The originals: the 18 songs that made me a K-pop stan.
For any genre, a handful of songs and artists make you fall in love. These are the tracks that turned me onto K-pop.
Everyone has a list of songs that turned them into fans of their favorite genres. These could be old classics that you heard growing up, tracks you discovered one night, or recommendations made by a friend. Usually, however, it's a mixture of everything. My story with K-pop is just that. Growing up as a Korean American, K-pop has always been in my life in some capacity. Some of those songs could count for this list, but they are more like nostalgia-filled remnants of my childhood, rather than the music that made me fall in love with the genre. Many of these transformative songs were recommended to me by my sister during winter break of 2020. I became obsessed with them, slowly mixing each into my music catalog until they took it over completely.
These are the 18 songs that I credit for making me a K-pop stan and a summary of what I love about them. Linked here is a Spotify playlist of the songs.
“FANCY” by TWICE
I will just come out and say it: “FANCY” is my favorite K-pop song of all time. There are so many elements to the track I could rave about for hours, but the main one is how it makes me feel. This piece has made me emotional many times listening to it. The energy that it gives me is rarely matched by other songs in K-pop, and seeing it live made me shed a tear. The instrumental done by Black Eyed Pilsueng is one of the duo's best, with an infectious, energetic beat present throughout the song. The pre-chorus builds up into a chorus that hits the listener with a sense of joy, making them want to sing and dance along.
“Switch to Me” (duet with JYP) by Rain
Rain has remained one of my favorite Korean artists across my entire life. His tracks “Rainism” and “It’s Raining” could easily be on this list. However, Rain and JYP’s “Switch to Me” holds a special place in my heart. The song pays homage to the sounds of K-pop's first and second generations with a New Jack Swing beat and good use of synths. This fits the two industry veterans. Throughout, they switch lines, fighting for the affection of the same person of interest and constantly trying to one-up each other. This entire bit of the song is only made better by the music video, as the theatrics of their battle for love make the “duet” nature of the piece even more charming.
“Love Killa” by MONSTA X
“Love Killa” and “Play It Cool” (a track I will talk more about later) were the reason why, at midnight and while studying for finals, I bought tickets to my first K-pop concert and my first solo concert. “Love Killa” embodies bravado and swagger. One of the introduction lines of the song is, “Oh, I’m sorry, did I make you anxious?” which is delivered in a playful, teasing manner. From the jump, it is obvious to the listener that they are meant to feel like the main character, and the rest of the piece only reinforces that mentality.
“Dazzle Dazzle” by Weki Meki
“Dazzle Dazzle” is one of the quintessential bubble pop songs. The track is whimsical, with an addictive chorus and instrumental section that keep it very upbeat. Meanwhile, the bridge provides more depth by stripping back the instrumentals and focusing on the vocals of the members. This choice makes the final chorus even more impactful, as the return of the instrumentals and vocals leave the listener AWE-struck.
“WANNABE” by ITZY
“WANNABE” is an emphatic anthem that celebrates how cool and awesome it is to be yourself. As the song builds to its chorus, you can’t help but yell the lyrics at the top of your lungs. This piece is incredibly energetic, with a killer dance break section towards the conclusion that really highlights the instrumentals driving the track’s movement. “WANNABE” just makes you feel better.
“Obsession” by EXO
“Obsession” and “Love Killa” are opposite sides of the same coin. Its lyrics describe trying to move past that former love interest who you can’t seem to let go. Dem Jointz, my favorite K-pop producer, created this very hard-hitting and rhythmic instrumental that does an amazing job of balancing the very dynamic sections of the verses and the lighter parts in the chorus and bridge. This, mixed with EXO's vocal performance, creates a dark and oppressive track that makes you feel badass.
“Psycho” by Red Velvet
With its stunning vocals, there are only a handful of songs that create a cinematic experience comparable to “Psycho.” There is an extra level of depth that Red Velvet creates with their vocal harmonies here. “Psycho” is elegant, with a slight hint of creepy, and is just overall an absolutely gorgeous track with an amazing aesthetic and atmosphere throughout.
“I Love You” by EXID
“I Love You” is another track where, when the chorus hits, you can’t help but scream it. I love how fun and catchy it is—it doesn’t try to be more than itself. The production and instrumentals are simple, but they do a great job framing the moments within it. Additionally, “I Love You” is a classic example of the “lalala” song archetype in K-pop.
“LOVE SCENARIO” by iKon
I could write a whole other article about the history I have with this song. This is one of my comfort tracks. “LOVE SCENARIO” strikes the right balance of being energetic and laidback. Every time I hear it, I get hit with a trip of nostalgia for my first year in college. This piece meant so much to me at the time and helped me get through the monotony of being in college during COVID. As I said, I could go on and on, but it truly is one of a kind. Amazing vocals, catchy chorus, love-struck, and nostalgic are the start of a near-infinite list of ways to describe “LOVE SCENARIO.”
“God’s Menu” by Stray Kids
“God’s Menu” is my number one hype song in K-pop—it just makes you feel like you can do or lift anything. Its booming instrumental does a fantastic job of balancing every part of the song, from the slow, more melodic pre-chorus to a chorus that makes you want to pop off. This is a track you have to experience to understand.
“Fantastic Baby” by BIGBANG
The following two picks are songs I have been listening to for what feels like my entire life. “Fantastic Baby” is one of only a few singles outside of “Gangnam Style” to find success in Western markets in the early 2010s, and it is easy to see why. “Fantastic Baby” is a fun and dynamic EDM track with one of the catchiest hooks in all of music. It is no surprise that Teddy Park, the genius creative producer behind BlackPink, is credited as one of the creative leads.
“BANG BANG BANG” by BIGBANG
“BANG BANG BANG” showcases one of my favorite aspects of K-pop, which is its constantly changing sound and a willingness to blend different genres and styles together. The verses on the track are a kind of dance-inspired 90’s beat, while the chorus is a trap breakdown that gives off this energy of riding in a low-rider doing donuts and just not giving a shit. This comes to a climax at the end of the song, where the sound becomes somewhat chaotic with large horns and a powerful rhythm, making you feel “lit” and like you could do whatever you want.
“Play It Cool” by Steve Aoki, MONSTA X
This song mixes one of my favorite groups with my favorite DJ/EDM producer, Steve Aoki. “Play It Cool” is fantastic as a rave anthem and does not overcomplicate itself in its production. I love Aoki’s style as a producer and how it mixes with the swagger from members of MONSTA X. There is an infectious nature to this track that makes you want to put it on repeat.
“NINETEEN” by NATTY
“NINETEEN” by Natty is another song that I have been a big fan of since my first listen. The track is upbeat and, with a THICK bass section in the chorus, it makes me want to keep pushing forward. I think finding this when I was 19 myself may have helped drive home the message.
“pporappippam” by Sunmi
An absolutely heavenly track, “pporappippam” has been one of my late-night staples. The atmosphere and aesthetics fit its translation, “purple night,” perfectly, guided by a sense of wanderlust and groundedness. Just as purple is the mix of red and blue, the song takes on both softer and stronger elements at different moments. A ripping guitar, driving bass, and soft synths alongside Sunmi's stunning vocals make this one of my first earworms sonically in K-pop.
“Tag Me (@ME)” by Weeekly
“Tag Me” does not take itself seriously and is a great example of how K-pop songs can easily get stuck in your head after one listen. It's a fun and upbeat song. This track has so much charm while also having very different sounds explored within its run time. I also love the little chanting sections, as they introduce a nice element of dynamism.
“RETRO FUTURE” by Triple H
First off, this piece is very aptly named. "RETRO FUTURE" is a title that describes exactly what the listener is going to get. The track builds on retro-style beat sampling, using Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message” mixed with modern synths. It can honestly be described as quite a lot due to the amount of layers that are going on in the instrumental section. However, the song is enjoyable, and it too avoids taking itself too seriously. The rap sections in the song are playful, and the chorus is addicting, with its chanting of “retro future.” Triple H being one of the few co-ed groups ever to exist in the scene adds a further fun element to this track—and to their short-lived career.
“Villain” by PIXY
“Villain” by Pixy was the first K-pop song I found on my own, and PIXY is the first group that I truly became obsessed with. What drew me to them was the high quality of their production despite being relatively small and unknown. One of my favorite aspects of “Villain” is that, as the song continues, the chorus starts to drop lyrics. This gap created after the first chorus makes for a really cool effect, and your brain, after multiple listens, fills in the gap. In addition, the piece just has a level of swagger to it. It gives off “it girl” energy, but the darker tones also make it feel badass.
As I reflect on this list, I am appreciative that these were the songs that got me into the K-pop genre. Looking at them, there are so many different aspects of the genre represented throughout, and this diverse foundation has only made me a better fan. This article is meant to be a mini-love letter to this genre I love dearly and one that has made me closer to my heritage, family, and friends. K-pop has truly defined my college experience, as I have countless memories attached to the genre as a whole. These selections demonstrate that anyone willing to listen and explore K-pop will find something out there that they can enjoy. I hope this list inspires you the same way my sister's recommendations inspired me—and that you find a song or group that you love and will continue to enjoy for years to come.
edited by Eva Smolen.
album artwork believed to belong to either the publisher of the work or the artist.
