I’ll take a look at K-pop’s established artists tomorrow, but I like to share my thoughts about this year’s rookies first. For me, 2025 was defined by its rookies. This is probably my most competitive countdown this year, as there were so many new groups I found compelling. Surprisingly, many of these emerged from survival … Continue reading
Tag Archives: sm
The Top 50 K-Pop Songs of 2025 (Day Four: 20-11)
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, … Continue reading
The Top 50 K-Pop Songs of 2025 (Day Three: 30-21)
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, … Continue reading
The Top 50 K-Pop Songs of 2025 (Day Two: 40-31)
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, … Continue reading
Song Review: Minho (SHINee) – Tempo
Rather than deliver a fleet of notable idol group comebacks, this month has been the realm of solo releases that don’t require much promotion from pre-empted music shows. The latest on the docket is SHINee’s Minho, who last released solo work just over a year ago. Here, he’s promised us dynamic things with the song … Continue reading
2025 Year-End K-Pop Recap (& Honorable Mentions)
Tomorrow, The Bias List‘s comprehensive end-of-year countdowns will officially kick off with the first ten songs on my Top 50 countdown. Over the course of the next few weeks, you’ll get round-ups from every angle of K-pop: rookies, artists, b-sides, etc. I’ll also continue my tradition of recapping the industry’s year-end music festivals. In other … Continue reading
THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from December 7 – 13
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … Continue reading
Song Review: EXO – I’m Home
Even before EXO make their long-awaited return next month, the comeback has been plagued by controversy. The entire group isn’t participating, with key members sidelined due to contractual issues with SM Entertainment. Because of this, it’s hard to be totally excited about what’s in store, but the promotion machine continues to chug along regardless with … Continue reading
Song Review: Doyoung (NCT) – Promise
It’s time to say “farewell, for now” to NCT’s Doyoung. He enlisted yesterday, alongside fellow member Jungwoo. And like Jungwoo, he’s released a parting gift for fans in the form or a digital single. Unfortunately, he won’t be promoting this on music shows but Promise (늦은 말) still stands as a welcome balm for those … Continue reading
Song Review: WayV – Eternal White
We’re knee-deep in wintery releases this month, and SM Entertainment has always been a huge fan of the snow-draped ballad or festive midtempo. WayV are the latest to deliver a winter-themed album, though title track Eternal White (白色定格) is malleable enough to play all year. Rather than throw sleighbells at the song, Eternal White is … Continue reading
THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from November 30 – December 6
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … Continue reading
Song Review: Taeyeon – Panorama
Greatest Hits compilations are rare in K-pop. In fact, I think Japan is the only music market where they’re still commonly released. Nevertheless, SNSD’s Taeyeon has just released a twenty-three track anthology (including a not-as-good 2025 mix of her best song Time Lapse). To celebrate this album, she’s also unveiled new song Panorama (인사). Taeyeon … Continue reading
The Top Three K-Pop Songs of November 2025
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. November 2025 Overall Thoughts Though there’s still another month left of 2025, I always consider November … Continue reading
THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from November 23 – 29
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … Continue reading
Song Review: Jungwoo (NCT) – Sugar
This business of finally releasing your solo debut days before you enlist in the military is kind of frustrating, right? It’s like, “Here’s all this potential. Now, buh-bye!” NCT’s Jungwoo was a late addition to the group, yet his age (and of course, nationality), means he’s next in line for an enlistment hiatus. Before that, … Continue reading
Song Review: RIIZE – Fame
Whenever a group I enjoy states they’ll be releasing a song that “sounds nothing like anything we’ve done before,” I get nervous. Yes, I want groups to push outside the box and experiment with new sounds, but in K-pop “nothing like we’ve ever done before” tends to mean attempting some (bad) global trend an agency … Continue reading
THIS WEEK IN K-POP: Ranking the New Releases from November 16 – 22
At the end of each month, I compile my top three K-pop title tracks and list a ton of honorable mentions. In 2025, I thought I’d try something new and add a weekly feature to supplement my monthly round-up. Each Sunday, I’ll offer a compendium of the week’s new releases featured on the blog. And … Continue reading
K-Pop Risers & Fallers: November 2025
Rather 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: … Continue reading
Buried Treasure: NCT Dream – Cold Coffee
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. NCT Dream’s Beat It Up grew … Continue reading
Song Review: NCT Dream – Beat It Up
I don’t know what’s gotten into me this year, but there have been several boy group tracks I’ve loved that — in the past — I might have dismissed as “noise music.” I suppose as this trend has softened it’s made the sound less infuriating. Or, maybe the songs have just been more fun. Chief … Continue reading