There’s no doubting the grip K-Pop has on the industry now. Countless singles made an impressive impact on music this year. Diversity in genre is something the music industry should embrace. Given Bulletproof Soul’s acronym being so similar to BTS, we wanted to embrace the genre with some singles that made a splash this year.
HaSeul - “Plastic Candy”
HaSeul, from the notorious group LOONA made a Jazz-inspired Pop single to make K-Pop stans excited about a potential solo album. Incorporating a wide variety in sound selection, it’s a very impressive single.
Fifty Fifty - “Cupid”
Even if some other songs on this list may be musically more diverse or complex, this song is already one of the most viral hits the internet has seen, taking TikTok by storm.
NewJeans - “Super Shy”
With a fascinating use of drum and bass, Super Shy hits your brain with a catchy chorus and a fun vibe, which is K-Pop at its best.
BLACKSWAN - “Cat & Mouse”
Another catchy one but much lesser known. This incorporates some Hip-Hop while BLACKSWAN also offers diverse voices in the space.
fromis_9 - “Prom Night”
Possibly the best K-Pop album of the year comes from fromis_9. Unlock My World is a hard-hitting, bop-laden classic embracing a lot of sounds that make K-Pop great while remaining diverse, a refreshing aspect of K-Pop.
The best part about K-Pop’s success this year is seeing women on top. In a genre where BTS and SHINee dominated for years, women rose to the occasion. This isn’t a new dynamic within K-Pop considering the success of groups like LOONA and TWICE.
Successful women aren’t foreign to music but it’s always a good thing to see female empowerment in music while women continue to be underrepresented in the industry. Let’s not forget about the vast majority of women in the industry that have been assaulted or harassed. Given these factors, let’s celebrate badass woman movements when we see them.
Stay tuned for upcoming content from Bulletproof Soul. For more from the Bulletproof Soul gang, stream Nyyjerya, Lofty305, DJ Sabrina, Angela Davis, Amouranth, Alek Oni, Elektrip, TWENTYN9NE, JACOB SONGS, SLWJMZ, Ali Wisdom, Kengeta, and Austin.