With my favourite albums on the record, now let's take a look at arguably my favourite list of each year - my favourite b-sides. Any non title-track song is eligible for this list; if it was on an album and wasn't the lead single, regardless of whether it got promotions at some point or not, it's eligible for this list. I very well could've done a top 50 of these as well, but I honestly don't know if I'd have the energy to do two top 50s, so top 25 it is.
It's safe to say that every single song I put down in this post has the strongest recommendation possible for me. 2020 was a stellar year for K-Pop, and every song here managed to capture my attention in some way or another. However, I do limit myself to one song per group per list; otherwise, it'd probably get too clogged up with multiple entries from the same artists. So, in terms of those that didn't quite make the list, here's what I have for my honourable mentions this time around:
- ATEEZ (에이티즈) - TO THE BEAT (춤을 춸)
- Dreamcatcher (드림캐쳐) - Red Sun, Break the Wall
- NCT 127 (엔시티 127) - Sit Down!
- Alexa (알렉사) - Kitty Run
- NCT Dream (엔시티 드림) - Love Again (사랑은 또 다시)
- MONSTA X (몬스타 엑스) - CHAOTIC
- TWICE (트와이스) - Oxygen, Don't Call Me Again, Hell in Heaven, Go Hard, Bring it Back, Shot Clock
- Red Velvet Irene & Seulgi (레드벨벳 아이린 & 슬기) - Feel Good
- SuperM (슈퍼엠) - 100, Wish You Were Here, Monster
- NCT U (엔시티 유) - I.O.U, All About You (단잠)
- LOONA (이달의소녀) - Hide & Seek, OOPS!
- ITZY (있지) - I DON'T WANNA DANCE, 24HRS, Don't Give a What, iD
- DAY6 (데이식스) - Day & Night (해와날), Love Me or Leave Me
- WayV (웨이브이) - Bad Alive, After Midnight, Nectar
- MAMAMOO (마마무) - Chuck (척)
- BTS (방탄소년단) - 00:00 (Zero O'Clock), Louder than bombs, Filter, UGH!, Dis-ease, Blue & Grey
- Kang Daniel (강다니엘), Simon Dominic (사이먼 도미닉), Jamie (제이미) - Waves
- GFRIEND (여자친구) - Crème Brûlée
- April (에이프릴) - 1, 2, 3, 4
With that long list out of the way, we've got a bunch of songs to get through, so let's get started! The entries are probably going to be shorter, since there's a lot of music here, but regardless, here's the Spotify playlist if you're interested.
Alright, time to gush over b-sides for a bit.
25. NCT 127 (엔시티 127) - ELEVATOR 127F
While I felt like one of the very few people who found Neo Zone to be a... disappointing era for NCT 127, to say the least, "Elevator 127F" was by far the standout track from that album for me. It's fun, it's lightweight, and yet it packs a brilliantly funky punch thanks to that wonderful synth-led instrumental. It's a hell of a lot of fun, and definitely a great way to start or end the album - it's a great pick-me-up when you need it!
24. SUPERM (슈퍼엠) - TIGER INSIDE (호랑이)
Now THIS was the big, bombastic release a lot of people were expecting from SuperM. If you pay close attention, you'll notice that a lot of Moonshine-produced content has ended up quite high on my lists this year, and with damn good reason. "Tiger Inside" is just one of their excellent songs from 2020, with a bombastic instrumental that's performative and so goddamn captivating in every way. The performances here exude charisma as well, making this by far SuperM's strongest track to date.
23. DAY6 (데이식스) - STOP (때려쳐)
This album is already excellent, but "Stop" is by far my favourite song on The Book of Us: Demon. It's got this really potent guitar hook rolling along in the background, and it's by all means a song full of grit, spite and anger, whether it be under the surface or bubbling over. If you need to vent some frustrations for a bit, this is the song to do it with; it's got an amazing rollick from start to finish that draws you in and will make sure this is stuck in your head long after listening.
22. TAEYEON (태연) - LOL (하하하)
Hey Taeyeon, the James Bond producers called. They want their soundtrack back.
In all seriousness, I'm honestly so happy the Purpose repackage came out in January, because it means this absolute powerhouse of a song still gets to be on my year-end list. "LOL" is every bit as sultry and beautiful as the James Bond comparison would have you think, and if you haven't heard it, do yourself a favour and give it a listen. It's got the classiness of some of Taeyeon's past title tracks, but with that much more flair that makes it a showstopper. I hope we get some live performances of this some day!
21. LOONA (이달의소녀) - OOPS!
Amidst all the praise for "Star" and "Oh (Yes I Am)", I was over here bopping to "OOPS!", the underrated gem of LOONA's releases this year. This is a banger from start to finish, playing with some of the more experimental sound LOONA have had in their title tracks as of late, and it works. It's the best song on 12:00 for me, and even though its placement on the EP may be weird, it's a ridiculously effective kiss-off that never fails to hit the right notes for me.
Also, this is Chuu's world and we're just living in it. That is all.
20. OH MY GIRL (오마이걸) - DOLPHIN
Man, if it was any group's year within K-Pop, it was Oh My Girl. "Nonstop" was a massive era for them, and thanks to some recognition from IU, "Dolphin" managed to blow up and become one of the biggest songs of this year - and it's so well deserved! The chorus is one of the strongest of 2020 (which is saying a lot), and the bright, playful nature of this song will warm even the coldest of hearts. It's that fun.
"Dolphin" is one of those cutesy songs that hits all the right notes without coming across as pandering or over-the-top, and it's an absolute delight to listen to. Listen to this if you need a smile, because you'll basically be guaranteed to come out the other end happier than you went in.
19. ATEEZ (에이티즈) - PRECIOUS
Even though I think Fever was ATEEZ's superior album this year, "Precious" was by far my favourite b-side from them in 2020. If you had told me they would turn the intriguing interlude from their full-length album into an entire song, I would have laughed, but I'm so glad they did! "Precious" is goddamn mesmerizing, and the robust pan flute sample in the instrumental is just the cherry on top here. It's one of my favourite ATEEZ b-sides to date, and it's held up incredibly well throughout the year.
18. ALEXA (알렉사) - VILLAIN (빌런)
Well goddamn, consider me impressed. I was starting to worry that AleXa's concept was running a little stale after Do or Die's release, regardless of how much I liked that comeback, but "Villain" takes those concerns and throws them out the window. Alex really gets to show off her pipes here, and the instrumental is dark, stalking and so goddamn atmospheric you can almost taste it. It's one of her best songs yet, from what I personally consider her best era - while this little trilogy may be over, I cannot wait to see where AleXa goes next.
17. WJSN (우주소녀) - PANTOMIME
If you felt like this year was a little stale musically, or need something to really take your ears by surprise today, THIS is the song to do it with. "Pantomime" is one of the most fervently unique songs I've heard all year, and it walks the line between experimental and playful masterfully. It's a truly, truly special song that you just don't get every day, and it still finds new ways to blow me away each and every listen. It's a goddamn treat.
16. HWASA (화사), DPR LIVE (디피알 라이브) - I'M BAD TOO
If there's something I didn't know I needed from Hwasa's solo comeback, it was a quirky collaboration with DPR Live! "I'm bad too" absolutely caught me off guard, since when I listened to the album for the first time, I expected "Why" to be my favourite (since anything Cosmic Sound touches is absolute gold in my eyes). But no, months after this album's release, this is the song I keep coming back to. Even though the song is about feeling down and not on top of your game, the cheery bossa nova influences make sure you're left feeling a bit more optimistic by the end of its short 2-and-a-half minute runtime; yes, the year has been awful, and we're all a little sad, but we'll get there. Maybe not now, but eventually.
15. RED VELVET IRENE & SEULGI (레드벨벳 아이린 & 슬기) - NAUGHTY (놀이)
I don't do rankings of my favourite choreographies before due to lack of time, but if I did them, this would 1000% be my favourite of 2020. Trust me when I say that these ladies make tutting look easy, but DO NOT, I repeat, do NOT attempt this choreography if you care about your arm muscles. It will be painful. This shit is no walk in the park, and "Naughty"'s choreography was considered one of the best choreos of 2020 for a reason. The level of effort and attention to detail here is astounding, and it's honestly among the ranks of songs like BoA's "Only One" in terms of choreo for me. It's that good.
Thankfully, the song itself is pretty damn good, too. Unlike "Monster", which was a bit more in-your-face, "Naughty" leans into the girls' sleeker, more modern and sophisticated side that they unexpectedly excel at. The vocal cadence in the choruses is mesmerizing, the charisma shared between both Irene and Seulgi is off the charts, and it all combines together to make one great final song that surpassed my expectations.
...but seriously, stretch your arms before attempting any part of this choreography. Mine still hurt.
14. STRAY KIDS (스트레이 키즈) - PHOBIA
Since 2020 was the year of me going outside of my comfort zone musically, I decided to pay more attention to Stray Kids' releases this year. That ended up being a very good decision, since not only were both title tracks excellent, some of the b-sides surprised me with their greatness, my favourite of which ended up being "Phobia". I wasn't sure what to expect from a song with that title, but I really do love this! It's got a very interesting sense of pace and buildup that work really well in its favour, the sections flow super nicely into one another, the harmonies are beautiful, and the vocal and rap performances are great (as always). I feel like "Phobia" is one of those songs you really have to listen to, because it's quite hard to describe, but trust me when I say it's worth it; it's by far my favourite song from both the Go Live and In Life albums excluding the title tracks.
13. TXT (투모로우 바이 투게더) - MAZE IN THE MIRROR
This was by far one of the biggest surprises of the year for me! I'm normally not the biggest fan of ballads on an album; they can tend to feel shoehorned in, and simply thrown onto the end of the album because they're mandatory. This doubly applies to groups I don't normally listen to, since I'm not as engaged or connected with the artist and their discography. However, what TXT proved with "Maze in the Mirror" is that there are exceptions to every rule, because this is far and away my favourite song from The Dream Chapter: Eternity.
Initially, "Maze in the Mirror" is deceptively simple; most of the song is basic piano notes, minimal yet pretty harmonies and a relatively consistent acoustic guitar line... but then you get to the bridge. The melody starts to soar, the harmonies become more complex, an electric guitar gets added to the mix, and then those drums kick in. It's one of the most magical moments I've had with any song this year, and it's so comforting and warm that it's become the song I listen to before going to bed every night. No, I'm not joking! This is absolutely one of my favourite hidden gems of this year, and I'm pretty sure I'll be listening to this far into the future - it's seriously beautiful.
12. MAMAMOO (마마무) - TRAVEL
Picking a favourite song from Travel felt like choosing a favourite child, but eventually, I settled on "Travel" itself. This is one of those songs provided something that felt missing to me in 2020 - the feeling of adventure and... well, travelling. Obviously, real-world travel is non-existant right now, so for MAMAMOO to release a song like Travel that's essentially a vacation in a bottle? Hell yes.
"Travel" is honestly idyllic, with the acoustic guitars and gorgeous vocals just making this song that much better. It also helps that the girls themselves have more than enough likeability and charm to sell this song's friendly warmth, and then some. It's not just the namesake of this album, it's a wonderful little piece of carefree music that is guaranteed to lift your mood should you need it. "Travel" is escapism in the best way, and in 2020, that's something that was sorely needed.
11. DREAMCATCHER (드림캐쳐) - IN THE FROZEN
Finding bad b-sides on a Dreamcatcher album is like finding a needle in a haystack. But at the same time, it's also really obvious to me when they outdo themselves and set a new standard I never knew they could reach. Enter "In The Frozen", the sister to last year's excellent "Silent Night" - it's another high-stakes EDM cut with even more ferocity and sheer willpower than the last.
I didn't think "Silent Night" could be topped, but the first time that siren-esque drop hit, I was proven so, SO wrong. I am an absolute sucker for songs with a sense of poignance or strong emotion - melodrama, if you will. Melodrama may as well be "In the Frozen"'s middle name, because MY GOD those choruses are insane. And the bridge? Siyeon's legendary vocals, Dami's brief rap and Gahyeon's high note (yes, you read that right) leading into the double-time beat induces so many goosebumps every goddamn time I hear it. Put simply, you're missing out if you haven't heard this, and I can't recommend it enough.
10. BLACKPINK (블랙핑크) - CRAZY OVER YOU
I seem to like picking songs that go against the grain in terms of what everyone else likes. I'm always an apparent fan of the underdogs, the songs that don't get as much attention as the fan-favourites. When it came to THE ALBUM's release, while everyone else was fawning over "Pretty Savage" and "Love to Hate Me", I was losing my goddamn mind over "Crazy Over You" (no pun intended).
2020 gave me a lot of things I didn't know I needed, but by far my favourite was BLACKPINK tackling a horror concept. THE ALBUM gave them the chance to experiment with their sound, and "Crazy Over You" is absolutely the best example of that. It's pretty bare-bones, sure, but every single element of this song's lyrics, instrumental and performances add to that wonderfully creepy vibe - yes, even the rubber duck quacks. Not to mention, when the song does take it up a notch, it excels. Those pre-choruses are godly.
It's off-the-wall, sure, but BLACKPINK's take on a creepier concept really impressed me, and I can only hope we get a full comeback someday with this creepier theming. Please. I would die of happiness.
9. MONSTA X (몬스타 엑스) - ZONE
Let me make one thing clear if this is the first time you're reading anything from this blog: first of all, hello, thank you for listening to my ramblings, and two, I adore EDM. And naturally, the kind of EDM I love is most often found in b-sides, since title tracks don't tend to go the full nine yards most of the time (with songs like T-ARA's "Sugar Free" being welcome exceptions).
Monsta X's "Zone" is the EXACT kind of EDM I adore. Some people are going to write this off as noise, but I don't care - this grabbed me from first listen, thanks in no part to the amazing performances given by the members here. Sometimes I forget just how much of a force of nature Changkyun and Jooheon can be, but it's songs like "Zone" that remind me, because wow they bodied this. The instrumental drags you along for a wild ride that just keeps speeding up, and by the time the song's done, you'll either be exhausted or immediately want to listen to it again. I ended up in the latter category, and "Zone" quickly ended up on repeat. It's one of the best b-sides I've heard this year, and an absolute gem in Monsta X's discography for me.
8. KARD (카드) - ENEMY
The fact that "Enemy" has ended up not even in my top 5 should tell you how good this year was for music, because nearly a year later, this still hits hard. It's one of my favourite songs KARD have put out, even if it's just a unit track with Somin and Jiwoo, and continues to get better with every listen. It's not often that a song can feel brand new every time I listen to it, but every time I listen to "Enemy", it feels like the first time, and I mean that in the best way possible. Again, I do wish it was longer, but for what it is, it's an absolutely lethal b-side that deserved SO much more attention that what it got. Somin-Jiwoo subunit debut when?
7. NCT U (엔시티 유) - MISFIT
The first time I heard NCT U's "Make A Wish (Birthday Song)", I was... admittedly a little disappointed. It had potential, sure, but it felt a little messy to me. However, the biggest point I remember making was that I wished that the breakbeat section in the bridge had been the full song... so imagine my surprise when I turn on the album and "Misfit" pops up.
Yeah, I nearly fell out of my chair.
Man, for a song that's exclusively rap-based, NCT surprised me with just how well they pull it off here. "Misfit"'s rapping is intense thanks to the genre they're going for, but not once does a member drop the ball or sound out of place. I've never thought of any NCT unit as a particularly rap-oriented group, but Resonance era has proved me wrong in a big way. Mark and surprisingly Sungchan in particular knock it out of the park here, and Johnny Suh has charisma for WEEKS. This is fun, bouncy and the best kind of surprise from NCT, and even though they technically already did it with "90s Love", I already want more retro-themed content from them!
6. TWICE (트와이스) - SHADOW
When it comes to the music itself, there are definitely certain producers that more well-known within the K-Pop industry. You've got your Shinsadong Tigers and Black Eyed Pilseungs, but you've also got those that are more popular with the international fans, like Dem Jointz and Moonshine. One of the most notorious composing teams active in K-Pop right now is LDN Noise, who have gained quite a bit of notoriety over the years. But if I'm honest, aside from pretty much everything they worked on with f(x), I've never really gotten the hype behind them.
"Shadow" changes all of that. When I found out they produced this, I went in expecting an upbeat, EDM-inspired pop song - but what I got is one of the most shockingly stunning and atmospheric songs of 2020. "Shadow" has a sense of longing that you don't even need to read the lyrics to feel, and the girls' vocal performances are subtle yet powerful perfection. There's something about this song that's just so... melancholy, but also hopeful. It's shallow, yet endlessly deep at the same time, and ends up being the kind of song that I could wax poetic about for hours on end.
You know when I listen to a song for the first time and am immediately able to imagine a music video, outfits and all, that you've pretty much nailed the execution. "Shadow" struck a chord with me that few other TWICE b-sides this year did, and it's now one of my favourite songs in their discography. It's more mature and a little bit darker in a very poised way, and it's honestly just so ridiculously good. I could have this on repeat for weeks and I'd never get tired of it.
5. WAYV (웨이브이) - DOMINO (多米诺)
While I can definitely get into more subdued and minimal songs every now and again, I don't think it's a secret that I'm a fan of music at its most powerful. If a song can have some kind of weight or gravitas to it, chances are I'll either find it annoying or absolutely incredible. Thankfully, WayV's "Domino" falls into the latter category, because when I tell you this song feels like the best kind of slap to the face, I mean it.
"Domino" feels like an event the first time you listen to it - the verses are minimal, yet feel like they're building up to something and then the chorus decks you across the face at high speed and it's amazing. I can't quite put my finger on what gives this song the ability to move mountains - I'm pretty sure it's the vocal layering in the choruses mixed with the chord progressions - but whatever it is, it's absolute gold dust.
Regardless of its placement late on the album, "Domino" manages to single-handedly stand out as my favourite song from Awaken the World, which says a lot given the high quality of the album itself. If you haven't heard it, stick on a good pair of headphones or find your best speakers and blast it. The goosebumps are worth it, I promise.
4. EVERGLOW (에버글로우) - GXXD BOY
Well, well, well, how the turn tables.
I'll be blunt - I hated Reminiscence. "DUN DUN" felt like the girl crush concept at its most abrasive and annoying, and the 'album' (if you can call it that, with its whole 4 songs) drives me up the wall. In fact, if I were to spotlight my least favourite b-side of 2020, it'd be "Player". It was not an era I enjoyed in the slightest, so seeing Everglow change it up again for their comeback with "LA DI DA" was certainly welcome. I really wasn't sure what to expect going into the album itself - I'm calling it Antarctica for handiness' sake - mainly because of how badly Reminiscence sat with me.
But ohhhhhhhhh man did that change when "GxxD BOY" started up.
If you've never heard "GxxD BOY", the best way I can describe it to you is that it'd be at the top of a hoe anthems playlist if I had one. Of all the songs on this list, this one arguably goes the hardest, and when I tell you that last chorus had me cheering out of sheer delight... I mean it. The way the song transitions from the second chorus to the bridge to the pre-chorus to the final drop with the instrumental cutting out for emphasis is honestly euphoric. It's the audio equivalent of a party popper, but with the force of an atomic bomb.
Thank goodness I was home alone when I first heard this, because I'm pretty sure I screamed a little. It's the best song on Antarctica, and in my opinion, it should be the standard for what Everglow do going forward. If they made songs like this for the rest of their career, I would stan so hard, y'all have no idea...
3. ITZY (있지) - TING TING TING (WITH OLIVER HELDENS)
If you read my IT'z ME review, you knew this was going to be here. Just like with "Zone", "TING TING TING" is basically my ideal song, and it's an EDM/K-Pop fusion done masterfully. That's mainly thanks to Oliver Heldens, whose contribution is felt in spades, but ITZY's vocal performances here honestly elevate this song to perfection for me. This is the definition of a banger, and absolutely the last thing that I expected from an ITZY album. I've already ranted about it to death, so I'll leave it at this - it's one of the best songs of 2020, and if I throw any parties once this whole pandemic has died down, I'm including this in the playlist. It deserves it.
2. NCT DREAM (엔시티 드림) - DÉJÀ VU ((무대로; 舞代路)
I didn't think Dream could top "Love Again". Oh, how I was so, so wrong.
Let's get right to the point here - "Love Again" was the best surprise I've had in ages, but "Déjà Vu"? "Déjà Vu" is perfection. The MINUTE that toy piano-esque sample kicked in, the chills I had were otherworldly. As great as the song is, I don't have that much I can say about it - it honestly never fails to render me absolutely speechless. Songs can do that to me every now and again, sure - ATEEZ's "Utopia" is one that springs to mind - but it's rare. That just makes this even more special.
This is mandatory listening if you're a K-Pop fan - hell, if you like good music in general. It is uplifting, riotous and absolutely fucking incredible. In any other year, this would be a list-topper for me. It's THAT good, and made me care more for the reunion of 7DREAM more than I thought I would.
...but it's only my number 2. What beats a perfect song?
Well, not much. But to me, my number 1 this year sets itself apart, because not only is it a perfect song... it's a perfect song with my favourite kind of concept. As selfish as that sounds, let me explain.
I feel like 2020 was a great year for the horror/creepy concept. Hell, we've already had it on this list with BLACKPINK; there just seemed to be something in the water this year that encouraged groups to get a little darker with their music. ONEUS, Nature, Irene & Seulgi, CIX, VICTON, and so many more played into one of my favourite genres of entertainment this year, and it was a thrill to watch.
So, while there are a lot of songs on this list that I feel very passionate about, there's only one that has quickly become not just my favourite of the year, but one of my favourites of all time. I'm not even saying that as hyperbole, I mean it. It's got the power of songs like "Domino" and "Déjà Vu", but plays with the creepy concept in a way that puts it in a league of its own.
...and while some may see this as cheating, I would be lying through my teeth if I put anything else at the top of this list.
1. K/DA - VILLAIN
I have absolutely no idea how I'm going to put my love for this song into words that make sense, so bear with me.
Songs like "Villain" are a once-in-a-blue-moon thing for me. Music plays a very big part in my everyday life, so for a song to come along that ticks all the boxes, blows away all of my expectations, and grants every single wish I could have for it... That's rare. Not every single song I listen to is going to be a home run, and that's okay!
Because it means that songs like "Villain" shine even brighter.
This song came out in November 2020, and within a month, I had listened to it enough for it to end up in my Spotify Wrapped. It was at #35.
In the span of just under a month, I listened to this song more than 65 other songs in that playlist. THAT should tell you how hard this clicked with me. Honestly, I'm surprised it wasn't higher. I lived and breathed this song for a month, and I honestly kinda still do, albeit in a more subtle way.
Songs have a habit of wearing off on me over time - it's why I often worry that my year-end lists won't be accurate, or change as the years move on. But I can confidently say right here right now as I am writing this that "Villain" will forever be my favourite b-side of 2020. Hell, it's probably my favourite song of 2020 full stop.
Where do I start with it? The instrumental is dark, stalking, sinister and just,,,, vicious. From the moment it starts, it never lets up once, and the atmosphere those synths and reverb create is enough to swallow you whole. I mentioned in my best albums list that I'm a fan of Madison Beer's vocal timbre, and THIS song is why I said that. She's got this beautifully husky tone that is honestly enrapturing, and while I'm definitely not a fan of her (or who she chooses to associate herself with), Kim Petras is no slouch here either. This really feels like a perfect introduction to and encapsulation of Evelyn, and that's saying something considering I've never touched League in my life.
But we need to talk about that instrumental more. I follow quite a few people on Twitter, all of whom were talking about the K/DA album when it dropped - but of all the discussion I saw, one Tweet still stands out to me.
seriously, though. It's so well produced. Wear headphones because you can FEEL this song entrancing you. Incredible.https://t.co/Wsy2GOxOJ2
— ❄️ Faye Mata 💙 (@FayeMata) November 6, 2020
This is what makes "Villain" so crazily good to me. Not only is it a representation of Evelyn's vibe, what she's about - it shows you what she can do first-hand. But it doesn't just describe it - it lets you experience it. This song's use of buildup, instruments, multi-tracking and vocal panning are what sets it apart for me. It turns what would be a relatively simple, badass pop song into a completely mind-blowing three and a half minutes, and one of the best goddamn character studies out there. "Villain" always has a new trick up its sleeve, and every single one blows me away. It's magical in the darkest, most twisted kind of way and I cannot even begin to fathom how much I love it.
I could honestly write essays about why this song is perfect, but I'll leave it at that for now. It struck a chord with me that so few songs manage to, and I can guarantee that I'll have it on repeat for many, MANY more weeks and months to come. It's one of the songs that got me through the last part of 2020, and I cannot wait to see how it gets me through 2021.
If I can find a song I love even a fraction of the amount that I love "Villain" in 2021, then... I guess it'll be an alright year.
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