Rules
- 1 song per artist per list
- No set rankings (order is generally good to best)
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"Sparkling" - CHUNG HA
- co-written by CHUNG HA
Music video (English subs available)
Music show performance (the graphic liner though?! 😍)
Chungha is back for the singles list, as are 3 other artists! "Sparkling" is catchy, upbeat synth pop goodness. When I first heard this single, I didn't think it stood out much, but after watching her perform it a few times, it really grew on me.
I really like the guitar, bass line, and percussion on this track, which complement the synths really nicely. I think "Sparkling" is a nice addition to the "new-tro" (new+retro) k-pop trend with its mix of modern and 80s inspired synths/percussion. Chungha’s vocals are also great (as always) on this single.
The choreo is also entertaining, and its definitely this song's performance that helped win me over in the end. I loved how Chungha was styled this era, and the mermaid concept was perfect for the summer! Her hair, outfits, and makeup were all stunning the entire era!
"Lovender" - HAN SEUNG YUN
Music video (with English subs)
Live performance (shortened, but this is the best overall performance)
Seungyun has been a soloist for a while, but I didn't learn about him until this single released. "Lovender", which means love ender but also seems to be a combination of lavender (a big motif in this album) and love, is an emotional power ballad.
I have to admit that I immediately fell in love with Seungyun's vocal tone, so I may be pretty biased on this one. I think he did a great job of expressing the heartbreak and desperation in the lyrics through his vocals. There are some really beautiful harmonies going on in the chorus that support his strong vocals perfectly. I also really like the bridge's lyrics, as well as the last line of the final chorus ("don't break me, don't take off a petal"). If you like his voice, I recommend the b-side "Whatever You Want", which happened to just miss my b-sides list.
"PLAY" - LUCY
- composed by Cho Wonsang (bassist, vocalist in LUCY)
- co-written by Cho Wonsang
Music video (English subs available)
Live performance (English subs available)
Well, it's probably not a surprise that LUCY is on my singles list in addition to my b-sides list. I will say, I think "PLAY" is the closest LUCY has gotten to matching their 2020 single "Snooze", so it definitely had to make this list. Nostalgia and embracing your inner child are major themes throughout LUCY's music, and "PLAY" is no exception. The bright keyboard that opens the song is so lovely, and the vocals from Gwangil and Sangyeop are beautiful. And, as expected of LUCY, the lyrics are very well written.
The music video has to be one of my favorite things about this single. I love how the mv is set up very simply, as if it were a series of play sets for a child. I think it was a smart way to drive the concept and theme of the video home, while also being economical. The mv also sort of forces you to use your imagination to fill out the scenarios they present, just like a child would while playing pretend. The live performance is also amazing, and it's so great to see LUCY growing in popularity slowly but surely.
Other nominee(s): "Some Day in the 21century", "Run Away", "Firework" (this one doesn't really count since Sangyeop is the only member on this song, but it's so good that it gets a mention)
"MORE" - j-hope
- co-composed by j-hope
- co-written by j-hope
Music video (English subs available)
Live performance with live band (Lollapalooza)
It was so tough deciding between "MORE" and "Arson". Honestly, they're tied in my mind, but I went with "MORE" because it has more layers. I love how both singles are so different from what j-hope has released as a soloist, and he absolutely nailed the darker sound and concept! "MORE" is an addicting mix of old school hip-hop and grunge inspired rock. j-hope's lyrics and rap are excellent, which isn't a surprise, as is his delivery. The mv is entertaining, but the Lollapalloza performance with the live band is fantastic! The only criticism I have for this single is that I wish the chorus was a little more complex, but it's still a really good single regardless.
Other nominee(s): "Arson"
"Still Here" - ONEWE
- co-composed by Yonghoon
- written by Yonghoon
Music video (English subs available)
"Still Here" is a special single that ONEWE released for their fans shortly after Yonghoon and Kanghyun enlisted in the military (it was prepared beforehand, since you can't make new music during enlistment). Considering the context and the title, you can probably guess this is a ballad. It is more of a power ballad though, and the vocals and the emotional delivery are so good. Every time I hear Yonghoon sing the first line of the first chorus, I get chills. I like how soft the first chorus is before the sound starts to build in the second chorus. Thankfully, ONEWE prepared a music video for "Still Here" beforehand, but there are no live performances of it yet.
Other nominee(s): "Roommate"
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Didn't get this out yesterday like I had hoped, but I was feeling pretty tired. These singles posts are taking longer than expected too. A lot of the b-sides didn't have videos or performances, so it was easier to get through them. Not to mention, it didn't feel quite right to publish a post when news of the Monterey Park tragedy broke early yesterday (MP isn't too far from where I live and I'm very familiar with some parts of the city). Anyways, at least the next part is the last for this list!
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