Best Kpop Songs of 2019

[Stirfry]

 

[SomethingWild]

This year I did this properly! I updated the list throughout the year whenever an interesting new release came out.
I'll post some quick thoughts on each song and a link to the PV or memorable fancam so you can easily check it out.


10. Blackpink - Kick it

I was lucky enough to see Blackpink live this year, which made me see some of their tracks in a completely different light.
At first I didn't particularly care for songs like "Kick It" or " Don't Know What To Do," but now they're among my favorite songs of the year.

Code: [Select]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYUlykDe4as

09. IZ*ONE - Airplane

Airplane is exactly the kind of song I want from IZ*ONE. It's fun, cute and catchy.

Code: [Select]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRs9WRurVCQ

08. IU - Blueming

This is simply a quality song. I'm sure that we're still listening to this in ten years time.

Code: [Select]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_nxIQTM_B0

07. Somi - Birthday

I admit I wasn't into Somi during the Sixteen or Produce 101 era, but now that I know more about her I've grown to like her a lot.
Her Dutch heritage definitely makes me want to root for her. Her first solo performances lacked confidence, but she's improving at rapid pace.
This song is a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to her future endeavors.

Code: [Select]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lLJhVd_GkY&

06. Blackpink - Kill This Love

I've shown Kill This Love to several of my 'outsider' friends and coworkers, and their reactions were all the same: "Wow, this is badass."
Even though this song does have its flaws, it's still really cool. Also, this fancam.

Code: [Select]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXBDwS2Tizo

05. Ben - Can You Hear Me

I was completely unfamiliar with this artist, until I came across her in the Hotel Del Luna OST.
At first you might think "oh, it's another generic ballad by some sweet voiced girl."
However, what sets this song apart for me is her range. The way she belts out the high notes with such emotion caught me by complete surprise.

Code: [Select]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHT_XE3NONo

04. Red Velvet - Sunny Side Up

I know Red Velvet is one of the most popular groups of this era, but I never really got into them for some reason.
I only really knew that Red Flavor song, since it's completely overplayed.
That said, they really peaked my interested with Zimzalabim. Totally wacky song with a heavy dirty synth bass, haha.
However, when I checked out their The ReVe Festival Day 1 album, I came across Sunny Side Up.
What a masterpiece. The harmonies, the tempo and vibe... Top notch all around.

Code: [Select]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNAhwAv_0JY

03. Dreamcatcher - Deja Vu

Dreamcatcher stood out to me since their very first release thanks to their guitar driven sound, which you don't really see that often in Kpop.
With Deja Vu, I feel they finally reached some proper mainstream (and global) success. Or rather, recognition from the Kpop community.
This song has it all. It even modulates at the end, which I don't think Dreamcatcher have done before.
They've been in my area three times, but I missed them all. Hopefully I'll get another chance someday.

Code: [Select]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W761DtH1oRg

02. IU - Above The Time

When Love Poem came out as the first song from this album, it was alright. Not bad, not great. But then a couple of days later IU released this gem.
It's a sequel to You & I! How amazing is that, seriously. It's something I always hoped for, but never expected.
It's very different from You & I, yet it still has some of the trademark elements, such as the understated beat, the orchestration and the dance break.
Easily my most played song this past month. It's IU's Kimi no Na wa. It's amazing, really.

Code: [Select]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3Fwdnij49o

01. Punch - Done For Me

My number one song is also from the Hotel Del Luna OST. It immediately sets the mood with melancholic piano and cello parts.
Throughout the songs there are so many interesting elements. For example the subtle rap over the slightly distorted guitar. It's rather unique.
Towards the end it builds up in a similar way to IU's Cruel Fairytale.
Usually I don't pay attention to the lyrics, but that's yet another area where this song makes the difference.
Not only does it perfectly fit within the context of Hotel Del Luna's plot, it also offers some interesting insights in memories and their importance in life.

Code: [Select]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hmHeTpMHjg
--------------------------------------------------

Songs that didn't make the final list:

- Blackpink - Don't Know What To Do
- Dreamcatcher - Piri
- Everglow - Adios
- Fromis 9 - Fun!
- Fromis 9 - Love Rum Pum Pum
- (G)-IDLE - Lion
- Gummy - Remember Me
- Heize - Can You See My Heart
- ITZY - Dalla Dalla
- ITZY - Icy
- IU - Love Poem
- IZ*ONE - Neko ni Naritai (Korean ver.) (고양이가 되고 싶어)
- IZ*ONE - Violeta
- Monday Kiss & Punch - Another Day
- Red Velvet - Zimzalabim
- Song Ha Yea - Say Goodbye
- Taeyeon - A Poem Titled You
- Taeyeon - Spark

Biggest letdowns:

- Twice: Great group, but none of their releases grabbed me this year.
- Fromis 9: Last year's Love Bomb was a blast, but Fun! fell flat.
- IZ*ONE: The Produce scandal, or rather the following media boycott, definitely killed the hype.

[Kimuuu]

There was a LOT of great music last year, and with a whole ass MAMAMOO album to top it off?? Sheeeeit, I could've easily put the first 10 tracks on here and called it a day.  But I managed to keep it to only 2 songs from the album and highlight some other awesome songs that made my 2019.

1. Mamamoo - Destiny: Fucking EPIC vocals and music. The instrumentals here can fit as background music in a Tarantino film. Mamamoo keeps on surprising me. Yeeeehawww!

Code: [Select]

https://youtu.be/ls4m6CyCJN4
2. Mamamoo - 4x4ever: Hnngh. Dirty, hot, powerful. Mamamoo just stepped on my neck with this one.

Code: [Select]

https://youtu.be/BnCVzQIkEHE
3. Dreamcatcher - Piri: I always appreciated DC for their rock angle, even if I thought a lot of their stuff sounded like anime OSTs. LOL This was the first song of theirs that I reaaaally fell in love with; made me want to break out the ol' electric and jam along. *headbangs forever*

Code: [Select]

https://youtu.be/Pq_mbTSR-a0
4. Red Velvet - Psycho: They had me with the strings, man. Assorted strings in the swelling chorus and slow head bopping vibe, it's a yes from me, dawg. Thank you for finally serving a great RV single in 2019!

Code: [Select]

https://youtu.be/uR8Mrt1IpXg

5. Everglow - Bon Bon Chocolat: Helluva debut single. Not even 2 seconds into the pre-chorus and I thought, "Oh this is going on my list." This song gets me so hype. CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

Code: [Select]

https://youtu.be/HvGql8HwOIM
6. AOA -Ninety Nine: I L O V E the bassline in this 70s sounding b-side. This is so damn groovy; that chorus is niiiice.

Code: [Select]

https://youtu.be/60iRa1xaj8o
7. TWICE - Fancy: This one grew on me, and when it finally took over, I couldn't resist screaming "FANCY!!! YOUUUUU!!!" whenever it came on. Stupid catchy.

Code: [Select]

https://youtu.be/kOHB85vDuow
8. Woosung - FACE: So cool, so sexy. The instrumentals here are great too, but what really got me were the lyrics, "I LIKE YO FACE".

Code: [Select]

https://youtu.be/uvs4nyijMZw
9. N. Flying - Rooftop: The underlying piano makes this super fun and memorable; makes me want to dance or have a DiCaprio-style jaunt.

Code: [Select]

https://youtu.be/VpaUh_BGqE0
10. CLC - I Need U: to stop sleeping on CLC. This is a s o l i d dance track. 

Code: [Select]

https://youtu.be/0TiRQA_ymb8
2019 had so much more to offer, so here are shout outs to some artists whose music I've enjoyed (in no particular order):
Oh My Girl, Sunmi, HA:TFELT, Taeyeon, (g)i-dle, Lovelyz, ATEEZ, Stray Kidz, Seventeen, Chungha, Sulli, Park Bom, Brown Eyed Girls, Taemin, BIBI, ITZY, Oneus, Cherry Bullet, Sori, CL, Bobbalgan4, GWSN, Eyedi, WJSN, Favorite, VAV, Nu'est, DIA, HEDY, Jessi, BLACKPINK, WINNER, Ailee, SOMI, Eric Nam, and countless other indie k songs.

[strawb3rrykream]

Sorry I'm lateish! This was a hard year, a lot of good music lol. Might come back with some commentary later but here's my list

1. Mamamoo - Gleam
2. Mamamoo - Destiny
3. Twice - Feel Special
4. Red Velvet - Psycho
5. (G)I-DLE - Lion
6. Red Velvet - Sunnyside Up
7. Hwasa - Twit
8. Everglow - Bon Bon Chocolat
9. Mamamoo - Universe
10. KARD - Dumb Litty

[storyboard]

1. Red Velvet - Psycho
2. Rothy - Bee
3. Blue.d - Nobody
4. Pinkmoon - Your Pink (너의 Pink)
5. Loona - Curiosity
6. Oohyo - Tennis
7. Saturday - Wifi
8. Momoland - I'm So Hot
9. Yukika - Neon
10. Primary - Bad High

[Stirfry]

 

[Stirfry]

 

[Kimuuu]

Thank you once again for running this poll and providing the juicy stats along with the results! I always look forward to this every year and always have a mental draft of my next top ten. Already some great contenders for 2020!

[daigong]

Great JOB Stryfe Kimmy storyboard Kreamer SomethinWild and all the voters!!! REAL EDUCATIONAL!!! Let's go scout the best of 2020!!