Ranking All H.O.T Singles

In the analects of Korean music history, few acts have been as cherished as the original boy band, H.O.T. While Seo Taiji and the Boys may have founded modern Korean music, idol K-Pop was formed by H.O.T. They also remain one of the greatest boy bands of all time, with a razor-sharp, if surprisingly short discography. Their legions of obsessive fans and status as an idol act cannot stop the fact that they made some great music, and spoke on some great topics. Though they only released twelve singles through their career, each added something new to the then-burgeoning Korean idol scene.

Note: I excluded It's Been Raining Since You Left Me and We Can Do It, since they never received MVs. Other than that, all singles (promoted tracks with MVs) count.

12. Wolf and Sheep (1997)

Wolf and Sheep is not as iconic as its preceding two singles, or the two that follow it up, but it is a classic in its own right. This is almost entirely due to its surging vocal moments, showing the underrated power of H.O.T's vocal line-up. The '90s hip-hop hook is a whole lot of fun too.

11. Full of Happiness (1997)

Full of Happiness desperately tried to be the next Candy, but barely missed... just barely. The verses might be a little bit scattershot, the pre-chorus gears everything up for the sheer adrenaline shot of the chorus, riding on a hook for the ages, whether you are listening to the original or the Super Junior remake.

10. The Promise of H.O.T (1998)

A soothing ballad, The Promise of H.O.T's harmonized chorus is fantastic, even if it plays assistance to the ahead-of-its-time, Daft Punk-esque MV. Few "Thank you for the fans" ballads have lasted as well as this song.

9. Line Up! (1998)

Several H.O.T tracks were cutting edge and experimental, but few were as unconventional in song structure as this 1998 hybrid single. Effectively a highlight melody in the guise of a song, Line Up! is creepy (who can forget the eery skeleton girl at the MV's end?) and unconventional musical structure. The song somehow comes together into a cohesive whole, even if Yoo Young-Jin would later improve on this very basic structure with the early TVXQ singles. The screamo call-and-responses have aged surprisingly well.

8. A Song For A Lady (2000)

As H.O.T's disbandment single, A Song For A Lady truly marked the end of an era. A slow-burn track, A Song For A Lady takes its time to slowly build up until Kangta finally lets loose with one of his best vocal performances ever.

7. Git It Up (1999)

Git It Up was nothing really new for H.O.T when released, but it still remains an utterly convincing look at the sound they had built up to this point. It is a little bit of We Are The Future, I Yah!, and Age of Violence, with its own aggressive, electronic elements. It is a fantastic song, and one of H.O.T's edgiest.

(It also features H.O.T's craziest hairstyle by Moon Hee Jun)

6. Age of Violence (1996)

What an entry into the music scene! From the anti-bullying message to the ever-iconic rubber bass over the hovering keys, Age of Violence, also known as Warrior's Descendents, remains relevant all these years later, and a perfect example of the burgeoning SMP sound that made SM, H.O.T, and songwriter Yoo Young-Jin legendary.

5. Outside Castle (2000)

Outside Castle, compared to H.O.T's more aggressive and dance-oriented tracks, is smooth and subtle. It, with the potential exception of I Yah!, however, is H.O.T's most lushly produced track. The surging chorus is beautiful, with the orchestral strings wrapping themselves around the members' voices in a beautiful fashion.

4. Candy (1996)

What to say about what is arguably the most iconic K-Pop song of all time? Candy is not deep or particularly inventive, but it nails every element of the K-Pop charm, elements it invented. From the powerful raps to the soothing, cotton-candy melody, every element has been pre-planned to perfection. Nearly every single K-Pop group ever has covered this song, and this is unlikely to stop any time soon. That chorus is an earworm for the ages.

3. We Are The Future (1997)

The song that turned H.O.T from being one of the K-Pop highlights of the time to one of the greatest boy bands of all time. We Are The Future is a definitive cry-for-help from the youth, while a moment of decisive growth for them at the same time. We Are the Future saw H.O.T finally stop trying to clone their debut album, and release something, while very '90s, still stands the test of time.

The surging chorus, riding on one of the most powerful techno-pop beats of all time, is something to remember. We Are The Future is both intensely personal while feeling like a massive call-to-arms for an entire generation. We Are The Future is a pitch-perfect classic, better after each and every listen.

2. I Yah! (1999)

I Yah! stands as a monument for 23 kindergarten children who were killed as a result of school negligence, letting them burn alive in a fire. I Yah! is not a moment of hope like Hope, it does not have the joy of Candy, or the dream of We Are The Future. It is a song for when the candle has been burned out, and by those whom it was intended to protect. It is a song of rage and frustration, and one of the best songs of all time.

I Yah! sees H.O.T perform with the rage one would expect, nearing full-on screamo rock at times. It is desperate and frustrated, with some of Yoo Young-Jin's most meaningful writing ever, "Who allowed you to put out the children's sparks, when they had yet to be light?!", proclaims the chorus, with a melancholic melody countering the extreme rage of the verses. 

Musically, the song is as powerful as it is lyrically, powering through with a blend of pop, rock, screamo rock, rock opera, classical, and '90s hip-hop elements. I Yah! is a stunning classic, pulling everything back for the utter gut-punch of the chorus.

1. Hope (1998)

Perhaps one of the greatest songs of all time, Hope is not only a standout within H.O.T's discography but a bona fide K-Pop classic in its own right. New K-Pop fans learn about this song through SMTown covering this song regularly on January 1, but none of these covers can even touch the surging majesty of the original K-Pop anthem.

Where do I even start? The perfectly incorporated Ode to Joy sample somehow genuinely feels like a merger of the '90s Korea with Romantic Vienna, united in the spirit of hope, and a love of music. The uplifting lyrics still stand the test of time, even as the '90s have slowly faded into being the 'uncool decade'. I could see the spirit of universal love shown here motivating anyone.

The song grows from one note to another, to a perfect climax. H.O.T also perform their very best here, with all the heart and earnestness to make even a pessimist smile. Combine this with the ever-iconic MV, and you have a song for the ages. Nearly a quarter-of-a-century later, Hope is still a definitive K-Pop moment and a highlight for the ages.

Image Source: Kpop Map