The top of the 12 months countdowns are lastly right here! As at all times, we’ll kick off with the massive one: The Bias Checklist’s prime 50 songs of the 12 months! Every day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the 12 months’s finest, till primary is revealed on Friday.
To be eligible for this prime 50 listing, songs should have had a Korean launch as a title observe, follow-up or promotional video between Dec. 1st, 2023 and Nov. thirtieth, 2024.
Interested by previous countdowns? Try the masterpost right here!
Honorable Mentions
Songs 50-41
Songs 40-31
Songs 30-21
Songs 20-11
10. Good day Gloom – Mamacita
Home tracks are a dime a dozen lately, however many stake their declare on an instrumental centerpiece or – even worse – a repetitive anti-drop appropriate for background music at a classy division retailer. Mamacita is having none of that nonsense, bursting right into a galvanizing, singalong refrain that stands as one of many 12 months’s most memorable. The tune is over earlier than you recognize it, however its concentrated depth calls for quick replay. (full overview)
9. BOYNEXTDOOR – Earth, Wind & Fireplace
There’s a tune like this in my prime ten nearly yearly: one thing that’s initially unwieldy however slowly and deliberately unveils its charms over time. Earth, Wind & Fireplace isn’t a lot a tune as it’s a supply technique for character. From its rapid-fire post-chorus to the second verse rap that solely grew extra ridiculous with every passing efficiency, there’s nearly an excessive amount of power to comprise. It’s additionally a kind of tracks that’s completely welded to its artist. Nobody might carry out this in fairly the identical method as BOYNEXTDOOR. (full overview)
8. Nayeon – ABCD
In a world of two minute TikTok songs, it may be tough to ship the complete popstar bundle. Nayeon did this after which some on her bombastic ABCD. The observe weaves between segments and rhythms – various power and depth to lend the tune’s a number of peaks as a lot power as potential. If most artists had been serving snacks this 12 months, ABCD rolled out the complete course, full with electrifying dance break and anchored by the ability of pure charisma. This deserved to personal the summer season of 2024. (full overview)
7. RIIZE – Increase Increase Bass
RIIZE established themselves as an instruments-obsessed group with final 12 months’s Get A Guitar, and Increase Increase Bass doubles down on the vanity. The tune does precisely as its title guarantees, providing a jolt of groovy rhythm that hits proper from the beginning and by no means lets up. By the point we’ve reached its effusive finale, the fellows have whipped the power right into a frenzy. Nonetheless, it’s the particular touches (particularly that sticky dance break) that safe Bass‘s place within the pantheon of SM Leisure funk-pop classics. (full overview)
6. OnlyOneOf – dOpamine
OnlyOneOf appear intent to ship high quality over amount. They return as soon as in a blue moon, however usually with music too potent to disregard. Like their finest singles, dOpamine flirts with present traits however exists on the sides of the mainstream. Its drum and bass percussion provides method to an exciting hook that comes with jagged synth and icy funk riffs. Nevertheless, it’s the dynamic bridge that really elevates this above the pack. Junji’s energy word main into the ultimate refrain is without doubt one of the mot thrilling moments Ok-pop delivered all 12 months. (full overview)
5. TWS – If I’m S, Can You Be My N?
First encounters are arduous, nevertheless it’s the follow-up that actually issues. TWS’s debut 12 months has been all about specificity in sound and message, and If I’m S, Can You Be My N? tells you all the things you’ll want to know from its extremely distinctive title alone. The tune is a seize bag of musical concepts, tied collectively by melodies so potent they lower via the noise in celebratory bursts of confetti. The singing is impassioned and joyful, nevertheless it’s Shinyu’s personality-rich rap that absolutely steals the present. (full overview)
4. Trendz – Go Up
Veteran producers have gotten extra of a rarity in Ok-pop, so it’s at all times thrilling to see the title of a legendary hitmaker connected to a tune’s credit. Trendz scored a significant coup by touchdown producer Courageous Brothers for Go Up. The tune sees him totally harnessing his upbeat mix of tropical synths, buzzsaw guitar and anthemic hooks. Most significantly, Go Up by no means forgets the ability of a killer pop hook, lacing each second with a dynamic vary of melodies that give the tune actual heft. That is no extra evident than through the refrain, which forgoes gimmicks in favor of a megawatt chorus that sweeps you off your toes. (full overview)
3. TWS – Plot Twist
A fantastic pop tune is sort of a three-act play: set-up, rising stakes, payoff. And like a play, Plot Twist unfolds as a narrative. Not solely does it set the scene for TWS’s idiosyncratic worldview, nevertheless it manages to encapsulate a complete youth drama within the area of two and a half minutes. The power to stuff so many musical goodies into such a small body is sort of spectacular, nevertheless it wouldn’t work with out the members’ partaking personalities. Having watched Plot Twist carried out 3 times in a single weekend, I can testify to its place because the 12 months’s finest efficiency anthem, climaxing in an impossibly addictive “Na-na-na, na-na” chorus that will get everybody out of their seat whether or not they’re acquainted with the observe or not. The truth that the tune went on to grow to be a Korean megahit is probably the most deserved, thrilling plot twist of the 12 months. (full overview)
2. RIIZE – Inconceivable
Is there a greater mixture than SM Leisure and home music? 9 years after SHINee’s View perpetually tied the style to the summer season season, Inconceivable follows in these mighty footsteps with a refreshing sound of its personal. From the primary “Gimme that beat!” to the thrilling outro, the tune by no means relinquishes its grip. Its percolating synth rhythm bubbles with intricate funk exclamations as the fellows provide ultra-smooth vocals excessive.
As thrillingly taut as Inconceivable is, the observe really explodes when it defies expectations. Many 2024 singles would conclude after their second refrain, however RIIZE amp issues up from right here as a fist-pumping dance break collides with a synth-laced finale that retraces the tune’s glories with added ceremony. This transformation feels nearly cinematic, pummeling the listener with one final sonic whirlwind earlier than they eagerly rush to replay the observe. (full overview)
1. TWS – hey! hey!
It’s grow to be cliche to say “music is my drug,” however there’s really no higher method to mainline an emotion than with a 3 minute blast of pop music. In terms of hey! hey!, the feelings in query are optimism, pleasure and affection. Irrespective of the place you’re or what you’re doing, these emotions are at all times welcome, and with the push of a button they grow to be accessible for 3 minutes and 13 seconds. The surface world fades to the background, changed with TWS’s vibrant imaginative and prescient of youth and alternative.
TWS had a banner 12 months and launched music extra technically daring than this, however from hey! hey!‘s opening guitar riff to the barreling power of its bridge, no different 2024 tune knocked me off-balance in the identical method. Its construction and supply have a timeless enchantment, borrowing tropes from a long time of rock and pop, however every time I hear the observe my thoughts goes again to the identical ineffable high quality: it’s actually about feeling. The tune makes me really feel one thing. It affirms core parts of the human expertise: friendship, chance, tenacity. These are easy but complicated beliefs, most potently expressed via the sneaky simplicity of a pop tune.
Sure, I’m sentimental. The sound and power of a rookie group striving to perform their goals will at all times have an effect on me, particularly once they accomplish that with such apparent ardour. You possibly can really feel that keenness coursing via each word of hey! hey! and it’s an energizing emotion to return to any second chances are you’ll want it. Dohoon places it finest on the tune’s exclamatory climax: “Run until we attain the very finish.” This tune makes me wish to dash. (full overview)