What a year in music 2022 has been, especially for K-pop!
According to my annual Spotify Wrapped, K-pop ranked second as my most listened to genre this year, so I’m excited to return and share some of my personal favorites~
10. JIN - The Astronaut
As a BTS stan, this song is quite emotional given Jin’s recent enlistment into the military. It was truly a gift to fans and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect farewell for him, but even that aside, “The Astronaut” gave us some of his best vocals to date along with beautiful lyrics, thanks in part to Coldplay. Following the success of “My Universe,” it was great to see them reunite so soon for this little surprise.
9. Jay Park - Need To Know
R&B is one of my favorite genres of music, so when I discovered Korean R&B shortly after delving into K-pop, I fell in love. This song is simple in the best way possible and has such a chill vibe. The MV’s concept is really cute too.
8. B.I - BTBT
This song had been out for a while before it really grew on me, and it wasn’t until I stumbled upon the dance practice that I was all in. The choreography and quality of movement really captivated me, and as a dancer, this style is right up my alley. I can’t even recall how many times I’ve watched the performance film, but at this point, I’ve listened to the song without the visuals just as many times. When the song and MV hit equally, that’s how I know I’m really into it.
7. BLACKPINK - Ready For Love
I recently had the pleasure of attending BLACKPINK’s “Born Pink World Tour” back in November, and despite an underwhelming album/comeback for me, “Ready For Love” is a personal favorite and instantly brings me back to the concert. Although their future seems to be in question lately, I truly wish them the best and hope they pursue whatever makes them happy moving forward.
6. Advanced, JUNNY - Love Eternally
JUNNY is probably my favorite artist that I unexpectedly got into in 2022. He reminds me a bit of Eric Nam probably because they can both sing really well. I also saw JUNNY back in September and his live vocals were just as impressive as the studio recordings. “Love Eternally” is such a good listen and I’m a sucker for a beautiful love song.
5. GOT7 - NANANA
Sonically, this is definitely my type of song! Again, I love R&B, so the tone and smooth beat are so enjoyable for me. Also, shout out to GOT7 for taking control of their careers and leaving their label on their own terms while also pursuing solo endeavors!
4. BTS - Run BTS
When BTS released their anthology album in June, I was happy to see a few new tracks on there. “Run BTS” was my favorite and seeing the dance practice blew me away. Their staging and moments were really cool and clever. This makes me excited for their return in 2025, but until then, I look forward to watching this on the big screen in early 2023!
3. TWICE - Talk That Talk
While I’m not that big into girl groups, this song is objectively an instant classic. Before getting into K-pop, this is the type of sound I would think of when I thought about the genre. To me, “Talk That Talk” represents the best of K-pop from catchy lyrics to even catchier choreography and not to mention the overall looks and visuals. This song has allowed me to appreciate others like it, and for that, I’m grateful to expand my taste.
2. RM - Closer
Since becoming a part of the BTS Army in 2018, RM has grown to be my bias, so unsurprisingly, I was looking forward to his debut album. We’re the same age and both Virgos, so I feel like I can relate to him a lot in some ways. “Indigo” was so personal and provided us fans with lots of insight into his world and experiences. “Closer” was an instant favorite and remains my top song though the entire album is great!
1. NewJeans - Hype Boy
I hate to admit that I was late to the New Jeans party, but it’s true! However, “Hype Boy” was the perfect debut record to mark their introduction. I’m not sure what else to say because I feel like this song speaks for itself. It’s so refreshing and makes me excited for the next generation of K-pop groups, especially these ladies!