Feature

K-Pop Risers & Fallers: October 2025

Risers & FallersRather than contain my “Risers and Fallers” feature to a single post in June, I’m going to share a bite-sized version at the end of each month. This will let me account for more songs and make a nice lead-in to the monthly round-up post.

I anticipate most of these ratings adjustments will be negligible: a 0.5 shift here, a 0.25 shift there. But, it’s a fun way to keep track of how my feelings on songs have changed over time – as well as which tracks currently have momentum on my playlist.

And remember, just because a song is marked as a “faller” doesn’t mean I hate it! Falling from a “9” to an “8.75” is no shame. 9+ rated songs occupy a totally different playlist in my music library, so I’m pretty particular about what qualifies. It’s a high bar.

This month’s feature covers the period from September 23rd to October 20th. 


RISERS

BABYMONSTER – We Go Up
Rating: 8 → 8.25

Hearts2Hearts – Focus
Rating: 8.25 → 8.5

Hearts2Hearts – Pretty Please
Rating: 8 → 8.25

Hwasa – Good Goodbye
Rating: 7.5 → 7.75

izna – Mamma Mia
Rating: 7.25 → 8.25 *Biggest Riser*

MEOVV – Burning Up
Rating: 7.75 → 8

NMIXX – Blue Valentine
Rating: 8 → 8.5

NMIXX – Spinnin’ On It
Rating: 8 → 8.25


FALLERS

Kim Lip – Can You Entertain?
Rating: 8.5 → 8.25

S.Coups x Mingyu – 5, 4, 3 (Pretty Woman) (ft. Lay Bankz)
Rating: 7.75 → 7.5 *Biggest Faller*

20 thoughts on “K-Pop Risers & Fallers: October 2025

  1. interesting! what made Mamma Mia rise for you? it’s grown on me too but I would have still preferred Supercrush as the single. I thought they were gonna start promoting Racecar this week but it seems like that was a one-time-only occasion for M Countdown (another dumb move from their company…)

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  2. Mamma Mia is a riser for me too, mostly because of the dance challenges. I’m not sure I like listening to the song on its own but the point choreo is addictive. Focus has the same effect on me.

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  3. i really came around to mamma mia probably on the second listen and have loved it ever since, so i’m glad to see it rise!! i think izna, babymonster, nmixx, meovv and h2h all had solid title tracks that i was happy with even if they didn’t completely blow me away. nmixx and izna specifically are a weird case where they’re two of my favorite groups rn but i almost always prefer their b sides

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  4. for me spinnin’ on it is leagues ahead of mamma mia so it’s interesting to see you rate them the same. that chorus rhythm & vocal must really be worming it’s way quite deep into your brain haha

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  5. Oh the NMIXX song is a huge riser. It went from a 8.25 (9, 8, 8, 8) to a 8.75 (9, 8, 9, 9) for me. I have a feeling it’ll reach the 9s for me somewhere down the line, easily their best single yet.

    Even Mamma Mia lowkey grew on me, the chorus is such an earworm istg, from a 7 (6, 7, 8, 7) to a 7.75 (8, 7, 9, 7) for me 😭

    Even that Hearts2Heart song (Focus) is a slow grower, it’s my type of cute quirky little bops, so it’s a 8.25 for me now (8, 9, 8, 8) from an 8 (7, 9, 8, 8)

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  6. Mamma Mia had the same effect on me. Something infectious about that chorus. I mean it’s really “Next Level” coded, maybe that’s why I like it.

    On the other hand, Blue Valentine is a 9 if not 9.5 for me. It’s such a perfect song with the best finale since I AM. I feel it’s going to become a classic and I hope its success will hold in winter because it sounds like a Christmas song to me!

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  7. Mamma Mia also grew massively in me, thanks to that infectious chorus. Song reminds me of  “Next Level”, maybe that’s why I like it.

    On the other hand, Blue Valentine is easily a 9 or 9.5 for me. I believe it’s a future classic and I hope its success will continue till winter because it basically sounds like a Christmas song!

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  8. Mamma Mia also grew massively in me, thanks to that infectious chorus. Song reminds me of  “Next Level”, maybe that’s why I like it.

    On the other hand, Blue Valentine is easily a 9 or 9.5 for me. I believe it’s a future classic and I hope its success will continue till winter because it basically sounds like a Christmas song!

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  9. BOYNEXTDOOR’s new album has grown on me, likely do to how much I love this group’s vocal color. I’ve definitely warmed up to the full campiness of Hollywood action. I like Bathroom too.

    NMIXX’s album had little room left to grow for me as I already held it in high esteem, but it closed that gap even more, specifically Phoenix, Reality Hurts, Podium, and Rico all bumping up to mid-high 9s. No surprise to anyone that has read my comments before, I’m sure. They are my TWS level bias, to use the blog as comparison.

    No Fallers, this was a really great month I thought. I liked the above two, but also Babymonster, Itzy, TWS, MEOVV, Lucy, Xdinary Heroes, TXT, JustB, VVUP, H2H.

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