Ranking All Gfriend Singles

Up till their shocking disbandment in 2020, Gfriend were one of the most beloved K-Pop groups of the third generation. They released classic after classic in their golden era, and cast a vast shadow over the K-Pop landscape which inherited its sounds from them, resulting in groups filling up the Gfriend-sized hole in fans' hearts, such as The Wind and CSR.

For this singles ranking, any Gfriend track with a proper video, or any form of promotion as a single, will be qualified, whether from an album or not. Lyric videos will be excluded. These songs would have to be released by Gfriend as a whole group, and excludes any unit track or spin-off groups such as VIVIZ (unless officially listed as a Gfriend track) or solo. With the rules explained, let us start the list!

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18. Wave (2016)

A remake of an old-school hit by K-Pop legends UN, Wave is a fun little commercial song, with retro first-generation charms adding some energy to the rather generic melody. A great hook would send this song into the stratosphere, but it works as is.

17. Flower (2019)

Flower's bizarre merger of tango and Latin percussion over a standard J-Pop structure. Somehow, it feels like a natural extension of Gfriend's signature sound, even if the percussion is the real highlight over a melody playing second fiddle.

16. Glass Bead (2015)

A solid debut, if there was ever one. Glass Bead encapsulated Gfriend's sound within their first attempt. While their melody writing wasn't as strong as it would become, the strings and hefty chorus teased what Gfriend would eventually accomplish.

15. Love Whisper (2017)

A return to their classical 'youthful innocence' sound after the polarizing Fingertip, Love Whisper plays it safer, both melodically and lyrically, than their 2016 releases of the same sound. Nonetheless, the chorus hook, as always, is bound to get stuck in your head for weeks on end.

14. Sunny Summer (2017)

Taking a break from their ethereal string-based sound, Gfriend opted to copy Sistar's summer sound, and Sunny Summer could have been released back in June/July 2014 without anyone batting an eye. Sunny Summer doesn't break new ground, but it is fun, and I love the little touch of each member singing a line with their names in it.

13. Crossroads (2020)

Overshadowed by its iconic b-side, the beloved Labyrinth, Crossroads was derided since release, and unfairly so. Time has been especially kind to Crossroads' chorus, with its locomotive-esque chugging production bearing surprisingly strong emotive weight.

12. Fever (2019)

Fever's merger of dancehall, piano house, and most notably, tropical pop should sound derivative, but it doesn't. Strong vocal performances by Umji and Eunha at her very best, and a pre-chorus that provides a strong anthemic build keep Fever fresh and engaging. Even the drop chorus remains one of the best examples of its style in K-Pop.

11. Fallin' Light (2019)

Fallin' Light's chorus is the stuff of dreams, with an instantly iconic refrain with the orchestral production that makes the best of Gfriend's work. Unfortunately, the members don't get many moments to showcase their vocal chops, even if the finale brings everything together for a fantastic farewell to the song. It has only improved with time.

10. Time For The Moon Night (2018)

With Gfriend splitting with their ever-consistent production team of Youngbae and Iggy, Time For The Moon Night's songwriting struggles in merging the gliding instrumental and the drama at the heart of the melody. Nonetheless, the two elements work, whenever they join, create one of the most heavenly blends in Gfriend's discography.

9. Summer Rain (2017)

A darker reprise of their debut year's soundscape, Summer Rain remains one of the more underappreciated Gfriend singles. Its hooks, as always, are quite solid, but the focus on a piano as the lead instrument adds to a degree of dynamism throughout the entire production. The sizable regret and emotional expression throughout the multi-phase chorus is also a highlight.

8. Apple (2020)

The start of the all-too-short second era of Gfriend's career, Apple traded their ethereal orchestral sound for a chugging, seductive redux. Apple's reinvention is surprisingly effective, creating a classy hook that ranks amongst some of Gfriend's very best.

7. Memoria (2018)

Given that Gfriend's sound borrows from J-Pop classics, their Japanese debut would always be a moment worth checking out. Memoria is perhaps one of their densest and most expressive compositions after 2016, capturing the slow-build sound that made the very best of their discography. The finale, with the ad-libs playing over the sleigh bells and strings of the chorus, is pure gold.

6. Me Gustas Tu (2015)

Their inevitable breakout hit, Me Gustas Tu took all elements from Glass Bead and extended them to their maximum. The vocal harmonies are fuller, the chorus better formed, the strings more pointed, and the backing guitars just a bit stronger. Of course, the real seller is that mighty chorus, guaranteed to get stuck in your head for weeks on end.

5. Mago (2020)

A fun nu-disco pastiche-based reinvention. I was one of the few not entirely enamored with Mago upon release, but that has changed over the years. The hooks have proven hypnotic, and the vocal performance by all the members remains extremely magnetic. The chorus is one of Gfriend's best, and teased a future of Gfriend releases we never received, as this would be their final single. (Full Review)

4. Sunrise (2019)

Sunrise might feature one of the most impressive slow-builds in Gfriend's entire discography. Even if one is not a fan of the verses, the vocal layering in the chorus, the fully orchestral production of the chorus, the lyrics, and the vocal fireworks by Eunha and Yuju in the key change-infused finale more than sell the song.

3. Fingertip (2017)

Fingertip was enough of a left-turn for Gfriend upon release that it split the fandom, and led to a commercial flop, scaring Source Music away from the plucky dance-pop sound for years. Nonetheless, time has been kind to Fingertip, as the synth-pop sound it captured has slowly defined the 2020s. Strong hooks and a killer bass line assault mean Fingertip still sounds as fresh and cool as it did upon release.

2. Navillera (2016)

The true follow-up to the very best Gfriend song, Navillera is pure propulsive synth-pop through the veneer of Gfriend's orchestral rock sound. Intensity and build were the key elements behind this Youngbae and Iggy masterpiece, highlighting a slow build each time before the knock-out chorus.

The refrains of Navillera are amongst Gfriend's strongest, showcasing a confidence hitherto unknown in their singles, while Yuju and the rest of the members more than add enough emotional weight to the song before we reach the incredible climax, one of the best finales in any 2010s' song.

1. Rough (2016)

The most obvious top pick for perhaps any of my countdowns so far, Rough is a once-in-a-career highlight, the rare masterpiece that does nearly everything right, and then goes on to build even further. Its slamming metal riffs as Yerin commands the pre-chorus launch the song into the even greater chorus, a stunning refrain that combines its wistful melody with emotional grit and strength. Youngbae and Iggy, as composers, bring life to every single emotion with clarity, resolve, and vulnerability.

Rough's lyrics are inherently nostalgic, sending us all back to that one moment when we realized we are never going to be children again, and are yearning for one more day of youth, one more moment of emotional vulnerability, and perhaps, finally gaining the courage to talk to that first love.

In the seven(!) years since Rough first released, many songs have tried to capture Gfriend's sound, but none of them have ever understood the emotional weight their very best careered. Rough isn't great just because of its blend of wistful 2000s J-Pop or hidden rock influences, nor even for Yuju's power notes and the legendary chorus. It is so incredible as it takes all these elements together to create a thematic masterpiece, one that captures the emotional pangs and angst of growing up. (Full Review)

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