The 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of All Time: 40-31

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

70-61

60-51

50-41

40. B.A.P - One Shot (2013)

Despite shoddy management and extensive controversies holding them back from ever taking the crown as K-Pop's top group, B.A.P's aggressive image and thunderous sound resulted in more than a few classics. The theatric One Shot is the best of the bunch, with Daehyun's explosive vocal performance being perfectly paired by Yongguk's sinister rap over the gliding choirs and strings.

39. S.E.S. - Dreams Come True (1998)

Few words can describe the emotions that you can feel when Dreams Come True's heavenly synth-flute melody appears. Mysterious and dream-like, Dreams Come True's ambition and influences are only tamed by S.E.S.'s soothing performance. It remains the most-viewed first-generation K-Pop MV on YouTube, and even that cannot sum up how heavenly it sounds, easily uprooting the Finnish track it was based on.

38. Infinite - Paradise (2011)

A dark and dramatic highlight from the early part of Infinite's beloved discography, Paradise merged synth-pop, rock, and balladry to create a song that stood as grand and stately, while still showcasing a dark underbelly from a dysfunctional relationship. Every element of Paradise comes together for the falsetto-driven chorus, standing tall over Infinite's singles run.

37. EXO - Miracles in December (2013)

Perhaps the greatest Christmas-based piece of art since Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life, Miracles in December is an ode to the individuals we think of on lonely Christmas nights. The dreamy piano ballad stuns with a melody that is instantly recognizable, but Chen, Baekhyun, and D.O's heavenly vocal harmonies turn Miracles in December into an all-time classic.

36. IU - Twenty-Three (2015)

Acting both as a song on the pains of growing up, and a cheeky middle finger to her career up to that point, IU's Twenty-Three proved the moment where IU grew into a songwriter, writing cleverly personal lyrics, with a gift of metaphor. IU's gift of gab thrives over the funky disco strings, creating a song that still remains one of her best.

35. Kim Sung-Jae - As I Told You (1995)

As I Told You's memory will forever be tainted by Kim Sung-Jae's tragic death under suspicious circumstances the very night after his debut performance. Hearing the song, it is hard not to think about the love he was too shy to ask, as another day goes by, never to come again. Beyond the tragedy, its jubilant melody and catchy hook create a song that was destined to become a classic in any way.

34. TVXQ - Hi Ya Ya (2005)

From its euphoric melody to Changmin's nostalgic "Neor saranghae, forever come with me," TVXQ's Hi Ya Ya is pure sunshine, capturing the best of the summer season into a dynamite package. The vocal harmonies are amongst TVXQ's very best, while the hooks create a perfect example of a nostalgic song for a beach vacation, while still being enjoyable during a quiet winter. (Full Review)

33. Yang Hwa Jin - It's Alright (2011)

Yang Hwa Jin may have only released a single track before disbanding, but that one song proved to be a K-Drama classic and one that guaranteed them a spot in the halls of OST fame. It's Alright's thundering rock beat remains fresh, while Woobin's vocal belting as he screams "Oh it's alright!' created a song for the ages.

32. Wonder Girls - One Black Night (2015)

Wonder Girls' Reboot is rightfully considered one of the greatest K-Pop albums of all time, and its creative peak is best seen in One Black Night. Yeeun and Frants' eclectic production blurred so many elements of '80s classics, from waterfall synths to thundering drums. All of these elements serve as an assist for one of the greatest choruses in history, with three phases of an adrenaline headrush that remains intense years later.

31. Bigbang - Haru Haru (2008)

Bigbang were already one of Korea's most popular boy bands when they released Haru Haru, but it was this little tears-on-the-dancefloor anthem that made them the K-Pop legends praised to this day. G-Dragon and T.O.P's interplay throughout much of the song creates an atmosphere of painful regret, culminated by the fantastic chorus, produced by the legendary DJ Daishi Dance.

Next: 30-21

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