My Top 50 K-Pop Songs- Part I (50-46)

You know how you sometimes smile, but you're so happy that you do so for longer than is socially acceptable, so you start looking creepy? Yeah, that's me right now. My top 50 K-Pop songs is something I've wanted to share with the world for a long, long time. With that being said, this list is ever changing, not only because there are new releases every single day (#blessed), but mostly because the level of love I have for any given song isn't set in stone. There are some which I thought would surely be on my top-20, because my memory told me that I enjoyed them the most. Yet, after listening to more than 100 songs while creating this list, I sadly realized that my love for them had become only that, a memory. Ranking my favorite K-Pop songs was both an exciting and heartbreaking exercise. Nevertheless, I am extremely proud of the final outcome.

Before we begin, some ground rules:

• There won't be any ballads, that will be another list entirely (feel free to look forward to that).

• Lastly, although I love these songs the most, that doesn't mean that I don't bop to many songs by various other k-pop artists, so please don't be offended if I didn't include your favorite! This is just my humble opinion. There are several groups I love that didn't make the list, but that's because I mostly like their entire package (the members, their choreography, the concepts of their comebacks, their personalities, and more), instead of any one of their songs in particular.

'Nough said, let's get started!

50. Pristin- "We Like"

I like everything about Pristin. They are one of the few K-Pop groups from which all members can sing, rap and dance. (Also they're all gorgeous, but that's not important, right?) Not only that, but they also help create their own choreography and music. Pristin is seriously the whole package, and I am happy to see that they are following in the steps of their now successful "older brother group," called Seventeen (both groups are under the same company). Although I enjoyed their debut single "Wee Woo," "We Like" is the song that turned me into a fan. I admit, the single is definitely repetitive, but the way their voices blend together is so otherworldly, I forget to register the 100 "like(s)" that make up the chorus. What makes this first comeback by Pristin stand out, is that it serves as a perfect demonstration of how vocals can be used as instruments. Not only by the various harmonies throughout the entire song, but especially in the backing vocals during the pre-chorus; the girls sound as if they were A capella singers instead of K-Pop idols. It makes for a fantastic contrast between the pre-chorus and the rest of the song. If you want to hear what I'm talking about click HERE.

49. Highlight- "Plz Don't Be Sad"

Please don't be sad after I inform you that I actually never paid attention to Beast. Don't get me wrong, no one can deny that “Fiction” is a good song, but it is also extremely 2011. Then, out of nowhere (at least for a non-Beast fan like me), Highlight was born. They debuted with “Plz don’t be sad” on March 20, 2017, and I couldn’t believe it was actually them. There is a freshness to this song, probably because they wanted to differentiate their new sound from their previous work, but “Plz don’t be sad” is definitely a single that can cheer someone up if they are every feeling a bit blue. Their use of up-beat synths and group vocals make the song extremely catchy. To put it simply, I categorize "Plz Don't Be Sad," as an overall “feel good” song that should be a part of everyone's K-Pop playlist.

By the way, if anyone wants to start learning K-Pop choreography but they have no idea where to start, the steps of this song's chorus are super easy and a great starting point! Follow them by watching this video.

48. NCT U- "The 7th Sense"

If anyone had asked me if this song deserved a spot on my top-50 list right after its release, I would have easily said no. Yet, look at us now. what can I say, my journey to loving this song has been, in fact, a "long ass ride." NCT-U’s “The 7th Sense” was the beginning of a K-Pop group that is relatively still on it’s early stages. Their company, SM entertainment, posted teaser after teaser images and videos of the group members until, finally, on April 8, 2016 the music video was released. For those of us already familiar with the “SM sound,” this song came out of nowhere. Never had SM released a hip-hop/trap song quite like this one. They usually tend to go for a mixture of pop and electronic, which is why I was reluctant about liking this song at first. I am definitely a fan of the "SM sound," but I'm not one to listen to hip-hop very often. Still, I give praise where praise is due, and “The 7th Sense” eventually earned mine. Now days, Its massive production, great vocals, and amazing music video make me slowly but surely stop everything I’m doing and start dancing instead. Also, it’s really fun to sing “UH, and that’s a long ass ride,” along maknae (youngest member) Mark who, BTW, was only 16 at the time. Damn, SM is getting "edgier" by the year!

47. Seventeen- "Adore You"

Guitars, vocals, rapping and dancing all wrapped together in a nice little bow, what do you get? “Adore You.” The 2015 debut of the now well established group, Seventeen, exceeded my expectations. This song, which was composed by group member Woozi and choreographed by member Hoshi, went places I didn’t even know I wanted to be taken to. (For those who don't know, for group members to create their own music and choreography is not common in the slightest.)The songs starts with a funky beat accompanied by whispering vocals, which gave the song's intro a mysterious vibe. Then, like getting hit by a gust of cool wind on a summer day, I was pleasantly refreshed by the two main vocalists and their powerful, yet angelical, voices. Halfway through the song, I realize that Seventeen wasn't like any other rookie group the industry had ever seen. These guys are full of talent, and it hasn't gone unnoticed by K-Pop fans ever since the start of their careers.

46. Boys Republic- "Get Down"

Nothing, I tell you, NOTHING makes angrier than the injustice that the K-Pop fandom has done to Boys Republic. They debuted in 2013, every single one of their singles have been fantastic, so why are people sleeping on them? I just don’t get it. I’ll get more in depth regarding this issue on a later article, but for now, let’s talk about “Get Down.” This song is revolutionary. Okay, maybe it isn’t in the musical sense, but every time I hear this song it makes me so pumped I feel ready to lead the next social movement. With it’s hardcore synth sounds, “nanana” chants, and drums that hit my speaker so hard it feels as if the ground is trembling, I believe this song can truly make everyone want to "get down." The music video is also incredible, and the choreography is one of my favorites! I just love everything about this comeback, I can't praise it enough. Lastly, I would like to point out the most important part of the song. The first time (and every time since) I heard Sunwoo sing, "You're the only one that keeps me satisfied," I LOST IT! My inner fan-girl simply lost it, and I bet yours will to!

WARNING: There is a bit of gore in the video below, if you want to avoid that click HERE to watch the performance version instead.

That is all for now. Part II is already out, click HERE if you want to check it out!

It's going to be a long-ass ride until I unveil my favorite K-Pop song, I hope you stick around until then!