k-pop binging: 2010 - 2020 (p1 of 3)
A few weeks ago, when Spotify put out its cute little year and decade in review recaps for Spotify users, a GRIEVOUS OMISSION OCCURRED. Spotify neglected to note my k-pop listening anywhere on my decade in review lists!!
Out of irritation, I immediately vowed to listen to nothing but k-pop for the rest of December. (Or, more accurately, I started listening to my k-pop playlist on Spotify, fell down an epic k-pop rabbit hole, and realized I was going to be listening to nothing but k-pop for the rest of the month.)
I also decided to put together my own k-pop favs of 2010-2020 list. Which has proven complicated.
But, with those disclaimers in mind... Here are the k-pop tunes I listened to on repeat, incessantly, over the period of 2010-2020. With apologies to the artists who got crowded off the list due to a bevy of recent and amazing tunes.
Favorite K-Pop songs of 2010-2020, part 1 of 3 (in semi-chronological order):
One: GD&TOP - "High High" (2010)
Honorable GD&TOP mentions:
"Don't Go Home" aka possibly the cutest music video to ever be banned for immoral messages. (2010)
"Knock Out" (2010)
Two: 2NE1 - "내가 제일 잘 나가(I AM THE BEST)" (2011)
I can't tell how well this ages, I still love it though.
Three: Trouble Maker - "Trouble Maker" (2011)
This single was part of a brief but awesome collaboration between Hyunseung and Hyuna.
Four: Ailee - "U&I" (2013)
Ailee's voice is amazing. She's a Korean-American that went to try her luck in South Korea's music industry.
Five: Sunmi (선미) - "24 hours (24시간이 모자라)" (2013)
Oh this song. I was obsessed with it for most of 2013-2014. This is a bop.
Six: Miss A - "Hush" (2013)
Seven: Orange Caramel - "까탈레나 (Catallena)" (2014)
The world needs more Orange Caramel. Just watch this and feel happy. Yes, they are dancing sushi. GO WITH IT.
Eight: Hi Suhyun (ft. Bobby) - "나는 달라 (I'm Different)" (2014)
Another brief collaboration. This time between Lee Hi and Lee Su-hyun (from Akdong Musician). This song is adorable.
Nine: Amber (Feat. 태연 (소녀시대)) - "Shake That Brass" (2015)
Even if f(x) didn't make it onto my favs list, Amber had to go on it somewhere! Amber is Taiwanese-American and also made her way into k-pop.
Links to: Part two and Part three.
*Mostly, I mean 2NE1 and Big Bang didn't always age well.
This entry was originally posted on Dreamwidth here and has
comments. Feel free to comment in either place.
Out of irritation, I immediately vowed to listen to nothing but k-pop for the rest of December. (Or, more accurately, I started listening to my k-pop playlist on Spotify, fell down an epic k-pop rabbit hole, and realized I was going to be listening to nothing but k-pop for the rest of the month.)
I also decided to put together my own k-pop favs of 2010-2020 list. Which has proven complicated.
- Big Bang, 2NE1, Epik High, and Wonder Girls got me into k-pop. However, some of these tunes have not aged well and, while I have deep affection for them, would not go on my "best of" the decade list.*
- GD&T.O.P.'s album is still a number one fav, but most official content has been removed from the internet due to a copyright fight with Playboy and content censorship.
- In the past 3-5 years, k-pop has gotten really really really good. Like, how can 2010-2015 compete when you've got so much more production money flooding into k-pop now?
- I want to try and limit myself to 10 tracks, but it's literally impossible. It is also impossible for me to limit myself to only one Taemin or Kang Daniel rec. So, the list is proving much larger than originally intended.
But, with those disclaimers in mind... Here are the k-pop tunes I listened to on repeat, incessantly, over the period of 2010-2020. With apologies to the artists who got crowded off the list due to a bevy of recent and amazing tunes.
Favorite K-Pop songs of 2010-2020, part 1 of 3 (in semi-chronological order):
One: GD&TOP - "High High" (2010)
Click to viewHonorable GD&TOP mentions:
"Don't Go Home" aka possibly the cutest music video to ever be banned for immoral messages. (2010)
"Knock Out" (2010)
Two: 2NE1 - "내가 제일 잘 나가(I AM THE BEST)" (2011)
I can't tell how well this ages, I still love it though.
Three: Trouble Maker - "Trouble Maker" (2011)
This single was part of a brief but awesome collaboration between Hyunseung and Hyuna.
Four: Ailee - "U&I" (2013)
Ailee's voice is amazing. She's a Korean-American that went to try her luck in South Korea's music industry.
Five: Sunmi (선미) - "24 hours (24시간이 모자라)" (2013)
Oh this song. I was obsessed with it for most of 2013-2014. This is a bop.
Six: Miss A - "Hush" (2013)
Seven: Orange Caramel - "까탈레나 (Catallena)" (2014)
The world needs more Orange Caramel. Just watch this and feel happy. Yes, they are dancing sushi. GO WITH IT.
Eight: Hi Suhyun (ft. Bobby) - "나는 달라 (I'm Different)" (2014)
Another brief collaboration. This time between Lee Hi and Lee Su-hyun (from Akdong Musician). This song is adorable.
Nine: Amber (Feat. 태연 (소녀시대)) - "Shake That Brass" (2015)
Even if f(x) didn't make it onto my favs list, Amber had to go on it somewhere! Amber is Taiwanese-American and also made her way into k-pop.
Links to: Part two and Part three.
*Mostly, I mean 2NE1 and Big Bang didn't always age well.
This entry was originally posted on Dreamwidth here and has
comments. Feel free to comment in either place.