Rules
- 1 song per artist per list
- No set rankings (order is generally good to best)
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"O" - VERIVERY
Music video (English subs available)
Music show performance
Fan girl side note: Hoyoung (all black outfit) looks so good here, and I like Dongheon's outfit a lot too (black beanie)
Fan girl side note: Hoyoung (all black outfit) looks so good here, and I like Dongheon's outfit a lot too (black beanie)
Full cam view of music show performance
VERIVERY created their own niche in k-pop from 2020-2022 with their unique electronic based title tracks. "O" was a bit of a departure from that sound, as it's more of an R&B based song, but I do love a good R&B track. Overall, I think the song flows really nicely, and I really enjoy listening to it. The only small issue I have with the song is that the final chorus isn't as climactic as it could have been in my opinion. But the vocals are really nice on this title track, and the rap is quite good as well!
The best aspect of this song is the performance though, as it often is with this group. VERIVERY is a strong dance group, and they continue to be one of the most synchronized boy groups in k-pop. There are a ton of choreo highlights throughout the entire song, but the pre-chorus, second verse, and chorus (especially the last one) are my favorite parts. I really like how the choreo seamlessly switches between more controlled, flowy moves and fast, hard hitting moves. The full cam view is a must watch when it comes to VERIVERY!
"Last Sequence" - WJSN
- co-written by EXY
Music video (English subs available)
Music show performance (the outfits and visuals✨)
Full cam view of music show performance
I just recently got into WJSN in 2021 after they released "UNNATURAL", and "Last Sequence" definitely has a similar vibe. Honestly, I still slightly prefer "UNNATURAL", and I wish I had put it on my top 20 title track list for 2021. I wanted to make sure this title track made my list though. "Last Sequence" is your classic dance pop track, but it has a sense of elegance and sophistication that WJSN always executes very well.
There are a ton of catchy vocal melodies throughout this song. The pre-chorus and chorus are my favorite parts, but the chorus is definitely the most addicting. The chorus flows so nicely, and is ridiculously catchy. Even the rap in the second verse is integrated perfectly, and EXY's rap stands out nicely without overpowering or completely changing the flow of the song. And the bridge has some of the best vocals in the song. My only improvement would be to make the last chorus a little more exciting or different in some way.
The choreo is beautiful and elegant and fits the song perfectly. The chorus choreo in particular is really addicting. Also, this is another comeback where the visuals, makeup, and outfits were amazing! This is supposed to be a mermaid sort of concept (like Chungha's "Sparkling" and Kwon Eunbi's "Underwater"), but it's a bit of a vague execution. I don't really mind though since the visuals were still really nice!
"LIMBO!" - NATURE
Music video
Official performance video
Full cam view of music show performance
NATURE has been on a roll since 2020 (if we ignore the special album they put out at the beginning of 2022), and I was so impressed by "LIMBO!" and the majority of the CODE W mini album! "LIMBO!" is a fun, borderline campy electronic dance pop track that perfectly balances serious intensity with quirky fun. I think this song was a bit polarizing in the k-pop realm, but there wasn't really another title track quite like it last year, and I enjoyed it a ton!
At first, I have to admit that I wasn't a big fan of the "limbo limbo lim" tagline. I found it a bit grating, but after a number of listens, it really grew on me. The synths on this song are very bold and loud, especially in the verses. Normally, I would probably find them a bit much, but it really works with this track's concept and vibe.
The chorus is definitely one of the main highlights of the song, and what a chorus it is. The chorus itself is the more serious, predictable half, but it's still really good. Meanwhile, the post-chorus is more chaotic and quirky and reminds me of 2nd gen k-pop. I really like the second verse as well, especially the first part. The vocals/rap there work well with the song and add some attitude to the song. The bridge is also well done, and I really like the instrumental a lot.
Originally, I wasn't entirely sure I was going to put this song on my title tracks list, but one of the big reasons it made it is the choreo. The choreo mixes strong and sultry moves with silly yet memorable moves. One moment they're doing powerful floor work and the next they are re-creating a game of limbo with the members and swinging their hair around with their hands. The choreo during the chorus and bridge are definitely my favorites! I love that the choreo is just as unpredictable as the song itself, and it was probably one of my faves from 2022! Also, as a side note, I loved the majority of the outfits from this era!
"LIMBO!" English translation
"Nerdy" - PURPLE KISS
At first, I have to admit that I wasn't a big fan of the "limbo limbo lim" tagline. I found it a bit grating, but after a number of listens, it really grew on me. The synths on this song are very bold and loud, especially in the verses. Normally, I would probably find them a bit much, but it really works with this track's concept and vibe.
The chorus is definitely one of the main highlights of the song, and what a chorus it is. The chorus itself is the more serious, predictable half, but it's still really good. Meanwhile, the post-chorus is more chaotic and quirky and reminds me of 2nd gen k-pop. I really like the second verse as well, especially the first part. The vocals/rap there work well with the song and add some attitude to the song. The bridge is also well done, and I really like the instrumental a lot.
Originally, I wasn't entirely sure I was going to put this song on my title tracks list, but one of the big reasons it made it is the choreo. The choreo mixes strong and sultry moves with silly yet memorable moves. One moment they're doing powerful floor work and the next they are re-creating a game of limbo with the members and swinging their hair around with their hands. The choreo during the chorus and bridge are definitely my favorites! I love that the choreo is just as unpredictable as the song itself, and it was probably one of my faves from 2022! Also, as a side note, I loved the majority of the outfits from this era!
"LIMBO!" English translation
"Nerdy" - PURPLE KISS
Music video (English subs available)
Music show performance (the live vocals 👏)
Full cam view of music show performance
"Nerdy" is a mysterious yet catchy track that suited PURPLE KISS and their witch concept so well! This song brought out some of the best and unique aspects of their vocalists and rappers. Actually, "Nerdy" had to grow on me a bit when it first released, but after half a dozen listens or so, I fell in love with this song. Also, this track is mostly in English!
The instrumental is a little on the minimal side overall, but it allows the members' vocals/rap to shine and every element in the instrumental is utilized well. I particularly liked the occasional use of strings in the instrumental. They add a spooky vibe but also add complexity and fullness. The post-chorus vocals and instrumental are some of my favorites in the entire song. And I'm probably a little biased, but rapper Yuki's parts are so good and change up the song nicely — especially during the bridge. The bridge and instrumental break are my other fave parts in "Nerdy". The choreo has some great memorable moves in it, and their execution of the choreo is sharp and synchronized!
"RING ma Bell (what a wonderful world)" - Billlie
Music video (English subs available)
Music show performance (the stable live vocals 🔥)
Full cam view of music show performance
Yes, this album made it onto both my b-sides and title tracks lists, which probably isn't much of a surprise. "RING ma Bell" definitely had to make this list due to its unique sound. While rock has been a trend in k-pop for about 2 years now, I don't recall another group incorporating the 70s/80s hard rock sound other than Billlie. And Billlie didn't just incorporate it, they went all in; this is a proper rock song through and through! The band sound is present throughout, and it's so great to see Billlie re-inventing their sound every comeback and nailing it every time!
I love that "RING ma Bell" opens with the sound of a guitar being plugged into a live amp, and the strong vocals, drums, and guitar riff that open the song instantly draw you in. I also really like that the bass guitar leads the verses rather than the lead guitar. The chorus is a bit subdued, almost sounding like an anti-drop, but it builds up anticipation really nicely for the post-chorus which brings the energy up to 100!
The second verse brings in the rap, and it fits really nicely into the verse instrumental. Part of me does wish the second verse instrumental had an additional element or two in it to continue the energy created from the first post-chorus though. The second post-chorus is even more energetic than the first thanks to the high note from Haram!
For the bridge, once again I wish the instrumental had some new elements in it to differentiate it from the verses. This bridge feels more like a transition rather than a proper piece of the song, though it's still solid. In the final chorus, the guitar really takes off and we get a proper 70s/80s hard rock guitar solo in the background! Haram also blesses us with another fantastic high note here and I love how Moon Sua ends the track!
A lot of times, I'm disappointed with the choreo for rock based k-pop songs (except for Dreamcatcher and a few other groups), but the choreo for "RING ma Bell" is great! Woonha from 1MILLION did an incredible job with this choreo! The choreo has lots of memorable point moves but also incorporates moves you would see a rock band doing at a live show (e.g. high kicks, head banging). What was most impressive to me was that despite this being Billlie's first time taking on a rock song, they convincingly embodied the sound and concept! Their stage presence and charisma really sold this title track. All the stage outfits were also excellent!
It's pretty crazy to me that Billlie hasn't gotten a music show win yet when they already have such a diverse and strong discography. "RING ma Bell" alone deserved multiple wins. This was one of most fun and energetic songs of 2022, especially when they performed it in front of audiences, and there hasn't been another commercial k-pop song like it in recent years. They're having a comeback at the end of this month, and I hope they'll be able to get their first win with it!
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I'm really sad I didn't get a single post out last week, but it was another hectic and unpredictable week. I've already failed to meet my first two deadlines for this series, but I'm REALLY hoping to get the last 2 posts out before the Dreamcatcher concert on March 20th. Oh yeah, I'm going to see Dreamcatcher again after 4.5 years! Sadly, I had to miss their USA tours in 2019 and 2022, so I haven't seen them since KCON LA 2018! Anyways, I'm thinking of doing a little concert recap blog post for the DC concert, but I want to finish this series off before starting something new.
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