SPECIAL FEATURE #1: My top K-pop songs of 2018, PART 1

A special feature post is a post where I post content that isn't a song critique review. Rather it focuses on other areas of K-Pop that I think are just as interesting, as well as ranking lists of songs from a particular artist or a year, which can be extremely difficult, yet fun to create.

I thought it would be nice to take a break from dissecting tracks and look back into the past, by compiling a ranking list of my favorite songs from 2018! 2018 was another memorable year filled with hits and bops, but compared to other years, there were no legendary songs and my ratings in the top 10 list aren't as high as that from years prior. But nevertheless, I had a great time coming up with this list, so let's get started! Like all reviews, I won't be including B-sides (non title-track album tracks) in the countdown just because there are so many of them, and I have yet to listen to them all, but I included an extra section called B-side shout-outs where I list out some of them that really stood out to me, right below:

B-SIDE SHOUT-OUTS (In no particular order or ranking):

BTS- The Truth Untold

BTS- Don't Leave Me

WJSN- I-Yah

GFRIEND- Love In The Air (Review here)

COUNTDOWN

#20: MOMOLAND- BAAM

I've always thought that Baam had the sassier, fiercer edge in its saxophone-infused hook than that of its predecessor Boom Boom. The result though is a shuffle-beat dance track that never loses its energy throughout (minus the bland post-chorus rap) and is sure to get people up making dance covers to this during quarantine.

#19: SOYOU- ALL NIGHT

This snazzy-jazz track incorporates one of the catchiest hooks heard in the "baby love me like I do" part, while capturing the brilliance of Soyou's light-toned but soothing vocals along with the complimenting piano and saxophone riffs. Sik-K's rap and the clock beat assists in keeping the song moving at a fast-pace.

#18: EXO- TEMPO

Hip-hop meets funk in this bassline-driven track. It's full of numerous harmonies and verses that outline some of the most captivating raps from EXO as well as some smooth vocals that keep the song's groove flowing. I wish the chorus also kept that groove intact, but the ridiculous amount of vocal layers sprinkled around more than keeps Tempo afloat.

#17: LOVELYZ- THAT DAY

Well-known for their dreamy-like concepts and compositions, Lovelyz continues to deliver in 2018 with That Day. It showcases the beauty of percussion synths while redefining the genre with a seamless modulation of a chorus that is packed-full of vocal layers and harmonies that uplifts the song. I wasn't the biggest fan of the heavily-processed "doo-doo-doos" in the beginning, especially for a genre that isn't associated with that kind of technology, but the insane amount of sparks in the entire chorus more than makes up for that. Can I also mention how mystic the melody in the bridge sounds?

#16: Chungha- Love U

Chungha's Love U doesn't disappoint at all, especially for the summer. This tropical-inspired track once again flaunts her bright vocals, streamlining the rhythm and her lively-filled singing from the verse all the way to the brassy chorus, where all of the dormant energy explodes.

#15: LABOUM- BETWEEN US

The whistle-hook in the intro immediately stood out to me, and the idea to bring it back seamlessly later in the chorus is a brilliant one. A fairly-calm verse suddenly turns quite groovy in the chorus, where we are treated with captivating 8-bit synth layers on top of the vocals, and of course the catchy whistle melody.

#14: Eyedi- Caffeine

Eyedi's mesmerizing vocals deserve attention but can we talk about how wonderfully ambient the instrumental of Caffeine is? From the sound of that bass guitar, to the atmospheric landscape of the verse, to the tropical-like synths of the chorus, and the percussion in the second verse, Caffeine's structure seamlessly fuses synthpop/new wave of the 80s with today's instrumentals, while making sure you get your caffeine and stay up all night jamming to this song.

#13: Dreamcatcher- You & I

Well known for beautifully meshing rock with traditional K-Pop structures, Dreamcatcher continues to deliver this music style in 2018 with You and I. Melodic, calm verses with gorgeous instrumentals, a slight dose of guitar in the pre-chorus, and a explosiveness of percussion and vigorous vocals proves that Dreamcatcher is truly redefining the genre.

#12: G-IDLE- Latata

Flourishing, energetic, and full of energy, this moombahton-inspired track soars to new heights with G-Idle's audacity and charisma sprinkled throughout the rap and the vocal parts. The bold "latata latata" and "I love ya" hooks help carry the song's momentum throughout along with the rich tropical-like instrumentals.

#11: Dreamcatcher- What

If you thought that You and I wasn't epic enough, Dreamcatcher has an answer to that. Although slightly lacking in melody compared You and I, What more than makes up for that with its fast rhythm and energetic percussion drums that stomp throughout, and an uplifting chorus that once again bolsters Dreamcatcher's talented vocals. Dami's rap and the chilling final verse properly concludes a song of roaring proportions.

Part 2 coming up next!