ONTD Original: The 40 best Kpop songs of 2021!
(According to the OP)
Happy New Year K-ONTD!
Last year although it was a bit underwhelming for Kpop, we still got some pretty cool music.
So here's another year of the Best Kpop songs of 2021!
Criteria:
-Only tracks with official music videos.
-Only one song per group (Including sub-units & solo releases....to have more variety)
So, for example: If Hoshi is in this list (which he is) that means that Seventeen cannot be included but the exception could be that GOT(Girls on Top) and Aespa could be here (even though they share Winter/Karina, because they are two different groups), with that said, sorry if anyone gets offended or butt hurt (Disclaimer I'm a girl group stan).
Here's the list from
2018
2019
2020
With that said.. LET'S START!
Special mentions (cause I forgot)
Billlie’s “Ring Ring”
Sunmi’s “Tail” (one of the smartest choreographies of 2021)
40. Epex- Do 4 Me
Boy group Epex (which I discovered last year) delivers a solid bubble gum melody in "Do 4 Me" with a repetitive and infectious chorus they demonstrate that they have good chops to shine in the pool of infinite boy groups. Also, the cat theme is pretty cute.
39. Cravity - My Turn
The chorus is a choice (of lyrics) but this song is pretty fun, it almost sounds like an NCT b-side and that in my eyes is always a compliment.
38. Lisa - LALISA
The lyrics on this song are very cringing, but no one can deny the star power and charisma that Lisa holds. The song tends to get very repetitive but the formula works? cause you will find yourself singing "Lalisa love me Lalisa love me". Shoutout to ROSÉ who had a cute solo release as well, gowns beautiful gowns.
37. HYO- Second ft. BIBI
DJ HYO from SNSD ditched the noise for this release and went with something more radio-friendly (and kinda western). The melody is easy to listen to and the lyrics are sweet, she enlists BIBI for a verse that compliments the song really nicely. Catch HYO on Girls on Top...if you dare.
36. Purple Kiss - Zombie
A cool ,neon, undead concept with a fun sound. Purple Kiss ditch the seriousness of their debut and opt for a cooler pop song that mixes some retro sounds with their stable vocals. Another girl group that can deliver serious and fun concept flawlessly.
35. ONEUS - Luna
Mixing traditional instruments with cool modern sounds makes "Luna" a pretty solid track from ONEUS, the slower verses melt pretty good with the fast-paced chorus. Reminiscing of VIXX's "Shangri La" ONEUS delivers vocals, looks and fancy fan-choreography in this song.
34. LOONA- PTT
International successes Loona released "PTT" with cool visuals and interesting sounds. The verses and pre-choruses are cool and fun, but then that chorus hits....that's why this song is so low on this list. Stan LOONA and let's keep our fingers crossed for the return of the sub-units.
33. WekiMeki- Siesta
The girls deliver a dreamy cute summer bop although it was released in the winter. With cool instrumentals and easy-to-learn choreography, WekiMeki demonstrates that they are probably the most underrated girl group of their generation (0 music show wins can you believe!?). The girls can deliver cute and fierce concepts and that's something that we love in a girl group. IMO they have an edge delivering something more COOL (see what I did there?) like their incredible 2021 b-side "Who am I". Stan talent, stan WekiMeki. This might be their last comeback though :c
32. bugAboo - bugAboo
The western futuristic sound worked perfectly for bugAboo's debut (the whip sound!? amazing). With an ambitious choreography and cool girl energy, bugAboo released one of the most impressive debuts of 2021, also the slow bridge that reminds me of Stellar's "Vibrato" was something that I really liked on the song. Excited to see what they have in store for the new year.
31. BamBam - riBBon
Who would've thought that GOT7's BamBam would give us a pretty solid solo debut? The song is easy to listen and the visuals are a pastel dream. Everything is perfectly tied with cute fun choreography and he gets to shine as a soloist. Now that he's in Sunmi's agency hopefully he can collab with her in the future.
30. TRI.BE - Doom Doom Ta
Another pretty impressive debut with solid vocals and choreography. TRI.BE (Vida loca) shines in this debut which also has a good solid and high budget MV (which we love to see), also this would definitely go in any workout playlist (i don't work out...but I can imagine someone running miles while listening to it).
29. Dreamcatcher - Odd Eye
I gotta be honest, but me getting into Dreamcatcher's music has been a bit hard, since I'm a bit more basic and prefer a more bubblegum type of music. "Odd Eye" although it falls into the same realm of their previous releases, has this je ne sais quoi about it that I really like. The vocals really shine through and the visuals on the music video are very impressive. It also helped that I kept hearing the song on TikTok.
28. Hoshi- Spider
With one of the coolest choreographies and MV's of the last year, Seventeen's Hoshi taps into his dark side for "Spider". The song is sleek and cool, with a chorus that will make Taemin jealous. We've never seen any type of music from any Seventeen members, so it's very exciting to see something different from them. Who else should have a cool, darker solo release?
27.OnlyOneOf - libidO
The Music Video that shook the Kpop world. With bating tactics that might've eclipsed the performance of the group, OnlyOneOf delivered a pretty solid track with "libidO", risque choreography and a catchy chorus put this boy group in this list. Some people might've found it problematic? Scandalous? I found it fun and the song is a bop.
26.Red Velvet - Queendom
Hands down one of the best girl groups working right now, Red Velvet shows us their fun side in "Queendom". Wendy's vocals get to shine in the verses, Seulgi slays the choreography like always, Joy stuns with her visuals, Yeri shines charisma and Irene raps. The only thing missing for me was an iconic bridge like the one in "RBB", other than that RV really shows their strenghts in this song. La di da doo ba ba di da!
25. Blackswan - Close to Me
After the mess that Rania was, Blackswan made it their mission to last/stand above the Rania curse (although recent controversies were raised regarding member Leia) but "Close to Me" is a banger. The instrumental on the verses slaps and it's very western, the chorus is a bit weak but it's still catchy. Also we love to see Fatou thriving and living her best life...also getting more lines!
24. fromis_9 - We Go
fromis_9 was saved by Pledis entertainment (Justice for Orange Caramel) but with a bigger agency came bigger rewards. "We Go" is a fun pop song that has an extremely fun chorus and a cool inventive MV. The girls get to shine with their vocals and moves, making this song one of the best releases of 2021.
23. Youha - Abittipsy
Soloist Youha delivers a synth pop fantasy in "Abittipsy". A perfect song to play while getting ready to go out for a night on the town. The song doesn't have a dull moment and you can easily introduce this "friendly kpop" song to your friends if they enjoy good pop music.
22.Weekly - After School
The girls from Weekly had some of my favorite debuts with "Tag me" but they scored a home run with "After School" the chorus pairs perfectly with catchy choreography (No wonder they went viral). Also a cute nod on the lyrics to their previous releases, a perfect summer song.
21. The Boyz- The Stealer
This pleather heartbreaker music video plays amazingly with the fun and dynamic melody from "The Stealer" All of the boys (badamtss) look pretty good and the chorus almost feels like a break instead of a chorus. The merge of different melodies in the song is what makes Kpop so fun and interesting.
20. CIX - Cinema
This song came out in early February and might've been missed by some of the "Best of" lists, but after CIX debuted with "Movie Star" I kept my eye on them, they didn't disappoint with this release. "Cinema" is a fun, breezy melody that highlights beautiful vocals. The chorus is a sweet earworm and it also has one of my favorite bridges from a boy group recently.
19. Taeyeon - Weekend
Taeyeon reminds us that the weekends are the best days of the week. This 90s inspired pink trip shines thanks to her sweet vocals. The chorus feels dreamy and she even gives us a little rap. The Caucasian woman cosplay needs to stop though.
18.Cignature- Boyfriend
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises for me last year was Cignature's "Boyriend". Staying away from their more corky/chaotic sound, Cignature released this more mature version of their music. The empty but cool music makes room for their vocals to shine. The melody is a bit slower, definitely not everyone's cup of tea, but we can't deny that the track is produced pretty good, again, it also helps that the sound its a bit more western. I give them kudos for giving us something more musically out of the box
17. Wonho - Lose
This release gave us a bunch of shirtless performances and the iconic leather baker boy look. Wonho proves us that he has the vocals and moves to make it big. Although i do prefer the English version, "Lose" is a sexy, mysterious track that highlights his voice nicely. The music video is a mix of nightmare on elm street, sin city meets some buff himbo and i am here for it...also that last shot of him dancing wet? whew!
16. HyunA & DAWN - Ping Pong
I might get some heat for this, but I am in the minority of the people that enjoy the chaotic energy that HyunA and Dawn bring. HyunA will forever be my favorite idol, I LOVE how she doesn't give a fudge about what she puts out and she's just herself (even though her real-life self is super sweet and shy, we love a performer). I quite enjoy Dawn's nasal voice, it gives me G-Dragon vibes...and although "Ping Pong" might not be the trendiest/coolest song, I appreciate their pairing and dynamic while giving us Lisa Frank aesthetics. Shout out to HyunA's "Good Girl" that could've been in this position as well.
15.TWICE- Alcohol Free
The lowest they've been on any of my lists but that doesn't mean that their releases aren't good. I do enjoy "Scientist" but "Alcohol Free" is a bit more iconic. The music video has to be their best music video to date, they are all serving in all of the shots and the visuals are really breath-taking. A more mellow tropical sound for them, but I really do think it fits them nicely (At least its not "DTNA").
14. Nu'est - Inside Out
Baekho, you're the one that i want eh eh eh, the one that i need eh eh eh. Another boy group with consistently good releases, Nu'Est gives us a terrific chorus with great choreography. The vocals are strong and the MV has cool styling. These guys are still pretty underrated and i was rooting for all of them during Produce 101, I'm glad S.Korea woke up to their talent and they've been able to put more music out.
13.Cherry Bullet- Love so Sweet
Another criminally underrated group (Justice for them on GP999) its obvious that people love to sleep on talent, with member Bora being one of the best vocalists in Kpop right now...but we are not gonna get into it. "Love so Sweet" its an out-of-the-box song that pulls back when the chorus drops and somewhat it works? Another highlight from their album is "Keep your head up" which showcases a little bit more of a girl crush concept while also being a super fun song.
12. Brave Girls- Chi Mat Ba Ram
Anyone who knows me here can attest how desperately I was promoting "We Ride" when it came out, so to see the girls blessed by a miracle and a viral video warmed my heart. Their awaited comeback really positioned them as the new summer queens. "Chi mat ba ram" gives a nudge to "old kpop" with the music, but they really managed to make it modern. Yujeong smiles shines through the whole performance and Minyoung's strong vocals are beautifully showcased. Thrilled to see them live their best lives and super excited for their future. "After we ride" was their sad girl bop that was also released in 2021 and could easily be in this position as well. Stan talent, stan Brave Girls!
11.NCT 127 - Favorite (Vampire)
The melody and vocals on "Favorite" its what made the track made it so high in this list. Although the video is missing more vampire things in my opinion, the song really showcases the strengths that NCT has as a boy group. The harmonies are at the front without overshadowing the skeel fast choreography. NCT hands down has to be one of the boy groups with the most musically interesting sounds, you either love it or hate it (ahem "Sticker"...which I love) but one thing for sure is that they don't deliver boring music.
10.IU- Lilac
IU keeps demonstrating why she's the queen. "Lilac" showcases IU's charms as a performer. Cute choreography mixed with harmonious vocals make this track one of the year's best. Obsessed with the way she delivers "Love me only till the spring" and "Love resembles misty dream". I know everyone loves her for sobby ballads but this is the type of music that i adore listening to IU in, something a bit more upbeat but being faithful to her aesthetic.
9.TXT - 0x1=LOVESONG (I know I love you)
Wow, well these kids keep releasing outstanding music. "Ox1" taps into a more angsty feeling, but that chorus hits like a ton of bricks with how good it is. I picture my heartbroken HotTopic younger self replaying this track over and over again. TXT definitely delivered solid releases last year, but this one has to be my favorite of theirs...the obsession I have with the "Say you love me, say you love me" part is unhealthy.
8. AB6IX - Close
Now this is what boy groups should sound like. "Close" is a fun cool, a chime-ish rubbery track that makes the boys shine in their individuality. The music video is fun (Heyyyyy isn't that the place from Kim Lip's "Eclipse"?) and the choreography is fun. The rap doesn't feel out of place and it's always impressive that these guys produce their own tracks, glad to see that they keep making quality music after their run on Produce 101.
7.Ateez - Fireworks (I'm the one)
The coolest part of this song is the break of the chorus, just when you think it's going to be a chill slow chorus suddenly it drops into something faster and that unexpected switch is sooooo damn good. The mv is just your typical boy group music video, industrial, with cool choreography. The rap in this song also is pretty impressive since it merges with the melody perfectly.
6. HEIZE - Happen
Some might say that this isn't Kpop per se, but Heize delivers one of her best songs ever. Her voice sounds beautiful and rich in this track, highlighting her skills to perfection. Also the music video?! I love this coincidence/missed soulmates theme. The verses are my favorite part and you can't miss the uniqueness of her voice. Great great work from her and PsyNation.
5.SHINee - Don't Call Me
A lot of you called this song trash, nct reject, SM sabotage tactics, etc...i wasn't even sold on it when it first came out (If "Area" had an official MV it would've been here). "Don't call me" its a grower not a shower, the dynamics of the song are a bit cooky, a bit whack and that's what makes it soooo soo good. The chorus gets stuck to you and Minho's part "Sick of all your trash" speaks to me. This spot was hard cause i also adored the SHINee solo releases. Taemin's "Advice" was one of my favorite releases of 2021 and i loved to see Key blossom into his full potential with "Bad Love". I had to go with the song i listened the most, and "Don't call me" won, even the spoken parts are iconic tbh....A BOP!
4.KEEMBO - Whatever
Before y'all say WHO!? two former SPICA members. Now Kimboa and Kimbohyung now formally known as KEEMBO show that there's no need for glossy choreography and sets to deliver good music. This vocal powerhouse track was produced by iconic Sweetune. The song really is such a pleasant enjoyable track and the girls are adorable. They both have such distinct voices that they bounce off each other nicely while at the same time complementing perfectly. Also the artwork showcased on the MV of the members is really cute. Listen to thissss, pay attention to the nugu groups por favor.
3. IVE - Eleven
Probably the best debut of 2021, Won Young is a doll and her stage presence is hypnotic. The song reminds me a bit of f(x) and the choreography highlights the power that they have as a group. Definitely the most exciting release from the Iz*one girls (although I do enjoy Yuri’s “Glassy” a lot as well.) The girls are still super young so there’s a ton of potential for growth and I am confident that they will blossom into a powerhouse. Also I might be in the minority but I do enjoy the slow own part before the chorus.
2. SF9- Teardrop
Yup, yup. This song is my #2 cause it is hands down my favorite boy group release of 2021. After their path on Kingdom, SF9 positioned themselves as one of the coolest boy groups right now. Honestly, my judgment might've been corrupted by watching over and over Taeyong fan cams of this song (look for it, you won't regret it). "Tear Drop" brings to the table exactly what my ears enjoy, a fast track with good vocals, sexy-ish choreography, outfits and a fun easy chorus. This to some of you might not be the best boy group song of 2021, but these boys SOLD the heck out of this song with their live stages and maybe I did Stockholm syndrome myself into making it my fave release...you cannot deny that this song is good though. .
DRUM ROLL
This year brings us another (triple) tie!
1.WJSN - Unnatural
What a great year for the girls of WJSN and for us. They gave us a sub-unit WJSN The Black that delivered also one of the coolest tracks of 2021 with “Easy” but I had to pick “Unnatural” as my ultimate WJSN fave song of 2021. The chorus slaps hard as well as the verses and raps. The MV is sexy and mysterious and the song has one of the best girl group choruses of the year. We need people to stop sleeping on these girls. How can I breathe? Na na na
1. STAYC - Stereotype
Im going to expose myself and say that i didn't like this when it first came out, but my god was i wrong. "Stereotype" follows the formula of a cutesy Kpop song but at the same time puts a twist on it by giving us a slower not so punchy chorus that for some reason works and it's catchy as hell. Stayc has proven that they are the 4th gen girl group to be looking out for, they also delivered the amazing "ASAP". These girls have the talent, the vocals, the charm, the looks and the backup to make it big. Also Isa's stripped part of the chorus at the end is one for the books....Amazing work from these amazing girls! Stan STAYC!
1. AESPA - Savage
HOW? WHAT? WHY!? if you're going to ask me those questions, stop! Im admitting that i clowned them hard when they debuted and made fun of them when their second release was a Xmas song released in February. Then "Next Level" came, the lyrics were a joke and i couldn't belive that SM was doing these girls wrong by giving them a cover song as their second official comeback...well weren't we all wrong? "Next Level" was a bop and it really gave us the iconic line "Naevis calling" but it is with "Savage" that Aespa positions themselves in the first spot.
My first reaction to "Savage" was not pleasant, since I thought it sounded like pots and pans falling from the sky/Sophie...maybe it was too experimental for me? (and for some of yall too). After a few listens, i was like...."Wait! this actually slaps" The song mixes the coolest aspects of SM's other groups and mixes them for Aespa. The musical weird experimental tune that could be from NCT, and the vocal pipes very a la Red Velvet, making "Savage" and avant-garde, unique experimental track. We can all definitely agree that the highlight of the track is NingNing's star quality shining through that gospel-like bridge in which she talks about Naevis sacrifices before breaking into more computer music. Do I know what's going on with Aespa's lore? No. Do I care about the dumb lyrics? No. Do I think they have the charisma (minus NingNing) that other girl groups have? No...but "Savage" as a song and a mini-album were the highlights of 2021, and I cannot wait what the new year brings for these girls. (Hopefully a NingNing solo).
What are your favorite songs of 2021?
also sorry if my explanations sound repetitive, I'm not a music critic and I'm hungover :)
Also apologies to any Army out here
Source / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 /11 / 12 / 13 14 /15
Happy New Year K-ONTD!
Last year although it was a bit underwhelming for Kpop, we still got some pretty cool music.
So here's another year of the Best Kpop songs of 2021!
Criteria:
-Only tracks with official music videos.
-Only one song per group (Including sub-units & solo releases....to have more variety)
So, for example: If Hoshi is in this list (which he is) that means that Seventeen cannot be included but the exception could be that GOT(Girls on Top) and Aespa could be here (even though they share Winter/Karina, because they are two different groups), with that said, sorry if anyone gets offended or butt hurt (Disclaimer I'm a girl group stan).
Here's the list from
2018
2019
2020
With that said.. LET'S START!
Special mentions (cause I forgot)
Billlie’s “Ring Ring”
Sunmi’s “Tail” (one of the smartest choreographies of 2021)
40. Epex- Do 4 Me
Click to viewBoy group Epex (which I discovered last year) delivers a solid bubble gum melody in "Do 4 Me" with a repetitive and infectious chorus they demonstrate that they have good chops to shine in the pool of infinite boy groups. Also, the cat theme is pretty cute.
39. Cravity - My Turn
The chorus is a choice (of lyrics) but this song is pretty fun, it almost sounds like an NCT b-side and that in my eyes is always a compliment.
38. Lisa - LALISA
The lyrics on this song are very cringing, but no one can deny the star power and charisma that Lisa holds. The song tends to get very repetitive but the formula works? cause you will find yourself singing "Lalisa love me Lalisa love me". Shoutout to ROSÉ who had a cute solo release as well, gowns beautiful gowns.
37. HYO- Second ft. BIBI
DJ HYO from SNSD ditched the noise for this release and went with something more radio-friendly (and kinda western). The melody is easy to listen to and the lyrics are sweet, she enlists BIBI for a verse that compliments the song really nicely. Catch HYO on Girls on Top...if you dare.
36. Purple Kiss - Zombie
A cool ,neon, undead concept with a fun sound. Purple Kiss ditch the seriousness of their debut and opt for a cooler pop song that mixes some retro sounds with their stable vocals. Another girl group that can deliver serious and fun concept flawlessly.
35. ONEUS - Luna
Mixing traditional instruments with cool modern sounds makes "Luna" a pretty solid track from ONEUS, the slower verses melt pretty good with the fast-paced chorus. Reminiscing of VIXX's "Shangri La" ONEUS delivers vocals, looks and fancy fan-choreography in this song.
34. LOONA- PTT
International successes Loona released "PTT" with cool visuals and interesting sounds. The verses and pre-choruses are cool and fun, but then that chorus hits....that's why this song is so low on this list. Stan LOONA and let's keep our fingers crossed for the return of the sub-units.
33. WekiMeki- Siesta
The girls deliver a dreamy cute summer bop although it was released in the winter. With cool instrumentals and easy-to-learn choreography, WekiMeki demonstrates that they are probably the most underrated girl group of their generation (0 music show wins can you believe!?). The girls can deliver cute and fierce concepts and that's something that we love in a girl group. IMO they have an edge delivering something more COOL (see what I did there?) like their incredible 2021 b-side "Who am I". Stan talent, stan WekiMeki. This might be their last comeback though :c
32. bugAboo - bugAboo
The western futuristic sound worked perfectly for bugAboo's debut (the whip sound!? amazing). With an ambitious choreography and cool girl energy, bugAboo released one of the most impressive debuts of 2021, also the slow bridge that reminds me of Stellar's "Vibrato" was something that I really liked on the song. Excited to see what they have in store for the new year.
31. BamBam - riBBon
Who would've thought that GOT7's BamBam would give us a pretty solid solo debut? The song is easy to listen and the visuals are a pastel dream. Everything is perfectly tied with cute fun choreography and he gets to shine as a soloist. Now that he's in Sunmi's agency hopefully he can collab with her in the future.
30. TRI.BE - Doom Doom Ta
Another pretty impressive debut with solid vocals and choreography. TRI.BE (Vida loca) shines in this debut which also has a good solid and high budget MV (which we love to see), also this would definitely go in any workout playlist (i don't work out...but I can imagine someone running miles while listening to it).
29. Dreamcatcher - Odd Eye
I gotta be honest, but me getting into Dreamcatcher's music has been a bit hard, since I'm a bit more basic and prefer a more bubblegum type of music. "Odd Eye" although it falls into the same realm of their previous releases, has this je ne sais quoi about it that I really like. The vocals really shine through and the visuals on the music video are very impressive. It also helped that I kept hearing the song on TikTok.
28. Hoshi- Spider
With one of the coolest choreographies and MV's of the last year, Seventeen's Hoshi taps into his dark side for "Spider". The song is sleek and cool, with a chorus that will make Taemin jealous. We've never seen any type of music from any Seventeen members, so it's very exciting to see something different from them. Who else should have a cool, darker solo release?
27.OnlyOneOf - libidO
The Music Video that shook the Kpop world. With bating tactics that might've eclipsed the performance of the group, OnlyOneOf delivered a pretty solid track with "libidO", risque choreography and a catchy chorus put this boy group in this list. Some people might've found it problematic? Scandalous? I found it fun and the song is a bop.
26.Red Velvet - Queendom
Hands down one of the best girl groups working right now, Red Velvet shows us their fun side in "Queendom". Wendy's vocals get to shine in the verses, Seulgi slays the choreography like always, Joy stuns with her visuals, Yeri shines charisma and Irene raps. The only thing missing for me was an iconic bridge like the one in "RBB", other than that RV really shows their strenghts in this song. La di da doo ba ba di da!
25. Blackswan - Close to Me
After the mess that Rania was, Blackswan made it their mission to last/stand above the Rania curse (although recent controversies were raised regarding member Leia) but "Close to Me" is a banger. The instrumental on the verses slaps and it's very western, the chorus is a bit weak but it's still catchy. Also we love to see Fatou thriving and living her best life...also getting more lines!
24. fromis_9 - We Go
fromis_9 was saved by Pledis entertainment (Justice for Orange Caramel) but with a bigger agency came bigger rewards. "We Go" is a fun pop song that has an extremely fun chorus and a cool inventive MV. The girls get to shine with their vocals and moves, making this song one of the best releases of 2021.
23. Youha - Abittipsy
Soloist Youha delivers a synth pop fantasy in "Abittipsy". A perfect song to play while getting ready to go out for a night on the town. The song doesn't have a dull moment and you can easily introduce this "friendly kpop" song to your friends if they enjoy good pop music.
22.Weekly - After School
The girls from Weekly had some of my favorite debuts with "Tag me" but they scored a home run with "After School" the chorus pairs perfectly with catchy choreography (No wonder they went viral). Also a cute nod on the lyrics to their previous releases, a perfect summer song.
21. The Boyz- The Stealer
This pleather heartbreaker music video plays amazingly with the fun and dynamic melody from "The Stealer" All of the boys (badamtss) look pretty good and the chorus almost feels like a break instead of a chorus. The merge of different melodies in the song is what makes Kpop so fun and interesting.
20. CIX - Cinema
This song came out in early February and might've been missed by some of the "Best of" lists, but after CIX debuted with "Movie Star" I kept my eye on them, they didn't disappoint with this release. "Cinema" is a fun, breezy melody that highlights beautiful vocals. The chorus is a sweet earworm and it also has one of my favorite bridges from a boy group recently.
19. Taeyeon - Weekend
Taeyeon reminds us that the weekends are the best days of the week. This 90s inspired pink trip shines thanks to her sweet vocals. The chorus feels dreamy and she even gives us a little rap. The Caucasian woman cosplay needs to stop though.
18.Cignature- Boyfriend
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises for me last year was Cignature's "Boyriend". Staying away from their more corky/chaotic sound, Cignature released this more mature version of their music. The empty but cool music makes room for their vocals to shine. The melody is a bit slower, definitely not everyone's cup of tea, but we can't deny that the track is produced pretty good, again, it also helps that the sound its a bit more western. I give them kudos for giving us something more musically out of the box
17. Wonho - Lose
This release gave us a bunch of shirtless performances and the iconic leather baker boy look. Wonho proves us that he has the vocals and moves to make it big. Although i do prefer the English version, "Lose" is a sexy, mysterious track that highlights his voice nicely. The music video is a mix of nightmare on elm street, sin city meets some buff himbo and i am here for it...also that last shot of him dancing wet? whew!
16. HyunA & DAWN - Ping Pong
I might get some heat for this, but I am in the minority of the people that enjoy the chaotic energy that HyunA and Dawn bring. HyunA will forever be my favorite idol, I LOVE how she doesn't give a fudge about what she puts out and she's just herself (even though her real-life self is super sweet and shy, we love a performer). I quite enjoy Dawn's nasal voice, it gives me G-Dragon vibes...and although "Ping Pong" might not be the trendiest/coolest song, I appreciate their pairing and dynamic while giving us Lisa Frank aesthetics. Shout out to HyunA's "Good Girl" that could've been in this position as well.
15.TWICE- Alcohol Free
The lowest they've been on any of my lists but that doesn't mean that their releases aren't good. I do enjoy "Scientist" but "Alcohol Free" is a bit more iconic. The music video has to be their best music video to date, they are all serving in all of the shots and the visuals are really breath-taking. A more mellow tropical sound for them, but I really do think it fits them nicely (At least its not "DTNA").
14. Nu'est - Inside Out
Baekho, you're the one that i want eh eh eh, the one that i need eh eh eh. Another boy group with consistently good releases, Nu'Est gives us a terrific chorus with great choreography. The vocals are strong and the MV has cool styling. These guys are still pretty underrated and i was rooting for all of them during Produce 101, I'm glad S.Korea woke up to their talent and they've been able to put more music out.
13.Cherry Bullet- Love so Sweet
Another criminally underrated group (Justice for them on GP999) its obvious that people love to sleep on talent, with member Bora being one of the best vocalists in Kpop right now...but we are not gonna get into it. "Love so Sweet" its an out-of-the-box song that pulls back when the chorus drops and somewhat it works? Another highlight from their album is "Keep your head up" which showcases a little bit more of a girl crush concept while also being a super fun song.
12. Brave Girls- Chi Mat Ba Ram
Anyone who knows me here can attest how desperately I was promoting "We Ride" when it came out, so to see the girls blessed by a miracle and a viral video warmed my heart. Their awaited comeback really positioned them as the new summer queens. "Chi mat ba ram" gives a nudge to "old kpop" with the music, but they really managed to make it modern. Yujeong smiles shines through the whole performance and Minyoung's strong vocals are beautifully showcased. Thrilled to see them live their best lives and super excited for their future. "After we ride" was their sad girl bop that was also released in 2021 and could easily be in this position as well. Stan talent, stan Brave Girls!
11.NCT 127 - Favorite (Vampire)
The melody and vocals on "Favorite" its what made the track made it so high in this list. Although the video is missing more vampire things in my opinion, the song really showcases the strengths that NCT has as a boy group. The harmonies are at the front without overshadowing the skeel fast choreography. NCT hands down has to be one of the boy groups with the most musically interesting sounds, you either love it or hate it (ahem "Sticker"...which I love) but one thing for sure is that they don't deliver boring music.
10.IU- Lilac
IU keeps demonstrating why she's the queen. "Lilac" showcases IU's charms as a performer. Cute choreography mixed with harmonious vocals make this track one of the year's best. Obsessed with the way she delivers "Love me only till the spring" and "Love resembles misty dream". I know everyone loves her for sobby ballads but this is the type of music that i adore listening to IU in, something a bit more upbeat but being faithful to her aesthetic.
9.TXT - 0x1=LOVESONG (I know I love you)
Wow, well these kids keep releasing outstanding music. "Ox1" taps into a more angsty feeling, but that chorus hits like a ton of bricks with how good it is. I picture my heartbroken HotTopic younger self replaying this track over and over again. TXT definitely delivered solid releases last year, but this one has to be my favorite of theirs...the obsession I have with the "Say you love me, say you love me" part is unhealthy.
8. AB6IX - Close
Now this is what boy groups should sound like. "Close" is a fun cool, a chime-ish rubbery track that makes the boys shine in their individuality. The music video is fun (Heyyyyy isn't that the place from Kim Lip's "Eclipse"?) and the choreography is fun. The rap doesn't feel out of place and it's always impressive that these guys produce their own tracks, glad to see that they keep making quality music after their run on Produce 101.
7.Ateez - Fireworks (I'm the one)
The coolest part of this song is the break of the chorus, just when you think it's going to be a chill slow chorus suddenly it drops into something faster and that unexpected switch is sooooo damn good. The mv is just your typical boy group music video, industrial, with cool choreography. The rap in this song also is pretty impressive since it merges with the melody perfectly.
6. HEIZE - Happen
Some might say that this isn't Kpop per se, but Heize delivers one of her best songs ever. Her voice sounds beautiful and rich in this track, highlighting her skills to perfection. Also the music video?! I love this coincidence/missed soulmates theme. The verses are my favorite part and you can't miss the uniqueness of her voice. Great great work from her and PsyNation.
5.SHINee - Don't Call Me
A lot of you called this song trash, nct reject, SM sabotage tactics, etc...i wasn't even sold on it when it first came out (If "Area" had an official MV it would've been here). "Don't call me" its a grower not a shower, the dynamics of the song are a bit cooky, a bit whack and that's what makes it soooo soo good. The chorus gets stuck to you and Minho's part "Sick of all your trash" speaks to me. This spot was hard cause i also adored the SHINee solo releases. Taemin's "Advice" was one of my favorite releases of 2021 and i loved to see Key blossom into his full potential with "Bad Love". I had to go with the song i listened the most, and "Don't call me" won, even the spoken parts are iconic tbh....A BOP!
4.KEEMBO - Whatever
Before y'all say WHO!? two former SPICA members. Now Kimboa and Kimbohyung now formally known as KEEMBO show that there's no need for glossy choreography and sets to deliver good music. This vocal powerhouse track was produced by iconic Sweetune. The song really is such a pleasant enjoyable track and the girls are adorable. They both have such distinct voices that they bounce off each other nicely while at the same time complementing perfectly. Also the artwork showcased on the MV of the members is really cute. Listen to thissss, pay attention to the nugu groups por favor.
3. IVE - Eleven
Probably the best debut of 2021, Won Young is a doll and her stage presence is hypnotic. The song reminds me a bit of f(x) and the choreography highlights the power that they have as a group. Definitely the most exciting release from the Iz*one girls (although I do enjoy Yuri’s “Glassy” a lot as well.) The girls are still super young so there’s a ton of potential for growth and I am confident that they will blossom into a powerhouse. Also I might be in the minority but I do enjoy the slow own part before the chorus.
2. SF9- Teardrop
Yup, yup. This song is my #2 cause it is hands down my favorite boy group release of 2021. After their path on Kingdom, SF9 positioned themselves as one of the coolest boy groups right now. Honestly, my judgment might've been corrupted by watching over and over Taeyong fan cams of this song (look for it, you won't regret it). "Tear Drop" brings to the table exactly what my ears enjoy, a fast track with good vocals, sexy-ish choreography, outfits and a fun easy chorus. This to some of you might not be the best boy group song of 2021, but these boys SOLD the heck out of this song with their live stages and maybe I did Stockholm syndrome myself into making it my fave release...you cannot deny that this song is good though. .
DRUM ROLL
This year brings us another (triple) tie!
1.WJSN - Unnatural
What a great year for the girls of WJSN and for us. They gave us a sub-unit WJSN The Black that delivered also one of the coolest tracks of 2021 with “Easy” but I had to pick “Unnatural” as my ultimate WJSN fave song of 2021. The chorus slaps hard as well as the verses and raps. The MV is sexy and mysterious and the song has one of the best girl group choruses of the year. We need people to stop sleeping on these girls. How can I breathe? Na na na
1. STAYC - Stereotype
Im going to expose myself and say that i didn't like this when it first came out, but my god was i wrong. "Stereotype" follows the formula of a cutesy Kpop song but at the same time puts a twist on it by giving us a slower not so punchy chorus that for some reason works and it's catchy as hell. Stayc has proven that they are the 4th gen girl group to be looking out for, they also delivered the amazing "ASAP". These girls have the talent, the vocals, the charm, the looks and the backup to make it big. Also Isa's stripped part of the chorus at the end is one for the books....Amazing work from these amazing girls! Stan STAYC!
1. AESPA - Savage
HOW? WHAT? WHY!? if you're going to ask me those questions, stop! Im admitting that i clowned them hard when they debuted and made fun of them when their second release was a Xmas song released in February. Then "Next Level" came, the lyrics were a joke and i couldn't belive that SM was doing these girls wrong by giving them a cover song as their second official comeback...well weren't we all wrong? "Next Level" was a bop and it really gave us the iconic line "Naevis calling" but it is with "Savage" that Aespa positions themselves in the first spot.
My first reaction to "Savage" was not pleasant, since I thought it sounded like pots and pans falling from the sky/Sophie...maybe it was too experimental for me? (and for some of yall too). After a few listens, i was like...."Wait! this actually slaps" The song mixes the coolest aspects of SM's other groups and mixes them for Aespa. The musical weird experimental tune that could be from NCT, and the vocal pipes very a la Red Velvet, making "Savage" and avant-garde, unique experimental track. We can all definitely agree that the highlight of the track is NingNing's star quality shining through that gospel-like bridge in which she talks about Naevis sacrifices before breaking into more computer music. Do I know what's going on with Aespa's lore? No. Do I care about the dumb lyrics? No. Do I think they have the charisma (minus NingNing) that other girl groups have? No...but "Savage" as a song and a mini-album were the highlights of 2021, and I cannot wait what the new year brings for these girls. (Hopefully a NingNing solo).
What are your favorite songs of 2021?
also sorry if my explanations sound repetitive, I'm not a music critic and I'm hungover :)
Also apologies to any Army out here
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