Time for list number two - and arguably my favourite list out of the three! I've really grown to look forward to listening to b-sides, which is not something I would have said about K-Pop a few years ago. But now, now that I know how much potential they hold for greatness, I love going through them.
So much that I have a sizeable list of honourable mentions to go through first! These are in no particular order (even though I have put my absolute favourites in bold - think of them as must-listens), but I will be sorting them by group.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
ITZY (있지) - Want It?, Cherry
Dreamcatcher (드림캐쳐) - Diamond
(G)I-DLE ((여자)아이들) - Give Me Your (주세요)
MAMAMOO (마마무) - Bad bye, Universe
BTS (방탄소년단) - Dionysus
TWICE (트와이스) - Strawberry, Trick It
ATEEZ (에이티즈) - Promise, Aurora, Thank U
Red Velvet (레드벨벳) - Love is the Way, In & Out
Chungha (청하) - Chica, Flourishing
Somi (소미) - Outta My Head
Alright, with that out of the way... let's actually look at my 10 favourite b-sides from this year. And there's some great songs to get through. 😊
10. (G)I-DLE ((여자)아이들) - PUT IT STRAIGHT (싫다고 말해)
Oh man, am I happy this song got the love it deserved through Queendom.
As I said in my review earlier this year, "Put It Straight" is a broken, pragmatic ballad that really tugs at the heart strings in a way I can't quite describe. The atmosphere and sense of tension is off the charts here, and I'll reiterate the statement I made in my review - if this is the sort of shit Soyeon can come up with when she's nearly on her own in terms of writing and production, she is a goddamn force of nature.
9. DREAMCATCHER (드림캐쳐) - SILENT NIGHT
"Silent Night" is by far my favourite song on Dreamcatcher's Raid of Dream, and I think you know why at this point. It's experimental with its psytrance touches, just like many of Dreamcatcher's b-sides tend to be, but those choruses carry so much weight and a smothering atmosphere that drew me in from the very first listen. It's very much a song about a tortured soul, which I find Dreamcatcher to be fucking amazing at conveying - "Trap" from Alone in the City is a similarly themed song, and it also happens to be one of my absolute Dreamcatcher songs period. But after this year, I can confidently add "Silent Night" to those ranks as well, because this is great!
8. EVERGLOW (에버글로우) - HUSH
Sometimes you hear a song and you're just taken aback by how beautiful it is. That's the experience I had listening to "Hush" for the first time. The fact that "You Don't Know Me" - which was, in my opinion, an unstructured, sloppy mess with tons of wasted potential - was chosen as the promoted b-side over "Hush" will forever mystify me.
"Hush" is goddamn gorgeous, with its very organic-sounding synths, stunning harmonies and mythical yet calming vibe. It's like a more stripped back Oh My Girl song, yet one that really packs a punch by the end of its runtime. This song is goddamn idyllic, and I really hope Everglow make more music like this in the future.
7. CLC (씨엘씨) - LIKE IT
Remember how I said in my albums list that we'd be seeing CLC on my b-sides list too? Here they are! And they're packing heat.
"Like It" is an absolute banger. There's no other way to describe it, it's just a monumentally powerful song. And yet, the lyrics give it so much nuance and elevate a great song into a damn near flawless one. But, in the end, it's the instrumental and vocal performances that really sell "Like It" for me. It exudes this staggering confidence and swagger in every beat, and it is goddamn impossible for me to avoid getting sucked in by the time that final drop hits. And when it hits, it hits like a fucking TRUCK. This is the sequel and sonic evolution to "Black Dress" I never knew I needed, but I'm SO glad it exists. This is straight-up title track material!
6. BLACKPINK (블랙핑크) - HOPE NOT (아니길)
When I reviewed Kill This Love, I certainly did not expect this song to be the black sheep of the album. But when I turned to the internet, everyone and their mother was singing the praises of "Kick It", for some reason. Now, don't get me wrong, "Kick It" is a perfectly fine song, and I'm not here to drag it through the mud. But... really? We're going to just forget about "Hope Not" in favour of it?
It doesn't deserve that fate at all, because "Hope Not" is the most sincere and downright stunning song in BLACKPINK's discography. Lydia Paek really fucking knows what she's doing, and it shows. The girls' performances are tear-jerking at certain points, the muted electric guitar and echoey backing vocals give off a wonderfully melancholic vibe, and the lyrics are the single biggest gut punch in a song this year for me.
Chances are you haven't listened to this yet - change that. Now. "Hope Not" deserves so, so much better.
5. MAMAMOO (마마무) - MY STAR
...to think this was going to be my b-side of the year for a while. Oh, how the times have changed.
If that doesn't tell you how good 2019 has been musically, I don't know what will, because "My star" SLAPS. HARD. I never in a million years expected Cosmic Sound to give MAMAMOO a song as raucous, powerful and purely charismatic as this one, but by god, did they do it. The bassline and trap snares immediately indicate a much, much more heavy sound than what we're used to for the girls, and yet they make it seem like they do this shit in their sleep. Hands down one of MAMAMOO's best songs to date!
...and yes, I still find the lyrics to be kinda creepy. Let me have my little yandere-inspired headcanon, okay?
4. EXO (엑소) - TROUBLE
I think it's safe to say that 2019 was a year full of surprises, and HOLY FUCK, EXO.
Just... what? When? How? Whaaaa? WHERE DID THIS COME FROM YOU WONDERFUL MEN.
I don't normally listen to EXO's albums in full, but after my... very strong opinions on the title track, let's say, I sat down to listen to Obsession in full. And "Trouble" just about knocked my fucking jaw out of its joint. Every single element of this song is sleek, slick, smooth, and just downright fucking sexy. It's dirty, and it's not afraid to admit it.
And, of course, tHOSE VOCALS.
CHEN. JONGDAE. WH A T.
And not even just Chen, this is one of my new favourite EXO songs based on the members' performances alone. "Trouble" is a fucking ten tonne weight of power and sexiness, and it's one I'm very happy to have experienced. PLEASE LET THIS BE THE THEME OF THE REPACKAGE TITLE TRACK OH GOD.
3. TWICE (트와이스) - LOVE FOOLISH
Oh boy, now we're getting to the point in the list where I just start feverishly gushing. And if "Trouble" didn't make that clear enough, "Love Foolish" sure as hell will.
I admittedly had no idea what to expect going into this, but ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhsweetbabyjesus.
THIS is what TWICE should be doing forever from now on, because "Love Foolish" has such a level of precision and poise - yet also a level of style - that is unprecedented for a TWICE song, in my opinion. The dark, yet glittery synths, the vocal samples, the girls' emotionally varying performances, the stilted melody, Chaeyoung's hushed yet really damn sexy and charismatic hook, MOMO RAPPING.
MOMO.
RAPPING.
IN 2019.
That guarantees "Love Foolish" a spot on the list alone, but... this song is fucking outstanding. I really hope this isn't a once in a blue moon occurrence for TWICE, because this is one of the best damn songs they've done. I'm still stunned by it on every listen.
2. RED VELVET (레드벨벳) - LP
Have you ever heard a song that's so unique and distinctive, you sit there in stunned silence when you try to process it for the first time? And then, upon repeated listens, you realise it's everything you've ever wanted?
Yeah. That's "LP".
Never did I ever think Red Velvet could make a fusion of elevator music and the soundtrack to a 1960s shopping channel work, but HOLY FUCK THEY DID IT. "LP" has so much charm and personality that I would be here all day if I genuinely listed everything I love about the song. It's a modern vintage marvel. So, all I'll say is this:
Don't think that The Reve Festival: Day 1 stops with "Sunny Side Up!" - just like "Hope Not", this song gets overshadowed a LOT. Don't let that be the case. "LP" is too fucking incredible to be forgotten, and you deserve to listen to a song as wonderful as this one.
My #1 b-side this year, though... it really does continue that theme of surprises that 2019 has had going for it, for better or for (much) worse. Even though I thought "LP" was going to be my #1 for the majority of the year, sometimes, you find a song that's just... flawless. One that really leaves you emotionally wrecked, but in the best way possible.
Yeah, I'm lucky enough to be able to say that that happened this year.
And it's thanks to ATEEZ.
1. ATEEZ (에이티즈) - UTOPIA
I'm not even going to describe "Utopia" to you. If you haven't heard it already - fuck, even if you have - just... listen to it. Experience it for yourself.
You'll come out the other side with tears in your eyes and a warm feeling in your heart, I promise you.
"Utopia" is a fucking masterpiece, and one of my new favourite K-Pop songs of all time. And that's all that needs to be said about it. It explains itself. Seriously, experience it if you haven't already. You won't regret it.
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