The 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of All Time: 70-61

Readers, over the past two months, I have worked to create a list of my favorite K-Pop Songs of All Time. For over ten years, I have enjoyed K-Pop, seeing it blossom into a global genre with millions and millions of adoring fans. I have found K-Pop songs I love, made friends over the genre, and seen legacies built over the years. Some of the songs that have made me feel the most are from K-Pop. Given all I have felt and seen, I thought it was finally time to create a ranking of my favorite K-Pop songs of all time.

I don't claim this ranking is perfect, no ranking of this can be perfect. I can only claim that I did my best to provide my personal opinion, with my personal biases, from my years of enjoying Korean music. There are many more boy band songs than girl group (I just prefer their general soundscape), and many songs come from the second generation (2005-2013).

In a way, K-Pop is a bit of a misnomer here. I have included Korean songs outside of the idol sphere, and songs released nearly a century ago. The end result is a list full of songs that left their mark on me. I hope you, the reader, enjoy this list. You may (and almost certainly won't) agree with my ranking, but that is what makes a personal list like this so wonderful.

With that said, let us enter the rules and regulations for what has been qualified as K-Pop for this list.

• Any musical piece released in South Korea, or any of its direct predecessor states, AND/OR is predominantly in the Korean language, Jejuan, or any of their dialects.
• The musical piece must be lyrical in nature.
• Any song, single, or b-side, is eligible.
• This list is MY personal opinion.
• Song rankings may have changed since previous lists and/or reviews.
• The criterion for "the greatest" is a mix of my personal experience, the overall songwriting (lyrically, compositionally, and performance-wise), and the influence of the track in question.
• A song refers to a particular recording of the track and not the basic composition.
• Only one entry per composition.

With all this said. The list will begin tomorrow. For songs 100-11, they will be grouped into daily posts of 10 (100-91, 90-81, etc.). For the top 10, however, each song would get a post of its own.

I hope all of you enjoy this list over the days! Please give your thoughts in the comments, and I will gladly reply when free.

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Previously:

Honorable Mentions

100-91

90-81

80-71

70. SHINee - Love Like Oxygen (2008)

Based on Martin's Show the World, Love Like Oxygen largely served as a showcase of the then-rookie members of SHINee's A-Tier vocals. Jonghyun in particular rips over the beat, performing with the airy conviction that would soon go on to be his signature style. Beyond that, the Michael Jackson-esque beat created the best song from Off The Wall that was never part of the album.

69. Bigbang - Blue (2012)

While initially overshadowed by more flashy singles, Bigbang's Blue has slowly but surely wormed its way into everyone's collective consciousness. The song is a sum of everything that makes Bigbang so beloved: the emotive melody, the clever use of electronic production, and a charismatic performance by the members.

68. TVXQ - Way U Are (2004)

TVXQ's debut year and album saw more examples of classic TVXQ sounds, and certainly bigger hits. Nonetheless, no other 2004 TVXQ song provided a melody as rock-solid as Way U Are. Junsu and Changmin's falsettos in the pre-chorus are incredible.

67. Infinite - Be Mine (2011)

There are very few examples of a more satisfying synth brew than the delicate attack of A-HA-esque '80s sounds than Infinite's break out hit. With the propulsive rock edge that made the best of Sweetune's songs, Hoya and Dongwoo show off their raps, while Woohyun and Sungkyu provide some incredible vocals.

66. Yoo Jae-Ha - Myself Reflected in My Heart (1987)

The only song Yoo Jae-Ha performed live in his too-short life, Myself Reflected in My Heart is one of the earliest Korean songs to carry a "love yourself" message, performed with the earnestness that defined Because I Love You as an album. The catchy melody has also lent itself to many remixes and revivals, each catchier than the last.

65. Infinite - Man in Love (2013)

In the hands of a lesser artist, Man in Love's sugary melodies would come off as cheesy aegyo. Nonetheless, with Infinite, Man in Love presents itself as shockingly genuine, with more than enough belief in Sweetune's eclectic hooks to engage in loads of cotton candy energy, sans any fluff.

64. 9Muses - Figaro (2011)

While 9Muses would go on to release flashier songs, Figaro's fun disco pastiche provided enough energy for it to be considered a career highlight. While Figaro is always a blast, the moment the theatric brass play over the towering chorus, in all its key change glory, is the moment 9Muses showed themselves as one of K-Pop's very best.

63. FTIsland - Take Me Now (2016)

By 2016, FTIsland were already established in their status as K-Rock legends. Nonetheless, a simmering resentment towards their status as rock-based balladeers was more than evident in tracks such as Pray. Take Me Now fully ripped off any notions of FTIsland being a rock group only for the grandparents, with its electric chords dropping down into one of the heaviest choruses ever seen in K-Rock, slashing through FTIsland's reputation with endless wrath.

62. IU - Good Day (2010)

While IU had already released some beloved songs prior to Good Day, it was Good Day's unbelievable commercial success that catapulted the rising star into her chart-busting status, where even an unpromoted television soundtrack is guaranteed to top charts. Good Day is a deserved breakthrough, with three mighty high notes, including a ten-second one to close the song, and with Disney Musical-ready orchestration throughout.

61. TVXQ - Mirotic (2008)

Mirotic is essential for any list of the most iconic K-Pop songs, and it is not hard to see why. From the syncopated reverse beat to the disjointing electronic production, Mirotic feels like a haunted attempt to flee from an unbeatable foe. This conviction is only built by TVXQ's amazing performance, resulting in a haunting track for their last Korean release as five.

Next: 60-51

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