A few years ago, many of K-pop’s best tracks were buried as b-sides. This year was different, with most of my favorite music promoted as title tracks. I certainly prefer this approach. After all, great songs should be paired with great visuals/choreo whenever possible. However, it made for a slightly less prolific slate of “buried treasure” posts in 2024.
This countdown encompasses any track that didn’t receive a full music video. This includes album tracks, as well as songs that may have been performed but never actively promoted. It also includes Japanese b-sides from Korean acts. Just like the Top 50 Singles list, all songs here were released between December 1st, 2023 and November 30th, 2024.
MAKE SURE TO EXPLORE SONGS 40-21 FIRST
20. BOYNEXTDOOR – OUR
I was not convinced by this song on first listen because laidback trap pop is not usually my thing. But it turns out to be the perfect showcase for BOYNEXTDOOR’s colorful personality and has become one of the year’s most enduring tracks.
19. FANTASY BOYS – MAKE SUNSHINE
This is just classic summertime K-pop — archetypical in its ability to fulfill all expectations for the genre. It may not be the most original thing ever recorded, but I have such a soft spot in my heart for this exact style of effusive pop song. (full review)
18. TXT – I’LL SEE YOU THERE TOMORROW
So many acts dabbled in this subdued, blippy-bloopy house music this year, but this song is my favorite example of the sound. The melodies are so sticky (if a bit repetitive) and the beat kicks up a strangely addictive groove. (full review)
17. TAEMIN – CRUSH
This is Taemin doing what he does best, his slippery vocals perched over an engaging funk rhythm that spins into a punchy chorus. He can cast these bangers off in his sleep, but we can always do with more. (full review)
16. NMIXX – RUN FOR ROSES
I’d been casually watching NMIXX for some time, but Run For Roses made me sit up and truly take notice. The country influences are interesting, but it’s the girls’ vocals that truly steal the show. (full review)
15. TWS – COMMA,
It’s only a matter of time before TWS slide into Seventeen’s funk pop shoes, and Comma convinces me they have an exciting future in this genre. The bombastic late-song breakdown is quite thrilling. (full review)
14. DKB – TAEKWONDO
The chopped vocal loop that forges Taekwondo‘s main hook is one of the most idiosyncratic sounds I heard in K-pop all year and makes me want to immediately hit “replay.” This is not the style of song I tend to gravitate toward, but I find it so fascinating.
13. DRIPPIN – BLACK MIRROR
Woollim Entertainment continues their tradition of burying excellent material at the end of albums. Black Mirror is big and brash, taking cues from K-pop’s past and imbuing them with DRIPPIN’s youthful energy. (full review)
12. RIIZE – ONE KISS
One Kiss is quintessential boy band in the most primordial way. From its sentimental melodies to the sunny, singalong execution, it’s refreshing to hear such an open-hearted burst of unironic pop music. (full review)
11. TWS – YOU+ME=7942
That mathematical title gives me a headache, but its overstuffed nature turns out to be a great representation of the song’s wild sound. YOU+ME=7942 is an explosion of off-kilter hooks, growing more addictive each time you hear it.
10. THE WIND – HEART FLUTTERING
Those opening keys are so “2009-era Daishi Dance produced K-pop” I could almost collapse from joy. The song goes a full thirty seconds without even getting to its first verse and that old-school approach is so appreciated. When it does start moving, we’re treated to an ultra-sweet chorus that plays like pure bubblegum.
9. ZEROBASEONE – ROAD MOVIE
I find this to be the most surprising ZEROBASEONE track. I did not expect its theatrical, Broadway-level pre-chorus. I didn’t expect to love the chanted chorus and the way it seamlessly blends into verse two. It all feels delightfully off-kilter. (full review)
8. TWS – KEEP ON
While I don’t usually care for ballads, I do love a good, hearty pop/rock singalong. Keep On has plenty of heft, building toward exciting peaks and built from solid, sentimental melodies. (full review)
7. THE WIND – I DON’T THING
I’ll never be able to get over that typo of a title, but musically this is an ultra feel-good punch of power pop. I love those big synth riffs and explosive chorus. It was rare to hear a pop song this undeniably upbeat in 2024. (full review)
6. RIIZE – 9 DAYS
Though I initially found the song a bit generic, 9 Days went on to rule my summer playlist. It’s just so damn catchy and pinwheels toward a legitimately immense finale that makes for a great vocal showcase. (full review)
5. THE WIND – FRIENDSHIP
The Wind released stellar b-sides in 2024 and Friendship is my favorite. From its sparkling intro to the thumping dance beat to verse two’s irresistible guitar breakdown, the song bounds forward with such optimism and excitement. (full review)
4. SUNGKYU & WOOHYUN (INFINITE) – BEAUTIFUL
Inspirits finally got our long-awaited “Infinite V” sub-unit via an unexpected OST release. Beautiful brings together my two favorite voices in K-pop and gives them a propulsive dance track to showcase their brilliance. This is the sound I wanted to hear from Infinite’s 2023 return. I hope they realize how much fans love it. (full review)
3. TVXQ – T.R.H.M
I’m not kidding when I say this may be TVXQ’s best song in a decade. A duo this legendary befits music that’s equally as grand and sprawling. T.R.H.M offers an immense sound, blending electro funk with pummeling rock. It only grows bigger as it unfolds. (full review)
2. TWS – FIRST HOOKY
This song is just so addictive. The rubbery synth is pure 90’s hip-hop gold while the groove pulses with head-nodding funk. The group’s vocals have never sounded better, wrapping around the production with ease and finesse. The chorus is rhythmic yet melodic — a balance few 2024 songs pulled off this well. I could listen to this on a loop for hours. (full review)
1. BOYNEXTDOOR – SO LET’S GO SEE THE STARS
On first listen, So Let’s Go See The Stars may feel less ambitious than many of the other songs on this list, but its sweet melodicism and standout performance stood the test of time and became my favorite BOYNEXTDOOR song of the year. The track is immaculately produced, from the shimmering chorus to the beautiful ascending synth line that precedes verse two. Stars has genuine build, storytelling through structure in a way that satisfies in both a sonic and sentimental way. (full review)
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
T.R.H.M might just be in my top 5 songs of the year, not even b-sides
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Also, First Hooky for me kinda reminds me of funky Exo, like Tender Love & Non Stop (might be the delivery)
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Also, I don’t know if it’s the delivery, but First Hooky reminds me of some of EXO’s funky songs, like Tender Love and Non Stop
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Why did it repeat 😭
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Because it was such a good comment we needed to see it twice! 😉
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Ooh, didn’t expect T.R.H.M to be there, since it’s a Japanese release, and also didn’t expect it to NOT be first lol. But well, some of my fave B-sides (not in any order) are:
Supercalifragilistic (xikers) (and ofc it’s obvious I’ll include it, and it also is my #1 song on Spotify Wrapped lol and I will forever resent KQ for not promoting it)
and Bittersweet (they never mentioned it as a title track, so I consider it to be a promotional B-side)
Psycho Mantra (ALL(H)OURS) (The production here is really good and steals the show for me)
Last Call (P1H)
T.R.H.M (TVXQ)
Prologue (aespa)
Fire (Dignity)
Run for Roses (NMIXX) (the album itself is so good, I might as well include all the B-sides here)
Too Many Alex, Te Quiero and No One But Us (KIOF)
Might include more but I’m drawing a blank rn lol
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Now the blank is no longer drawn and here’s also Find and Flexing On My Ex (STAYC) and Miami (ICHILLIN’) :p
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Oh my gawd, I also forgot Box (NCT Dream) as well, and well, I guess that’s it for now 😭
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I’m surprised by the #1 song! also, OUR is an amazing song.
my favorites:
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Your #’s 3 & 4 are my 1 & 2. I haven’t heard your #1 before, so I’m checking it out. Looking at my playlist, these are my favorite b-sides, with the top 3 being ranked, while the rest are in no particular order:
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Okay, So Let’s Go See the Stars is a keeper! I love how it ends; I just wish it would segue into another minute of ambience wash. I wish bands would take more chances with their b-sides, since they’re not being promoted as singles and don’t have to adhere to the 3 minute mark. This song wants to be longer.
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I agree, I love the song and have listened to it a lot this year, but a minute more and it would have went to a different level.
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Whoop, I forgot:
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This is my most anticipated segment of the year end rundown. Looking forward to going through the lists and finding things I may have missed or overlooked! Apparently I need to check out this T.R.H.M song! Anyway, here’s my list. I think I went a little over 40 but idc.
🔸P1Harmony – Most of them. Countdown to Love (most played song of the year according to Spotify), Emergency, Everybody Clap, 2Nite, Let Me Love You, I See U, Last Call, It’s Alright, Welcome to
🔹ARTMS – Butterfly Effect (2nd most played song according to Spotify), The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Distress
🔸TWICE – New New (3rd most played song according to Spotify), You Get Me
🔹SuJu L.S.S. – Old Skool
🔸Loosemble – Starlight, Moonlight
🔹Xdinary Heroes – Money on My Mind, Paint It
🔸Hui – Cold Killer
🔹D.O – About Time, Simple Joys
🔸Day6 – Sad Ending
🔹RIIZE – 9 Days, Honestly, One Kiss
🔸Kyuhyun – Rainbow
🔹Cignature – I like I like
🔸VANNER – Circuit
🔹Hwasa – Road, just want to have some fun
🔸Boynextdoor – So let’s go see the stars
🔹Kim Jae Joong – Tru Love Tru Lies, Dopamine (feat. MIYAVI)
🔸Yena – Good Girls in the Dark
🔹LE SSERAFIM – 1-800-hot-n-fun
🔸Lim Hyunsik – Deep Blue Sea, The Tides of Life, Swimming
🔹Red Velvet – Night Drive
🔸Say My Name – Be a Star
🔹TWS – You+Me=7942, Fire Confetti
🔸Chen – Remember
🔹Onew – Maestro
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1 BND – So Lets Go See the ⭐️s – the hold this song has on me is unhealthy
2 P1Harmony – Last Call
3 POW -Sunset – not sure if it’s a bside but it is a great ballad
4 TAN – If You Can Hear Me – not sure if it’s from 2024 but it is on their 2024 album and that’s when I first discovered it (thanks to Nick’s X post)
5 Elast – Fade Out
6 XdinaryHeroes- Dreaming Girl – experiencing this song live was unforgettable
7 Catch the Young – The Legend
8 TxT- Miracles
9 TheBoyz – BiteBack
10 Yuta – Bad Euphoria – Japanese but it’s so good
Honorables:
Fantasy Boys-Make Sunshine
Rocky – Read You – again, makes me so emotional
Kang Daniel – 9 Lives
Aimers – Where We Go – so much fun
TWS – Comma
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A nice portion of what I decided to keep from 2024 is in this post. Out of Boynextdoor, The Wind and TWS b-sides, “So let’s go see the stars” takes the crown for me as well, and is my no.1 song released this year, together with How? as the no.1 album of the year.
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Since you’re counting TRHM in this post, I’ll include it, too!
Very much subject to change since I feel like I’m always a year behind on music. I listened to 2023 stuff this year, and next year I’ll probably spam all the 2024 stuff.
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I’d like to call attention to Minho’s solid b-sides.
“Something about u” and “Came and left me” were both excellent.
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I liked those as well!
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TXT’s Miracle is probably my favourite b-side this year purely because it just sounds like Loser=Lover 2.0 (my fav song from them)
Itzy’s b-sides are up there too, they absolutely cooked this year.
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The song that reminds me most of Loser=Lover from this year is RIIZE’s Combo, my 2nd favorite by RIIZE after Impossible.
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Oh! Surprised and excited to see Taekwondo make the list! I caught DKB on tour this year and they put on a hell of a show; this track 100% stood out on Urban Ride, and it was just as fun live.
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first hooky sounds sm like it could be on one of svts albums from their first year and a half or so which rlly adds to its charm. also kyungmins part during the bridge is SOOO addictive godddd i need his vocal tone injected into my veins its just. total aural candy
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I knew I forgot at least one song on my top songs of the year list! Run For Roses is just magical. I really wish JYP would give NMixx more songs like this. I think it would make the girls’ vocals stand out and people would pay more attention to their talents.
That said, I think my top B-Side of the year is actually Kill It by Aespa. I don’t know what kind of magic is in it, but it scratches my brain in all the right places. Especially Winter’s voice in the opening verse. I’m in love with it. I think it could have been the title track if Whiplash didn’t exist.
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This is such a strong pick for the top 20-1 b-sides! Don’t get me as every one is subjectively biased as I did not like most of your song pick on the best title (because I generally loves girl group > boy group) but this list is a solid picks across all the way and I like every single songs here and will rank it similar as well (especially top 10).
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wow, nmixx the only girl group in the top 20, feels like a first
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I appreciate most of BOYNEXTDOOR’s singles as being offbeat from the rest of the market, but So Let’s Go See The Stars in particular is really pretty while still sounding like little else in k-pop right now.
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