my top kpop 2022: Jul, Aug, & Sep

Singles

2 Baddies - NCT 127

This song is ridiculous. It is camp. It is cringe. I love it. They rhymed the crying emoticon ㅠㅠ with Blue’s Clues. Yuta is wearing metallic nail caps and totally owned this whole concept. Taeyong slides out with an extremely phallic cane rapping “now you wanna ride these wheels.” kmac asked me who was the third naked muscular guy during one of their music show stages and was aghast when I informed her that was the extremely baby-faced Jungwoo. And that outro? Fun as fuck. What more could I ask from possibly the preeminent meme-able group of our time? Zip zip it z-zip it and close, y’all.

After Like - IVE

Damn, this song is so catchy, and the choreo is super charming. This song really blew up this year, so I’m sure I’m saying nothing new lol. So, I will just add to saying that it’s popular for a reason. But when will they release an actual album? It’s just been singles so far? Anyway, they've been cute on Starship's Game Caterers collab.

Beautiful Monster - STAYC

I had a feeling I would like this just from the title, and it did not disappoint. I looooove the scratchy guitar at the beginning and how the instrumentation slowly becomes more layered. The “monster” parts of the choreo are also really cool. I saw them perform this at KCON, but it was really meant to be seen on camera, I think, which is fine because the MV is really neat.

be free - KB (OnlyOneOf)

KB, my 1992 buddy, this is possibly your best song composition ever. It’s such a groove? And the MV is so gay? The Romeo + Juliet fish tank homage kills me. Bless. Anyway, when this MV dropped, the second in OnlyOneOf’s underground idol project/be series, I was surprised and delighted to see that it was a continuation of the love story from the first MV. Of the be series songs that have released so far, it is easily my favorite.

Drummin' - TO1

I saw these guys at KCON knowing nothing about them, and they totally blew me away with their Drummin’ stage. Fun song, fun choreo, great energy on stage, best performance of the night in my opinion. Also, I think kmac and I were seated next to probably their biggest fan in the whole audience because that girl was hollering, and her excitement was contagious. The MV was the first thing I looked up when I got back to the hotel that night.

Forever 1 - Girls' Generation

I feel like this is less of a song and more of a Moment? Like, all musicality aside, it’s just great to see them together after all these years. But! As a song and MV, it is great too. The chorus is so addicting; how can you not sing and dance along? The MV is really straightforward but lets each member shine, showcasing each doing their different activities and coming together for the choreo shots. It is perfect for the concept and the Moment. God, the 2nd gen nostalgia.

Last Sequence - WJSN

kmac has become obsessed with this group since Queendom, so they are my newest fandom-in-laws. From what I’ve seen of their singles, they are hit or miss for me personally, but this is definitely a hit. The song is gorgeous (and Exy has a great rap verse), and the switch from their usual space-y concepts to something vaguely underwater and very loosely mermaid-y is refreshing. (Although I do love the space concepts too, but these vibes are perfect for a late summer song.)

Pose - Kino (Pentagon)

This wins for most sensual male solo MV thus far in 2022 in my opinion. Simple but sexy and deserves way more attention than what it’s received so far. Airy but lush vocals, gorgeous choreography, Kino’s outfit with the belty-corset thing and asymmetrical boots??? This one is for the girls and the gays.

Somebody - Hwasa (Mamamoo) & Loco

A gift from the Spotify algorithm. I’d never seen the MV until I looked it up for this list. I loved “Don’t” by this collaboration too, so it is perhaps inevitable that I would also love Somebody. Hwasa’s voice is very well-suited to this kind of song, dreamy but full-bodied for a grounded but romantic appeal. Loco doesn’t especially stand out here, but that’s probably the point since he does complement her perfectly in the track.

Whisper - The Boyz

This MV concept could easily been done by a girl group with zero changes, and I love that for The Boyz. It’s cute, it’s fluffy, it’s pink! And yet, somehow, it doesn’t seem too cheesy. It’s actually pretty sexy in parts? The song itself is really catchy and fun, my favorite of what I’ve heard from them. (They are another fandom-in-law group from kmac lol.)

B-Sides

Bound - Key

The competition for singles this quarter was fierce, otherwise Gasoline would’ve appeared in the above list for its outfits alone. Bound is my favorite track off the album, and it’s the one of the three that I think best epitomizes the album’s concept. It’s creepy, it’s sexy, I’m so glad Key promoted it on music shows because I love the head rolling part of the choreo.

Burn - Key

This song concludes the horror-vibes B-side trilogy at the front of the album (Bound, Villain, Burn), and it’s such a strong track to end that section on. Musically and lyrically this song is really straightforward, but Key delivers it in a haunting way that’s chef’s kiss for me.

Circles - Seventeen

The lyrics paint a really simple but potent image. Since looking them up, I’ve been thinking about the aimless wandering of my depression and how it does indeed feel like I'm circling a clock. Eventually, I’ll be okay. It will come around again, but it will also pass again. It’s a sad but pretty and ultimately really hopeful song. Music that can touch me like this song is what I value most.

Cyberpunk - Ateez

Guerilla was good, but THIS should’ve been the title track, if you ask me. Holy hell, the blood-pumping adrenaline of this track. Just listen to it. Everyone’s vocals??? That back-and-forth rap exchange in the second half??? The lyrics????? No song on this album goes harder than this one, and that is really saying something.

Designer - NCT 127

I already liked this song when I first listened to the album, but the guys really sold me on it when they performed it for Dingo’s Killing Voice. (Holy shit, their Killing Voice is so good??? I’ve easily watched it 30 times??? Help me???) It’s sweet in a way that borders on cheesy but never quite goes there, and it also features one of my favorite Johnny verses of all time.

Mirror Mirror - P1Harmony

I am addicted to the HEY MIRROR MIRROR in the chorus. I enjoy the rest of this track greatly, but that little bit has been on constant repeat in my head ever since I first heard this song during KCON homework. Strong contender for top 10 B-Sides for the entire year in my books.

New World - Ateez

The storytelling element of this album is pretty strong, so I assumed that the energy would wind down for the conclusion of the album. Ha, no. New World isn’t as breakneck as the earlier tracks, but it feels more like an epic mid-series climax than a resolution, which makes me very eager to hear the next EP in this series. Also, Mingi’s rap verse in the back half??? Hello??? Anyway, it’s a stiff competition, but this might be my favorite B-side from the album.

The Ring - Ateez

You know what the kpop world needs? More Lord of the Rings references. OK, not really, but I appreciated it immensely. Big thanks also to ateezjpeg for the Ateez/LOTR fanvid.

Villain - Key ft. Jeno

Loving villains is queer culture (according to me), and I do indeed love this song. I like that when other artists feature on Key’s song they feature pretty heavily; his stages with Jeno were a lot of fun. Plus, his voices pairs well with Jeno’s since they have complementary vocal tones. It’s probably unlikely, but I hope they collab again.

WDIG (Where Do I Go) - Ateez

Just casually including most of the album here. Really, really like the production on this track. I want to crunch it between my teeth, if that makes any sense at all.