Top 50 K-Pop Singles of 2012: 10-1
Updated: 1 hour ago
Â
10. B1A4- Tried to Walk
I don't blame you for thinking Tried to Walk is a lost BIGBANG song. That speaks testament to the group's music quality!
The verses are impressively gripping, all thanks to Jinyoung and Baro, and the glossy chorus shines with rich emotion!
9. 2NE1- I Love You
I Love You is such a gorgeous song!
The hook only contains the repetition of the title track, but it's sung beautifully. We also have the electronics to thank for contributing to this euphoric track. The verses are pretty, and CL's high note is a standout moment.
After three and a half minutes, though, the song pulls a 180 and drops an exhilarating synthpop climax as its ultimate trump card. It's an unexpected yet exciting highlight of this aesthetic single!
8. EXO- History
This track can only be described as taut and percussive.
The group presents their chewiest vocal performance over a constant frenetic beat, hardly taking a break. The chorus is outstanding, and Chanyeol, Sehun, and Kai offer an engaging rap breakdown.
History isn't one of EXO's most iconic tracks, but it's one of the group's best works!
7. BIGBANG- Fantastic Baby
K-pop has a lot of iconic staples, and Fantastic Baby is one of them.
This EDM party anthem opens with G-Dragon and Taeyang, slowly building to its exemplary drop featuring a catchy "dance" repetition. Afterward, G-Dragon and T.O.P perform an iconic verse, leading to Daesung delivering one of K-pop's best buildups.
Above all, it's essential to experience this song by shouting this line - "Wow, Fantastic Baby."
6. Boyfriend- Janus
Dramatic from the beginning, Janus surges with majestic feelings backed by emotional strings and vocal performances.
The most riveting aspect of this track is its pre-chorus, one of the best K-pop offers. The buildup is intense, gliding through the air before experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime moment. For Janus, that once-in-a-lifetime moment is its incredible chorus!
5. EXO- Mama
After releasing fantastic pre-debut songs, EXO upped the scale with their official debut track, Mama.
2012 produced incredible K-pop debuts, but only a few can catch up to this monster. You can tell from its opening that this isn't your typical pop song. From the Gregorian chants to the mighty chorus to the forward-thinking bridge, Mama is one of K-pop's most exhilarating debuts ever!
4. BIGBANG- Monster
Taking cues from Lies and Haru Haru, Monster is another sorrowful, upbeat BIGBANG masterpiece, though it's undervalued.
The song presents itself like an artwork, mainly due to the opening dialogues and the disoriented piano key before the climax. In the middle of this heart-rending, artsy track is a throbbing, ambient-infused chorus that hits like a tsunami!
3. TVXQ!- Catch Me
How can a song sound colossal with only two members? The result can happen when pairing a master producer (Yoo Young-jin) with the right performers.
Seriously, Catch Me is a highly innovative dubstep track, using the genre in the most glorious way possible. Its rip-roaring harmonic chorus is a high point, alongside an other-worldly introduction and breakdown.
More importantly, the guys killed it with their vocals!
2. Infinite- The Chaser
Infinite has a lot of masterpieces, but none can match this magnum opus!
After opening with an out-of-this-world synthesizer, The Chaser builds to an authoritative, brassy chorus that avoids being a typical pop song. Every section of this massive single is a highlight, leaving no room for boredom.
Dongwoo's rap, the second verse slow-down, Woohyun's key change - you name it!
1. SHINee- Sherlock (Clue + Note)
After a year without a Korean single, SHINee returned with the much-anticipated Sherlock (Clue + Note). This song isn't a simple return - it's a Broadway show!
SHINee opens the song up with the infamous "SHINee's back" over a rubbery bass before delivering a funky beat with stabs of brass. The verses and bridge are exciting musical moments, but the chorus is a towering highlight. The refrain is simple, yet it's harmonically sung with power.
After this experience, you'll do what the climax tells you - "Give it up for SHINee!"