A number of years in the past, I took a glance again at my prime Okay-pop songs of 2016 and did some reshuffling. To be trustworthy, that checklist nonetheless wants a pair slight adjustments to be completely correct in my present pondering, however relatively than be overly fussy I’d like to maneuver onto the next yr.
2017’s Okay-pop slate was fairly robust, with a handful of legendary songs on the prime. Right here’s my up to date rating, now that I’ve had almost seven (!) years for songs to rise, fall and settle of their rightful locations.
10. Produce 101 Season 2 – Choose Me
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What I Stated Then: “Choose Me concentrated all of its performers’ toil and desperation and laid it naked over three minutes of immense EDM catharsis. Not solely was it catchy as all get out, however its go-for-broke spirit and never-ending vitality demanded consideration, climaxing within the yr’s greatest, most euphoric refrain.”
What I Say Now: That is nonetheless the excessive water mark for survival sequence theme songs, however the sheer glut of them since 2017 has blunted Choose Me‘s energy only a bit. Nonetheless, listening to this looks like being swept again to an easier time.
9. Seventeen – Don’t Wanna Cry
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What I Stated Then: “From its plaintive, melancholic verses to that beautiful, drum-filled construct, Cry is a deftly organized set-up for its sucker-punch of a hook. The refrain is probably not as complicated as most Seventeen singles, however the guys squeeze extra emotion from the titular chorus than most teams managed all yr lengthy.”
What I Say Now: I used to be actually excessive on Seventeen’s discography this yr. I haven’t gone again to it as a lot as anticipated since then, however Don’t Wanna Cry nonetheless stands as their greatest, most cathartic second in 2017. It’s the uncommon trend-based monitor that manages to sound fully timeless.
8. BLACKPINK – As If It’s Your Final
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What I Stated Then: “BLACKPINK could have solely launched one (!) music this yr, nevertheless it was a doozy. By merging their twin sounds into one celebratory summer time anthem, the women delivered their most addictive hit but. “
What I Say Now: Isn’t that exclamation mark cute? Think about pondering that one music a yr from BLACKPINK was stunning. The group could not have deepened their discography a lot since 2017, however As If It’s Your Final stays their most glittering pop pinwheel. It has turn out to be a deserved summer time staple.
7. Wanna One – Energetic
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What I Stated Then: “It’s a music chock filled with moments, from the charismatic playfulness of the rap verses to the chugging electro thomp of the refrain. However it’s the group’s indelible persona that actually makes Energetic soar.”
What I Say Now: Energetic retains its place at quantity seven even years after Wanna One have turn out to be a distant reminiscence. You possibly can thank its pitch good mix of deep home grooves and dramatic vocals. It’s an iconic debut but to be bettered by some other Produce-spawned group.
6. Golden Baby – DamDaDi
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What I Stated Then: “Its rollicking pop/rock sound could really feel corny, however there’s no denying that DamDaDi gave the impression of nothing else launched in 2017. It’s laborious to not be gained over by its explosive vitality, made much more addictive by the group’s youthful enthusiasm.”
What I Say Now: DamDaDi‘s huge rise is available in half because of the music Golden Baby went on to launch quickly after, however even with out that unimaginable legacy the music has stood the take a look at of time (after which some!) due to its bombastically vibrant vitality.
5. NCT Dream – My First And Final
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What I Stated Then: “Hearkening again to the debut days of youthful teams like SHINee, Dream provided greater than sufficient harmless vitality, however the true MVP right here is composer/producer Ryan S. Jhun, who breathed life into the music’s effervescent, strings-assisted hook and funk-driven bass.”
What I Say Now: No NCT unit ever actually embraced this sound once more, and maybe that altering legacy undercuts a few of its energy. Nonetheless, My First And Final stays a dynamic whirlwind of a funk-pop monitor, completely traditional and chock filled with persona.
4. Gfriend – Fingertip
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What I Stated Then: “Although they might finally revert again to extra normal lady group fare, for a quick second in March GFriend solid themselves as world-conquering synth-pop warriors, propelled by the bombastic 80’s dance funk throwback of Fingertip.”
What I Say Now: Few Okay-pop teams’ materials has aged higher than GFriend’s. Fingertip appears much more daring and big immediately than it did again in 2017 and represents a significant inflection level for the women. I completely find it irresistible.
3. Snuper – Again:Hug
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What I Stated Then: “Again:Hug is a special beast altogether, fusing immediately’s manufacturing with a classy sheen and ultra-melodic hook. Its ever-shifting textures gave Snuper their most complicated single but, however wrapped it in a classically catchy, immaculately produced bundle. The second the plush pre-chorus sweeps in, the music transforms into the type of timeless pop 2017 so typically lacked.”
What I Say Now: Snuper are nonetheless my 2017 MVPs and Again:Hug performs an enormous position in that. It stays a sterling beacon of Okay-pop’s tropical development, impeccably produced and melodically wealthy. I’ll by no means get sick of listening to it.
2. Crimson Velvet – Crimson Taste
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What I Stated Then: “Crimson Velvet outlined the summer time of 2017, merging their quirky pop model with essentially the most strong refrain of their profession. Crimson Taste is a kaleidoscope of creative percussion and megawatt hooks, delivered with polish and panache to spare. Wendy’s explosive bridge stands as one of many yr’s defining pop moments, elevating an already gargantuan sound to goosebump-inducing ranges.”
What I Say Now: I imply, this music has turn out to be an iconic traditional. I already predicted that will occur again in the summertime of 2017, however the music now looks like an inseparable a part of Okay-pop historical past in one of the best ways. I don’t let a summer time go by with out enjoying it a minimum of as soon as.
1. Snuper – The Star Of Stars
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What I Stated Then: “Producers Sweetune is probably not steering the careers of a-list acts anymore, however Star proves that they haven’t misplaced their contact for a sweeping melody and strong, layered association. From its explosive opening synth riff to the dramatic climb in direction of the sing-along climax, I can’t consider one other music that felt so welcome each time it discovered its method onto my playlist.”
What I Say Now: My prime choose for 2017 hasn’t modified, and certain by no means will. In reality, it’s my second most performed music — proper after Infinite’s The Chaser. The truth that this got here from a small group who aren’t even collectively anymore is type of wonderful, and greater than somewhat bittersweet.
