2018 was the year I truly got into K-pop. While I haven't been around for too long, I've definitely exposed myself to a decent amount of new music this past year that I've fallen in love with. Here are my favorite K-pop songs of 2018 in no particular order:
1. “Shine” by Pentagon
“Shine” by ridiculously underrated boy group Pentagon is one of the best comeback songs of 2018. It’s spurred a viral, fervent response from many idols that eventually led to positive word-of-mouth and the group charting both domestically and internationally for the first time ever. It’s hard not to fall in love with this song. There’s nothing seriously complex going on, with the production opting for brassy, minimalistic synths, piano, and verbal cues as percussive instruments, yet the song never delves into mainstream, and it’s never tiring even as it remains incredibly catchy and a massive earworm. The song is a breath of fresh air, which is fitting, given that the song is about the euphoric and heart-fluttering feelings of unrequited love and the awkwardness of not having the courage to express them. Even as I say this, I don’t think I’ve properly expressed how magical of a song this is. You’d have to check it out yourself to get what I mean.
2. “Baby Don’t Stop” by NCT U
Oh, where to begin. If you’re new to this blog, just know I’ve been obsessed with this song the moment it was released all the way back in late February of this year. Everything about this song is just unreal. S.M. Entertainment definitely has their long history of poor choices, but if there’s one thing they did right, it’s making Taeyong and Ten an NCT U lineup and letting this song see the light of day. It’s extra exciting for fans to see Ten again, who hasn't played such a big role in NCT releases since he debuted with NCT U's debut song "The 7th Sense" all the way back in 2016. I continue to be surprised by the breadth of talents that the duo possess, and this song perfectly showcases these two incredibly charismatic members and their natural and explosive chemistry in ways that are beyond engaging. They are performers that transcend the concept of performance itself. The production starts off simple before delving into a playful, sprawling soundscape backed by an intense bass track, 8-bit sounding synth instrumentals, and other unconventional percussion to support Ten’s smooth (and shockingly good) vocals, the ASMR-like, passionately whispered chorus, Taeyong’s deep, gravelly rap as well as his surprisingly light vocals, and the mesmerizing choreography. The song is quirky and unique and unconventional, yet it just works. As expected of arguably NCT’s best performers.
3. “Yestoday (Extended Version)” by NCT U
I’ve always maintained the opinion that NCT U (with its whole concept being a rotational unit that switches member lineups with each song so as to have the best lineup of members that fit the concept of the song) is the superior NCT unit, and with good reason: even when the group throws it back to 90’s-vibe hip-hop, what comes out is still magnificent and surprisingly emotional. Stripping the usual theatrics associated with NCT's previous releases, the song focuses on the unique flows and delivery of rappers Taeyong, Mark, and Lucas in their verses. Complementing the three rappers is main vocalist Doyoung, who has been given deserved opportunities to showcase his vocal talents this past year. He effortlessly weaves the rappers’ disparate verses with his voice, crafting a sort of dreamy, contemplative, almost heartbreaking song about coming to terms with our past selves in order to build a brighter future.
4. "My Pace" by Stray Kids
It was a toss-up between the rookie group's aggressive and angsty debut song "District 9" or their equally aggressive yet more playful comeback "My Pace". JYP's rookie boy group is truly one of the most promising and exciting groups of this year, and their debut was equally confident and distinct, but I think it was there comeback song "My Pace" that really solidified my genuine love for the group. The song, simply put, is just fun. The rappers of the group cap off their impressive debut bars with different flows and styles at play, diversifying the group's musical and rhythmic palette. For the sake of context, I've always thought Stray Kids was the perfect marriage of what makes self-producing group Seventeen and hip-hop-and-western-influenced group BTS so great, yet "My Pace" shows that the boys are here to make a mark for themselves. Why not have a little bit of fun along the way?
5. "I Want You" by SHINee
SHINee came back after a year and a half (and unfortunately, without the presence of late member Jonghyun, who passed away in December of 2017) with deep house-influenced, suave track "I Want You", the second single of their three-part release schedule. It's a feel-good song, showcasing the members well-known charisma in their performances. Above all, the song proves why this ten-year-old group are considered the princes of K-pop. SHINee elevate any material they touch, and "I Want You" is no exception.
6. "The Truth Untold" by BTS (feat. Steve Aoki)
BTS admittedly doesn't have the strongest vocalists in K-pop (nothing wrong with that; the group debuted with a more hip-hop influenced sound anyway), but their singers Jin, Jimin, V, and Jungkook have probably the most distinct voices in K-pop. Even that said, "The Truth Untold", a stripped-back, emotional, powerful ballad, is arguably Love Yourself: Tear's strongest moment. To add another layer of surprise is the fact that EDM hype-king Steve Aoki (who remixed BTS's loud and bombastic "Mic Drop" into something even more energetic and aggressive) produced this song. You can clearly tell how much BTS's vocalists have grown musically since their last comeback, and this song is a testament to that growth.
7. "Oh My!" by Seventeen
After exploring slightly more aggressive and melancholy influences with their 2017 comebacks, self-producing idol kings Seventeen came back with a refreshing, bubbly concept with "Oh My!", a perfect time for summer. It's a welcome throwback to the material that Seventeen became known for (ex: "Pretty U"), yet also introduces new sounds to the group's already diverse musical palette. It's never a disappointment with Seventeen.
8. "Shoot Me" by Day6
For the time being, I'll have to stick Day6 with K-pop, but I am aware that they are more of a K-rock group (though you could argue that their songs are more pop-rock if anything). Technicalities aside, Day6's long-awaited 2018 Korean comeback came with the bravado that was expected of a song title as "Shoot Me". The band has toyed with a harder rock sound with their Every Day6 project in 2017 ("I Wait", "How Can I Say", etc.), but "Shoot Me" stands out for just how far the band has pushed for their new sound. For one thing, Day6 has yet to disappoint fans on a single release, so it's no surprise "Shoot Me" has made its way on this list, but it's deserved nonetheless. The rest of the songs on the album are equally good, so this is another chance for me to tell you to listen to the entire album (and then their entire discography because they are THAT good).
9. "Lullaby" by GOT7
As much as I genuinely respect Got7's talents and chemistry as a group, I always found myself disappointed by their generally mellow-impact discography of the past few years (they were okay at best, generally stale at worst). With their third full-album comeback with Present: YOU and title track "Lullaby", Got7 finally nailed down the kind of synth-breezy, dance-funk sonic landscape they attempted to achieve with "Look". In short, "Lullaby" is Got7's best song in years. The hook of "sweet talk to me babe/it's magical" is an instant classic of a hook, immediately leaving a lasting impression (I could not stop singing it to myself for at least a good month after the song's release), and one that won me over with this song in general. While one song isn't enough to guarantee a group's return to form, I welcome the crystallization of the group's sound for the first time in years. I'd also suggest you check out the track's three other language versions (in addition to Korean, the track is also sung in English, Chinese, and Spanish).
10. "Candy (so good)" by The Rose
More of a band, less of an idol group, but we'll have to make do. Relatively new band The Rose released their debut EP "Void" in April of 2018, and less-than-three-minute track "Candy (so good)" made the strongest impression on me. Reminiscent of The 1975, "Candy (so good)" is the kind of breezy indie rock that makes you want to listen to it again and again.
11. "City 127" by NCT 127
I have mixed feelings regarding the now-ten member group's title track "Regular" off their first full-length studio album Regular-Irregular. Oddly enough, "Regular" is probably on the album's weaker songs, especially considering B-side tracks "Come Back", "My Van", "No Longer", and "Replay (1:27 PM). The song I can't stop listening to is the first song in the album "City 127", which so clearly brings to mind autumn, late-night walks in the city. Taeyong and Mark trade verses that offer lighter, breezier fare from normally hard-hitting raps in most NCT 127 discography. The vocal harmonies are also delightfully simple yet effective in their delivery, and the whistling in the background just rounds off this perfect track.
12. "Jealousy" by Monsta X
Talk about a god-tier chorus. "Jealousy" freewheels between so many disparate genres, but somehow it works incredibly well in this song. Monsta X has been a relatively recent discovery of mine, and I must say I love pretty much everything about this song by the group.
13. "Idol" by BTS
The boys surprised everyone with their off-the-walls track "Idol", dialing up the incredibly idiosyncratic energy that BTS is known for and coming up with a track that arrives with one of the most freeing, climatic choruses of their recent discography. Favorable comparisons have been made to their equally bold "Not Today". I love "Idol" for how weird it is and for how much it embraces that weirdness, fitting for a song ultimately about how the boys of BTS view themselves and how they've learned to love themselves, a perfect bombastic conclusion to their introspective and thoughtful Love Yourself series. Also of note is the traditional Korean elements the boys incorporate into the production, choreography, and music video visuals, implying to fans and the general public of how distinctly proud the members of BTS are about their Korean heritage and how proud they are to represent their country as they hit higher and more international stages.
14. "Tempo" by EXO
Everything about this song is perfect with exception to what sounds like bed squeaks in the chorus. I love the song's funky leanings, sounding two steps away from some polished Korean barbershop quartet music. The EXO comeback was a long time coming, and "Tempo" reminds everyone why EXO remains relevant to this day. It's just fun and light and addictive. 15. "Not That Type" by Gugudan
I know literally nothing about this Jellyfish Entertainment girl group other than the some of the former I.O.I members, but I've heard nothing but high praise for Gugudan's recent comeback, so I checked it out. This song delivers and more. It's the kind of power anthem I need in 2018 while not taking itself too seriously. It's enjoyable, energetic, and a really good time. Gugudan, I'm watching you. 16. "Bad Boy" by Red Velvet
This song is nothing short of legendary. While this uniquely dual concept girl group has done "velvet" concepts (aka their more R&B, less bubblegum pop style) in the past, "Bad Boy" is their most "velvet" yet, completely throwing away any hints of anything particularly cute or approachable and embodying the sort of badass Red Velvet that paid off in spades. The production is impeccable, approaching this concept with the kind of minimalism that kicked off 2018 with a bang. The attention this song received is well-deserved. "Bad Boy" is Red Velvet at its best. 17. "Woman" by BoA
The Goddess of K-Pop came back with her first full-length studio album in years this year with lead single "Woman", a perfect blend of groovy bass, sharp confidence, and female empowerment. Despite being in the industry for almost two decades (if you were born in the 21st century, she's been a K-pop star longer than you've been alive) and being sidelined by newer acts, BoA continues to prove what makes her legendary with this song that manages to show off another side of the incredibly versatile performer. 18. "Siren" by Sunmi
Sunmi's new singles after departing JYP Entertainment have been nothing short of extraordinary. From song of summer 2017's "Gashina" to January's incredible "Heroine" to late summer's 80's inspired "Siren", Sunmi has shown time and time again how incredible of a performer she is. "Siren" really took the cake, though, with its infectious hooks and production as well as Sunmi's mesmerizing performance.
Those have been my favorite eighteen K-pop songs of 2018! This year has been an incredible year for me, and here's to an exciting 2019!
