Board Thread:Off-Topic/@comment-29512888-20190204224414

Yes, I'm continuing the K-Pop series. Because I need K-Pop in my life :PPPP

Introduction
Contrary to the West, South Korea didn't have a great start in music. Yeah, there were lots of unexpected debuts and comebacks, but very few of them stood out in terms of quality. Because of this, my list will be quite short.

Honorable Mentions
I actually can't find any lyrics to this song, and the chorus could have been a bit more epic, but there wasn't much good stuff this month so this will do. This song has no lyrics on a website, either, but hey, that beat has a nice groove. Yes, Japanese songs by South Korean groups count. Why should I exclude this cool, anime-like theme? A better version of Save Me Save You. I don't like Kpopalypse as a person at all, but at least he introduced me to this cool indie producer and singer. No lyrics for this either, sadly - and it's not even on Spotify, what a shame.

6. Hyomin - U Um U Um
Man, T-ara have been really disappointing lately. What's My Name is one of the blandest tropical house songs ever made in K-Pop, and the two solo songs from last year weren't particularly great, either. Fortunately, Hyomin managed to bring some quality back with U Um U Um, which is actually much less dumb than it seems. It might remind you of nursery rhymes, but the beat is actually hypnotic and catchy as hell.

5. CLC - No
I just remembered this song existed while writing the list. I should slap myself for that, because it's cool. It has a very tough beat that confirms its power right from the first note, as the girls affirm that they don't need anyone to tell them what to be. It's pretty standard, but it works, and I hope their future comebacks will be just as god!

4. Oneus - Valkyrie
On the other hand, I have no idea who these guys are. All I know is that they are under Mamamoo's label (which is great because I love Mamamoo) and this song rocks. Someone pointed out it sounds like Golden Age K-Pop, and they're not wrong: the slick bassline and the synths in the chorus sound exactly like something Super Junior would have made in the Sorry Sorry era. I can already picture them dancing to this. The trap breakdown is kinda trash, but everything else is on point.

3. IZ*ONE - Suki to Iwasetai
IZ*ONE probably count as a Japanese group more than a South Korean one, but this song is great so who cares - plus, there wasn't enough good stuff this month. It starts with a very stomping keyboard melody that builds up steadily until it leads to that great chorus, and it never stops halfway for a trap breakdown or some trendy crap every producer in K-Pop loves (ONEUS take notes!).

2. VERIVERY - Ring Ring Ring
If you thought we were done with the retro throwbacks from the Western thread, then you're wrong. VERIVERY had already debuted with a new jack swing song last year, so why not make something similar since it was good? The only difference is that, contrary to Super Special, Ring Ring Ring put more focus on percussion, but it doesn't matter because it's just as good.

1. Dreamcatcher - Over The Sky
This song has no music video, but it's been released as a single on Spotify so it counts anyway. And thank goodness it rocks just as much as their previous songs because why shouldn't it? It's epic as hell, and it deserves it. I wish these girls the best!

Recommendations
WHY IS THIS NOT ON SPOTIFY???? I wrote an entire blog complaining about how much K-Pop ballads suck, but not all of them are bad. Here's a good one for a change. This other ballad is good, too. PLEASE give this song more love! It was about to be #2 in my Best K-Pop Hit Songs of 2018 list, but then I realized it's from 2017, so I decided to share it with you here. 