This is Yubin from Wonder Girls solo debut. Remaining at JYP Entertainment after Wonder Girls disbanded in 2017 this song and video really shows Yubins potential as a solo act. 숙녀 is very much inspired by the 80s and I really like how Yubins voice sound like in the song. The melancholia has almost a trot vibe, but not like many other idols making fun of trot, this is more like a touch of it, a beautiful feeling of lost days and times.
I really like the sound and production of the entertainment company SM, it was one of the things that really got me into K-pop over ten years ago, and BOSS it such a typical SM song. From the dance based refrain, to the rap (that in part seems a bit forced) and the sudden emotional ballad parts that almost sounds like a new song. The music video is also very esthetically pleasing with excellent camera work.
17. OH MY GIRL - Secret Garden (비밀정원)
There are no real K-pop lists without a song where someone sings with a forced baby voice. This is my favorite baby-voice-song of the year. The lyrics talks about a secret garden growing inside the young girl group, becoming more and more evident and beautiful each day. Sweet and catchy, this is a timeless K-pop hit from OH MY GIRL, with an equally timeless and beautiful video.
16. S.O.U.L Get Myself With You (네 꿈이 좋아)
Top Management is a silly and low quality, but very entertaining, K-drama about a former trainee who becomes the manager of the boy band S.O.U.L. This is the fictive boy band S.O.U.L.s single. In the series one of the members writes the song and people start to listen to it to cheer up. And, it is not only in fiction this pop song cheers people up. Get Myself With You has gotten me out of bed on many dark November days.
15. Red Velvet - Power Up
Another song to cheer… or power up. When I first saw and heard Red Velvets Power Up I thought there was something lacking, but I soon realized it is not the song. The song is fantastic! For me it is the choreography. I guess the idea is that the ”powering up” makes Red Velvet dance very fast making a lot of movements with their arms. But for me it makes them seem stressed and not able to perform to their fullest. Therefore the feeling of being empowered is not really there when I look at their live performances (although Red Velvet is very good performers). But, listening to the song is a truly uplifting experience!