and sadness, anger and hope — and that is something to be cherished. to be human, and alive, and to be able to perceive and feel is just such an extraordinary, invaluable blessing to have. actually, the very fact that i’m able to derive so much meaning and sentimentality from something as simple as kpop songs is also something special in of itself haha!!!
i really really appreciate that you highlighted dohoon’s absolute punch of a line at the end too! it also helps that dohoon has one of my favourite voices in kpop right now, but that climax is seriously just so golden and so powerful. if the previous parts of the song are a buildup, an introduction, an enticing invitation to explore what’s possible — then that line is like being grabbed by the hand and being pulled into the experience fully, allowing you to celebrate the final stretch of the song with the group.
apologies for rambling, and i’m not sure if you or anyone else will end up reading this. but i’ve just felt this way about this song for so long and this was the outlet i needed to write a full analysis i suppose! i’m sure i may sound overdramatic to anyone reading this that may not feel as invested into tws’ music as i am (and honestly i don’t even stan them, i don’t keep up with their content and i just support their music from afar), but i guess i’ll finish with the message to keep living. you’re alive right now, perceiving the world, with every living second contributing to the experience that is uniquely yours and a mind that is also uniquely yours. i think that due to this alone, every human life is so insurmountably special. so keep living, keep enjoying music, and don’t let anyone ever tell you how to live your life :))
(finally i’d like to share some of my favourite songs that make me feel in a similar way to hey hey and crooked:
and if anyone would like to share any songs that make them feel similar as well, id love to hear your recommendations and your takes!)
LikeLike
This is beautifully written. Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for this. It’s amazing how well you’ve worded my exact feelings on both those songs!
On the topic of songs that make me feel something, I’ll add three of mine: Miyavi’s Warrior, Yurina Hirate’s Dance no Riyuu and Stray Kids’ Side Effects. Three very different songs from three very different genres, but I’m left a sobbing, goosebump-ed mess at the end of each one.
And for about thirty minutes after listening to any one of these songs, I am the motivated living person on the planet.
LikeLike
i’m glad the comment resonated with you 🙂 the type of emotion that music has the possibility to evoke is so special and so far no two kpop songs have been able to do it for me except hey hey and crooked haha
thanks for the recommendations as well, i enjoyed all three songs! side effects is my 2nd favourite stray kids song (after miroh) actually. i think side effects is both the most experimental of their tracks that is simultaneously one of the ones that capitalized on the uniqueness the best. their music is quite hit or miss for me but they have some gems in their discography that gives them a soft spot in my heart!!
LikeLike
1 – Illit – Magnetic
2 – Aespa – Whiplash
3 – Fromis_9 – Supersonic
4 – Aespa – Supernova
5 – Moon Jong Up – Twist Ya
6 – Red Velvet – Cosmic
7 – BOL4 – Bloom
8 – Twice – One Spark
9 – Kep1er – Tipi-Tap
10 – Illit – Cherish
11 – ARTMS – Pre2 : Flower Rhythm
12 – Itzy – Gold
13 – DreamNote – Joyful Green
14 – Fifty Fifty – Gravity
15 – NewJeans – Supernatural
16 – NewJean – Right Now
17 – NMIXX – Dash
18 – Twice – I Got You
19 – Wooah – Blush
20 – Illit – Tick-Tack
21 – Apoki – Nu Boo
22 – TAN – Hypertonic
23 – A-plus – Error
24 – Candy Shop – Good Girl
25 – Unis – Superwoman
26 – NewJeans – Bubble Gum
27 – Drippin – Beautiful Maze
28 – QWER – Halftime
29 – Fifty Fifty – Starry Night
30 – Loossemble – TTYL
31 – Jin – Super Tuna
32 – Mimiirose – The Flowers Swayed
33 – Geenius – Voyage
34 – The Boyz – Rat in the Trap
35 – ARTMS – Unf/Air
36 – Song – It’s Call
37 – Adya – Rizz
38 – QWER – T.B.H
39 – Kep1er – Shooting Star
40 – Chung Ha – I’m Ready
41 – You Dayeon – Keep It Low
42 – StayC – 1 Thing
43 – Maroani – Void
44 – Loveone – Funny Honey
45 – Baekhyun – Pineapple Slice
46 – Sungmin – Yo.Yo.Yo.
47 – IVE – Accendio
48 – ARTMS – Virtual Angel
49 – tripleS Glow – Inner Dance
50 – Yerin – Wavy
K-Rock is separate for me.
1 – Pretty much everything from Xdinary Heroes
Rest of rock in no order:
Daylotus – New King
Aespa – Regret of the Times (remake version)
Lucy – The knight who can’t die and the silk cradle
Kave – Flight of Ideas (whole album)
OneWe – Off Road
Dustindiol – SS Bed
Peach Luffe – Better Off
PNS – Burn it Down
LikeLike
Didn’t have much to say because your list is practically the same as mine, only with two small, tiny diversions…
#9.5 ONF – Bye My Monster
Downright beautiful and sounds like nothing else released this year, with possibly the coolest-looking choreography I’ve seen.
and……
#0 Xikers – Red Sun
Shouting along to this song at 100% volume is one of my core memories at this point. OKAY WHO’S GON GET THAT TROPHY
LikeLiked by 1 person
To each their own of course, but I can honestly say I don’t get TWS. Nick talks a lot about feelings when listening to them, but the only feeling I get is dread at the prospect of listening to their song to its completion. The whole “fresh boys singing fresh songs” concept is so derivative and overdone (not that famously risk-averse K-pop agencies have ever been shy of sticking to the well-trodden path), and it didn’t help that they debuted at the same time as NCT Wish and I had a hard time telling the two groups apart. It’s all the more jarring when contrasting them in this top 10 with RIIZE (who boldly explore such a variety of genres and killing it with each one) and BOYNEXTDOOR (who ooze individuality in everything they do).
Anyway I went through my 2024 list and this is the closest that I have to a top 10, in alphabetical i.e. no particular order. (I’m using the same eligibility criteria as this article, which sadly exclude such standouts as Kiss of Life’s Igloo or Kep1er’s sync-love.)
aespa – Supernova: What a total banger. The “it song” of the year, absolutely deserving of all the awards it’s getting and of being at the top of end-of-year lists almost everywhere. aespa songs are usually a mess and this is no exception, but it’s a beautiful mess where all the disparate elements result in something that’s more than the sum of its parts. But as much as the delivery of the girls is top-notch, it’s the relentless electronic beat that’s the real star of the song.
ARTMS – Birth: <Dall> by ARTMS was the album I listened to the most during 2024, a rare product of a cohesive musical vision in an industry where the vast majority of releases consist of a hodgepodge of unrelated styles. And while most of my favourite tracks in there (such as the stellar Butterfly Effect) were not promoted and thus not eligible, album closer Birth takes the crown as a dark gothic fever dream that sounds unlike anything else that came out this year. It was also the first musical statement to come out of the ARTMS project and, while I rarely have strong reactions upon first listen of a song, when that breakbeat suddenly dropped in the middle of the song so did my jaw.
Chungha – I’m Ready: Who doesn’t love a good club banger? There isn’t much I can say here because upon starting to listen to I’m Ready you know exactly what song it’s going to be: the beat drops when it should, the vocals soar when they should, and the energy pummels throughout. No other song this year makes my head involuntarily start to bop quite like this one.
ILLIT – Magnetic: I won’t lie, as someone who wouldn’t even be listening to K-pop if it hadn’t been for NewJeans, the whole situation around ILLIT has me feeling so so bummed. And yet despite that I can’t deny the appeal of this song, it’s a total earworm and it has this dreamy vibe that (at least musically) sets them apart from their contemporaries.
Kep1er – Straight Line: I don’t see this song in many people’s lists — is it because they don’t consider it K-pop? To me it’s a K-pop song by a K-pop group signed to a K-pop agency, that just happens to be sung in Japanese. Anyway for my tastes this was Kep1er’s strongest title track this year (more so than both Shooting Star and Tipi-Tap), a radiant song that pivots here or there but never lets up. Incidentally the album it was part of, Kep1going, is effectively a great best-of release if you’re as agnostic to which language they sing in as I am (as someone who speaks neither Korean nor Japanese).
Kiss of Life – Te Quiero: Kiss of Life had a stellar year going from strength to strength, their discography is almost no-skip so it’s hard to pick a favourite. But ultimately Te Quiero was their song that I felt had the most impact: in an industry that tends to approach themes of love in a sanitized, almost sterile way to protect the “pure” image of their idols, Kiss of Life are not afraid to sing a song that brims with feelings of passion and desire. Of course it doesn’t hurt that the lyrics are exclusively in English, which to me adds an emotional connection with the song that’s just not going to be there by reading subtitles in a music video.
MEOVV – Toxic: Speaking of passion and desire, Toxic takes these feelings one step further by placing them in the context of, well, a toxic and dysfunctional relationship. MEOVV’s delivery is beautiful; rarely if ever have I come across a K-pop song with such a convincing rendition of emotional vulnerability. It furthermore stands out as a group song which does something more interesting than simply “one member sings after another”, and where instead the girls spend a big chunk of it harmonizing with each other two or even three at a time, or just completing each other’s sentences in rapid succession. The result is a song which manages to be heart-wrenching but also somehow cathartic.
NewJeans – Right Now: I did not expect NewJeans to be able to top Cool With You, which was definitely last year’s highlight for me. And yet they managed to do so with this year’s Right Now, a song that combines a shimmering melancholy with a chill but unrelenting drum-and-bass production. It’s hard to put into words what captivates me about this song, but the highlights are probably (a) the honey vocals of all the members and (b) the way it ebbs and flows from the leisurely intro / outro / break in the middle to the more frenetic (relatively speaking) parts in between.
Yena – NEMONEMO: Yena has always felt like a character straight out of a Japanese anime, and so it’s all the more fitting that she’s finally recorded the song that could be said anime’s opening theme. Honestly all I can think of is “what took her so long?” It’s a frantic, addictive song that no matter how loud I listen to it doesn’t feel loud enough, and the moment it ends my junkie brain just wants to press the button that makes it play again. Truly pop music at its finest.
Yves – Loop: Yves is just so cool, you know? I don’t know how else to explain it — this song radiates coolness. Amidst an industry with a tendency to go for maximalist bangers the defining feature of Loop is restraint, and in my book this is in no way a bad thing. It reminds me of the adage that perfection doesn’t come when there’s nothing left to add, but instead when there’s nothing left to take away. That’s what Loop feels like to me: every single beat is there for a reason, every melodic hook, every line of Yves’ stylish delivery, hell even Lil Cherry’s rap adds exactly the right feel at the right time — and I say that as someone who usually dreads rap parts in K-pop songs.
Honourable mentions:
ATEEZ – Crazy Form
Baekhyun – Pineapple Slice
BiBi – Bam Yang Gang
BOYNEXTDOOR – Earth, Wind & Fire
DPR Artic ft. DPR Ian – Do or Die
Fifty Fifty – Gravity
IVE – Accendio
Lisa ft. Rosalía – New Woman
RIIZE – Impossible
Zico ft. Jennie – Spot!
Finally on a more meta note, I find it mildly amusing how little my list overlaps with Nick’s, but then again it’s been pretty obvious to me from his reviews too that his tastes don’t really align with mine. (And that’s fine!) Out of all the end-of-year lists I have come across, I think it’s NME’s “25 best K-pop songs of 2024” that most closely coincides with my own thoughts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
TWS songs are just that good man! 3 in TOP 5 alone speaks volume! You guys shading on them or not liking them just because of some weird preference are really just missing out. Had Last Festival came out earlier, i think it’ll also made it into TOP 10 as well. Anyway, GREAT LIST , NICK !
LikeLike
This will probably get buried in all the excellent rankings in the comments but. I made a spotify playlist of the top 50: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7klmjcWUEnaIIukiGS2bF7?si=sw0p12wGQ6e2YlZIDO29sA&pi=5dRvOmrSTn2TL (or search TheBiasList 2024 Top 50).
LikeLike
Thanks for the playlist, I’ve been listening to it blind (i.e. without checking who it is before I have an opinion about the song) to see if I can discover anything new without preconceptions. There’s a small mistake though: it has Double Take twice instead of B.I’s song.
LikeLike
No viviz again, not even in honorable mention, when it was better than half of the songs in your list
LikeLike
i feel like I’m going crazy, where’s the TXT representation!?!?!
LikeLike
My Top 15 of 2024:ENHYPEN – Brought the Heat BackCIX – Lovers or Enemiesaespa – Supernova (Whiplash)ITZY – Imaginary Friend (Untouchable)IVE – AccendioNMIXX – Dash (Run For Roses)ALL(H)OURS – ShockRed Velvet – CosmicMoon Jong Up – Twist YaRIIZE – Impossible (Boom Boom Bass)Hwasa – NAIU – HolssiRESCENE – UhUh (Love Attack)ICHILLIN’ – Demigodxikers – Bittersweet
My favorite songs of 2024 that are mostly or entirely in English:TEN – NightwalkerChung Ha – I’m Ready
My fave K-songs of the year that aren’t strictly KPOP, weren’t promoted, etc.Key – OverthinkARTMS – BirthOxymosoon, NECTA, Earring – OutroLim Kim X 1Million – UltONEUS – Now (Fin.K.L cover)TOUCHED – Addiction
LikeLike
Whoa… My formatting was destroyed, and I have no option to edit.
LikeLike
WordPress has been having some major issues/bugs lately. I tried to go in and edit the format of your comment but it wouldn’t even let me do it 😭
LikeLike
Thank you for trying!
LikeLike
this was the year when i listened to a lot of b-sides. its not a ranking. its a list.
honorable mentions: everything from xdinary heroes
best debuts: rescene and tws
triples and boynextdoor kinda dissapointed me this year. last year they were amazing, bonedo in particular. serenade was my gem for months…. babymonster and nmixx slowly getting their ways into my playlist. aespa too since i didnt like anything from them last year. ive is consistantly amazing.
besides 4th gen, ive been listening a lot of 2gen music… im craving for party bangers. classic pop…yk
LikeLike
Time gets blurry for me. My list would include 82Major’s Stuck (I mean come on, they’re awesome and no one has mentioned them at all), Kave’s You (Just Kave in general, really), anything by Riize, anything by Zerobaseone, Aespa’s Whiplash, Itzy’s Imaginary Friend, and although he isn’t really kpop, everything DPR Ian released this year. Perhaps throw in Ive’s Heya, all of Xikers (including Witch, yes), and TripleS Girls Never Die. I had plenty of great stuff to listen to.
LikeLike
Figured “Impossible” and “Boom Boom Bass” would be in your top 10, but I was pleasantly surprised “Mamacita” and “Go up” made it as I throughroughly enjoyed those songs. I would also add “Horizon”, “Bibora”, “Forever” and “Pineapple Slice” to my top songs this year.
I was actually able to go through your top 50 much faster this year since I had actually heard most of the songs through your Top Three Songs of the Month (I would usually listen/watch all of the songs and it would take it a few days). I only re-listen to ones I had forgotten or new entries. Thanks for the list this year and hope 2025 offers more exciting music.
LikeLike