Top 10 Gfriend Songs

So, I am sure we all were shocked when Gfriend disbanded a few days ago out of nowhere. Sure, their album sales somewhat stagnated, but their agency was just bought by a massive agency, who gave them a rework leading to fan and critical acclaim. If they were ever ripe for a return, now was the time. But they ended up disbanding. We may never know the full behind-the-scenes truth here, but we get a basic idea. Regardless of their ending, Gfriend has left us with a legacy a lot stronger than a group called 'gfriend' should give. Some really talented members, great music, and solid producers have given us many masterpieces. Thus, this ranking was really tough to do.

Honorable Mentions:

Sunrise

Glass Bead

Time for Moon Night

Love Whisper

Wave

Tarot Cards

Please Save My Earth

Compas

Memoria

10. Fever (2019)

In 2019, many were done with the oft-overdone tropical trend, and thus Fever went underappreciated. Sure, the basic melody is not something we had not heard many times before, but there was just something appealing in the first half of the chorus, propelling Fever into the top 10.

9. Apple (2020)

If you had told me in 2015 that Gfriend would be the next artist to release something in the vein of Gain from Brown Eyed Girls, I'd give you a really weird stare. But here we are, with Apple building off its sultry, hypnotic, and tempting hooks. The vocal effects here give just the needed atmosphere, leading to the open yet claustrophobic chorus.

8. Me Gustas Tu (2015)

Gfriend's unlikely break-out song, supported by one of K-Pop's most iconic performances. Me Gustas Tu has some excellent hooks but stands out due to its excellent arrangement, written by Seo Youngbae and Iggy.

7. Crossroads (2020)

Crossroads was lambasted by a large section of the K-Pop community for being weaker than its b-sides upon release. And yeah, there is a better b-side on the accompanying EP. Still, as a conclusion to Gfriend's arc till then, Crossroads stands as a particularly great track for a farewell. Sadly, it stands now as a great farewell for Gfriend.

6. Mago (2020)

As Gfriend's final single, Mago might be remembered as the least Gfriend-sounding Gfriend single. And that is sad, as Mago builds off its sensual disco vibe with some excellent hooks, and a chorus guaranteed to slowly reel you in with its hypnotic chants.

5. Fingertip (2017)

For one brief moment in 2017, Gfriend abandoned their old concept entirely and went for a full-on 80's techno anthem in Fingertip. The song received a mixed reception on launch, effectively stopping Gfriend from following this style, which is an absolute shame, as they nail this sound surprisingly well. The electric guitar riffs provide that edginess, while the funky beat provides that fun pop, leading to a stand-out.

4. Eye of the Storm (2020)

Lyrically, Eye of Storm is based on Yuju's diary from their debut days. The desperation is certainly felt, as well as several clever lyrical choices. Musically, the chaos and silence perfectly complement each other. Its stunning and chaotic beat, held together by arguably one of the members' best vocal performances, leads to a stunning track, only improved after the news of their disbandment.

3. Labyrinth (2020)

After a few years of waxing and waning in quality, Gfriend stormed back in their first comeback under Big Hit. And while Crossroads was great, Labyrinth stands as a massive 180 from their classic sound, while still being uniquely Gfriend. Almost as a more mature successor to Navillera, with a bit of Fingertip's musical DNA. While most groups choose to go for rap breaks, and half-time raps with a lot of posturing for their darker, more mature releases, Gfriend chose to rely on their vocal prowess, and Frants's frantic, never-relenting production.

2. Navillera (2016)

After the emotional and gut-punching Rough, expectations were massive for its follow-up. And while it may not have been as beloved as said single, it proves still to be one of the greatest songs, and along with Rough, part of one of music's greatest one-two-punch. Optimistic and energetic, Navillera grows from its rock-based strings beat, with an excellent guitar riff, and Yuju's high-note. Making it one of the few songs ever, which just gets better the later into its three minutes and 14 seconds, leading to one of K-Pop's best climaxes.

1. Rough (2016)

What else would be number one? One of the most universally acclaimed K-Pop songs, or songs overall, of the last 5 years. Driven by an orchestral arrangement over a heavy metal beat, all leading to a song that is a masterpiece. Thematically, the song is almost about maturity and growing from child to adult, and it matures Gfriend's till-then 'cute' discography while feeling like a natural next step. Despite their massive legacy, I feel like Rough is such a moment in their legacy which is untoppable, and any attempts to provide it a sequel failed miserably. Oftentimes, Girls' Generation Into The New World is considered the best K-Pop song to show youth, without resorting to immaturity. And while it still holds its title, Rough should come into the discussion more often. It is a track that transcends the limitations of genre, language, and music, and stands as Gfriend's masterpiece.

Image Source: Chosun Online