FINALLY, we've arrived at the final part of my top 20 lists for 2022!
Rules
- 1 song per artist per list
- No set rankings (order is generally good to best)
----------------------------------------
"Long Live The King" - KINGDOM
Music video (English subs available)
Showcase performance (the stable live vocals 👍)
Full cam view of music show performance
Kingdom has been wowing me since their debut in early 2021, and they kept the momentum throughout 2022 even after a member left suddenly and a new one was added. No other group has a royal theatrical concept quite like Kingdom's, and their performances are always incredible! "Long Live The King" is Louis' era, and the concept mixes historical European/French elements with current trends.
The track starts off with a 30 second long intro, which is incredibly rare in k-pop title tracks these days. Honestly, I love how unapologetically long the intro is, and I think it's very dramatic and immersive. The monologue from Louis in the intro is actually pretty good, and I love how the piano and strings combine with the other sounds. The lyrics of this song are quite good as well!
The first part of the first verse continues the somewhat melancholic feel of the intro and is really nice. For the second half of the verse, there is a change up to a more modern and minimal synth with electric guitar acting as a flourish. I was pleasantly surprised by the electric guitar in this track, as I expected it to be more classical instrument, synth, and percussion driven, but I really like what it brings to the instrumental.
The pre-chorus builds up anticipation for the chorus really well, and I love Ivan's vocals and the guitar. The guitar really takes off in the chorus, which I love of course. Dann's opening lines in the chorus are so good and are some of my favorite in the entire song. The post-chorus brings back the strings, and the transition is quite seamless.
My one complaint with this song is the second verse. The rap itself is actually pretty good overall, and I was surprised that Dann rapped on this song and the entire album! The member that left was one of the rappers in the group, and I assumed the new member, Hwon, would fill that role, but Dann did instead for this album. Anyways, my main problem is with the instrumental for the rap. Suddenly, there's brass instruments for the first time in the song along with trap beats. Up to this point, the song has already been mixing together a lot of different elements, and I think the brass and trap beats combo was just too much for me. The transition out of the rap verse feels a little awkward as well.
Thankfully, the song quickly gets back on track with the second pre-chorus and chorus though. The bridge is also driven heavily by piano and strings and is really lovely. Jahan and Mujin's vocals are really pretty in the bridge! The latter half of the bridge is more of an instrumental break, and the strings and percussion reach their peak here. The last post-chorus has different lyrics than the first post-chorus, and the song ends on a big, triumphant note.
And of course, I can't talk about Kingdom without talking about the choreo! My faves at MOTF choreographed both of Kingdom's title tracks for 2022, and both are amazing! Kingdom loves to incorporate props in their choreos, and the props in "Long Live The King" are long, thin poles. The intro choreo is stunning, with Louis being dragged back while posed almost as if he were being crucified. The female dancers then lay on their backs, put their legs together, and swing their legs like a metronome to set up Louis' first part in the verse.
I think it's really cool (and a little scary) how they have Louis stand on the poles for the first verse. Jahan's part in the first verse is also really cool when he spins around and and poles also spin around him. The chorus choreo features the members on their own, and it's also really good! I love the choreo at the beginning of the chorus where the members act like they are shielding themselves with one arm while their other hand mimics attackers trying to break through the protection. The lyrics are all about struggling through hardship but persevering and triumphing in the end, and this move portrays the meaning perfectly! In the final chorus, the move changes to the members trying to break down a barrier rather than protecting themselves. The ending pose is also really cool!
Other nominee(s): "Ascension"
"Walking On The Moon" - TAN
- co-written by Jaejun, Jooan, Hyunyeop, Taehoon, Jiseong
Music video (English subs available)
Music show performance
Performance video (full cam view)
TAN (To All Nations) is the other survival show group I mentioned in my last blog post. I have to admit that I had negative prejudice towards this group before they even debuted, because the show they were formed through was a mix of a typical idol talent survival show and reality TV shows like Survivor. Because there was an additional focus on physical strength and endurance, I thought this boy group would have a very stereotypically masculine and trendy sound, but overall they haven't gone in this direction thankfully (other than the title track "Louder"). The majority of the members in this group were/are active in k-pop groups, and they are actually quite polished because of this!
From the start, the intro of "Walking On The Moon" is really interesting. I really like the vocals in the first verse, and the pre-chorus is catchy, while bringing energy into the track. The chorus isn't as big as you'd probably expect it to be considering the end of the pre-chorus, but I don't consider it a full on anti-drop either. Still, I really like the chorus and post-chorus, especially the vocals.
The rap is relatively good in the second verse, and the instrumental doesn't try to do too much, so I'm quite happy with it. I like how vocals are layered in with some of the rap, which adds some nice texture and complexity. The last stand out element of the song is the final chorus, which has some additional high notes and vocals. Also, the lyrics are quite nice, and it's cool that 5 of the 7 members helped write them!
I think the choreo for this title track is also fantastic. I still don't know who choreographed it which is a shame since this is one of my favorite boy group choreos of 2022. For those that have read a number of my other posts, you know that I love contrast, and this is another choreo that contrasts sharp, quick moves with controlled, flowing moves. I have a feeling this choreo takes a lot of control and discipline to execute well. Some of my favorite moments are the intro, the point choreo for the countdown sequence/walking on the moon line (which is so smart and unique), and the choruses. Each chorus has slightly different moves as well, which makes the choreo even more impressive!
Other that "Louder", I've been really enjoying every release from TAN, including their most recent comeback which released last month. Yes I know, shameless plug much, but I really believe this group is doing great work yet they're relatively unknown still. Not to mention, we still don't know how long their contracts are for, so I hope more people give them a chance and recognize their talent and good music while they're still active!
Other nominee(s): "DU DU DU"
"VISION" - Dreamcatcher
Music video (English subs available)
it's Live performance (with live band)
Music show performance (the live vocals 🔥)
Full cam view of music show performance
Not sure if anyone noticed, but Dreamcatcher did not make my 2022 b-sides list. But fear not, here they are in the top part of my title tracks list, as always! While I enjoyed Dreamcatcher's "BEcause" and "Maison", I really missed the more bold and consistent rock sound of songs like "Odd Eye", and "VISION" delivered just that! June One from the Korean rock band, Glen Check, co-composed this song, and I believe his involvement really helped make this a great song.
Dreamcatcher Company described this as a dark techno rock song, and I think it describes the song perfectly! The intro is dark and intriguing and the vocals in the first verse really draw you in. I like how most of the instrumental drops out for the pre-chorus, so you really get to appreciate the great vocals there. The guitar riff and drum fill that lead into the chorus are powerful and effective. I really like Siyeon's vocals in the chorus, even though some might think they're a bit tame by her standards. I feel like her vocals match the dark vibe of the instrumental really well. Not to mention her lower vocals allow the higher pitched vocals of the other members to stand out nicely.
My one issue with the song is Dami's rap verse. The instrumental is cool, though some of the elements feel a bit out of place to me, and the rap flow is good. It's the lyrics that I think could have been better. Repeating "turning over page" 3 times in a row is a bit lazy on the lyricists' parts in my opinion, and the repetition takes away a bit of the edginess of the verse for me. The Jackie Chan name drop feels a bit silly as well, personally. On the other hand, Sua's 2 rap lines at the end of the second verse are much better. I always have to mention when Sua raps because she rarely raps despite the fact that she's quite good at it!
While I have my qualms about her main rap verse, I love all of Dami's other parts in "VISION". For instance, I really like how Dami starts off the second chorus. Her deep voice fits the part perfectly, and her voice has such a strong presence when she sings/raps in her lower register. Siyeon's high notes at the end of the bridge and final chorus are the final notable highlights. I saw Dreamcatcher at their Los Angeles show last month, and seeing Siyeon absolutely nail the high notes was definitely one of the most memorable moments for me!
The choreography for "VISION" is really cool and fits the militant vibes of the song really well. It fits the concept of the album (Apocalypse: Follow Us) well too. The point move for "VISION" where they make a frame around their eyes is cool and memorable. And I have to admit that the choreo is pretty good during Dami's rap verse. The bridge and final chorus choreo are epic, and the outro and ending pose leave a strong impression. The way they move their arms in canon (one after the other), put their victory signs in the air then look away in unison is so cool every time. I also really loved the outfits that featured the military inspired jackets this era, especially Handong's long coat! Dami and Gahyeon's outifts were really awesome too!
Despite giving us rock title tracks for 6 years in a row now, Dreamcatcher continue to give us a different flavor of rock every single time, and always manage to surprise me. They will be finishing up their Apocalypse trilogy next month with a new album, and I can't wait!
"DM" - fromis_9
Music video (English subs available)
Music show performance (love these blue outfits!)
Full cam view of music show performance
I've been a fan of fromis_9 since they released "Feel Good" in 2020. I absolutely loved the title track "We Go" in 2021, and I wish it had made my top 20 title tracks list for that year. "DM" is in the same vein as "We Go", which partially explains why this ranked so high on my list. "DM" is a bit different though because it perfectly combines disco and 80s pop elements with the modern k-pop sound.
"DM" opens with a nice airy synth and a fantastic catchy bass line. I love that the bass line is featured prominently throughout most of the song, and it gives the song a flirty feel. The vocals are lovely and sit really nicely atop the instrumental. The pre-chorus is so light and pleasant and sets up the chorus well.
The chorus is definitely the star of this title track, and it's a nice big chorus right from the top. The "doesn't matter" line is so bright and powerful, and lifts my mood every time I hear it. Yeah, if you thought "DM" stood for "direct message" like I did, you would be wrong, it's "doesn't matter" lol. I really like how the bright synths and vocals make the song feel so upbeat and cute, and the bass line balances it out with a more sultry feel. The entire chorus is so good and is definitely one of my favorite choruses of 2022.
"DM" actually doesn't have a true rap verse, but I don't miss it at all in this one. In the second verse, we get some great lower register vocals instead, and they fit in perfectly with the track. The bridge is nice, but I do wish it was a little longer. Hayoung's high note at the end of the bridge is great though!
I also really like the choreo for this song; it's elegant, flirty, and cute all in one. fromis_9 are extremely clean dancers and their synchronization is really good! When I saw them live in 2018 at KCON LA, I still remember being so impressed with their dancing even though I wasn't really a fan of their music at that time. While this choreo may not seem difficult at first glance, there are a ton of beautiful details, and I'm sure it took a lot of practice to make this choreo look as good as they do, especially since they had 9 members.
I love the little detail at the start of the song where they let their hair down by taking the hair ties out of their hair (sadly, they took this detail out after the first week or so of promotions). My favorite parts of the choreo have to be the pre-choruses and choruses. The second pre-chorus choreo is different from the first, and both are really good. The final chorus choreo is also different from the first two choruses.
"DM" released in January of 2022, and was in my top 20 most played songs on Spotify last year. Even though this was released so early in the year, I still love this song and rarely skip it to this day. I thought the chorus and replay value alone earned "DM" a place in my top 5!
"Love In Space" - Cherry Bullet
"DM" opens with a nice airy synth and a fantastic catchy bass line. I love that the bass line is featured prominently throughout most of the song, and it gives the song a flirty feel. The vocals are lovely and sit really nicely atop the instrumental. The pre-chorus is so light and pleasant and sets up the chorus well.
The chorus is definitely the star of this title track, and it's a nice big chorus right from the top. The "doesn't matter" line is so bright and powerful, and lifts my mood every time I hear it. Yeah, if you thought "DM" stood for "direct message" like I did, you would be wrong, it's "doesn't matter" lol. I really like how the bright synths and vocals make the song feel so upbeat and cute, and the bass line balances it out with a more sultry feel. The entire chorus is so good and is definitely one of my favorite choruses of 2022.
"DM" actually doesn't have a true rap verse, but I don't miss it at all in this one. In the second verse, we get some great lower register vocals instead, and they fit in perfectly with the track. The bridge is nice, but I do wish it was a little longer. Hayoung's high note at the end of the bridge is great though!
I also really like the choreo for this song; it's elegant, flirty, and cute all in one. fromis_9 are extremely clean dancers and their synchronization is really good! When I saw them live in 2018 at KCON LA, I still remember being so impressed with their dancing even though I wasn't really a fan of their music at that time. While this choreo may not seem difficult at first glance, there are a ton of beautiful details, and I'm sure it took a lot of practice to make this choreo look as good as they do, especially since they had 9 members.
I love the little detail at the start of the song where they let their hair down by taking the hair ties out of their hair (sadly, they took this detail out after the first week or so of promotions). My favorite parts of the choreo have to be the pre-choruses and choruses. The second pre-chorus choreo is different from the first, and both are really good. The final chorus choreo is also different from the first two choruses.
"DM" released in January of 2022, and was in my top 20 most played songs on Spotify last year. Even though this was released so early in the year, I still love this song and rarely skip it to this day. I thought the chorus and replay value alone earned "DM" a place in my top 5!
"Love In Space" - Cherry Bullet
Music video (English subs available)
Music show performance (the stable live vocals 👍)
Full cam view of music show performance
This title track really surprised me, which is part of the reason I have decided to close out the list with it. While there have been a handful Cherry Bullet songs that I've really enjoyed, I wasn't super attached to any of them until this album released. "Love In Space" is another new-tro 80s inspired song, but considering how big the 80s trend has been, it feels fitting to end the list with a great one.
The intro synths are so catchy to me and introduce the song perfectly. I absolutely love the fast paced vocals in the verses. They sing so quickly, it almost feels like they're rapping. It's something that isn't done too often, so it's a fun and quirky element. There's a lot of repetition starting in the pre-chorus, which can be pretty hit or miss for me, but the vocal melodies are so catchy that I don't mind at all.
I appreciate that this isn't an anti-drop chorus, and it's very catchy and gratifying. I really love how the "love in space" lyric is delivered and the little "oh oh oh" parts in the middle. The bridge feels very dreamy and spacious and I love the vocals in the first half of it. The high notes from Haeyoon and Bora are great and give the final chorus a nice lift as well.
The choreo isn't quite as intricate as some of the other songs in this part, but I think it's really cute and fun and fits the song well. The members execute it well too. The pre-chorus and chorus choreos are really catchy and are fun to follow along with. The bridge and final chorus choreos are some of my other favorite parts.
The high replay value of this song and the fact that it's a Cherry Bullet song were the main reasons I put this at the "top" of this list. I expect groups like Dreamcatcher and BTS (and A.C.E who are on hiatus right now due to military enlistment) to rank high on my lists since they're my faves, but I love giving the spotlight to more unexpected artists. Side note: "Broken", which is on the same mini album as "Love In Space", is a great b-side, but just missed earning a spot on my b-sides list. I find the chorus just as addicting as "Love In Space"!
The intro synths are so catchy to me and introduce the song perfectly. I absolutely love the fast paced vocals in the verses. They sing so quickly, it almost feels like they're rapping. It's something that isn't done too often, so it's a fun and quirky element. There's a lot of repetition starting in the pre-chorus, which can be pretty hit or miss for me, but the vocal melodies are so catchy that I don't mind at all.
I appreciate that this isn't an anti-drop chorus, and it's very catchy and gratifying. I really love how the "love in space" lyric is delivered and the little "oh oh oh" parts in the middle. The bridge feels very dreamy and spacious and I love the vocals in the first half of it. The high notes from Haeyoon and Bora are great and give the final chorus a nice lift as well.
The choreo isn't quite as intricate as some of the other songs in this part, but I think it's really cute and fun and fits the song well. The members execute it well too. The pre-chorus and chorus choreos are really catchy and are fun to follow along with. The bridge and final chorus choreos are some of my other favorite parts.
The high replay value of this song and the fact that it's a Cherry Bullet song were the main reasons I put this at the "top" of this list. I expect groups like Dreamcatcher and BTS (and A.C.E who are on hiatus right now due to military enlistment) to rank high on my lists since they're my faves, but I love giving the spotlight to more unexpected artists. Side note: "Broken", which is on the same mini album as "Love In Space", is a great b-side, but just missed earning a spot on my b-sides list. I find the chorus just as addicting as "Love In Space"!
----------------------------------------
As I said before, girl groups really reigned supreme yet again in 2022. This top 20 title track list featured 14 girl groups and only 6 boy groups (last year it was 11:9 for me), so the guys better step it up! Honestly, there are still a number of great boy group songs being made, but the majority of their companies seriously need to stop trying to copy groups like NCT/Stray Kids/ATEEZ every other comeback and just have their groups do their own thing. I believe a lot more great title tracks will come from boy groups if they do that.
Anyways, sorry it took so long to finish this series! Clearly it was overambitious of me to start my blog and immediately jump into a long series like this. Also, this was my first time choosing 80 songs for my end of year lists. I started with 20 songs in 2020, upped it to 40 songs in 2021, and then went to 80 for 2022. If you think 80 songs is a lot, it's just scratching the surface of the many Korean songs I enjoyed last year. I'm linking my 2022 Korean favorites Spotify playlist which has nearly 500 songs on it in case anyone is interested!
As for where I'm going with the blog from here, I'm honestly not entirely sure. I have some ideas in mind, but I don't really know if I'll have the time, energy, or motivation to follow through on them. I wanted to make sure I at least finished this top 20 series though. Thank you to everyone that has viewed my posts so far, it really does mean a lot!
Anyways, sorry it took so long to finish this series! Clearly it was overambitious of me to start my blog and immediately jump into a long series like this. Also, this was my first time choosing 80 songs for my end of year lists. I started with 20 songs in 2020, upped it to 40 songs in 2021, and then went to 80 for 2022. If you think 80 songs is a lot, it's just scratching the surface of the many Korean songs I enjoyed last year. I'm linking my 2022 Korean favorites Spotify playlist which has nearly 500 songs on it in case anyone is interested!
As for where I'm going with the blog from here, I'm honestly not entirely sure. I have some ideas in mind, but I don't really know if I'll have the time, energy, or motivation to follow through on them. I wanted to make sure I at least finished this top 20 series though. Thank you to everyone that has viewed my posts so far, it really does mean a lot!
Comments
Post a Comment