On Dec. 11, TIME Magazine released their top K-pop songs and albums that defined 2020. Keep on reading to see who made the top.
In 2020, K-pop saw its popularity skyrocket on all sorts of platforms, from traditional music and music videos to novels, podcasts, and even Netflix documentaries. Despite that, music is still the heart of the industry. This year, the world was turned upside down due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but the South Korean music industry saw no decline. The country continued to push out and release top-tier quality music from both old and new artists.
TIME Magazine chose a variety of K-pop songs that we're able to transport us from the comforts of our homes to the places we miss most; from the theater, to a beautiful sunny beach, or a classy jazz bar. The publication also chose songs that triggered nostalgia in the listeners and tracks that spread hope and joy despite the pandemic.
This year in K-pop, numerous artists experimented with different genres and sounds, all while forming deeper and more meaningful connections with their fan bases, even from their screens. TIME Magazine selected 10 songs and albums in 2020, acknowledging 20 releases in total. The publication did not rank their list in any particular order.
For the songs, TIME Magazine first named "Answer" by ATEEZ, as it is a song of triumph and victory that allows people to feel a sense of power and hope despite the difficulties brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. They also selected "Nonstop" by Oh My Girl, as the girls fully embraced their bright and youthful image while other girl groups leaned towards darker concepts. Oh My Girl was praised for their fresh song.
SEVENTEEN's hit song "Home;run" was also selected, with the publication applauding how it invites the listener to simply bask in the music and join the party from your home. Despite how bright the song is, it is considered a healing song. Hwasa was the first soloist mentioned by TIME Magazine for "Maria," which was praised for how it was written like a diary entry and a love letter to herself.
Apink was also selected by TIME Magazine for their song "Dumhdurum," which was praised as having one of the most memorable riffs of the year. The next song selected is by the CUBE Entertainment PENTAGON for their track "Daisy." The song was praised for being a great reak-up song, that shows no hindrance to emoting the pain they feel.
Of course, the list would be incomplete without mentioning the YG Entertainment girl group BLACKPINK, who was selected for their song "Lovesick Girls." The song was praised for being wildly different from their past title tracks, leaning to a more melancholic vibe. Another girl group was selected after. EVERGLOW's "LA DI DA" was compared to being an exciting theme song to a superhero movie.
The last two songs mentioned are from two Big 3 companies. ITZY's "Not Shy" was well-loved as a self-empowering anthem. Next, NCT 127's "Kick It" was selected for its overflowing swagger and for being one of the most iconic songs of the year.
Now it is time for the albums. The first album to be mentioned is by BTS, for "Map of the Soul: 7." The album was praised for being a masterpiece that talks about a variety of themes and topics. Next is Dreamcatcher's "The Tree of Language," which was loved for how different it is from other K-pop releases this year.
Next is "In Life" by Stray Kids, which was loved for the members' involvement in songwriting. IZ*ONE's "Bloom*IZ" was also selected, which was praised for being unapologetically sweet and cute in a world where girl crush concepts are gaining momentum.
Next is the second soloist mentioned, Taemin for "Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 2," which praised Taemin's delicate vocals and for being the most cohesive-sounding K-pop album released this year. Next up is MONSTA X's "ALL ABOUT LUV," which made headlines for being an all-English album.
Next is "Eyes Wide Open" by TWICE, which was hailed as one of the most remarkable releases of the year. SuperM was also praised for their album "Super One," which TIME Magazine claims to prove the boy group is here to leave a musical legacy. "Walpurgis Night" by GFRIEND was also selected, which was said to stand out from other releases this year due to its thematic cohesion.
The last album mentioned by TIME is DAY6's "The Book of Us: The Demon," with the publication saying the album is home to numerous songs with memorably penetrating lyrics. It was also praised for making the listener feel less alone.
Did your favorite song or album make TIME Magazine's list?
