Best Kpop Songs of 2012 (Results on Page 2!)

[Stryfe]

I agree with the sentiment that 2012 was a great year for kpop, and even with all the dozens of sub-par rookie groups debuting, some of them were just really good right off the bat. It was also the first year I immersed myself completely in Korean pop music, and in the end, I had great difficulty narrowing this list down to a top 10. Just skip to the end if you don't wanna read my bullshit.

--


#1. D-Unit - Crush
The opening track of D-Unit's debut album just gets me in a good mood every time. It's a fine example of the group's idol/90's pseudo-hip hop/dance sound that both takes me back and sounds oddly current at the same time. It's probably hard to claim that "Crush", written by D-Unit's tiny bosswoman Ram, is the greatest song ever made, but, it's fun, solid, my most played track of 2012 and starts an album I immensely enjoy and rarely stop listening to halfway through. That's worth #1. We gon' be alright, baby.

#2. T-ara - Don't Leave
The Day by Day MV was powered by a pair of similarly themed sorrowful tunes suitable for the first part of the apocalyptic samurai-sword wielding kick-ass chick drama epic. The title track for me was outshined by the follow-up song, Don't Leave. The instrumental is great with the orchestra bits fused with a somewhat more generic beat, Hwayoung's swansong rap segment (+the other one with Eunjung/Ahreum) with the piano/string orchestration is one of my all-time fave interludes, and Soyeon's ultimate cupcake vocal power sends chills down my spine. Dis just good music, son.

#3. D-Unit - Missing You
The MV of the definitive D-Unit song has all kinds of ridiculous shit going on in it (only topped by the MV of Luv Me later on). While I've always had my share of issues with D-Unit's visual style and dance moves... their music is what made me a believer. Missing You has quite a lot going for it musically, as well, from the sneaky layers of acoustic guitar and electronica to the semi-cheesy 90's club beat/sounds, and the girls are quite proficient at dis singing thang. It all reaches guilty pleasure-like heights but satisfies every time.

#4. Orange Caramel - Bubble Bath
Before hearing this tune, I didn't think an Orange Caramel track would ever make my top 10. They're fun, silly and quirky, but Bubble Bath takes all that and dips it into this quiet, sorrowful melancholy. "I scrub myself clean and erase you", whoa, dude. Add to that a sweet beat, just the right kind of voice effects and an excellent Perfume-esque interlude, you got yourself #4, girls.

#5. Sistar - Alone
Most people - me included - didn't expect Brave Bros to write such a track for Sistar, a group more famous for their high-octane butt-in-yer-face sex appeal and wild party tunes. More surprising was how good it really was, and suddenly Sistar was the darling of the nation. Both classy and sexy, accompanied by simple piano, synth hooks and a groovy bass beat, Alone is one of a kind, and by far my favourite Sistar track of all time.

#6. 2NE1 - I Love You
The ethereally beautiful "I Love You" was released by the time I was really starting to get into the music of 2NE1, another group I had visual and stylistical issues with. Glad I got over that. The [noembed][/noembed] - which works amazingly well even alone - is just expertly crafted from start to finish and it gives the music such a nice floating-through-space kinda vibe. Add the girls, achieve true greatness. I love you too, 2NE1.

#7. Wonder Girls - Like This
Like This is a simple, infectious hook defined. A stripped down instrumental beat, fun as hell dance and just the right kind of MV make it all a perfect package. Like dis, yo, like dis.

#8. f(x) - Electric Shock
f(x) always brings the fun and Electric Shock was doing everything right. From the outfits, MV and choreography to the super-infectious hook-filled track and a brilliant accompanying mini-album, it was worth the long wait and just usual good times from SM's finest. E-E-E!

#9. Girl's Day - Don't Forget Me
I was happy that after the fun, but somewhat mediocre OMG, Girl's Day got back to their signature sound, apparent most strongly in the chorus. They can stick to this forever and I'll be a happy camper. Really, I ended up liking this song far more than I initially imagined I would, perhaps boosted with all the visually pleasing performances, outfits and my growing love affair with both Yura and Sojin.

#10. Crayon Pop - Bing Bing
The dance practice video for Bing Bing is what got me - and many others, I'm sure - into Crayon Pop. I watched that smoothly synced shit dozens of times. Since then, they've crafted their own brand of unadulterated guerrilla idol anarchy and become the favorite rookies of the year for many more people. Their other singles are fun, but Bing Bing is still the most special to me.




Closest contenders

Miss A - Lips
Lips has one of my fave choruses of the year but is a little bit let down by its somewhat repetitive and unimaginative interludes. So close!

D-Unit - Luv Me
Out-reediculousness-ing the mv of "Missing You" with ease, the spiked bats, guns and meth labs hide another musical gem. D-U is just good at making songs that I like. Luv Me would have been right at home on D-Unit's debut release.

Gain - Bloom
The MV and Gain's sexual message of joy alone made me consider including this in the top 10, but the song, while good, didn't quuuuite make it.

f(x) - Jet
My second fave from the Electric Shock EP, Jet boasts another of the year's best choruses. Luna accompanying that last one, hoshit, I'm flying baby.

Brown Eyed Girls - Come With Me
Beautiful song. Dem harmonies towards the end, chills every time.

T-ara - Lovey-Dovey
Ah, this just makes me wish I had more spots, I was sure I could fit Lovey-Dovey in there. Another simple, fun, T-ara disco dance number. Even has zombies, damn. Oh wellZ.

T-ara - Day by Day
Hot chicks with katanas, hot-as-fuck blonde Jiyeon, arrival of our saviour Dani the Great, pretty awesome song... pretty terrible choreography. Might've made the list if not for "Don't Leave".

D-Unit - Stereo, Turn the Lights On, Sleeping In/Late
Yes, I obviously loved D-Unit's brilliant, ultra-cohesive debut album to bits... My initial top 10 was 50% D-Unit, but I figured, perhaps as a bit of a compromise, that two songs in the top 3 is plenty.




Rest of the top ~50

4minute - Say My Name
Ailee - Heaven, I Will Show You, Shut Up
AOA - Get Out
Crayon Pop - Dancing Queen
EXID - 전화벨, I Feel Good
Fiestar - We Don't Stop
Hello Venus - Like a Wave
Hyuna - Ice Cream, Green/Unripe Apple
Nine Muses - News, Who R U
Kara - Way, Pandora
Miss A - I Don't Need a Man, If I Were a Boy, No Mercy
Orange Caramel - Lipstick
Secret - Falling In Love, Talk That
Sistar - Loving U
Spica - Russian Roulette
Sunny Hill - The Grasshopper Song, Princess and Prince Charming, 3-Out
Taetiseo - Twinkle, Baby Steps, Library
Wonder Girls - Girlfriend




TL;DR

01. D-Unit - Crush
02. T-ara - Don't Leave
03. D-Unit - Missing You
04. Orange Caramel - Bubble Bath
05. Sistar - Alone
06. 2NE1 - I Love You
07. Wonder Girls - Like This
08. f(x) - Electric Shock
09. Girl's Day - Don't Forget Me
10. Crayon Pop - Bing Bing

[daigong]

GJ STRYFER TOTALLY TUBULAR! yeah I gotta check out D-Unit lotsa unsuspecting girl groups coming outta nowhere! MAN!!

gotta edit mine too I loved 2NE! I love you Bommie's vocals <333

[totoyo]

u answer to a boy like me from leessanng

[daigong]

Great job totoyo! Now you just need nine more songs

[zamriduan]

i no that da voting has ended but still want 2 post this

T-ara - Loveydovey
Miryo - Dirty
Big Bang - Blue
C-Real - Sorry But I
A Pink - Hush
After School - Flashback
T-ara - Day By Day
D-Unit - Missing You
T-ara - Sexy Love
Girl's Day - Don't Forget Me

[shirenuファクトリー]

^ Actually, it hasn't ended yet The voting time was extended... So your vote counts Cheers!

[BX_LeMans]

Really hard to choose.

01. - Han Seung Yeon - Guilty
02. - T-ara - Day By Day
03. - Fat Cat -  Is Being Pretty Everything
04. - Hello Venus - Venus
05. - Wonder Girls - Like this
06. - T-ara - Sexy Love
07. - Hello Venus - What Are You Doing Today?
08. - AoA - Elvis
09. - Gangkiz - MAMA
10. - A Pink - Hush

[daigong]

we're not really a Gangnam style House eh?

[Forthisgift]

we're not really a Gangnam style House eh?

I gave it a token 10th place vote. The longer the voting stays open the closer I get to switching it out lol.

[Stryfe]

Boom! The votes from the 18 people that participated have all been counted and analyzed.



Here's a playlist of the top 35 songs, starting from #35 going all the way to the Best Kpop Song of 2012! A total of 82 songs got votes, and I added every song that got at least 10 points total to the playlist.


ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ds3SWspSHY&list=PLUjodk0lzXh7k_tG8xHg_g9CL6ygY0qjP


This is for anyone that wants to keep up some sort of suspense and watch/listen through the list, for those who just want to know RIGHT NOW DAMNIT, just scroll past Hyosung to see full results and analysis.

[Stryfe]

Sssshh, don't spoil it now... it's all over if you scroll any further down! Spoilar free top 35 playlist in the previous post.


















Ok ok there's really gonna be results soon, so be careful. Anddddd....






























IT'S A ZOMBIE DISCO PARTY!!!!

•  By an overwhelming margin, T-ara's Lovey-Dovey is your Best K-pop song of 2012! It gathered an impressive 70 points, 23 points ahead of #2. The song also appeared on 10 different ranking lists, more than any other song.
•  Silver also goes to the same alleged group of gangstas for the theme song of the apocalyptic epic, Day by Day, with 47 points.
•  Sistar's surprising foray into the Serious(tm), Alone, gets third place with 39 points.


Random Schmandom

•  As usual, Jphip has lots of love for the ladies, as no boy group made the top 10. Big Bang made it to #12, and a few others ranked in the top 20.
•  The exception to the female dominance in the top 10 is Psy, but Gangnam Style is probably starting to tire or annoy people by now, as the most watched fat little asian of all time only placed at #9.
•  T-ara had two songs in the top 10 in the polls of both 2010 and 2011, but this year they had three songs (in the top five, to be exact) and finally won the grand prize.
•  Kara, previous year's winner and 2010's #2, only kind of, sort of, ranked in the top 10 with a tenth place tied vote this time around.


[noae]

The Best Kpop Songs of 2012
			Points	1st	2nd	3rd	Other	Total
1.	T-ara	Lovey-Dovey	70	3	0	1	6	10
2.	T-ara	Day by Day	47	1	2	0	4	7
3.	Sistar	Alone	39	1	0	1	4	6
4.	f(x)	Electric Shock	36	1	2	0	4	7
4.	T-ara	Don't Leave	36	0	2	1	3	6
6.	Wonder Girls	Like This	33	2	0	0	3	5
7.	Sistar	Loving U	29	0	0	0	6	6
7.	Gain	Bloom	29	1	1	0	3	5
9.	Psy	Gangnam Style	28	0	2	0	3	5
10.	2NE1	I Love You	27	1	0	0	4	5
10.	Kara	Pandora	27	0	0	2	2	4
12.	Big Bang	Blue	25	0	0	3	1	4
13.	Ailee	I'll Show You	22	0	1	0	3	4
14.	Seungyeon	Guilty	19	1	1	0	0	2
15.	BoA	Only One	18	1	0	0	2	3
15.	Crayon Pop	Dancing Queen	18	0	0	1	2	3
17.	Miss A	Touch	17	0	0	0	4	4
17.	TaeTiSeo	Library	17	0	0	0	3	3
17.	B2ST	Beautiful Night	17	1	0	0	1	2
20.	G-Dragon	Crayon	16	1	0	0	1	2
20.	Shinhwa	Venus	16	0	0	2	0	2
22.	Spica	Russian Roulette	15	0	0	1	2	3
22.	Ailee	Heaven	15	0	1	0	1	2
24.	IU	Peach	14	0	0	1	1	2
25.	4minute	Volume Up	13	0	0	0	3	3
25.	Hello Venus	Venus	13	0	0	0	2	2
27.	After School	Flashback	12	0	0	0	3	3
27.	Brown Eyed Girls	One Summer Night	12	0	0	0	2	2
27.	Secret	Talk That	12	1	0	0	1	2
27.	f(x)	Beautiful Stranger	12	0	0	0	2	2
31.	AOA	Elvis	11	0	0	1	1	2
31.	D-Unit	Missing You	11	0	0	1	1	2
33.	D-Unit	Crush	10	1	0	0	0	1
33.	Orange Caramel	Lipstick	10	1	0	0	0	1
33.	Spica	Diary	10	1	0	0	0	1
36.	A Pink	Hush	9	0	0	0	3	3
36.	Miss A	I Don't Need a Man	9	0	0	0	3	3
36.	Clazzi	Love & Hate	9	0	1	0	0	1
36.	Miryo	Dirty	9	0	1	0	0	1
36.	Secret	Poison	9	0	1	0	0	1
36.	Son Dam Bi	Dripping Tears	9	0	1	0	0	1
36.	T-ara	Hue	9	0	1	0	0	1
36.	Younha	Run	9	0	1	0	0	1
44.	Shinee	Sherlock	8	0	0	0	2	2
44.	AOA	Get Out	8	0	0	1	0	1
44.	Fat Cat	Is Being Pretty Everything	8	0	0	1	0	1
44.	Hyuna	Ice Cream	8	0	0	1	0	1
48.	Girl's Day	Don't Forget Me	7	0	0	0	3	3
48.	T-ara	Sexy Love	7	0	0	0	2	2
48.	Big Bang	Fantastic Baby	7	0	0	0	1	1
48.	C-Real	Sorry But I	7	0	0	0	1	1
48.	Orange Caramel	Bubble Bath	7	0	0	0	1	1
53.	EXID	Call	6	0	0	0	2	2
53.	Busker Busker	Cherry Blossom Ending	6	0	0	0	1	1
55.	Gangkiz	Mama	5	0	0	0	2	2
55.	Jay Park	Know Your Name	5	0	0	0	1	1
55.	Lee Hi	1, 2, 3, 4	5	0	0	0	1	1
55.	Primary	Love	5	0	0	0	1	1
59.	D-Unit	Luv Me	4	0	0	0	1	1
59.	G.NA	2Hot	4	0	0	0	1	1
59.	Girl's Day	Oh! My God	4	0	0	0	1	1
59.	Hello Venus	What Are You Doing Today?	4	0	0	0	1	1
59.	Nine Muses	News	4	0	0	0	1	1
59.	Nine Muses	Ticket	4	0	0	0	1	1
59.	UV	I'm Gonna Live With That Girl	4	0	0	0	1	1
66.	BoA	The Shadow	3	0	0	0	1	1
66.	Dynamic Duo	Without You	3	0	0	0	1	1
66.	Hara	Secret Love	3	0	0	0	1	1
66.	IU	Sea of Moonlight	3	0	0	0	1	1
66.	TaeTiSeo	Twinkle	3	0	0	0	1	1
66.	Wonder Girls	The DJ Is Mine	3	0	0	0	1	1
72.	Davichi & 2Bic	On Nights Like Tonight	2	0	0	0	1	1
72.	EXID	Whoz That Girl	2	0	0	0	1	1
72.	Hyuna	Unripe Apple	2	0	0	0	1	1
72.	JJ Project	Bounce	2	0	0	0	1	1
72.	TaeTiSeo	Baby Steps	2	0	0	0	1	1
72.	TaeTiSeo	Checkmate	2	0	0	0	1	1
78.	Block B	Nanrina	1	0	0	0	1	1
78.	Chocolat	One More Day	1	0	0	0	1	1
78.	Crayon Pop	Bing Bing	1	0	0	0	1	1
78.	Epik High	It's Cold	1	0	0	0	1	1
78.	Mighty Mouth	Bad Boy	1	0	0	0	1	1

[/noae]

* the possible "featured" artists on tracks are omitted for readability's sake






Group Sex...wait, no, it's the song poll

•  T-ara just completely destroyed the competition. They took gold, silver, and had a third song tied for #4. They had a total of five songs appear in the rankings, and had the most total votes with 26, and also got the most gold and silver medals with four #1 and five #2 rankings. They took a total of 169(!) points, over one hundred points more than Sistar, who placed second.
•  If we count Seungyeon's and Hara's solo efforts as "Kara", Kara would place third (instead of #9) in the group rankings.


[noae]

The Best Kpop Songs of 2012 - by artist
		Points	1st	2nd	3rd	Other	Total
1.	T-ara	169	4	5	2	15	26
2.	Sistar	68	1	0	1	10	12
3.	f(x)	48	1	2	0	6	9
4.	Ailee	37	0	2	0	4	6
5.	Wonder Girls	36	2	0	0	4	6
6.	Big Bang	32	0	0	3	2	5
7.	Gain	29	1	1	0	3	5
8.	Psy	28	0	2	0	3	5
9.	2NE1	27	1	0	0	4	5
9.	Kara	27	0	0	2	2	4
11.	Miss A	26	0	0	0	7	7
12.	D-Unit	25	1	0	1	2	4
12.	Spica	25	1	0	1	2	4
14.	TaeTiSeo	24	0	0	0	6	6
15.	BoA	21	1	0	0	3	4
15.	Secret	21	1	1	0	1	3
17.	Crayon Pop	19	0	0	1	3	4
17.	AOA	19	0	0	2	1	3
17.	Seungyeon	19	1	1	0	0	2
20.	Hello Venus	17	0	0	0	3	3
20.	IU	17	0	0	1	2	3
20.	B2ST	17	1	0	0	1	2
20.	Orange Caramel	17	1	0	0	1	2
24.	G-Dragon	16	1	0	0	1	2
24.	Shinhwa	16	0	0	2	0	2
26.	4minute	13	0	0	0	3	3
27.	After School	12	0	0	0	3	3
27.	Brown Eyed Girls	12	0	0	0	2	2
29.	Girl's Day	11	0	0	0	4	4
30.	Hyuna	10	0	0	1	1	2
31.	A Pink	9	0	0	0	3	3
31.	Clazzi	9	0	1	0	0	1
31.	Miryo	9	0	1	0	0	1
31.	Son Dam Bi	9	0	1	0	0	1
31.	Younha	9	0	1	0	0	1
36.	EXID	8	0	0	0	3	3
36.	Nine Muses	8	0	0	0	2	2
36.	Shinee	8	0	0	0	2	2
36.	Fat Cat	8	0	0	1	0	1
40.	C-Real	7	0	0	0	1	1
41.	Busker Busker	6	0	0	0	1	1
42.	Gangkiz	5	0	0	0	2	2
42.	Jay Park	5	0	0	0	1	1
42.	Lee Hi	5	0	0	0	1	1
42.	Primary	5	0	0	0	1	1
46.	G.NA	4	0	0	0	1	1
46.	UV	4	0	0	0	1	1
48.	Dynamic Duo	3	0	0	0	1	1
48.	Hara	3	0	0	0	1	1
50.	Davichi & 2Bic	2	0	0	0	1	1
50.	JJ Project	2	0	0	0	1	1
52.	Block B	1	0	0	0	1	1
52.	Chocolat	1	0	0	0	1	1
52.	Epik High	1	0	0	0	1	1
52.	Mighty Mouth	1	0	0	0	1	1

[/noae]

So, whatcha think? Thoughts? Surprises?

[daigong]

GJ Stryfer!!!!

WOW Fantastic Baby. I coulda  swore Gangnam Style woulda hit hard more but hey. not only likes the ladies, they love the sexy ladies WHERE DA BALLADS. Alone wasn't serious at all lol. Red satin dresses and Vegas UNNGH!!

Personally , I really dug KARA 's solo works and BoA Blew me away... T-ara got DAT HOOK! HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUE cool I wasn't the Only ONE who voted it

Looking forward to what 2013 has in store!! An SNSD cumback no doubt