50. Criminal Love – ENHYPEN
Criminal Love’s unique and evocative production propelled it right into the top 50. ENHYPEN sound amazing in this track, proving that they can carry their concept with flair.
49. 3D alt. version – Jungkook
Jack Harlow’s rap verse in the original is simply awful. However, ‘3D’ has unsuspectingly catchy melodies laced with a provocative atmosphere, a perfect recipe for an enduring earworm. The opening lines of its chorus randomly pop in my head from time to time!
48. Kitsch – IVE
As much as I wanted to dislike ‘Kitsch’, time proved my initial criticisms wrong, as recent listens showed just how effective its initially divisive chorus can be in creating impact and dynamism in a song that is neither overbearing or insignificant.
47. One and Only – ENHYPEN x Pokemon
This unexpected collaboration birthed one of ENHYPEN’s strongest songs to date, being ‘warm fluff’ executed to the highest level with a clever line distribution that gave the members with the warmest voices to the killing point of the song. Together with its simple but well-written melodies, it makes for a perfect cozy listen.
46. Sugarcoat – Kiss of Life (Natty Solo)
‘Sugarcoat’ is a triumph of old-school RnB within the K-pop scene, with its classic production and sleek vocal performance making it a rather satisfying listen.
45. Groovy – CRAVITY
CRAVITY can always be counted on to deliver a standout-summer single. While ‘Groovy’ doesn’t reach the heights of last year’s ‘Party Rock’, its rich melodies ultimately ring true.
44. Love Me Like This – NMIXX
‘Love Me Like’ This is sports one of the most ridiculously impressive vocal performances from any 2023 K-pop song, effectively melding talk-singing with melodic singing, only made possible from the sheer prowess of the NMIXX members. The crunchy guitar in the post-chorus is particularly appealing.
43. Eve, Psyche, and Bluebeard’s Wife – LE SSERAFIM
While quite overplayed at this point, Eve’s sleek and understated approach in its production and melodies still offer a massive payoff in the listening experience, making it a rather immersive piece of music. Its ending still leaves a little to be desired, however.
42. MEDUSA – JUST B
‘MEDUSA’ suffers from a rather awkward transition between the pre-chorus and the chorus that mildly obstructs an otherwise excellent song, boasting a standout vocal performance laced with attitude.
41. Do or Die – Lim Young Woong
Lim Young Woong’s attempt at the synth-wave genre proves to be successful, joining the ranks of the likes of EVERGLOW’s ‘La Di Da’ and other successful K-pop synth songs.
40. Passion Fruit – The Boyz
THE BOYZ delivered an all-killer no-filter summer album, and ‘Passion Fruit’ lays as one of its jewels. Keep an ear out for its deliriously satisfying bassline that grounds the rather intricately layered and lush production, birthing funk for the soul and the ages.
39. RUN – TREASURE
‘RUN’ is one of the most earnest expressions of emotion within any K-pop song from 2023, sporting some fantastic dynamics particularly as it builds from the pre-chorus into the chorus. Its raw delivery and exhilarating sense of release it evokes makes it unique.
38. Kick It 4 Now – The New Six (TNX)
This interpolation of the classic elements of New Jack Swing along with a carefree and effortless delivery from the re-branded The New Six makes ‘Kick It 4 Now’ pop. In particular, the chorus is quite the earworm, though not as potent as some of the others above.
37. Fact Check – NCT 127
This is NCT track is the most ‘classic NCT’ NCT 127 have sounded in a while, and it is one of their best. It employs their signature features of their sound and turns up their quality the max. Its weakest part is the rather repetitive chorus, but it does not greatly hinder it overall.
36. Super Shy – NewJeans
Melody is truly king, and ‘Super Shy’ is another prominent example. Despite being quite short and lacking in variation overall, the melodies are well constructed and catchy enough to be an enduring hit.
35. Seven – Jungkook ft. Latto
I was unfairly critical of ‘Seven’ in my initial review, but time proved it to be a powerful earworm, not only within the chorus melody, but the verses as well. The well-executed rap verse with a satisfying cadence from Latto is the icing on the cake.
34. DRAMA (DRAMA) – JUSTB
‘DRAMA (DRAMA)’ hits all of my pleasure spots, containing all the elements that I yearn towards when listening to a K-pop song. I urge you to check it out and see what you make of it.
33. Chill Kill – Red Velvet
‘Chill Kill’ is a classic Red Velvet track that offers a rather outrageous chorus that flip-flops the song from a minor to a major key between its verses and chorus respectively. It won’t be for everyone, but I’m here for it.
32. CRUSH – ZEROBASEONE
Despite its short run-time at just under 3 minutes, ‘CRUSH’ feels like a complete song that has run its full course, which is an accomplishment amidst the shortening song lengths in K-pop that often do not compensate for the lost time through other means. It is the perfect fusion of the ‘noisy’ classic boy group sound that has grown quite popular in the last 3 years or so with magnetic and rich melodies most prominent in the post-chorus.
31. Chaconne – ENHYPEN
‘Chaconne’ is set at a rather unique key signature, and its melody built around it offers surprising strength and longevity in spite of my initial misgivings. ENHYPEN have rarely sounded this good vocally, making it their 2023’s biggest triumph.
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