Katherine’s Top K-pop Songs of 2019: A (Somewhat) Brief Summary

“Double Knot” is definitely my style of music – like I said, I like songs that go hard. It’s actually a little more rap-heavy than I tend to like, but I find of all of Stray Kids’ rappers really unique and interesting. While I liked the song a lot, the choreography was the big draw for me. It was really intricate and entertaining, and seeing them perform it in person at the Busan One Asia Festival was definitely awesome. In 2019, I still wasn’t that sold on Stray Kids. Hearing “District 9” a million times in one day the year before really did its damage, and I just didn’t vibe with any of the music they put out after that. However, “Double Knot” piqued my interest.

Chungha was always pretty popular from her debut, but 2019 was the year she truly became a star. South Korea was obsessed with “Gotta Go,” but I personally preferred “Snapping.” I’ve been following Chungha in her I.O.I days – so basically since the beginning – and I waited years for her to release a song like this. She’s owned all of her singles so far, but musically, she never went as girl crush as I wanted her to until this point. “Snapping” is the persona that fits her perfectly: mysterious, sexy, and sassy. So this comeback was EVERYTHING to me.

CLC is no stranger to the girl crush concept. In fact, they started doing it a couple years before it got popular. Did they get any recognition for it? NO. “ME” is one of my favorite CLC songs because it is so powerful both in sound and subject. So many girl crush songs are basically like, “Look at me! I’m so fierce and badass!” And that’s totally fine, because pop (especially K-pop) is not meant to be deep and thought-provoking. But at the same time, I really appreciate when girl crush isn’t just an aesthetic and can actually inspire some confidence in the young women listening. CLC’s music video has fantastic production design and wardrobe, but “ME” itself has the added bonus of carrying an empowering message. I am forever frustrated that CLC isn’t more popular, but I’m glad that they’re continuing to do what they want artistically and still creating great music.

I went to an EXO concert right around when this song came out, so it’s permanently ingrained into my summer memories. And I loved it, so I’m not complaining. I was SO EXCITED when SM announced that Sehun and Chanyeol were going to make an EXO subunit. Sehun is my bias, and Chanyeol is my best friend’s ultimate bias. IT’S PERFECT. As a full group, EXO is known for being highly experimental and trying a lot of genres – mostly of the intense and/or sexy nature. EXO-SC did a full 180, focusing on relaxing and carefree summer grooves like “What a Life.” It’s such a contrast to see such megastars acting so chill and laidback while cruising around LA, but I think the down to earth vibes suit them really well.

I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS COMEBACK. The ultra-romantic song. The beautiful (and slightly sexy) choreography. The stunning flowery music video. The fashionable outfits. If I had written a review about it, I probably would have given it 100 points because ASTRO did such a fabulous job. “All Night” isn’t higher on my list because there were other songs that ultimately held my attention for longer periods of time. BUT, it does have the distinction of being a song that I listened to consistently for a whole year. That is incredibly rare for me, so I think that says a lot.

I was intrigued by EVERGLOW’s debut, but “Adios” was the song that really made me pay attention to them. It’s a fierce and powerful breakup anthem with tons of attitude. I’ve been single for a hot minute, but I sure wish this song had been around when I broke up with my ex. And of course, I like how this song goes hard. The choreography has this sharp militaristic precision that really punctuates the heavy percussion in the music, and it’s really satisfying to watch. EVERGLOW has gone all in the girl crush concept, and I think they pull it off really well. I am all for them leading the girl power brigade.

“ICY” was 100% my song of the summer. I remember listening to it dozens of times through July, August, and probably September too. (Actually, I never *really* stopped listening to it… but this was the peak time.) I admit I was probably influenced by my students – Korean kids are obsessed with ITZY – but I also think it’s that much of a bop. It’s just so much fun! Its fast and funky dance beats are exactly what you need for a summer song. And it’s the perfect combination of sweet and sassy. I could NOT get over that attitude-filled dance break and all the power-posing.

I don’t usually become emotional over K-pop, but there were exactly three times I cried during a music video this year. The first one on this list was “Lion.” I genuinely cannot listen to it without tearing up. It’s hard to explain what about it elicits that reaction, but it just really speaks to me. Maybe it’s because I want to feel fierce like a lion or a queen when in reality I’m unlike either. Maybe it’s the message that women can be elegant and beautiful, but they can also be powerful and dangerous. Maybe it’s because it reminds me of times when I was (or wasn’t) strong. In any case, “Lion” is an excellent song and a stunning music video. It’s definitely my favorite (G)I-DLE track, and it’s beautiful and creative in so many ways.

Fun fact: I always accidentally refer to this song as “Call Me By Your Name,” and then no one ever knows what I’m talking about because they’re thinking of the movie. But putting that aside, this was the sexy GOT7 comeback I never knew I needed. Both the song and choreography are very minimalistic and pared down compared to other GOT7 eras, but I think that simplicity helps them shine. There’s something about it that’s so personal; I truly do feel like I’m listening to a man imploring his lover to come back. I was almost scandalized the first time around – I wasn’t prepared for that kind of intimacy! (Though of course, I secretly loved it.) I generally envision GOT7 as a bunch of fun-loving goofballs, so I think “Call Me By Your Name” helped me them more like the grown up men they are. And on another note: can we talk about those LEATHER SUITS?

Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person who likes “Zimzalabim.” I know I’m not, because I went to Red Velvet’s concert and we all cheered like crazy when they performed it for the finale. But in terms of my K-pop friends and what I saw on the Internet, I was definitely the only one. Yes, the fashion is terrible. Yes, the song is kind of all over the place. Yes, it’s chaotic. But that’s part of the charm! Like I said before, the really out there songs are starting to fade away as K-pop becomes more global. But I always enjoy the ones that are a bit of a wild ride. And the whole concept is based on an amusement park, so it’s supposed to be fun and whimsical! I really appreciate when Red Velvet shows their quirky side, and I think “Zimzalabim” proves they really can do anything.