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!
February 2022 // March 2022 // April 2022 // May 2022 // June 2022 // July 2022 // August 2022 // September 2022 // October 2022 // November 2022 // January 2023 // February 2023 // March 2023 // April 2023 // May 2023 // June 2023 // July 2023 // August 2023 // September 2023 // October 2023 // November 2023 // January 2024 // February 2024 // March 2024 // April 2024 // May 2024 // June 2024 // July 2024 // August 2024 // September 2024 // October 2024 // November 2024 // December 2024 // January 2025 // February 2025
ADÉLA – Machine Girl
The rare example of a nursery rhyme-style melody working to enhance a song. This is really dynamic.
Alan Walker & Robin Packelen – Dust
It’s fun seeing one of Finland’s best kept secrets collaborating with a big international DJ.
Andreas Lundstedt – Vicious
One of the catchier tracks in this year’s Melodifestivalen, keeping the spirit of Alcazar alive.
Armin van Buuren – Keep The Faith (ft. Bon Jovi)
Sampling old tracks has become very cliché in dance music, but I like what they did here. Picking a more obscure Bon Jovi hit works surprisingly well.
Arwin – This Dream Of Mine
Just a classic Melodifestivalen anthem.
Benjamin – Tommi (Seksipommi)
Since 2022, Benjamin has released ten digital singles (all of them fantastic). I think it’s time for an official album!
Bess – Anna Tulla
Finland continues to deliver with this dance banger. I love the guitar at its climax.
Blusher – Racer
A disarmingly catchy dance bop. The chorus has a great sense of movement.
Chappell Roan – The Giver
I don’t know quite how to feel about this one. I can’t say I’ve been dreaming of a country track from Chappell, but it’s so catchy.
Chloe Qisha – Sex, Drugs & Existential Dread
She’s landed on my radar recently. I love the deadpan delivery and Prince-like instrumental on this.
Debbii Dawson – You Killed The Music
This has such a classic pop (Abba?) sound. It feels very out of time in a great way.
Dove Cameron – Too Much
Based on past work, I wouldn’t have expected to feature Dove Cameron on this blog. However, I absolutely love this arch, 80’s kiss-off.
Florrie – Pieces
Florrie takes on house music, backed by the always crisp production of Xenomania.
Jade – FUFN (Fuck You For Now)
She’s yet to better Angel Of My Dreams, but this has a great chorus.
Julie Bergan – Dance All Night
Listen to her new EP for an exhilarating, nonstop shot of high octane euro pop.
Kat Brix – In Love With A Psycho
This is a fantastic debut single, chugging along brisk club production with a great melodic hook.
KEiiNO – Halo
KEiiNO does their thing yet again to brilliant effect.
Lady Gaga – Shadow Of A Man
I should probably just do a full album review of Lady Gaga’s fantastic MAYHEM, but for now I’ll post my favorite of the non-singles. Shadow Of A Man goes full-on Michael Jackson – a sound I miss so much.
LEXXE – Daughters Of Chaos
Another moody electro anthem from LEXXE.
Lil Nas X – Hotbox
Lil Nas X tries on Neptunes-style production and it turns out to be a great fit.
Maria Jane Smith – I Hate San Francisco
Her songwriting is just so solid. Fantastic melodies and an incredible chorus. This is what I assume others hear when they listen to Taylor Swift.
The Parity Complex – Girl’s Girl
I was obsessed with their 2021 single Move-On Song but quickly lost touch with the band. To my great surprise, they’ve released several bangers since then including this brand new one!
Rebecca Black – Salvation / Do You Even Think About Me? / Twist The Knife
Rebecca Black’s new album is actually fantastic. Single Salvation is great but b-sides Do You Even Think About Me and Twist The Knife are on another level. The production is insane.
Scarlet – Sweet N’ Psycho
One of my favorite Melodifestivalen tracks this year (the competition as a whole was quite underwhelming and I don’t care for the winning act).
Sleigh Bells – Bunky Pop
Despite being aware of how awesome they are, I’ve never really dived into Sleigh Bells’ music. This upcoming album might change that because I love this quirky rock freakout.
Tom Grennan – Boys Don’t Cry
The production reminds me of Tears For Fears’ Everybody Wants To Rule The World, and that’s a very good thing!
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
JADE has yet to miss, that debut album will be insane.
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I have no doubt it will be good, but the same way Nick brings up “angel of my dreams”, I can’t help but hope we get another track at that level
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I’m so excited for it, been listening to all the singles so much.
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Ooo some great recommendations here! I’d like to highlight some of my fav songs this month that I discovered
Nick I’d love to hear what you think of each one?
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1. Love this one and I’m excited for her upcoming album. Hitaammin hautaan is one of my favorite songs this year.
2. Hadn’t heard this one. It’s solid, though probably not what I turn to Finnish music for.
3. Great chorus!
4. It’s funny… at this point this kind of club track is so generic yet I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it.
5. Thanks for this! Finland is just a bottomless well of great pop music, isn’t it? I’ve never heard of this artist but she’ll be added to my list.
6. Ah, this one I knew. Mirella’s music is a bit hit or miss for me but I like this song. From what I can tell, it was a big hit last year.
7. How refreshing to see a new boy band from the States! This is much better than whatever dearALICE were trying to do with Ariana. I’ll keep an eye on them!
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Yes Finland just know how to do pop music right especially with synth pop bangers im glad you liked them! I would recommend another song from Etta from the same album https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=d88wKHSd4Mc&si=7ZfZ4fifBLVzRkEe
And yess I really like Full Circle Boys I discovered them through the song Call My Name which i enjoyed
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ay0O5603CEM&si=LZ0KPrM4MYFgrjhS
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I’m not even a big Lady Gaga fan, but I can’t deny she always delivers. Shadow of a man is such a bop. It has that timeless and unmistakable MJ sound without being a copy. The whole album grew on me.
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im gonna post some latin songs that i think are bangers, i cant say i found the perfect song yet but here they are
nick, could you give me your thoughts on them?
shakira – estoy aqui (because wordpress is being anal and doesnt wanna embed the video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmJHH026X0c
cnco & little mix – reggaeton lento (remix): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UONnRMuuDps
carlos vives y shakira – la bicicleta: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UV0QGLmYys
daddy yankee – gasolina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJP9ZTsgxJs
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Banger round-ups last month and this – haven’t gotten a change to sit down and dig into his work but the DE’WAYNE songs you featured are both real good.
Hard agree on Maria Jane Smith! Her song Adrian was one of my most played last year, and felt like it told such a full and thoughtful story in a way I don’t think Taylor’s matched since All Too Well.
For my part, I’m probably gonna continue espousing The Knocks’ and Dragonette’s collabs until they finally drop the album they’re clearly building up to. This latest song is a slow grower on me, and kinda just makes me want to listen to Carly Rae Jepsen’s All That, but I still enjoy how all-in they’re going on 80’s pastiche.
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From the looks of it, it seems that you wasn’t really a fan of Melodifestivalen winner for this year’s edition?
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Correct. I’m generally not a fan of “funny” entries.
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Understandable. Honestly, the winning song wasn’t my cup of tea and for the first time in my ranking, Sweden wasn’t even in my top 10. Maybe for others, it has a huge appeal, but the song’s just not cut out for me.
I really wish Klara win that night, but I kinda understands her situation during the live.
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I was pulling for Klara too!
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I did not hear about the Parity Complex before, but their songs are so good! Jennie’s comeback should have ideally sounded more like Girl’s Girl lol.
Also, I am mostly a silent reader of the blog but Nick, you have really helped to shape my music choices and sensibilities. They align very closely to your’s, and I discovered so many new artists from the blog – in JPop and international pop too. Thanks a lot for all that you do!
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also nick can u help me get into david bowie? im still a bit on the fence with ziggy stardust (though starman is goated) so i kinda want some recommendations for his other works
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If you like Starman, you gotta dig these. Who can resist his sci-fi tunes?
His album Low is brilliant too:
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Is Nick a Bowie fan? Wow. Me too. My favorite album is The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust; from the first track (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ObjtVdsV3I) to the last (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOgVoxqKU7U), it’s a masterpiece imo:)
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i decided to give it a few more spins a few hours ago and yeah i change my mind about being on the fence, the album is fucking fantastic
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I definitely went through a Bowie phase ages ago and bought / listened to all of his key albums. I think his Berlin trilogy is especially interesting and experimental. The album “Station To Station” precedes it and has always felt like an introduction to me. As a whole, it’s not his very best but the ten-minute title track had me absolutely riveted for quite awhile. I still think it’s a monumental feat, up there with Elton’s “Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding” as my favorite lengthy 70’s epics. It gets especially great halfway through.
Also… not from the 70’s but if you enjoy Gaga’s Mayhem she clearly took a ton of inspiration from the awesome instrumental to 97’s “I’m Afraid Of Americans” (which was probably my first exposure to Bowie as a teen).
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I can’t say I’m a big fan of the Laurel Canyon sound, but things like I Love You, Honeybear (by Father John Misty), Titanic Rising (by Weyes Blood), & LDR’s Norman #$#%# Rockwell are great albums with irresistible songs. Haim have also put out some great tunes, and their new one seems like a keeper:
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that maria jane smith song is like a blend of Red and 1989 methinks, i like it!
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Can’t believe the Friday’s Rebecca has now transform to bring up such a fantansic album.
Btw, I’ve been craving for some high-evergy trance music, could you (and dear fellows in the comments) recommend some to me? Highly appreciated.
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Parity Complex! Move-on song has been on my playlist since you first featured it, love it!
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nick did you ever get round to listening to imaginal disk by magdalena bay?
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I’m afraid I might’ve asked this already but I can’t find the comment. So just in case I imagined it, I wanted to know if you’ve heard of hemlock springs. Particularly her going going gone EP. Girl friend is her most popular but I love enknee1
not on that EP but here’s another one I like
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I’m not at all surprised that you’re not vibing with KAJ. I’m finding them increasingly charming, but I have a greater tolerance for “funny” songs than you do (I still have a soft spot for Netta’s Toy, and the 5Miinust / Puuluup collab was my favorite Eurovision contender last year). That said, I listed to their most recent album, and I can see where the critics are coming from. They’re clearly professionals, but comic music is hard to sustain if you’re not being 100% sincere, and they’re not (at least for most of the album; I think Bada Bara Bastu may have just enough sincerity to get them over the edge).
Also this may get me tossed out on my ear, but that album opens with… a disco song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjifVdAVTiQ
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