The Best Kpop Songs Ever

I am basing this review on this page. I am not crazy about anything that’s come out recently, so I thought it could be fun to do a review of what people on the internet think are the best kpop songs of all time. And just so it won’t be just a couple of groups, I’m only allowing one song per group. That does mean that it won’t be exactly the songs that were chosen as the ten best, but it’ll be a little more interesting this way, I think.

10. Gangnam Style by PSY

 

Maybe not the most fascinating choice, but this is is the song that holds the number 20 spot, and with the rule of only one song per group, this is our number ten.

It’s hard for me to think of this as legit music. Having been bombarded with this song for so long, it’s impossible for me to think of this as just a normal song. I can’t even decide if I like it or not. But since it has over 2 billion views on youtube now, it’s got to be good, right?

Just a little side note: In the lyrics he says that he wants a girl who looks sexy without wearing skimpy clothes. And then the video features Hyuna. I’m not bashing on Hyuna at all, I love that girl to death, but she isn’t exactly known for dressing conservatively…

9. Neverland by U-KISS

 

This was the first U-KISS song I ever heard, and definitely still one of my absolute favorites. And it is apparently also the nineteenth best kpop song of all time, and number nine on my list.

I like this song a lot, it really goes for the auto-tuned, electronic, party music kind of style. And does it well. I also really like the choreography and styling. The choreography is one of those kpop choreographies that you relate to the song so strongly that you can’t listen to the song without seeing the choreography before your eyes, and the styling is just damn hot. I mean, just look at Kiseop! Now tell me with a straight face that he isn’t smoking hot in this video.

8. Love Ya by SS501

 

Guys, this is the first time I’ve ever watched this video in it’s entirety, which is pretty bad since this is apparently the fifteenth best kpop song ever. And I’m having somewhat of a religious experience. (I had to stop, check out the live performance and then download the song) I’ve been madly in love with Kim Hyun Joong ever since I watched Boys Over Flowers, but I’ve never taken the time to really look into his (past? current?) group. I’m loving this song, and the dance and video are hot as hell. And wow… Hyun Joong… Damn. You’re too damn hot whatever you do. But these other guys are really hot too! WHY DIDN’T I KNOW THIS? So please, Triple Ss out there, let me know what other songs/videos/interviews I should check out.

7. Roly Poly by T-ARA

 

This is number 13 on the original list, and therefore number 7 here. This isn’t my favorite song from T-ARA, but it has that super fun, disco vibe that we all want from them. I love the dancing in the video, and the styling is really great.

I fairly recently learned the members of T-ARA, and still think it’s really hard to tell the difference between some of them at times, and this video was really hard for me. It’s not okay to wear sunglasses through almost the entirety of the video! Jiyeon looked super hot in the beginning though, just saying. But which one is the one that’s not around anymore? There’s seven of them in the video, and they’re only six members nowadays… Hmm… Help me out?

6. I Am the Best by 2NE1

 

2NE1 is my favorite girl group, and this is definitely one of my favorite songs from them. And apparently it’s also the eleventh best kpop song ever! This is definitely one of the songs I’ve replayed the most times, and one of the songs I’ve tried to sing the most times. If I get the romanized lyrics, I can actually sing this song all the way through, and that says something about how many times I’ve tried. Anyway, it’s a great song.

5. Fiction by B2ST

 

This is one of those songs that I feel like I should love since everyone else does. It’s apparently the sixth best kpop song ever, so why don’t I love it more? I think it’s beautifully sung (especially the chorus, and especially when it’s Yoseob singing. But I really like how the different members put their own spins on the chorus) and the choreography is excellent. But I don’t love this song, I really don’t. Frankly, to me, it’s a little boring.

4. Fantastic Baby by BIGBANG

 

I was late with jumping on the BIGBANG bandwagon. I didn’t become a fan of them until the triple release of 2012, but at that point I already knew G-Dragon, T.O.P and Taeyang. I thought they were all solo artists though, and that GD and T.O.P just collaborated when they did High High. Oh those old uninformed times. This is the ultimate kpop party song, and I’m really looking forward to see if what BIGBANG releases this year will be able to top the glorious trio of Fantastic Baby, Bad Boy, and Blue (with the added fabulousness of Monster).

3. Ring Ding Dong by SHINee

 

I love SHINee, so I’m very happy seeing them come fourth on such a list, but I don’t think it should be with this song. This song is so auto-tuned that it hurts. This was the first SHINee song I ever heard, and I legitimately thought that Onew couldn’t sing because he was so auto-tuned! That’s not right. This song is so much better when performed live.

Random thought that just struck me: There are at least a couple of guys (might be three, but I’m not sure) that like me, and I’ve been thinking if I should just date one of them. Because why not? And this song just made me think: “No. Why should I settle for less than this level of hotness?” I’m going to die alone.

2. Gee by Girls’ Generation

 

This was the breakout song of the most popular girl group in Korea, so it’s not at all strange that it’s number two here. This was one of the very first kpop songs I ever heard (I think it was the third one) and it was the ultimate test to see if I’d really learned all the names of all the members. Similar hairstyles, pretty much the same clothes and quick cuts? This is a tricky one. But nowadays I can do it in my sleep, and yes, I am proud of myself.

This is an insanely catchy song, but I don’t like the image Girls’ Generation had back here. The whole “I’m such a shy girl who knows nothing” routine is very much not my thing. And I’m so glad it’s not theirs anymore either. (And SM, if you bring this style back in any way for the next comeback… You won’t like the consequences.)

1. Sorry Sorry by Super Junior

 

The song that really made Super Junior popular back in 2009. It’s no coincidence that all their songs since sounds vaguely like this one. It’s one of the most notorious kpop songs, with an even more notorious dance. It’s impossible to say “sorry” in a group of kpoppers without someone immediately starting to sing and/or dance this song. And while I don’t think it’s a very good song, I will bow before the power that it has.

Final Thoughts

So, do I think these are the best kpop songs ever? No. But these are some of the absolute most famous and influential ones, so there is something special here. That’s for sure.

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If you have any comments, suggestions or requests for Friday’s list of the week, Sunday’s random post or next Tuesday’s review then leave a comment, send me an ask on tumblr, or email me at topofthekpops@gmail.com!

– Admin A