Chances are if you ask someone in the west whether they know about K-pop, at this point they’ll be able to reel off a couple of big hitters. BTS? Sure! “Dynamite” slapped. Blackpink? Know of them too. But for many, that’s where the awareness well runs dry. It’s fair. We’re spoiled by most popular cultural offerings being catered to us in our own language, and even when they’re not we assume it won’t be long before someone chooses to remake them in a way we can understand. Non-English music especially has had a hard time breaking through as a mainstream norm, with most crossovers like “The Ketchup Song” or “Gangnam Style” falling into the category of ‘novelty hits’ reserved for the last dregs of a wedding DJ set or a politician’s feeble attempt at reviving their public image on a reality show.
K-pop has seen an enormous wave of popularity over the past decade, but where its hype may previously have felt annexed in a microcosm of millions of views on YouTube, groups and solo artists now sell out stadiums and arenas across the US and Europe. Starting in the 90s with groups like Seo Taeiji and Boys and H.O.T, the industry has evolved at a rapid pace since, debuting groups and soloists with intricately curated concepts, musical styles, release calendars and yes, in many cases, lots of members. More an umbrella term than a pure genre, K-pop encompasses anything from pure pop to hip hop, R&B, ballads and EDM.
Its presence is inescapable at this point, and perhaps you’ve stumbled across a music video on YouTube or a fancam attached to an unrelated comment on Twitter. Maybe your interest has been piqued, but you have no idea where to even begin. We get it, thirty years is a lot to catch up on. So for any curiosos, we’ve compiled a list of 15 songs you can use as a gateway into the vast worlds K-pop has to offer. From the girls to the boys, and from sultry R&B to ear-shattering noise, whatever your flavour, we’ve got you covered.
“Blood, Sweat & Tears” by BTS (2016)
Trying to make a list of gateway K-pop songs and artists without mentioning BTS would be like making a list of ‘things needed to live’ and forgetting oxygen. The most popular artists globally to come out of the industry, they have one of the most diverse catalogues in K-pop. Aided by production within the band and a winning hip-hop and vocal combo, they make almost any genre easy to tackle. Truly any number of their songs could be a gateway, but 2016’s “Blood, Sweat & Tears” is them at their best. It is pop perfection, sexy and has a video that presents the kind of unabashed theatricality that makes the genre so damn fun. There’s an unmistakable fire in this song that proves why BTS became global dominators just a few years later.
Growl by Exo (2013)
Not many artists have managed the global success of EXO, and that’s thanks in part to their 2013 hit “Growl”. Few songs are able to reach timeless status in an industry so fast-moving, where groups are debuted and disbanded daily, but “Growl” has endured to the point where members are still asked to perform the iconic choreography in TV appearances. Aided by some of the industry’s best vocalists within the group, the song remains a defining classic, and its seamless blend of pop and R&B is still replicated today. EXO remain a powerhouse in K-pop, although have slowed down their group releases since starting to enlist in South Korea’s mandatory military service.
“Psycho” by Red Velvet (2019)
Red Velvet have been a staple in K-pop since their debut in 2014, adopting a sound that also blended slow-tempo R&B with pop – something fresh in the landscape for girl groups at the time. Over the course of their discography, they effortlessly shift between the two genres, making them one of the most popular and diverse girl groups around. 2019’s “Psycho” came in right at the end of the year and made a huge impact. It has a restrained power, mostly thanks to the members’ impeccable harmonies, that’s etched it into the annals of K-pop history.
“Fancy” by TWICE (2018)
Though there are countless concepts across girl groups in K-pop, two prominent ones exist: ‘girl crush’ and ‘girl next door’. 2019’s “Fancy” from ultimate girls next door TWICE (who made history this year as the only K-pop girl group to ever hold a concert at a stadium in the US) has an instantly memorable hook, almost to the point where it makes you angry something could be so catchy. Over the course of their 7-year career, TWICE have been famed for their vocal-led, upbeat musicality, and this song acts as part of a maturing evolution for a group handed the torch of ‘Nation’s Girl Group’ (a title their second generation predecessor Girl’s Generation also hold).
“Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” by Blackpink (2018)
Blackpink are undeniably one of the most popular girl groups in the world, a feat made even more impressive when you consider just how few songs they have in their discography relative to their time in the industry. Where their predecessors and label-mates 2NE1 propelled the badass, empowered ‘girl crush’ concept, Blackpink has cemented it. Their signature sound is confronting and audacious, exemplified perfectly in 2018’s smash “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du”, which became the first K-pop group song to hit 1 billion views on YouTube.
“Replay” by SHINee (2008)
A great debut can tell you everything you need to know about a group, and no first song has solidified legend status like SHINee’s “Replay”. While fashions from 2008 have (thankfully) evolved, the quality of this 00’s-inspired R&B song hasn’t needed to. If there was a K-pop 101, SHINee would be a necessary chapter. They’re known for their experimental discography, often innovating and introducing new sounds before they’re palatable to the naked ear (just a fair warning if you want to jump straight into the plunge pool of “Ring Ding Dong”).
“Want” by Taemin (2019)
Taemin is considered one of the most influential soloists in K-pop (and if you’re wondering who exactly he is, he’s the boy with the sensational bowl cut from the previous video). As an active member of SHINee and an artist in his own right, Taemin is a great example of the way solo careers can co-exist with group activities in K-pop - something Western groups have never been able to master. While many consider Taemin’s single “Move" to be his most defining song, it’s 2019’s “Want” that offers an insight into just what can exist comfortably under the umbrella of K-pop. It’s provocative, sensual, downright dirty, and an antidote to the notion that K-pop is purely sanitised.
“Kick It” by NCT 127 (2020)
Something that exists in K-pop that’s hard to find at the forefront of Western music is the concept of ‘noise music’. As an experience, it feels like an aural attack, but genre-wise it applies to songs that layer loud, heavy vocals over thundering production. NCT 127 are a group with noise etched right into the core of their concept. Their sound can often feel like Goldilocks’ search for the perfect porridge – sometimes too much, sometimes not enough and sometimes just right. 2020's “Kick It” is an excellent introduction to those wanting to explore just how much their ears can handle, with the exact right combination of intense production and almost intimate vocals.
“God's Menu” by Stray Kids (2020)
Stray Kids are one of the most-hyped fourth-generation boy groups around at the moment, thanks to their distinctive sound that often also veers into ‘noise music’ territory. 2020’s “God's Menu” is as loud as it is genius and a single that helped boil their already bubbling popularity over. Almost every song in their 4-year discography is produced in some way by members of the group, signalling a further move for personal expression in an industry often plagued by its stereotype of being manufactured.
Four Walls by f(x) (2015)
f(x) are largely sidled into the annexes of K-pop now, which is a shame as the impact of their unique sound still ripples through the industry today. 2015’s “Four Walls” is one of their most distinctive releases to date, featuring a hypnotic chorus and backing beat. The song takes inspiration from UK dance, an influence that can also be seen in releases from contemporaries SHINee and newer group Enhypen.
“La Di Da” by Everglow (2020)
The last three years have seen a surge in 80’s musical nostalgia, from The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” to Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia. Everglow’s “La Di Da” gives us some aggressive synth-pop and, like K-pop often does, turns the amp up all the way to eleven. K-pop is at its best when it masters a perfect chorus, and it’s hard to imagine a more impactful, heart-racing chorus than this. Everglow, like fellow groups Dreamcatcher and (G)I-dle, represent a further shift in attitude to how girl groups are boxed into concepts, adopting a darker, sassier edge to their image.
“Fallin’ Flower” by SEVENTEEN (2020)
A question often raised around K-pop is ‘who will be the next big thing?’, implying there can only be space for one at a time and that every group is the same. Both untrue. But if we’re talking about literally the biggest thing in K-pop, SEVENTEEN certainly have a chance at that crown. No, there aren't actually 17 members, there are 13 (and some math exists to make that make sense but it’s probably best to just nod and move along). 2020’s “Fallin' Flower” showcases the group’s ability to balance their sublime vocal, rap and performance contingents expertly. Sung in Japanese, it’s an example of the kind of releases K-pop artists will drop to reach different fanbases.
“Middle of the Night” by Monsta X (2019)
Just as it’s not rare for K-pop groups to release songs in Japanese, it’s also not uncommon for them to release English-language singles too. Wonder Girls released four versions of their song “Nobody” in 2009, one of them in English, while BTS’ “Dynamite” became a global sensation in 2020. One group who’ve taken it one step further is Monsta X, who released an album entirely in English in 2019, including lead single “Middle of the Night”. The song is intimate and yearning, and as a group known for their masculine ‘beast idol’ concept, it shows the ways artists can shift and evolve their identities seamlessly for new releases.
“Any Song” by Zico (2020)
If you’ve spent any time on a TikTok FYP, you’ve likely heard Zico’s 2020 single “Any Song”. One of the first K-pop releases to really utilise a dance challenge on the platform, it became a viral sensation loved by celebrities and lifestyle bloggers alike. Having debuted in group Block B in 2011, Zico has kept a tight connection to the dynamic K-hip-hop scene, which features some of the most exciting artists to come out of the country. We’re seeing more and more collaborations between hip-hop artists and idols released, like BTS member J-Hope’s recent collaboration with rapper Crush, “Rush Hour”, and Mamamoo’s Hwasa and Loco’s team-up “Somebody!”
“Hype Boy” by NewJeans (2022)
NewJeans only debuted in August of this year, but their single “Hype Boy” is already a viral hit. It’s due in part to the song's incredible choreography. Taking inspiration from Y2K aesthetics and soundscapes, it proves the rule that trends do work in a 20-year cycle. NewJeans are part of a new class of exciting artists emerging into the scene, joined by fellow rookies iVE and LE SSERAFIM. If you’re thinking of dipping your toe into the K-pop pool and want to know who to say “I liked them before they were big”, look no further than NewJeans and their contemporaries.
