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The Top 50 K-Pop Songs of 2025 (Day Five: 10-1)

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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, 2024 and Nov. 30th, 2025.

Curious about past countdowns? Check out the masterpost here!

Honorable Mentions

Songs 50-41

Songs 40-31

Songs 30-21

Songs 20-11

10. AHOF – Pinocchio

I’ve always thought that a group’s first comeback is more important than their debut, and if they can cement themselves (and their sound) with this track that’s usually a positive sign. Thankfully, we’ve got nothing to worry about with AHOF. Pinocchio doubles down on their stirring rock-infused style, adding big, singalong refrains and hitting us with that rarest of K-pop unicorns: a climactic key change! (full review)

9. fromis_9 – Like You Better

Momentum is everything for a song like Like You Better. From the moment the chugging percussion opens the track, we’re promised a consistent wave of acceleration. Years of musical fumbling from producers has made me cynical, so instead of simply enjoying the track I’m on pins and needles thinking: “Please. Don’t. Drop. The. Ball.” Well, Like You Better never drops the ball. It’s one speedy highlight after another, pinballing from crest to crest. My favorite bit of added oomph happens during the pre-chorus. Here, most producers would bring the energy down and give the listener time to breathe. Instead, Like You Better whisks us along with an unbothered confidence. (full review)

8. TWS – Lucky To Be Loved

Every K-pop group has a fan song. TWS aren’t even two years into their career and they already have several. These are often treacly ballads with trite lyrics, laser-focused on their specific intent. Lucky To Be Loved manages to transcend both the idea of a rote fan song and its own reliance on the overused UK garage genre trend. It does so with that simplest and most important element of songwriting: melody. I’m head over heels in love with this melody. It’s a microcosm of TWS’s general melodic approach: ascending lines that hit generous crescendos again and again throughout the song. That happens most clearly during Lucky To Be Loved‘s stunning pre-chorus, which offers the perfect match of song and artist. The group’s unassuming sweetness shines through in every lilting note. (full review)

7. CRAVITY – Set Net G0?!

CRAVITY have been on my radar for many years now, often making it to the lower reaches of this countdown. But in their fifth year, something special happened. Maybe it’s the confidence that comes with time. Maybe it’s their desire to stake their claim in an industry that quickly moves on to the newest, freshest thing. Whatever it is, the guys brought their A-game with Set Net G0?!. It pulls a nice hat trick by meeting and subverting expectations in equal measure. On one hand, it’s the kind of light, funky summer track I tend to love. Yet at the same time, it’s a deeply weird single, playing around with structure and tone in ways that keep you on your feet and rushing back for more. (full review)

6. Close Your Eyes – All My Poetry

If given a choice between a banging dance track and a soft mid-tempo, I will almost always choose the banging dance track. That’s just how my musical mind is wired. For a mid-tempo to make it into the top ten of my year-end list, it must be exceptional. Thankfully, All My Poetry is exceptional. The first time I heard it, I thought, “Oh, that’s nice. They’re mining that mid-00s era of soft, poppy R&B I never really loved the first time through. Well… at least it’s a different 2000s facsimile than everyone else in K-pop is making!” But then the song grew… and grew and grew each month until I realized what a sleeper classic this is. The vocal melody and performance glistens and the groove works its way under your skin with such ease. There are certain days — and certain moods — when I’m convinced this was the best thing released all year. (full review)

5. NouerA – N.I.N (New Is Now)

A debut track is no place to pull your punches. You must tell us you’re new. In fact, not only are you new — that newness is NOW! And don’t stop there. Hit us over the head with your newness. There’s a rookie debuting every other week. You must feel the urgency! NouerA were formed via one of the industry’s many audition shows, which often represent the most corporate corner of K-pop. The group could have released some subdued, trend-chasing track and been forgotten as quickly as they came to be. Instead, N.I.N (New Is Now) struts out of the gate with bounding synth and an almost dizzying swagger. It borrows equally from the past and the present, all the while forging an instantly recognizable sound for the group. (full review)

4. The Boyz – VVV

In a year that felt as though song producers were constantly pulling things away from their music, VVV kept piling things on. It’s a full experience carnival ride. You get plenty of bang for your buck. It’s the longest song on my countdown, yet feels as if it passes by in a flash. This is testament to its undying momentum. VVV starts strong and never lets up. Grooves become stickier and more dynamic, vocals gain renewed passion, and just when you think we’re drawing to a close the track hits you with another volley of hooks. It says something that a group in their eighth year has the confidence to stick to their guns and release something so counter to today’s trends. And it’s even more impressive that — this far into their career — they unveiled their greatest masterwork. (full review)

3. TWS – Countdown!

Countdown presented a challenge I’d never experienced before on this list. It’s my most played song of the year, but the version I’ve played is my own three minute twenty second concoction that adds an extra synth breakdown before verse two and an extended outro. In comparison, the officially released version of the song feels incomplete, yet it’s the edit I must consider when crafting this list.

Regardless, either version of Countdown boasts my favorite intro of the year. It never fails to excite my ears, blending the group’s intensely melodic approach with stabs of jubilant guitar and percussion. Since Plot Twist hit it big last year, many newer boy groups have transitioned to a brighter sound, but few are as perfectly matched to the vibe as TWS. They sing as if they can barely contain their excitement. It’s exclamation point after exclamation point with this song, and that joy feels authentic and earnest, allowing the listener to lower their guard and shove cynicism to the side. Like so many great pop songs before it, Countdown‘s energy pulls you away from the demands and doldrums of your day and points toward a different, more colorful and impassioned reality.  (full review)

2. TWS – Overdrive

I don’t like placing the same artist back-to-back on these countdowns, especially this close to the top. However, I waffled between this and Countdown as TWS’s ultimate 2025 title track and could barely choose the victor. I’ve played both to death, after all. Overdrive ekes its way to the top thanks to its sense of completeness. This is pop song structure doing everything you’d hope it would. Dynamic verses collide with a mammoth chorus before making room for a meme-worthy hook that’s become more viral and ingratiating by the day. We get an explosive bridge and a well-defined climax and through it all the song never wavers.

However, it’s the details that gave Overdrive such longevity on my playlist. Its rugged guitar riff is contrasted by bright, bubblegum melodies, forging a tension that gives the song real bite. Its pre-choruses and second verse are short and snappy, injecting just enough structural diversity to give Overdrive‘s big melodic centerpiece as much of a wallop as possible. And above all else, the song simply sounds enormous. It’s a coiled spring of soaring energy, bounding with eagerness to put on a show and please its audience. (full review)

1. AHOF – Rendezvous

Criteria for my top song of the year can be a bit nebulous. I’ve got some firm data to pull from: my rating and review on the blog, play count numbers from my music library. But when it comes down to it, the top spot becomes more of a feeling. Rendezvous was not my most played K-pop song of the year. And when looking back at past lists, it must be the first number one ranked song whose initial rating landed below a “9.” Yet, when I lined up this year’s offerings, no list made sense without Rendezvous at the top. A top song of the year requires a sense of gravitas. It can’t be slight or simply check off a list of musical tropes and tricks I tend to enjoy. It needs to mean something… even if that meaning is a little undefinable.

To be clear, Rendezvous is stuffed with musical tropes and tricks I tend to enjoy. It does what so many of those fantastic second-to-third gen K-pop songs do, weaving sentimental melodies with angsty rap in a way that’s designed to reinforce and regenerate the strengths of a song rather than simply give its various performers disconnected moments to shine. It builds to several distinct climaxes, starting with an anthemic chorus and building to a cathartic, multi-part finale. It impressively introduces a ragtag group of distinct K-pop characters, assembled from multiple corners of Asia as an all-star, global team.

But when it comes down to it, Rendezvous just offers more than what most of 2025’s musical output seemed willing to give. It sprints right past the three-minute mark and almost to four, taking its time to build scenery and story. It delays its payoff until the most effective moment, beckoning its listener deeper into its world rather than insulting their attention span. In a landscape of truncated TikTok highlights, I’ll take Rendezvous‘s sense of open, cinematic wonder any day. (full review)

85 thoughts on “The Top 50 K-Pop Songs of 2025 (Day Five: 10-1)”

  1. 1 Nmixx “Blue Valentine” – solid pop song that plays with (the appearance of) tempo changes in a way I have never ever heard before. 

    If you listen to the “acapella” version and tap along in a fast 8/8 time (instead of 4/4) everything does hit in time.  8/8 reveals that actually the tempo doesn’t morph, it just _sounds_ like it morphs.  Reveals how many times I sang and tapped along with both versions in the car. 

    It surprises me, it delights me, and the vocal production is mighty fine too.  For that this is #1. 

    2 The Boyz “VVV” – for a long while this was my #1 go to whenever I needed a quick fix of kpop.  The break is perfect.  Solid kpop song, no notes. 

    3 Riize “Ember to Solar”

    4 AxMxP “Love Poem”  KEY CHANGE OF THE YEAR!  https://youtu.be/Y1kdIat6ZC8?t=92  Also realized how much I missed live drumming, real real drums.

    5 ONF “The Stranger”

    6 Riize “Odyssey”

    7 NouerA “Bring the Crunk” (no actual crunk brought in this song)

    8 Daesung “Universe”

    9 Chen “Arcadia”

    10 ACE except really Junhee with all of his old group buddies post-disband so its not ACE but it is ACE.  “Tattoo”.  ACE shined so brightly for a couple years, topping our rankings here with “Undercover” “Cactus” “Goblin / Favorite Boys”.  They quietly disbanded this year without a proper sendoff.  Junhee pulled them back together for “Tattoo” on his solo album.  This song is like the farewell they never got, though I wish they would reunite just like a tattoo-oo-oo-oo-oo.  The boys can really sing too-oo-oo-oo-oo.  It’s a bit fan service, but that is fine with me.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HredLFTJdSo

    Honorable Mention “Golden”.  A song that topped the charts organically because people and kids loved it.  I think its success has to be acknowledged.  Sure, for me it sounds like IVE “I am” with insane vocal range.  This old auntie feels like ranking it would be like voting for “Greased Lightening” to win SOTY 1978 from back in my childhood. 

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  3. gg made it to top 10! and it’s fromis_9!

    here’s some of my favorites (no particular order, except blue valentine which is #1)

    blue valentine

    countdown

    like you better

    style

    focus

    bebe

    air

    baby not baby

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  4. Rendezvous was also my favorite song for 2025. I never quite came around Lucky to Be Loved, in the same way I’ve tried to listen to Snuper’s Back:Hug and it still doesn’t quite click. Overdrive did grow in me quite a bit so I’m not mad at its placement. I would’ve placed Pinocchio higher. Unfortunately, I didn’t really listen to a lot of new releases (2025), so I can barely make a top 20 title track list. I have to say, thank you for your service, since the few songs I did listen to were thanks to you!

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    • I do have to say, All My Poetry was the most surprising song on the Top 10. Don’t get me wrong, I like the song, but I personally wouldn’t place it so high.

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  5. Here is mine! I’m on the opposite spectrum as my bias is girl groups! I added my fave Japanese kpop tracks of the year. Blue Valentine took me a couple of days to click but I immediately knew it would be my number one of the year!

    10/ HWASA – Good Goodbye 

    9/ BlackPink – JUMP 

    8/ MEOVV – BURNING UP 

    7/ NMIXX – Reality Hurts

    6/ Hearts2Hearts – The Chase 

    5/ VIVIZ – La La Love You 

    4/ ILLIT – Do The Dance 

    3/ KiiiKiii – Dancing Alone 

    2/ NMIXX – Know About Me 

    1/ NMIXX – Blue Valentine 

    Kep1er – YUM

    IVE – Be Alright 

    ILLIT – Toki Yo Tomare

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  6. YES for Rendezvous taking 1st! it also wasn’t my most listened to song this year, but I can confidently say it IS the best k-pop song of the year. shout out to VVV, All My Poetry and Pinocchio as well which are great fucking songs.

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  7. RENDEZVOUS AT NUMBER ONE!! SO DESERVED, when i play the song, every time it reaches the climax, it still feels it’s my first time listening to it,, it’s just so euphoric every single time 🥹

    + i love how the top three rookies are almost side-by-side yet they have such a clear and distinct sound,, also time rly treated all my poetry well, i love songs that have a sense of slow burn and it just became more addicting over time

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    • i rly love ur comments on tws, their titles this year sound exactly like “!!!!!!!!” and when you think the excitement couldn’t be any bigger, it does exactly that in its final chorus, it’s so euphoric even with such a short time frame

      the countdown intro is one of my favs too! aside from the song starting with its chorus, youngjae’s calmer tone paired with the guitar made it work for me. it’s like a satisfying appetizer before kyungmin and dohoon comes in the song and deliver the excitement

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  8. Rendezvous at 1 was a lowkey surprise, my bets were on N.I.N, VVV or Countdown ngl! But it definitely deserves that spot, it’s such a beautiful debut! And it’s been a while since a debut ranked 1, not since NCT U’s Without You back in 2016 (although it was surpassed by Rough over time)

    Anyways, here’s my list

    1- VVV (The Boyz) – K-pop at its best! The way the energy never falters, the melodies has such punch to it, it’s a blast and makes me beam like an idiot seeing how well-developed the song is.

    2- Like You Better (fromis_9) – this heartfelt banger with lovely, shout-along melodies, it has such a raw, free-spirited energy, it makes me wanna sprint

    3- N.I.N (NouerA) – the electro-funk banger with catchy hooks, it’s so 2nd gen esque, I love it

    4- Rendezvous (AHOF) – this emotional, stirring banger develops into a sense of emotional catharsis, it’s so beautiful

    5- Everglow (NOWZ)- it’s the melody that gets to me. It’s so beautiful, it’s compelling.

    6- Little Too Late (RE:WIND) – The huge length of the song helps, it has this compelling vibe, it gets to me.

    7- Set Net G0?! (Cravity) – I hated how short the song was, the lack of hooks and the breakdown, but it ended up being so addicting, I keep coming for more

    8- Pinocchio (AHOF) – It’s not as strong as Rendezvous, but the melodies and production gets to me. I love the key change oml

    9- Blue (ZB1) – it’s so SHINee-esque, the shout-along chorus is similar to Like You Better, but more polished. It’s still a banger though

    10- The Stranger (ONF) – it’s again SHINEE-esque, but funkier and with a punchy chorus!

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    • I am just loving the ONF and NouerA love here. I feel like those songs came and then went under the radar, except for we here at this blog who kept hitting the replay button.

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  9. No hate, I would personally put Overdrive quite a bit lower down my top 50, it’s good but not as catchy as Countdown. For me it’s more of an 8.5-8.75 than a 9.25-9.5, but hey, we all have our opinions

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    • But anyways, here’s my top 10:

      10. H1-Key – Summer was you: It screams K-pop

      9. KickFlip – My First Love Song: I love this song and I wished this was their debut

      8. Cravity – SET NET G0: An all around catchy song, left nothing for me to complain about

      7. Hearts2Hearts – Style Easily some of the best material I’ve seen from any 5th gen GG

      6. NouerA – NIN I’ll be honest, the dance break section throws me off, but everything else is top notch

      5. The Wind – Only One Once again, The Wind never fails to amaze me and give me a boost of serotonin with their music, I’m surprised none of their songs have become one of your “legendary songs”

      4. TWS – Countdown – Might be their third best song after Plot Twist and hey!hey!

      3. Fromis_9 – Like you Better: Their best song by far and it’s not even close, it feels so melodic and energetic, might be a 10/10 candidate

      2. VVV – The Boyz: It’s mere perfection, I refused to believe that the abomination that is Stylish was their next comeback

      1. AHOF – Rendezvous: Hard agree with you on every point you made, I don’t even need to see the legendary song inauguration for 2026 to know that this is a 10/10

      One question: Do you plan to make a riser/faller post for your entire top 60 so we can get a look at how your thoughts on the songs have changed throughout the year?

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    • But anyways, here’s my top 10:

      10. H1-Key – Summer was you: It screams K-pop

      9. KickFlip – My First Love Song: I love this song and I wished this was their debut

      8. Cravity – SET NET G0: An all around catchy song, left nothing for me to complain about

      7. Hearts2Hearts – Style Easily some of the best material I’ve seen from any 5th gen GG

      6. NouerA – NIN I’ll be honest, the dance break section throws me off, but everything else is top notch

      5. The Wind – Only One Once again, The Wind never fails to amaze me and give me a boost of serotonin with their music, I’m surprised none of their songs have become one of your “legendary songs”

      4. TWS – Countdown – Might be their third best song after Plot Twist and hey!hey!

      3. Fromis_9 – Like you Better: Their best song by far and it’s not even close, it feels so melodic and energetic, might be a 10/10 candidate

      2. VVV – The Boyz: It’s mere perfection, I refused to believe that the abomination that is Stylish was their next comeback

      1. AHOF – Rendezvous: Hard agree with you on every point you made, I don’t even need to see the legendary song inauguration for 2026 to know that this is a 10/10

      One question: Do you plan to make a riser/faller post for your entire top 60 so we can get a look at how your thoughts on the songs have changed throughout the year?

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  10. That’s a pretty satisfying list! I’m going to give AHOF a closer listen. I’m feeling really grateful for all the good music this year. Who cares about all the junk and dumb trends when we can just exclude it from our playlists?

    10 – NCT WISH – COLOR (Wow what a transformation. Delivers everything I could want in a bright bg track)
    9 – LEE CHANHYUK – Vivid LaLa Love
    8 – Jang Wooyoung – She is (What a treat this one has been. I hope you all give it a chance. It has a good unabridged MV, JYP just didn’t really promote it I guess)
    7 – ILLIT – little monster (I hope this trend of more subtle artistic gg tracks continues)
    6 – We;Na – Wake Up (A beautiful, high-energy nugu gg song. Don’t let this hidden gem pass you by…)
    5 – RIIZE – Bag Bad Back (FUN! Good memories goofing around blasting this song in the car with the kids)
    4 – ATEEZ – Lemon Drop
    3 – NMIXX – KNOW ABOUT ME (also best MV)
    2 – KickFlip – My First Love Song (10/10)
    1 – KickFlip – Band-Aid (Never left the top spot since the first time I heard it)

    I have separate rock and hip-hop playlists so please forgive my space-hogging…

    Rock

    10 – DAESUNG – Universe
    9 – Xdinary Heroes – LOVE ME 2 DEATH
    8 – Xdinary Heroes – ICU
    7 – 015B – Keep Dreamin’
    6 – YB – Daydream
    5 – Xdinary Heroes – Ashes to Ashes
    4 – Xdinary Heroes – FIGHT ME
    3 – UINONE – Apocalypse
    2 – QWER – PLAY, WE, DEW (a Mountain Dew ad…not on streaming 😭)
    1 – Xdinary Heroes – FiRE (10/10)

    Hip-hop

    10 – PENOMECO – EGGE
    9 – NOWZ – GET BUCK (yes their main singles were great but their hip-hop tracks are fantastic too. Reminds me of early BTS actually)
    8 – CORTIS – GO! (I liked them right away and appreciated more with time)
    7 – YOUNITE – Who’s Next?
    6 – YOUNG POSSE – YSSR
    5 – ENHYPEN – OUTSIDE
    4 – CORTIS – Fashion
    3 – YOUNG POSSE – FREESTYLE
    2 – MARK – 82 Pressin’ (I think Fraktisya was 2024 but December, in any case that was incredible too)
    1 – NOWZ – Problem Child (another one)

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  11. I love love love ‘Like You Better‘ so I’m so glad to see it in the top 10!! I might get into TWS at this point because, I have to admit, these songs are bangers. Gonna check out their discography later, hoping to find some hidden (and unhidden) gems.

    My list (essays incoming):

    10: baby blue, MONSTA X

    A great 80s style song. That chorus hits you like a sledgehammer. Actually good lyrics (rare for kpop), in ENGLISH (even rarer?!). I feel like this is the kind of song I’d recommend to someone curious about kpop to give them a good first impression. I love the chord progression in the verses. This is a song that does a lot right, and absolutely nothing wrong. The melody is really haunting.

    9: Stunner, TEN

    Absolutely hypnotising. Has this looping, rhythmic quality to it. I can’t get bored of this song, there’s too much sonic goodness to luxuriate in. Ten’s voice, here, is phenomenal – airy in the right placed, and the whispered details really make this song feel ephemeral, like it’s slipping away as you listen to it. I don’t know how to phrase it properly. Shout out to that pre-chorus, *chefs kiss*.

    8: PODIUM, NMIXX

    If you told me last year that NMIXX would have been so prolific on my top 50 kpop lists, or hell, that an NMIXX song would have made it to my top 10 – actually, I’d have believed you, because DASH is one of my favourite kpop songs to date… but I’d still have been a little surprised, because I saw their good songs as exceptions to the rule. Their latest album shocked me with how creative and polished it is. Their experimentation doesn’t feel gimmicky. With “PODIUM”, I love the reggaeton influsion (a genre I usually don’t listen to), the high-pitched sample (something I would usually hate, but they use it sparingly and effectively), the thumping moments of talk-singing, and – obviously – that chorus melody which makes me play the song on repeat.

    7: Yum, Kep1er

    Having an insanely fast tempo is a sure-fire way to stand out for me. The phonk influence makes this sound totally different from other kpop offerings, too, and makes the rap-talking actually add interesting texture instead of just sound like a way to fill up space in the sound. And then that chorus! Those synths! This is a song that’s hard to forget.

    6: earthquake, JISOO

    As a casual BLACKPINK fan, I had very little hope for their solos – I love their group music because it really does go hard in the pit. Their group music is energetic, fun, and doesn’t take itself all that seriously. Which is why I was so surprised when Jisoo released a very good pop mini-album. The guitar strumming in the pre-chorus, the layered ad-libs (?) (“uh-huh”), even the onomatopoeia (“dun dun dun”) has its charm. The bridge builds in a really lovely way on pre-existing melodies. It’s simply a solid pop song – it doesn’t try to be anything else, but damn does it work as a pop song.

    5: GALA, XG

    I’ve not previously been sold on XG. They’re all immensely talented and I’ve liked some of their songs here and there, but never enough to put them in a top 50. This song changed that. It’s flawless. Not a single thing to critique. I could listen to the backing track alone for hours, it’s jam-packed with interesting sonic details. The rapping is fire (as always from them), and Chisa really brings her all with those gorgeous, soaring notes. I love how artificial this song sounds, and the “Mr Roboto” moment is just pure c*nt. I could see them climbing up the ranking in a few months and making it to second place.

    4: REBEL HEART

    IVE have done it again, they’ve landed another song in my top 5. I usually don’t love songs in major keys (just a personal preference), but this song’s never-ending, propulsive energy, chugging guitars, and optimistic chanting and delicious chorus have solidly won me over. That final chorus when they alter the melody and that ascending “o-o-o-one” give me chills.

    3: Hunter, KEY

    The first time I heard it, I was a little underwhelmed. Understandably, it’s extremely difficult to beat a song as good as “Killer”. But the stats don’t lie – this was my second most played song for a reason, and it’s all down to (again) those beautiful synths and how sheerly catchy the chorus is. It has a haunting, eerie quality and is absolutely referencing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” (never a bad song to reference!), but it doesn’t sound like a copy, it’s its own thing. Usually I don’t care about music videos, but I’ll give this one credit for being so well choreographed and styled that it definitely made me a lot more obsessed with the song that I’d otherwise have been. The choreography is one of my top 10 faves for sure. You can always count on Key to deliver, at minimum, an excellent song; at best, something that floors you. This one is the latter.

    2: Born Again, Lisa (ft. Raye, Doja Cat)

    Hats off to Raye for composing this masterpiece – and to Doja for so generously supplying one of the best raps in a pop trio in history, perhaps? If you’ve seen any of my other comments on this blog you’ll know I adore anything synths, and this is no difference. Nothing but insanely catchy melody after insanely catchy melody, and that outro amazes me every single time with its beautifully descending melody. Only critique is that jarring autotune in the first 3 seconds, lol. Love her, but good thing Lisa’s not singing this one on her own…

    1: Baby, Not Baby.

    This song floored me from the first listen. I’m a sucker for a Britney pastiche, but honestly (dare I say?) it’s better than anything Britney ever put out (don’t crucify me!). I adore the hammering piano keys in the background, Seulgi’s sassy sing-talking (usually I hate sing-talking!), and that breathy bridge is gorgeous. I think I knew the first time I heard it that it would be very, very, very difficult to beat – which is true, it’s still firmly, strongly no.1.

    Okay, these 10 amazing songs aside, 2026 better step up….

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  12. Dissapointed you didnt pick TWS again for number 1 song this year. Rendezvous is nowhere near tht great. Quite good, but just meh. Should have gone for any promoted TWS songs this year. Especially Countdown or Overdrive ( which recently having Virality moment ) . They left much more impact than lame Rendezvous. Again, dissapointed.

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  13. I kinda predicted your Top 5, many of my favourites are here including Boyz VVV which is totally not my typical taste. I would not have given a chance to it if not for this blog. thanks, Nick.

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  14. Happy K-Pop Top 50! Looking back on the year I don’t think there’s been many massive K-Pop songs for me – although it’s probably more that there’s been music outside the space that took most of my attention this year. (To compare, my 2024 most played was ~50% K-Pop, while for 2025 it’s only ~20%)

    I think instead I’ve enjoyed a lot of K-Pop songs as part of the EPs/LPs they come from, as there were several K-Pop albums I enjoyed as full projects this year, so looking forward to that list.

    Thinking on it, a quick Top 5 K-Pop Songs for me this year would probably look something like this (no particular order):

    My First Love Song – KickFlip

    Back in Town – CHUU

    Electric Heart – 8TURN

    Lucky To Be Loved – TWS

    Show Me Love – RIIZE

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      • I realized that for Show Me Love after posting lol, think I counted it because they gave it an MV (which they did for all the songs on the album, I just played this one the most 😄)

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  16. 1. VVV, THE BOYZ (From the moment I heard this song I knew it was going to be my SOTY; too bad the rest of the year was terrible for them)

    2. Odyssey, RIIZE (Another Life was my favorite song from this album at first but this ended up having more replay value)

    3. Blue, ZB1 (They had a good year; to be honest I’m looking forward to the monster Yuehuaz group that comes out of them and EVNNE)

    4. Lucky to Be Loved, TWS (I’m not such a fan of their brighter, upbeat songs but this one hits the right wistful note)

    5. All My Poetry, Close Your Eyes (There are b-sides that I like better but their debut probably had more impact; they’re my rookie group of the year)

    6. Run Wild, &TEAM (I preferred their musical output from last year but they had a solid year overall)

    7. Lemonade Fever, Cravity (A return to the Adrenaline/Party Rock/Groovy form for them)

    8. 100!, One Pact (They might just end up being the last BP group standing for me)

    9. The Chase, Hearts2Hearts (Focus also really grew on me)

    10. Like You Better, fromis_9

    Most of these are from the first half of the year; I can’t tell whether the second half of 2025 fell off or I’m just less invested in Kpop overall…at this point the survival show project groups are keeping me afloat!

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  17. Great list and thanks for another year of your reviews! I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the BG debuts this year – will have to look into AHOF and CYE more for sure.

    I don’t have the willpower to make an ordered list so have this collection of favourites instead:

    TWS – Countdown
    TWS – Lucky to be loved
    TWS – Overdrive
    ZB1 – Blue
    Hearts2Hearts – The Chase
    Hearts2Hearts – Style
    Hearts2Hearts – Focus
    Yeji – Air
    STAYC – Bebe
    ILLIT – Do the Dance
    ILLIT – Jellyous
    fromis_9 – Like You Better
    H1-KEY – Summer Was You
    TWICE – This Is For
    VIVIZ – La La Love Me
    KEY – Hunter
    Dayoung – body
    XG – Gala
    NMIXX – Blue Valentine
    NMIXX – Spinnin On It
    Close Your Eyes – X
    AHOF – Rendezvous
    AHOF – Pinocchio

    I agree with some of the other commenters that I enjoyed a decent amount of albums this year rather than stand out title tracks necessarily, so I’m looking forward to your other lists!

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    • Also, I can always count on you to write up exactly how TWS’s songs feel for me 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ remembering the gathering of hey! hey! enthuasiasts in the comments of last years list 🤝

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      • I feel like TWS either connects hard or not at all depending on a listeners’ taste. Those who get it, get it I guess. And luckily for everyone else there’s plenty of other options to choose from 🙂

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        • Also, yeah I’ve noticed the same thing about TWS’ appeal with other K-pop listeners – Countdown and Overdrive are absolute bangers to me but among the general K-pop fandom I know they haven’t connected as well. I think the TWS songs I’ve seen that appeal to other K-pop fans the most seem to be their more subdued songs – Last Festival and Lucky to be loved in particular. I think they’re just more palatable, but I enjoy those just the same for their gorgeous melodies so I don’t mind!

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  18. Here’s a list of songs I listened to a lot this year (including some non-title tracks):

    DKB – “Irony”
    BOYNEXTDOOR – “Hollywood Action”
    JUNHEE – “Umbrella (10:00)”
    TREASURE – “PARADISE”
    iii – “Guilty”
    KiiiKiii – “Strawberry Cheesegame”
    1VERSE – “Multiverse”
    IVE – “REBEL HEART”
    RIIZE – “Another Life”
    MINNIE – “Obsession”
    FIFTY FIFTY – “Perfect Crime”
    Xdinary Heroes – “Beautiful Life”
    ILLIT – “Almond Chocolate”
    KiiiKiii – “I DO ME”
    SEULGI – “Baby, Not Baby”
    Boyfriend – “Time Limit”
    IVE – “Be Alright”

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  19. Ok here we go.

    10. Breathe – Purple Kiss: this one brought joy and pain in equal measure. I doubt it would hit as hard if it wasnt a disband song, but I love the emotion poured into the song and the beautiful melodies. It was a great run!

    9. Reality Hurts – Nmixx: The song starts with a massive heartbeat showing it means business. Somehow it hits really hard while not forgetting all the wonderful pop melodies of their other work.

    8. Rico – Nmixx: I love how they weaved around so many different sounds all in one song and kept it so cohesive at the same time. The choreo (from their world tour) was so cool too. My daughter walks around the house all the time just going “Rico rico rico…”. Somehow they made a mono word chorus so catchy and still not get old!

    7. Pappilon – Nmixx: The intro is so intense! And then so is the whole song. It brings beauty and intensity to experimental pop in the best ways. I hope they continue to include a song like this every album moving forward.

    6. Phoenix – Nmixx: They did include a Pappilon in their next album and here it is, the sequel, and yes it lives up to the hype. The first time I heard this specifically with nice headphones blew me away. Lily’s verse parts in particular are so fiercs and amazing.

    5. Know About Me – Nmixx: Originally the song I was least excited about after my first listen through this album, but since the suave, swanky, chillness of it has brought me back time and time again. This type of song fits Sullyoon so well.

    4. Spinnin On It – Nmixx: This is the song that I think best illustrates the theme of the album Blue Valentine. The lyrics are great, and match the song so well. The song itself is particularly fun as there are still new things to discover every listen.

    3. Blue Valentine – Nmixx: The first listen is such a trip! The sense of slight unease becoming general confusion as it slows down until you are completely surprised with a super bright pop melody that soars! Everything they did with crafting this was so intentional and played out perfectly. My one wish is if the sped up version had rerecorded vocals rather than the originals sped up. It would be such a great live song at that tempo!

    2. Like you better – fromis_9: i could put this on repeat again and again. I’ve never heard a better Carly Rae Jepsen jam outside of Carly Rae Jepsen. Every element is ticking and constantly begging you to ride along an incessant ride of joy.

    1. High Horse – Nmixx: I go into every Nmixx song rdy to be surprised, but this one still surprised me. It has such a unique vibe. Going from haunting keys to melodic base, what may be a harp(?), and with otherworldy synths throughout. On top of that, an upbeat percussion track gives the song such a nice counterpoint and flow. With everything going on in the instrumental, it could easily have stolen the show, BUT! this song was created so expertly as to let all the elements sit backseat to the vocalists… and giving a song like this to Nmixx is just the right call. Every member is given parts to show off and wow you. To put the icing on the cake, the choreo is super inventive, and creates a whole experience. This is one song you don’t want to miss!

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    2. My tastes also fully agree with this top 10, even if not all the other songs in your top 50! Rendezvous was by far my #1, too, and All My Poetry is a very close second sometimes for me. AHOF, Close Your Eyes and NouerA really brought some great energy as rookies this year, and I’m so excited for where their music will go in the future. It truly feels like we might see a shift to placing melodies front and centre again, and I really hope they continue on that path.

      Some other songs I enjoyed this year: Beautiful Life (Xdinary Heroes), Body (WJSN’s Dayoung), Bang Bang (KIIRAS), Star Eyes (ZB1), Overthinking (TWS), Shining Star (Seventeen’s Vernon) and 123-78 (BOYNEXTDOOR)

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    3. im currently going through a rough patch for my mental health so i wasnt able to put down my top 50 list for this year or even listen to much music at all, so forgive me for that

      but yeah, rendezvous and vvv are in my top spots for this year

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    4. tbh i enjoyed the idea of rendezvous more than the actual song (its like a low 8/10 for me) but ill say this much: the fact that a group w multiple experienced idols who spent years facing unfair setback after unfair setback in the industry (steven and woongki if were being more specific) has enjoyed this much success (mainly domestically tbf) makes me so unbelievably happy they deserve this and then some regardless of the actual music

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    5. HUNTR/X, Golden

      HUNTR/X, This Is What It Sounds Like

      KIIKII, I Do Me

      ENHYPEN, With Or Without You (Bad Desire)

      NMIXX, Blue Valentine

      TEMPEST, Silly Kid

      NTX, Over N Over

      LE SSERAFIM, Ash

      &TEAM, Back To Life

      BAMBAM, Dancing By Myself

      SAJA BOYS, Your Idol

      JAY PARK, Remedy

      JEON SOMI, Closer

      JUNHEE, Umbrella

      MONSTA X, Baby Blue

      RESCENE, Bambambam

      XLOV, I’mma Be

      CHA EUN WOO, Sweet Papaya

      ALLDAY PROJECT, One More Time

      TREASURE, Yellow

      Sorry for being a K-Pop Demon Hunters buddy, LOL

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    6. I’m usually so pessimistic about the state of K-pop until I read yearly Top 50s (particularly this one) and I go ‘huh, it wasn’t that bad of a year actually!’ Anyways here are my picks for my top whatever-ish, in alphabetical order:

      • All my Poetry – CYE
      • Blue Valentine – Nmixx
      • Cynical – Sunmi
      • Dancing Alone – Kiiikiii
      • Do the Dance – Illit
      • Gimme Gimme – Allhours
      • Girls will be Girls – Itzy
      • I want it – StayC
      • Lemonade Fever – Cravity
      • My First Love Song – Kickflip
      • Over N Over – NTX
      • Pinocchio – Ahof
      • Set Net Go – Cravity
      • Snowy Summer – CYE
      • VVV – The Boyz

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    7. First of all, I’ve enjoyed reading everyone’s lists, thanks for sharing.  Second, thank you Nick for all the reviews!!!

      My Queens this year are:

      10 Ahof – Rendezvous 

      9 CYE – All My Poetry

      • these two are wonderful and deserve to be on anyone’s top 10, but like Nick, I prefer a more upbeat sound so they get the lower spots

      8 Cravity – Get Set Go

      7 Treasure -Yellow

      • what an amazing year for Cravity and Treasure.  These 2 songs are their best, but Now or Never, Lemonade Fever, Saruru, Paradise and Last Night were absolutely fantastic.  

      6 ZB1 -Blue

      • such a shame they will disband soon, but I have to say I enjoyed almost every song they gave us.  Blue’s pre chorus and chorus are masterpieces in my opinion. 

      5 CIX – Thunder

      • I love this group and every single title and bside they have given me throughout the years.  Thunder arrived at a time when Kpop was a little stale for me, and it just reminded me how much I enjoy songs like these.  

      4 Ateez – In Your Fantasy

      • Ateez brought me back to their fandom with a vengeance.  When I heard this song (and Lemon Drop, and Ash, and all their solos), I remember thinking “they stopped the nonsense and grew up”, and I’m here for it because I loved everything.   

      3 NMixx – Blue Valentine

      • what can I say, it’s just so good.  Verses, pre chorus, chorus, bridge, outro….wow.  They joined the likes of Red Velvet, Ive, and Aespa for girl group songs that made it to my top 3) 

      2 8Turn – Electric Heart

      1  TheBoyz – VVV

      • Where do I begin?  Just perfect examples of why I fell in love with Kpop.  This is what I’m here for.  I don’t have words to express how these 2 songs make me feel, and that’s why they are on the top of my list.  

      PS: I like TWS, but as much as I like Countdown, I never got over the fact that it’s too similar to their previous songs.  And Overdrive grew on me, but I actually didn’t listen to it much after a few weeks.  I don’t seek their music either.  

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    9. mine (all genres and nations:

      1. 2BYG – Karma
      2. XG – Gala
      3. &Team – Deer Hunter
      4. Dario D’Attis and Mr. V. – Back to the Old
      5. Mark – +82 Pressin’ (featuring Haechan)
      6. Bad Bunny – NUEVAyoL
      7. Lisa, Doja Cat, and Raye – Born Again
      8. Gfriend- Season of Memories
      9. Hearts2Hearts – The Chase
      10. TWS and Ayumu Imazu – Bloom

      hey, I’m counting down my top 15 B-sides and title tracks on the radio on 12/20/25 and 1/3/2026. It’s from midnight to 2 am and it will be archived here. I don’t talk about my show much, but I play some K-pop, some j-pop, and a bunch of funk/rock/jazz.

      You can find it here.

      http://www.eastvillageradio.com/plat-du-jour

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    10. AHOF and TWS songs deserved to be on Top 10, but Lucky to be Loved is clearly 80% Nick bias heart talking LOL (its okay its a bias list after all).

      My KPOP Top 10 this year is a mish-mash of pop rock songs and girl group anthems:
      1. Rendezvous – AHOF
      2. Ash – LE SSERAFIM
      3. Countdown – TWS
      4. Blue Valentine – NMIXX
      5. Helium – ENHYPEN
      6. Like You Better – FROMIS 9
      7. Pinocchio – AHOF
      8. Rebel Heart – IVE
      9. I Feel Good – BOYNEXTDOOR
      10. Golden – KPOP Demon Hunters

      Honorable mentions:
      Existential Crisis – Wendy
      To Reach You – 10cm
      Good Goodbye – Hwasa
      Bye, Summer – IU
      Like Jennie

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    13. btw I don’t keep lists like you or many of your other readers but here are some of my standouts from this year in no particular order

      NMIXX: flawless victory for this year: blue valentine + the whole accompanying album but especially reality hurts, podium, phoenix. MEXE collab with pablo vittar!! High Horse and Papillon from their EP. I’ve said it here before but this is kind of “experimental” music I wish skz would make. Probably the most consistently dazzling artist of the year, and Blue Valentine album of the year

      ILLIT: Billyeoon Goyangi song of the year in my humble opinion. I don’t know what to say about it other than it’s perfection and if Not Cute Anymore is not a one-off I’m gonna kill somebody. YOU ARE THE MAGICAL GIRL GROUP. BE MAGICAL GIRLS!!!! It’s what the people need. Their Japanese output was very good too.

      AHOF: they may have superseded SKZ to become my ults this year. I’d have watched their career with great interest no matter what because I watched Universe League, a show that diverged from other survival shows and I think actually fostered a very good environment for team-building rather than sticking random guys together. And they are a pleasantly diverse group containing several gay guys. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the fact that their music output has been incredible. I hope they never lose El Cap as a producer. This is clearly a labor of love for him. He adores these kids and he is writing songs that reflect that love as well as his tastes as a 3rd gen idol. I hope they stick to their nostalgic anime stadium rock sound and continue to build it out. Rookies of the year for me without a doubt.

      Close Your Eyes: Speaking of pleasant surprises! I watched Project 7 too, and when the lineup was revealed the overwhelming fan reaction was OH FUCK NO ONE CAN SING. Hey, what do you know, it turns out that not having a designated high-note belter doesn’t mean you don’t have a gorgeous palette of voices to work with. This sets them apart from other groups. Instead of hearing one member hit high notes in every song, we hear the unique tones of everyone’s voice. All My Poetry as a debut song was so unique and a breath of fresh air, and Snowy Summer has been stuck in my head constantly now that it’s snow winter. X has been less sticky for me but that’s alright. They’re not consistent like AHOF but I don’t mind that there’s something a little different each time. We will watch their career with great interest.

      Hearts2Hearts: unlike a lot of you I found The Chase very addictive from the start. There was something sprightly and energetic about it that really appealed to me. Style might be their best single yet but Focus is incredibly catchy. The kids are very charismatic and cute.

      STAYC: don’t wanna be Bebe you know I’m sick of lying don’t wanna be Bebe you know I’m sick of lying soljikhage si c’est moi si c’est moi si c’est moi don’t wanna be Bebe yeah that’s me si c’est moi IM FEELING SOME TYPE OF WAY FEEL SOME TYPE OF WAY LETS GO AY AY AY AY AY AY EH OH AY

      TWS: it was another good year for them. Countdown grew on me, predictably, although I initially thought it was the less good love child of S/N + Plot Twist. Overdrive is more my style. That mm-mm-mm-mm is just too god. Dohoon is very attractive. Hey check out this video.

      The patient needs aegyo to live… anyway, I must mention that my most played song this year was actually S/N. So yeah. I do enjoy you TWS.

      Other songs I want to mention but not gonna write a whole thing about:
      The Wind, only one
      BND, if I say I love you
      ZB1, star eyes
      ONF, the stranger
      riize, bad bag back
      Yena, being a good girl hurts

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    14. Top Two:

      VVV – The Boyz (I’m surprised that we almost all agree that this was a masterpiece that reminded us of why we loved K-pop in the first place. Then they had to follow it up with Stylish why?)

      Soda Pop – Saja Boys

      Then in no order:

      RE:SET – Rewind

      TWS – Lucky to be Loved

      TWS – Now Playing

      Blue Valentine – NMIXX

      If I Say I Love You – Boy Next Door

      D.N.A. – Super Junior

      Chest – JustB

      Only One – The Wind

      New Space – The Wind

      NouerA – Bring the Crunk

      Yena – Being a Good Girl Hurts

      JAESSBEE – My Summer Manual

      Style – Hearts2Hearts

      Time 2 Shine – Xodiac

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