Looking Back: The Best K-Pop Songs of 2015 Pt. 1

Ah, what to say? This is the first official post in the blog that I’ve dreamed of creating for so long. This is a dream come true in so many ways. But I’ll wax poetic later, it’s time to create a list of the best K-pop songs that turn a decade old this year.

This is unranked. Hopefully, you find some new songs to listen to!

I first heard this song in a playlist that centered around the theme of a secret or haunted garden. I don’t remember exactly. Regardless, that’s the perfect description of this song – haunting, mysterious, but so beautiful. There are no songs quite like this one.

It’s crazy to think that it’s already been ten years, but this song still sounds so fresh. I will admit that I prefer Jonghyun’s solo version, but the original is still great. Jonghyun’s effortless smooth vocals are always so irresistible.

From the moment that Namjoon starts the song off with, “Welcome, first time with Bangtan?”, it is an exhilarating experience. My favourite thing is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously – it’s just straight up fun, while proudly pseudo-bragging about their work ethic.

One of the best choruses, that’s for sure. The entire song is constructed so well, and each section naturally leads to the next one. The melodies are wonderful and sticky, getting stuck in your head without becoming annoying. The music video is also a lot of fun.

A certified classic, this song got BTS their first win. The highly effective verses set the stage for one of the best choruses of all time. I can talk for hours about HYYH, but for now I’ll simply say that the music video does an excellent job at matching the vibe of the song.

The first release with all five members, so in many ways, it was a rebrand for the group. It was a massive success, essentially launching the group into stardom. And the song is the perfect one to accomplish so much – it is a sugar rush from start to finish.

There is a certain niche in the K-Pop market of sad, desperate boy group music and this song is one of the best examples. Both the song, with the anguished vocals and the dramatic music video (cue the baseball bats and car smashing) are echoes of a long-gone era.

This song has a special place in my heart as it is one of my first Girls’ Generation songs, and I listened to it a lot even when I didn’t know much about them. The chorus is to die for, and the styling, and the music video are timeless.

This is my favourite EXO song. Jesus, what a chorus! It’s held up incredibly well over the past ten years, and with the recent news of EXO’s legendary return, I’ve been listening to it so much more. Kyungsoo has such a beautiful voice, oh my god.

SHINee’s best music video. Nobody has done a creepy Halloween-esque concept better than them. And the song itself is unbelievably catchy, with highlights ranging from Key’s post-chorus, Minho’s bridge, and Jonghyun’s introduction.

One of their most famous songs, especially because of the video of them performing it in the rain on a slippery stage. This song holds up so remarkably well. It reminds me of the very essence of 2015, when life, for me, was so much more innocent and cheerful.

So, when I think about “Run BTS”, this is what I think of. In my opinion, this is one of the best songs ever made. Taehyung and Jin’s pre-choruses are what heaven is made up of (I checked). J-Hope’s verse also stands out, especially with the amazing choreography in that section.