Top 10: Best K-Pop Songs of 2021 [Subjective opinion]

After a year witnessing the release of new K-Pop songs and getting good and bad surprises, I decided that the best choice was to make a Top 10 of the best songs. Only title tracks because listening to all the albums of 2021 seemed exaggerated and piercing for my mental health. It turned out to be a bad decision because, as everyone should know, making a Top 10 of anything takes time, sanity and the will to live. Luckily I'm fine, and I thee top is finished... Also, if it's about music, you find things that are a bit... unpleasant to the ear. Still, with a bit of effort, I've compiled my ten favorite songs of the year and five special mentions. (It's a Top 15 in some way, but shh.)

I want to clarify that I made an effort to listen to all the title tracks of 2021, but obviously I may have skipped some of them. It was more than 600 songs, I'm sure, and I don't know if I'm doing the number justice. The good thing is that, being involved in the world of K-Pop, I have listened to most of these songs on their release. I also didn't count bands, as I think K-Rock is something completely different from K-Pop itself, and I also left out Hip Hop artists, underground or not. English songs weren't welcome either, so that's it. You are all already warned.

With all said, let's begin:

Special Mentions.

« P1Harmony (피원하모니) '겁나니 (Scared)' »

Ever since I started my 'research' on the Top 10, I knew Scared deserved a spot on it. The most curious thing is that it is not in the Top 10, but in the Top 15 (which is not bad by any means, by the way). No more than an example that when listening to all the songs of the year, the first options that come to mind begin to vary, giving way to others.

Scared it's a song that I don't think can easily be to everyone taste. It has a strong beat and, in my opinion, a catchy chorus. Since their debut with SIREN in 2020, P1Harmony has been characterized by, let's call it, an interest in rap and the more Hip Hop side of K-pop.

The lyrics deal with the classic confrontation of young people against society, motivating the listener to own their own life and ignore what others say. A message to live your own life, without fear.

P1Harmony has members with great voices whether they are vocalists or rappers, as well as a special or not so normal tones in the world of K-Pop. In general I think it's a good group to listen to, with interesting albums, great songs, presence and attitude on stage, among other wonderful qualities.

(Point aside, P1Harmony released a new album this January 4, 2022. If you are interested, the title track is called Do It Like Me.)

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« 로켓펀치 (Rocket Punch) 'Ring Ring' »

To be honest, I don't see myself in the ability to find words to describe the songs I like, they just do. All I can say is that it has a retro style that I love (you didn't know, but now you do), so it's no surprise that it's so high up on last year's best songs. Yes, it didn't make the Top, but again, being in the Top 15 is not a negative in any way.

In addition to the retro style, Ring Ring has an engaging and fun choreography, not to mention that the melody has a happy and cheerful tone that lifts your spirits. I would like to think that more people besides me have the urge to sing or dance when they hear this song.

since their debut in 2019 with BIM BAM BUM, Rocket Punch has shown an interesting combination between girl-crush and cute-style, and although this comeback was a bit different, by having a combination of vocalists with unique voices the song did not feel out place in the discography.

As an extra fact, all the members have very great live performances and have a equally great presence on stage. And, this year 2022, they returned with a new album, their title track being CHIQUITA.

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« 유겸 (YUGYEOM) '네 잘못이야 (All Your Fault) (Ft. GRAY) »

I must admit that after the disbandment of the group GOT7, 2021 was full of the debuts of the solo members, and although any separation from a group is a bit sad (devastating if for example they were your favorite group and sad in general since GOT7 was a group that left their mark on the K-Pop world), it was positive for the GOT7 members separately as they have been able to express themselves in music.

I liked Yugyeom's voice from the beginning, but one can't help but wonder how that same voice can fill a solo song, which is no easy job. I must admit, it was more than a great pleasant surprise. His voice is melodious and unique (like several entries in this Top, now that I think about it...), increasing the enjoyment of All Your Fault. And also, this song was produced by GRAY who I must admit has made a lot of very good songs that I enjoy listening to.

I can't wait to hear more Yugyeom songs.

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« KEY (키) 'BAD LOVE' »

Once again, I have been a victim of my eternal love of songs with allusions to retro. From the moment I heard it, I couldn't stop having it in an infinite loop. More or less. More than less. More songs have been added to that 'infinite loop', but it has always been among my favorites of 2021.

I'll be honest, SM Entertainment's songs were disappointing to say the least, so rescuing one or another song relieves me a bit. I quote my sister: «The best SM songs are the least populars», and although KEY is a recognized artist, member of one of the most iconic K-Pop groups: SHINee, modern times bring new groups, new fans and new popular songs. I must admit I'm terrified of what's popular about SM right now, but hey, to each their own.

Meanwhile, BAD LOVE is a song with a nostalgic melody and an emotional voice, as well as retro-futuristic sound, a gender (?) that I enjoy a lot visually, and it showed me that also in music. It could be said that the feeling of KEY's voice conveys a good amount of resentment, pain, overcoming and the same nostalgia as the instrumental. A song that I really enjoy.

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« CHECKMATE (체크메이트) 'YOU' »

A good mixed group never hurts. Since the beginning of my time in K-Pop, I have had a special fondness for mixed groups, such as Co-Ed School (and what a classic, I must say), so I'm not really surprised by the impact that CHECKMATE's songs have had on me, since Drum until this song in particular, YOU, I am totally willing to recommend both.

CHECKMATE has a more Latin style, but not as pure as, for example, K.A.R.D in its beginnings. Accented on the strong drum sounds, it has a rhythm that makes you nod your head or want to dance, and in my opinion, a catchy choreography.However, what I like most about the song is the members' voices. I like the ending of phrases with a lightly 'off key' chorus. It makes the song stand out from the rest. It is not a style that has never been explored, clearly, so small details that make it shine compared to its counterparts will always be an outstanding detail.

There aren't many mixed-up groups, let alone well-known, aside from K.A.R.D, which I don't know how popular they are in Korea right now anyway, where it matters a bit more (it's K-Pop, after all). So it's always a pleasure to find a new Co-Ed group.

I would like to see more mixed groups in the future, so I pray to God that they listen to my words (or rather, a plea to K-Pop companies to start normalizing this kind of groups...).

[Editing the draft I just found out that they have disbanded, which is unfortunate. I don't have much information as to why, but it seems like it was something a bit complicated.]

And with the five special mentions already said, it was time to start the long-awaited (at least for me) Top 10. Without further ado, here they are:

TOP 10

« WONHO (원호) 'LOSE' »

I am going to continue insisting as from the first moment that giving an opinion about why you like something is much more difficult than saying its negative sides. Regardless of some personal issues I have with nudism (because I don't like it), everyone can do what they want with their body, so I'm not going to judge him. As long as it is his decision and it's not forced by his company as a marketing strategy, he can do what he wants. I don't particularly like it, but I'm talking about the music here.

Wonho is a former member of the group MONSTA X, and even though his departure from the group was sadder after a scandal in which he ended up being proven innocent, I think he's having a good time exploring his style and making songs that suit him better than the previous style he had with MONSTA X. He always composed his songs and his take on the musical style differed from the group, so I guess it would have been a relief for Wonho to be able to express himself better musically speaking. (I'm not saying he hasn't enjoyed being with MONSTA X or anything like that, just in case. I just want to say that every artist wants to express their music in their own style and enjoy what they do.)

LOSE it's a good example of Wonho's personality as an artist, and I like the musical direction he's taking.

Wonho released a new single on February 16, Eye On You. Check him out!

~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~

TOP 9

« IVE (아이브) 'ELEVEN' »

Arriving at the end of the year, me, listening to songs experimenting with the tempo and complaining about how unlistenable they were, IVE arrived, shining with divine light, debuting with the song ELEVEN, being the first group to have a song on the experimental side of 2021 that fascinated me.

I don't have many more words, to be honest. It was a bit shocking at first because the chorus was unexpected, but it didn't take long for me to realize that it's a good, enjoyable song, and then the lyrics are adorable.

I look forward to their first comeback to see what direction Starship wants to go with IVE from now on. Considering their girl groups never had this style, it feels like a big step into the unknown. I also hope that, in the future, insulting and mistreating such young girls stops. Cyber-bullying should be stopped once and for all...

[Mimi from the past didn't know about LOVE DIVE, but Future's Mimi loves it! Go check it out.]

~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~

TOP 8

« 이은상 (Lee Eun Sang) 'Lemonade' »

I think there are no words to express how much Lemonade moves me. I swear I'm listening to this song nonstop and I can't help but have tears in my eyes. It's such a beautiful song that from the first listen I knew it was one of my favorite songs of the year. Maybe it sounds a bit strange considering that it seems like a bit of a silly song? as a concept, but it brings me so much peace of mind and joy in my heart that I can't help but hold it in high regard.

I guess the right word to describe this song is 'Happiness'. Yes, Lemonade brings me a lot of happiness.

I leave you this masterpiece and I retire to present the rest of the Top...

~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~

TOP 7

« B.I 비아이 '해변 (illa illa)' »

There is something special about this song that makes it almost cathartic. It could be because it's the first song B.I showed to the public after his departure from group iKON, or it's just a coincidence, but it has so many feelings inside that one can't stop listening to it.

Ever since my first glimpses of K-Pop, I've liked B.I's compositions for iKON, so it's not really surprising that I like most of their songs to date. In fact, his voice is very special, whether it's as a rapper or a vocalist, it's very nice. A unique touch that is usually found in YG Entertainment, which is his emergence as an artist.

In short, it is a soft song that is more dedicated to showing sweet sounds, which seems favorable to me to listen to it without stopping, and which makes it one of my favorites of 2021.

~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~

TOP 6

« BDC 'MOON WALKER' »

I don't know if space music is a thing, but if it is, I feel like Moon Walker is a perfect way to demonstrate how to do it, and well. It is a song that I could only define as spectacular, with an instrumental that reaches the heart, and although there are only three members, I think they are the representation of the iconic phrase 'simple is best'. However, the voices of these guys are not simple, and that BrandNew has come to the conclusion of putting them together in a group was a giant success.

I swear if there's one thing to be thankful for, in K-Pop, it's that BDC has debuted. I feel that for a group of small numbers, they have some very good songs and they are also one of the few idols who still sing live on their music show stages.

In 2021 there were too many good songs by them, but among all of them, the one that caught my attention the most was Moon Walker. BDC is a group that grows more every day, and I can't wait for a new song and its popularity to take off more. They deserve a lot of recognition for their three unique voices and music of the best quality that can be found, as well as stage presence and charisma.

~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~

TOP 5

« JUST B (저스트비) 'DAMAGE' (Prod. BANG

YONGGUK) »

In my humble opinion, IVE's ELEVEN, previously mentioned song on this list, and Damage were the best debuts of last year. Not only is Damage a very good song, but it was produced by Bang Yongguk, do you understand? Bang Yongguk, ex-leader of the group B.A.P, and... although it sounds a bit biased because B.A.P is my favorite group, that title has a reason. Most of B.A.P's songs were composed by Yongguk, and B.A.P's discography is great. It's my favorite legendary group because no discography can match the magnitude of impact Bang Yongguk's masterpieces had on my life.

With all said, imagine being waiting since 2019 for certain idols who are currently in JUST B to debut, and tell me, how could you not be delighted to learn that Yongguk produced one of the best songs I've ever heard in 2021? Mind-blowing.

With all said, the Top 5 is very powerful in that regard. Damage is a very good song, seriously, a perfect song.

(I'm going to take the trouble to: 1) put the link for the video of the last song of JUST B Tick Tock and 2) Bang Yongguk's last song Up, besides saying that Song Byeonghee (Bain) is probably one of the best vocalists of the fourth generation of K-Pop and not many people are aware of it [and I mean at least Top 3 in a list of best vocalists, it's not joke.])

[Future Mimi says listen to RE=LOAD, folks!]

~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~

TOP 4

« 루미너스 (LUMINOUS) 'RUN' »

Do I have much to say about it? I think that just by listening to it, one can be aware of why I chose this song to represent my year 2021 regarding K-Pop. LUMINOUS is a new band and it shows that they are not here to disappoint. The quality of thei last song All Eyes Down music did not go down, so I have no doubt that these guys have a great future ahead of them.

From the first listen I was hooked on its rhythm and its chorus is super catchy. I know it's a kind of song that I couldn't get tired of listening to and it will always be good to play it to entertain my ears.

~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~

TOP 3

« VICTON (빅톤) 'What I Said' »

VICTON released this song at the beginning of 2021, literally starting the year like this, and I can say without fear that its impact did not let me go for 365 days and counting, considering that I am still listening to it and considering What I Said one of the best songs I've ever heard in K-Pop in general, not just in 2021. More over I can not point out what makes it so addictive, but it is.

If you're like me, you won't be able to stop listening to this song for the rest of your lives. What I Said is worth it.

I swear that establishing the Top 3 was the hardest thing I've done in a long time, but I'm still happy with the result. This does not mean that, depending on the day, the order may vary, because, spoiler alert, the entire Top 3 is full of masterpieces.

In other news, VICTON released a new album, being Chronograph its title track. It is a jewel, again delighting right at the beginning of the year.

~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~

TOP 2

« WOODZ (조승연) 'WAITING' »

It seems like some kind of mockery that it is in second place, but as I said before, the Top 3 can vary every day because they are very good songs. Waiting is one of those songs that you don't want to stop listening to, and WOODZ's voice is spectacular. The truth is, many of the songs on this list are based on the voices that make a difference. After all, there is nothing better than discovering good voices and finding new details in songs that could have ended the same as the others but stood out from the rest.

I think that Waiting can speak for itself if you take the time to listen to it, since without hesitation I say that it is one of the best songs of the past year.

WOODZ is an artist with a lot of experience, so it's no surprise to me that he has his own style so well developed that it shows very clearly in all his performances, in his live singing and how much he enjoys his music. He is a great artist who has put in a lot of effort throughout his career and I am also happy that he is true to his music, his tone and his own style.

~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~ ☆ ~

And last but not least, the most important:

TOP 1

« E'LAST (엘라스트) '악연' (Dark Dream) »

If there is a reason why I want to give them first place on my list, it is because there is no group like E'LAST. I swear to you, in terms of style and passion for music, the stage and absolutely everything, they deserve this place. To begin with, Dark Dream has an almost unique style in these current times. The epic sound, the use of orchestral instruments, everything is almost lost. It has a contemporary sound mixed with K-Pop from years ago. It is very interesting to listen. In addition, absolutely all the members have a special color, not only in terms of voices, but all their stages shine differently.

On this list there are many soloists who, luckily and after a lot of work within K-Pop groups, can finally make the music they love the most. Not all idols have the chance to enjoy their work, you know? Making songs that don't suit them or that they already hate... And what I feel is special about E'LAST is that everyone enjoys their songs. And with reasons! Considering that each of them is a masterpiece.

I should also add that one of the reasons why it ended up being in the first place is the deep lyrics that Dark Dream has. I think it's worth reading the lyrics, analyzing them. The whole song makes even more sense. (All the title tracks of E'LAST reach the heart, I warn you, in case anyone wants to save a tear or two.)

I invite you to enjoy the song and maybe go through others by this great group, because for me this was the best release of 2021.

[Also, Future Mimi knows E'LAST will make a comeback with ROAR in April 27!]

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And with Dark Dream I finish my list that has cost me a lot but that I don't regret at all. These were the songs I enjoyed the most from the past year and still do. I hope you can give a lot of support to the artists and be satisfied with my choices. Remember that this is my opinion and your Top 10 + 5 may be totally different from mine! The best thing about art is that there are thousands of places to choose from, and music always exists for all tastes.

Feel free to write your own opinions and recommendations in the comments!

By the way, before closing this entry, I'll leave you the links to my YouTube playlists with what I consider the best songs of the past year in general, and the link to this same Top 10. See you all in a future entry!

• K-Pop 2021 Best Songs

• Top 10 + 5

(P.S.: I'm planning to do a Top 10 + 5 for 2022 too. Hehe.)