Like always, picking the best songs
of the year is hard, too many great tracks. I decided to take 20 of all the
previews post I made through the year, hope you like it and came back later for
more great choices.
1.
Hyolyn ft Changmo: Blue Moon
The song "Blue Moon" is a collaboration that has
taken by storm the real-time charts, competing against IU and HyukOh's collab,
released the same day. The track is a EDM dance that goes great with Hyolyn's
emotional voice and Changmo's deep rapping skills. This track was produced by
GroovyRoom, with the producing team composed by Park Gyujeong and Lee Hwimin.
2.
Suran ft Dean: 1+1=0
Suran is a singer/songwriter and record producer who debuted
as part of a duet called Lodia, in 2014. This year she has released her first
min album titled “Walkin”. Previously she has released a couple of
singles, and has collaboration with other artists. For this project, she has
teamed up with various artist as featuring and production.
3.
Sistar: Lonely
The summer girls of KPOP had say their farewell. After 7
years, one of the top girl groups of the industry had made their last comeback
with the song “Lonely”. This track express emotions of the group regarding
their disbandment, but as a breakup song, changing their usual dancing tracks
to an emotional one.
4.
G Dragon: Superstar
Like the past post, I had a lot of debates with two songs from
the same artist, which created a subdivision on the same list. On this
occasion, we have the leader of Big Bang, making his solo comeback with the
mini album “Kwong Ji Young”, which is his real name. The project reflects his
more intimate thoughts and feelings, and for that the selection of the title
for the album.The title track for the album was changed at last minute because
of the rough lyrics that could relate to the scandal involving one of Big
Bang’s member, TOP. That is why the song “Super Star” was replaced with another
song. For me is a great track with deep emotions and a great sound.
5.
Mamamoo: Aze Gaga (Age Gag)
On June, the group released their fifth mini album, titled
“Purple”.
The second track they released from the album was “Aze Gag”,
which is my favorite, with a catchy chorus and lighthearted lyrics.
6.
BlackPink: As If It's The Last Time
The YG girl group has made their comeback with the track “As
If The Last Time”, which wanted to bring a little of cuteness to their “girl
crush” image. They have been breaking multiple records since the release, and
had topped charts on the local markets as well internationally.
7.
EXO: KoKoPop
Like always, EXO’s comeback is one that the fan are
constantly waiting for. For this project, they decided to go for a reggae
sound, which came out incredible for all of them. The song "KoKoPop",
like all their tracks, came out with an outstanding choreography, that
captivates the fans and want to be emulate by the males. The song reached top
positions on the Billboard World Digital Song, the ITunes Worldwide Albums, and
the local music charts.
8.
Taeyang: Wake Me Up
Big Bang's main vocalist has made his solo comeback after
his international success three years ago with "Eyes, Nose, Lips".
"White Night" is the artist third solo album, and it seems that it's
going to be a success too. For this project the single tracks is
"Darling", which it's a breakup song, and the other song for
promotions is "Wake Me Up". The second track talks about true love,
the one that he don't want to wake up from. A lot of rumors regarding his
relationship with actress Min Hyo Ri surfaced because of the song
"Darling", but on an interview he stated that "I love her a lot,
and is inevitable to be influenced by her, she is my biggest muse", whit
this the rumors of their breakup shut down. Don't you think he is so romantic?
9.
Sunmi: Gashina
After the disbandment of Wonder Girl's on January of this
year, followed by her signing with another label (MakeUs Entertainment) on the
end of February, Sunmi has made her comeback as a solo artist.
"Gashina" is not the first solo project from her, when she was under
JYP Entertainment she made her solo debut with the single "24 Hours",
which ranked number 1 on digital media on August of 2013. Now, Sunmi has make
her comeback with a new label and it's all in for a new quirky but sensual
image. On the MV for "Gashina", you can see her dancing around
discovering herself and making her way into this new phase.
10.
Red Velvet: Red Flavor
I am actually not a fan of Red Velvet, but I have to admit
of liking three of their songs. "Ice Cream", with that creepy sound
at the begging of the song, "Dumb, Dumb, Dumb", with that incredible
catchy chorus, and now "Red Flavor", which also has a catchy beat. At the end of the year they made a comeback with the track "Peek-A-Boo", but "Red Flavor" got me.
11.
BTS: MicDrop
Even though this track is part of the group's last album,
"Love Yourself: Her", the group made a remix with American DJ Steve
Aoki, which toped to No. 1 on iTunes just right after the release. The genius
collaboration comes after the group's success at the US after winning a
Billboard this year and making their first performance at the "American
Music Awards". Thanks to these, the group made various appearance on US
talk shows and interviews with different media.
12.
2NE1: Goodbye
One of the top girl groups in the music industry in South
Korea announced las November that they would disband. 2NE1 already had the
songs for their album and recorded one song that is why the leader of the group
along with the other two remaining members decided to say "Goodbye"
to their fans with this song. The lyrics where originally written when
member Minzy left the group on March of last year, but the sentiment
for both situations where similar. The group release the MV on January 20 of
this year, and the song represents the genuine feelings of the leader CL, since
she was the one that wrote the lyrics for it. Till next time 2NE1, and for we
always a Blackjack (the name of the group's
fan).
13.
TWICE: Signal
After two years active, TWICE has gained the recognition of
the KPOP industry as the most influential new girl group. "Signal" is
the first song produced by J.Y. Park for the group, which has a hip-hop vibe but
all the bubbly of the group, the girls even told on interviews that their
company President helped them with the choreography of the title track. The
track won #1 on several music shows and they even topped on Billboard's World
Albums.
14.
Girl's Day: I'll Be Yours
The girl group formed by four members (Sojin, Minah, Yura
and Hyeri) from Dream Tea Entertainment has made their comeback on March 27,
but I wasn’t able to listen until early April. This album is part of the series
Every Day, which was released on July of 2011 and now would be the 5th Edition
to it. The group was on hiatus after their last released, "Ring My
Bell", back to July of 2015. For that time, the girls pursued their solo
activities, like acting and variety appearance. "I'll Be Your"
debuted on number 7 on Billboard World Albums, and had won #1 on various music
shows.
15.
IU ft G Dragon: Palette
This coming of age album from IU is her fourth one from the
singer/actress, which has a 9-year career. The album "Palette" is her
first full album since the 2013 "Modern Times". The song that is also
titled "Palette", is filled with encouragement and confidence, as a
twenty-something on pop culture. While the song has the collaboration of rapper
and leader of Big Bang, G Dragon, he is giving her advice to be herself and
with that she can truly shine, talking as experience since he is older than her
and also has an entertainment career. The song was co-written by IU, the lyrics
are a work from IU and G Dragon. Her album has topped the Korean charts, and
the song "Palette" has won a great amount of #1 on various music
shows. Other songs of the album are "Can't Love You Anymore" ft
HyukOh, and "Ending Scene" which has for leading man Kim Soo Hyun on
the MV for it.
16.
Girls' Generation: All Night
It's the 10th Anniversary of the "Ultimate Girl
Group", Girls' Generation. It has been 1o years since their great debut
single "Into The New World", and the album "Holiday Night",
marks their comeback since 2015. This new album has 10 songs that include the
two promotion tracks "Holiday" and "All Night". The song
"Holiday" it is more like their usually bubbly tracks, as for
"All Night" you can hear the presence of each member on an EDM kind
of song, and it's more like a party track. Later on the year it was release that tree members were going to leave the company and start a new path on their career. Seohyun, Tiffany, and Sooyoung left SM Entertainment on October of 2017.
17.
BTOB for Fight My Way OST: Ambiguous
This song is part of the OST of the drama Fight My Way. The
lyrics of the song goes perfect with the main characters of the drama and their
relationship, and how they transform from best friends to realizing their
romantic love for each other.
18.
Heize ft Han SooJi
for Goblin OST: Round and Round
This song is part of the OST of the drama
"Goblin", specially the intro for the drama. The song "Round and
Round" wasn’t part of the OST but it was later added because of the great
response of the audience. When released there was a little controversy with the
complete song, the beginning of it, which is the part that airs with the drama,
was performed by SooJi and the remaining of the song by the
singer Heize. For the audience this wasn’t what they expected and even the
two singers throw a little dirt to each other. At the end, the production
apologized to both singers and the audience for their action, and hoped for
understanding. I really don’t care about the controversy, I just love every
song of the drama and specially this one is one of my
favorites.
19.
Jonghyun: Lonely
After the sudden death of the SHINee main vocalist,
Jonghyun, his track has "Lonely" has topped the charts in South Korea
and internationally. This song was release at the beginning of 2017, and was
part of his second compilation album "The Collection: Story Op. 2".
The album contained 10 tracks, written and composed by him. He admitted that
the track "Lonely" was written with Taeyeon on mind; she was
featuring on it and was their second duet after the SM The Ballad
"Breath". Fans and the media are still surprise about the artist
committing suicide this past December, after struggling with severe depression.
20.
Ikon: Bling Bling
After almost two years, iKON finally made
their comeback with the singles "B Day" and "Bling Bling".
Both tracks where part of the project "New Kids" which started with one
title "Begin". These songs take us back to what makes this group so
good, their great hip-hop vibe and incredible energy. The track "Bling
Bling" talks about what the group has accomplished and how they have
raised on the industry.
That is for now, hope
you had a good 2017 and have a great 2018. Thanks for the support and continue
to come back for more KPOP and other great subjects that I expose on my blog.
Stay healthy and happy new year!!! (((all the rights of the MVs to their respected owners))
