The list is compiled and ranked by the opinion of the community. As 10 is a very short list, it cannot include the abundance of great songs this year. The linked playlist hence includes this top ten and more songs loved by the community this year.
#10 “Down (A.C.E. Version)” by A.C.E.
A.C.E. ’ s “ Down ” is a lull song. It lento builds but not towards a drop or a crescendo. even the bridge takes the minimal instrumentation rather back to let Jun and Donghun ’ randomness vocals shine. not every sung needs to be loudly though. “ Down ” is about this feeling that sometimes equitable sneaks up on you, where you meet a stranger and suddenly a stranger becomes a connection that you mustn ’ triiodothyronine let go of. That can be life-changing, with whistles and bells, but it ’ s besides something deeply confidant, the space between two people getting conclusion, until the space between them disappears. “ Down ” feels like that space revoke .
even though this song came out in the form, I didn ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate fall upon it till the summer and for me it was a great summer birdcall ; something to listen to on a warm summer night, with a luminosity breeze. It ’ randomness become a staple on respective playlists, seamlessly fitting with dateless other songs, while not losing its own charm .
apart from the korean interpretation on their repackaged album Changer: Dear Eris, there are actually two english versions of the birdcall : one with American duet Grey, and the other without. personally, both are equally dependable, as all voices fit together well but if pressed to answer, I ’ five hundred probably choose the A.C.E. only version, as they hold their own on the song and the accession of Grey doesn ’ t change or better the song in ways that feels necessity. Either way, if this birdcall went under your radar this class, it ’ randomness high time to check it out .
#9 “Borderline” by SUNMI
SUNMI has spoken openly about being diagnosed with boundary line personality disorder or BPD. Her cut “ Borderline ” is a candid and suggest front into what living with that disorder is for her personally. Suffering from BPD much means having issues managing emotions and demeanor, a well as self-image issues and fears of abandonment. SUNMI uses the news ‘ borderline ’ though not equitable to describe a submit but a place. She is “ on the borderline ”, caught between being a “ good female child ” and all of the behaviours induced by the disorder she has to live with and wield .
Listening to the birdcall and her honest words is a haunting experience, that seems to be marked by exhaustion. The bridge is specially revealing as she states she ’ second been taking alprazolam and has gotten better but people still gossip about her and even she has to put on a battlefront and perform as the beautiful paragon we all want to see. last, the chorus is a plea to “ be on her slope ”, as she stands on the boundary line .
SUNMI has been performing “ Borderline ” since 2019 and put out a limited video for it in 2020, but alone released it officially on her September album 1/6 .
#8“The Weekend” by 88rising & BIBI
BIBI is undoubtedly one of the most exciting soloists on the scene right nowadays. Her album Life is a bi… released this class is great and included another all-English birdcall, “ Birthday Cake ”. “ Birthday Cake ” is estimable, but “ The Weekend ” was the stronger pick for me .
While there ’ s something about the song ’ randomness pulse that is forceful, I ’ vitamin d call “ The Weekend ” one of the hair-raiser songs on this number. And yet it brims with restlessness. The birdcall is about being scorned by a lover ; a lover that lone cares about the narrator on the weekend and lone for one thing. And so BIBI laments, asking person who won ’ thymine suffice “ Why, why, why, why, why/Aren ’ thyroxine you into me ? ” here frustration meets despair. One of the characteristics of the song are repetitions like this. Be it the “ Why, why, why, why, why ”, the ceaseless repetition of “ You only call me ”, or the echoes in the second verse and pre-chorus. This along with the perplex gives the song a feel of circularity. It ’ s like you can feel the days of the week pass by, as we, along with BIBI, wait for the weekend to be called up once again. resignation has rarely slapped so unvoiced ( and yes, it ’ randomness besides the song that gave us the iconic here and now of her kissing a femlae fan ) .
#7 “Magic” by TOMORROW X TOGETHER
In a video of Yeonjun that went a little viral early in the summer, you can see him getting ready to perform “ Magic ” when the sung abruptly starts and he instantaneously, and quite perfectly, falls into the stage dancing. While I have neither his dance endowment nor reflexes, I ’ d even liken my aroused reaction to “ Magic ” to that nip : instantaneous and with my wholly body .
“ Magic ” ’ s attract lies in its firm and attention-getting beat that drives its hook into you right from the startle. lyrically the sung likens experiencing falling for person and the impression that has to magic. That ’ s not precisely revolutionary and so far lines like “ Oh, it ’ s just like magic/Feeling your touch, oh, it ’ s a rush/No one else has it ” hit profoundly with the familiarity of a closely universal joint experience. TOMORROW X TOGETHER ’ mho choreographies are normally a feed to watch and therefore is this one, translating the beat of the birdcall and the rush of new love, into a bouncing performance, abundant with fun moments and infectious energy .
The birdcall ends barely a abruptly as it started, after finishing on the call of “ If you ’ ve got a better heart equitable take a opportunity ” and some very hearty vocal music runs, making you want more and listen again right away .
#6 “2 MINUS 1” by SEVENTEEN
The unit chase “ 2 MINUS 1 ” by SEVENTEEN ’ south Joshua and Vernon was the group ’ s inaugural proper try at a in full english track and they hit it out of the ball park. The 2000s inspired pop-punk song is heavily inspired by the likes of Avril Lavigne and Blink182 and would not look out of topographic point in either ’ mho discography.
lyrically the song takes up the pov of person trying to convince themselves and others that they are absolutely all right after a separation, a dwell as the birdcall ’ randomness last line “ I need you ” reveals. The song once again shows SEVENTEEN ’ s impressive endowment to fit themselves into any writing style. Despite being a digital release only addition to their latest album Attacca ( Genius Korea Review ), they and the song have gotten a minor promotional enlistment, including the opportunity to perform it as depart of Genius Open Mic Series .
Considering that both Joshua and Vernon are American ( Joshua is Korean-American and grew up in LA, while Vernon is one-half american, speaking english equitable american samoa well as he does Korean ) it ’ s honestly surprising it took so retentive to get them together to write a wholly original English sung. They ’ ve already announced interest in writing an english song for the hale group and I for one am curious and excited for that, hopefully sometime soon .
#5 “Lovers In The Night” by Seori
I had difficulty describing Seori ’ s “ Lovers In The Night ”. It ’ s a deeply atmospheric birdcall about indulge in and with person, who ’ s not in truth beneficial for you and yet this is not a sad song or a admonitory fib. rather the pov of the song is full moon of confidence and self-awareness. arsenic much as she is profoundly mindful of how this might break her heart, there is a teasing challenge towards her lover. Seori ’ south voice throughout the song remains vitamin a aloof as it is cozy, inviting and seductive, as she promises that “ We don ’ t need to put no pronounce on it, do we now ? ” possibly all of this just hides the pain that underlines the lyrics, but I ’ vitamin d quite read it as a will to youth and love, where the hypothesis of a great grief is just angstrom tantalising as that of finding true sleep together .
It makes common sense then that in the music video this experience is personified by diverse lovers who find each other in Seoul ’ s semifinal illuminated neon night. Although the music video does not deliver on equal opportunity smooching for different and lapp sex couples, it at least heavily implies as a lot ; queer inclusion and representation that has besides been share of her latest realese “ Dive with you ( feat. eaJ ) ” .
#4 “Helium” by Key
Key came back this year with a masterpiece of an album. From the cut list, to the album concept and live performances, Bad Love has been an extraordinary feel. The album and all that went into it truly feels like an extension of the creative intent of the artist. The album has been critically acclaimed and has marked a high point in Key ’ s career as a soloist with his foremost music display win .
Upon first listen of the album “ Helium ” was my personal favored track, evening though it has had sturdy contest to remain in that spot by the championship track “ Bad Love ” and other excellent b-sides like “ Saturday Night ”. There is fair something about “ Helium ” though that makes it stand a standout traverse on an album with interesting more than merely catchy songs. It ’ s decidedly the most animal cut of the album, with it ’ s well placed sound effects and the contrast between falsetto and Key ’ s deeper timbre. The highlight is the bridge though. I ’ ve never felt hit on by a song until I listened to “ Helium ”. Key delivers the bridge with a confidence and distance that ’ s both infuriate and intrigue, while contrasting with the near despair the song communicates during the rest of the song .
As to be expected with Key, the song ’ south live performance still somehow manages to elevate the song even further .
#3 “The Feels” by TWICE
The name TWICE is about synonymous with catchy earworms, and the group ’ s first base all English original unmarried surely proves that with its attention-getting hooks and feel good progressions. While there are some songs that entirely rely on the catchiness of their choruses to gain the hearer ’ s attention and implant themselves in the collective consciousness and neglect the lie of the song, “ The Feels ” verses, pre-chorus and bridge are precisely equally estimable as the undeniably fantastic chorus. Although the birdcall in truth has no weak parts, it is the chorus that is going to lift “ The Feels ” into k-pop immortality. It ’ randomness exuberant, cheerful, and bright ; the antithesis to and welcome break from possible onset fall depression. It makes you want to get up and move and attempt the stage dancing that matches the tone and feel of the song perfectly. I am not a dancer and even I can not help but raise my arms in joy every prison term the song gets to “ You have stolen my affection, oh, yeah. ”
obviously, I am not alone in this. aside from entering both the Billboard Hot100 and UK Singles Charts, the sung has been used as a heavy over 400.000 times on TikTok. It seems like no one can resist “ The Feels ” .
#2 “Dream of You” by CHUNG HA & R3HAB
CHUNG HA started the year off strong with an epic of an album. The 21 songs on Querencia take the hearer on an artistic travel, through different sides of the artist, genres and styles. “ dream of You ” is one of two all english tracks on the album, the much quieter “ Flying on Faith ” being the other .
“ Dream of You ” is the epitome of a simpleton idea executed to paragon. The song has a strong dancing pop vibration, with a neat ahead build up towards the chorus but the production value, addictive beat and CHUNG HA ’ south articulation, make this an ineluctable sock. CHUNG HA herself is equitable equally true forward in the lyrics. It ’ s a song full of hope and she ’ s not shy about it either. It ’ south bold and outdoors, aphrodisiac and intimate in a way that women are still besides rarely allowed to be without dishonor. The performance television only adds to that, as CHUNG HA once again proves her excellence as a dancer and performer. She effortlessly keeps up with the flying paced beat, while her style, made up largely of beautifully fitted suits, further underlines her might in the narrative. As she asks her collaborator to not make her dream of them, it ’ randomness more a demand than a plea. Both in the performance and the song itself, CHUNG HA displays a sexy and dominating assurance that she brings to the table time and clock again and I hope to see other, younger female artists emulate .
#1 “Butter” by BTS
Among BTS ’ brusque but successful english terminology discography, “ Butter ” probably takes the top spot for me. depart of that is, for sure, ascribable to its adept structure. Every fourth dimension you think you ’ ve heard the best separate, the future depart of the song starts and disabuses you of that notion. right from the beginning, Jungkook ’ randomness voice over a bare drum beat gets you bopping. From then on the song just adds layers and produces one iconic consequence after the other. So it ’ s no wonder that six months in, I calm can ’ t tell you what the catchiest course or highlight part of this song is. There are no wrong answers but I ’ d besides be distressed to agree with anyone who can choose .
There ’ s a certain tone to the three English language tracks BTS have released so far. They are all a different flavor of bright. While “ Dynamite ” was deeply cheerful and excite, “ Permission To Dance ” is thrumming with optimism. “ Butter ” meanwhile is good cool ; rightfully the arrant summer song to strut to, as you walk down whatever streets you call your home and make yourself the day ’ second main character. Those songs do not represent the range of topics and emotions BTS has dealt with in their discography at big, but that ’ south besides a lot to ask of three songs. BTS seem to have made a conscious decision to deliver “ good vibes only ” with these songs and as we hit a new bespeak of crisis in this ball-shaped panini, where I personally am looking fore to BTS giving their first in-person concerts since 2019 and fearing another lockdown where I live, I ’ m very glad that I have “ Butter ” to just feel good for 2:44min. Over and over and over again .
