Kpop Countdown 2023

By Lionina - 7:03 PM

+ Kpop crossovers and english language releases make headway in the mainstream

+ More 90's vibes

+ Remixes, always

+ Feeling ho-hum about a lot equals contrarian track picks

+ Countdown (Kpop and World) with the least boys and most self affirming lady business

The Countdown

Jung Kook - "3D" ft Justin Timberlake

I honestly don't know if this is Kpop anymore but it makes me feel nostalgic, especially once Justin jumped in (Harlow's rap really didn't fit) and brought the party time back to R&B full circle. And also, "squee" because two dimensions collided and rent a rift in my timeline. My gratitude to Hybe for pulling Usher in "Standing Next to You" and for "Seven" stepping straight Craig David, which should tell you exactly how old I am. I would also like to thank Calvin Klein for their "impactful" Jung Kook marketing campaign this year.

"Champagne Confetti... rain rain rain"

Dean - "Die 4 You"

I just miss him.

Le Sserafim - "Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard's Wife" (with Jurin XG), "Perfect Night"

The rap version of "Eve" with Jurin of XG completes a whole you didn't know you were missing. Bibi is totally unnecessary. On the total opposite spectrum to getting it like boom swings the bubbly and sweet, "Perfect Night" energy of Le Sserafim's brand marketing release with Overwatch. Both inexorably earwormy.

"I'm a mess mess mess mess mess mess mess"

Ive - "Cherish"

An elegantly constructed, dexterously composed jam that luxuriates in the hand-over-heart pop-lock stutter of Omarion's "Touch". I really cannot express how much I love this song.

Fromis_9 - "Attitude"

Another sophisticated bit of b-side magic that manages to wield delicate uncertainty and persuasive mettle at the same time.

New Jeans - "ASAP"

"Zero" and everything else is fine.

Itzy - "Bratty"

See Also: "Bet on Me"

tripleS - "Moto Princess"

Although I initially didn't gel with either, I guess Itzy's "None of my Business" and Aespa's "Better Things" (LDN Noise Remix) summarized this year's mental space best.

G-Idle - "I Do"

Simple, classic, effective. When the verse takes the pulse quickening leap... "Don't you go falling in love"... Much prefered to the campy, kitschy rock-teen bluntness of their other releases.

Nine - "Beyond"

Lush and swoony.

NCT 127 - "Ay-yo"

Ateez - "Crazy Form"

Good God. "Bouncy" is the kind of ridiculous tomfoolery that sparks my joy with bullet time drops, bombast and flappy flappy choreo. However, top position on the testosterone ranking this year went to the more serious and controlled "Crazy Form", which inspired a surprising (to myself) passion for the songwriting of all things. Throughout, the phonetic pleasure and lyrical quirks of Kor-english delivers the most satisfying chewy sonic goodness. The bassline of "Crazy Form" is a restless and sinuous thing, and as soon as the snake-charming mesmer begins, there's only a moment of breath before San declares with the slow certainty of a book boyfriend drawing a sword, "Ninety-two-four, kick that drum: MY EGO in this SHOW." That chorus swaggers into rap with simmering intensity, a hype storm which revs the prechorus into a literal shriek, "You KNOW I'm FIRE!" This is the Ateez state of battle readiness.

"그냥 맘대로 움직여 we go up"