Best Kpop Songs of 2022

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[Kanki]

1. woo!ah! - Catch the Stars
2. IVE - After LIKE
3. LE SSERAFIM - ANTIFRAGILE
4. IVE - LOVE DIVE
5. LE SSERAFIM - FEARLESS
6. STAYC - BEAUTIFUL MONSTER
7. NewJeans - Ditto
8. Dreamcatcher - MAISON
9. STAYC - YOUNG LUV
10. STAYC - RUN2U

[Kimuuu]

1. Mamamoo - Illella
2. Wheein - Make Me Happy
3. Mamamoo+ - Better
4. Taeyeon - INVU
5. Dreamcatcher - Fairytale
6. Seulgi - Dead Man Running
7. IVE - Love Dive
8. (g)i-dle - Already
9. EXID - Fire
10. Siyeon - Entrancing

Honorable Mentions: TWICE - Talk that Talk, , Seulgi - Los Angeles, Seori - Can't Stop This Party, Wheein - D-Day

[SomethingWild]

10. Billie - GingaMingaYo (the strange world)

Last year, I completely missed out on Ring x Ring. Billlie deserved a spot on that list.
I'll make up for it this year by choosing this contemporary masterpiece over Aespa.   
Tsuki is the main attraction here. She's an incredible performancer and seems super sweet.

09. Dreamcatcher - Vision

Finally a song I can use to introduce Dreamcatcher to my friends. It has everything.
It's been a great year for them with their first win, another world tour and contract renewal.

08. Le Sserafim - The Great Mermaid

Le Sserafim already has tons of bangers, but I feel this one often gets overlooked.
There is something about this sound that has a bit of a nineties feel. Very nostalgic.

07. Lapillus - Hit Ya

Lapillus is definitely the biggest surprise of the year and a pleasant one at that.
They're the underdog in a world where IVE, Le Sserafim and Newjeans reign supreme.
This song is such a trip. Love the mix of the guitars, tribal drums and extended dance break.

06. Yena - Smiley (feat. Bibi)

Remember when people thought Yena would joing Everglow? Luckily she didn't.
This solo debut is pretty much perfect. It embodies everything about her. Very fun.

05. Red Velvet - Feel My Rhythm

Whenever a group samples a well known classical piece, it often feels cheap.
However, in this case they really went out all out and made it their own. It's genius.

04. Le Sserafim - Antifragile

When I heard this song for the first time, I was hesistant to say the least.
Nowadays it's the song I find myself humming to the most. Love the choreo as well.

03. Lapillus - Queendom

This song blew me away. It's like Everglow on crack.
It goes super hard and makes me smile every single time I listen to it.
It's a coupling song, so I'll include a link to a performance if you want to check it out.

Code: [Select]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Waw4B1miTU
02. IVE - Love Dive

This is *the* song that will define this generation. Honestly, it deserves to win the poll.
IVE had 37 wins in their rookie year, which is insane. Gonna be an amazing ride.

01. Le Sserafim - Blue Flame

Obviously I was excited about Le Sserafim's debut. Finally we got to see Chaewon and Sakura again!
Fearless was alright, but Blue Flame definitely appealed to me more.
The instrumentation, vocals lines, choreography. It's all very pleasant.

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Runner-ups:

Aespa - Girls

I've had this in my potential top 10 throughout the year, but in the end it just fell short.
The synth during the dance break is epic, but it lost some points for the guitar sound.

PSY - That That (prod. & feat. SUGA of BTS)

I guess this is my quilty pleasure of the year. It's so much fun.
It's the song that celebrated the end of the pandemic.


Songs I also enjoyed a lot this year, in alphabetical order:

Bibi - Animal Farm
Billlie - Ring Ma Bell (What a Wonderful World)
Blackpink - Shut Down
GOT the beat - Step Back
IVE - After Like
Jo Yuri - Love Shhh!
Jo Yuri - Loveable
Jo Yuri - Maybe
Jo Yuri - Opening
Kep1er - The Girls (Can't Turn Me Down)
Lapillus - Gratata
Le Sserafim - Fearless
Le Sserafim - Good Parts
Rocket Punch - Chiquita
Seulgi - 28 Reasons
Taeyeon - Can't Control Myself
Yena - Smartphone
Yena - WithOrWithOut

All that aside, one of the best songs of the year sadly isn't eligible for this poll.
So my honorable mention goes to...

Rocket Punch - Doki Doki Love

[StrongStyle9Q]

First things first... Chuu did nothing wrong. Boycott Loona

Anyway, this is the first time I've ever participated in one of these. How exciting. New blood.

1. Woo!Ah - Catch the Stars

My first Woo!ah song. And I was hooked immediately. It's an intense blast of serotonin all over my face, chest, mouth, etc. Stan Woo!ah

2. Le Sserafim - Blue Flame

Tbh, I wasn't super into Fearless when I heard it. So it took some self convincing to get myself to listen to their B sides. I'm glad I did. Blue Flame is fat on the bass, and it also came at a pretty important time of my life.

3. WJSN - Last Sequence

I discovered WJSN this year and I'm upset I didn't discover them sooner. This is such a vicious earworm, I had this shit on repeat... Nvm I still do.

4. Dreamcatcher - Fairytale

This song rules.

5. NewJeans - Hype Boy

I try not to get into groups that are super duper on the young side, but I can't deny how good this song is. I wouldn't consider myself a stan, but this song hypes me, boy.

6. Eunbi - Glitch

After releasing an electro swing song with Door, I couldn't say I expected a more intense sounding song for the next comeback. I'm glad she did though. Also the music video? Beautiful.

7. TWICE - Talk that Talk

After being thoroughly disappointed by scientist, Twice had a return to form with Talk that Talk. Super catchy hook, and a much higher energy than the last comeback. All the members (as far as I remember) did great!

8. Girls - Aespa

I'm still unsure what any of the lyrics mean or what a Kwangya even is... But I like it. It's a song that beats the shit outta you and I want more please.

9. ITZY - Cheshire

Tbh, I'm not a huge ITZY fan as far as the music is concerned. I kinda find a lot of the songs a little loud and exhausting to listen to. But this was different, but not too different like Boys like you (Which I really wasn't a fan of). This song is a little more playful, but not childish and definitely not as in your face as their other songs.

10. IVE - Love Dive

How on earth did they make all those young girls so powerful?


Honorable mentions

NMIXX - Cool
Woo!ah - Rollercoaster
Dreamcatcher - Vision
Le Sserafim - Impurities
Eunbi - Underwater
Rocket Punch - Chiquita
VIVIZ - Rum Pum Pum

[strawb3rrykream]

Ok, I think I'm ready lolol

1. Mamamoo+ - Better
2. Mamamoo - Illella
3. Seulgi - 28 Reasons
4. Aespa - Illusion
5. WJSN - Last Sequence
6. EXID - Fire
7. Red Velvet - In My Dreams
8. Twice - Talk That Talk
9. Red Velvet - Feel My Rhythm
10. Kara - When I Move

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[Hatix]

1. IVE – LOVE DIVE
2. Le Sserafim – Antifragile
3. Dreamcatcher – Vision
4. Le Sserafim – FEARLESS
5. Billlie – RING ma Bell
6. Dreamcatcher – Maison
7. Limelight - StarLight
8. IVE – After Like
9. Kep1er – The GIRLS (Can’t turn me down)
10. aespa – Girls

Honorable mentions:
Aespa – illusion
Kep1er – MVSK
(G)I-DLE – Tomboy
PSY – That That (prod. & feat. SUGA of BTS)
Lapillus – HIT YA!
Dreamcatcher – Starlight
Le Sserafim – Blue Flame
Le Sserafim – Impurities
Le Sserafim – No Celestial
Le Sserafim – The World Is My Oyster
Le Sserafim – The Hydra
TWICE – Talk that Talk

[Thorin33]

1. CSR- Pop! Pop!
2. Le Serrafim-No Celestial
3. CSR- Loveticon
4. IVE- Love Dive
5. WJSN- Last Sequence
6. Rocket Punch- Chiquita
7. Apink-Dilemma
8. Dreamcatcher-Vision
9. Yena- Smiley
10. Viviz- Bop Bop!

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[manatzukkyun]

10. Flip That (LOONA)
9. After Like (IVE) 
8. DICE (NMIXX)
7. Ditto (NewJeans)
6. RUN2U (STAYC)
5. FOREVER 1 (SNSD)
4. Girls (aespa)
3. ANTIFRAGILE (LE SSERAFIM)
2. When I Move (KARA)
1. GingaMingaYo (Billlie)

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[SomethingWild]

02. IVE - Love Dive

This is *the* song that will define this generation. Honestly, it deserves to win the poll.

The people have spoken and I'm happy with all the results.

Random thoughts:
- Hybe is absolutely killing it with their new girl groups. Both Newjeans and Le Sserafim having this many different entries is quite a feat!
- It's not just (G)I-dle, but Blackpink really fell off this year as well. Personally I was super disappointed with their 'Born Pink' album.
- The big JYP groups are falling behind as well. Twice and ITZY barely made top 20. They should've come to Europe.
- Last year was also the rise of quite a few 'hit or miss' groups, like Billlie, NMIXX and Lapillus. Glad we have groups like these who can take a risk and spice things up.

I'm worried whether IVE can maintain their success in the long term.
Unlike Le Sserafim, IVE doesn't feel as balanced in terms of member popularity.
For example, if Wonyoung decides to pursue other interests, they're done.
I'm also concerned about Liz. I fear she might drop out. She doesn't look happy.
Aw well, let's enjoy the ride for now and see where it goes. It's been great so far!

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