Through the massive boom of the K-pop wave all around the world, from big hits like "Nobody" by Wonder Girls and "Gangnam Style" by PSY, there are tons of ways that opened for Korean artists to share their music for the rest of the world to hear.
Here are the the 4 songs you must introduce to new K-pop fans to get them hooked in the genre:
1. "Sherlock" - SHINee (2012)
After the major success of their electronic-dance hit"Ring Ding Dong" in 2009 and "Lucifer" in 2010, SHINee made a comeback through their new song "Sherlock" for the year 2012. This song has showcased the members' vocal talents and harmonizing abilities.
"Sherlock" is also an original song that is in more than one way: as a hybrid of two songs from their album, and the dance is created by a choreographer who worked together with Michael Jackson. It will remain as one of the most dynamic and exciting choreographies in K-pop.
2. "Save ME" - BTS (2016)
Quite possibly that the whole BTS discography is such a well-made puzzle piece that the fans have loved, and "Save ME" really showed that BTS could pull amazing performances even with a slower song, everything about "Save ME" is just so great because unlike a lot of songs that tend to be either vocally or rap-wise, it showcases the best of both for both the group's vocal line and rap line.
Its music video is amazingly made in one shot, and as it progresses, the video showed off the emotions they wanted to portray.
3."Shine" - PENTAGON (2018)
Pentagon with their new album, Positive, and fronted by the song "Shine," it's the act's sixth set since its debut in 2016. With a brassy, funky beat, cowbells, and playful piano melody driving the swaying hip-pop track, "Shine" is one of the most glorious singles Pentagon has put forward yet.
Switching between rhythmic raps and harmonious chanting choruses, the single is fun in its minimal nature, which made this became a top hit on the Billboard's chart; however it still needs more appreciation from the world. "Pentagon's songs and another group or another singer's songs are different," says Hui, when he thought about writing this song.
4."All Night" - ASTRO (2019)
ASTRO, from Fantagio, has started off the year with "All Night," which is the main track of their first full-length album, which contains ASTRO's hopes to shine forever in "the garden of eternity" where lights never fade. The song is a fresh but sophisticated pop track that features a minimalistic piano instrumental and an addictive melody, and the lyrics reflect their honest wishes of a man who is waiting for his lover to contact them so that they can spend the whole night talking and communicating.
ASTRO is such a growing group everyone should look forward to, where they have made youthful and also beautiful songs that everyone should be listening too. As they stepped on new concepts for the next years, we are looking forward to what ASTRO will bring us in the future.
