A new year has finally come, and this 2022, numerous K-pop songs will celebrate their tenth year. So with that, let's look back on the tracks released in 2012, the time when K-pop started to become popular internationally.
Here are Some of the 2012 Iconic K-pop Songs That Will Turn 10 Years Old This 2022
BIGBANG "FANTASTIC BABY"
Digitally released on Feb. 29, 2012, "FANTASTIC BABY" serves as the title track for BIGBANG's fifth mini-album "Alive." The song garnered domestic and international fame following its release. In fact, this is one of the signature songs of the legendary boy group.
BIGBANG's "FANTASTIC BABY" was written by band members G-DRAGON and T.O.P along with renowned producer Teddy Park. It became one of the best-selling singles in South Korea and recorded combined sales of three million in Japan and China.
ALSO READ: These 9 '03-line' Idols Who Will Turn 20 Years Old in 2022 Reveal Birthday Wishes & Plans
2NE1 "I Love You"
"I Love You" is one of 2NE1's non-album singles. It came out on July 5, 2012 and was well-received in South Korea. The song ranked first on the Gaon Digital Chart and became the quartet's sixth No. 1 single.
Ahead of the release of 2NE1's "I Love You," the group's past discography features a list of self-empowerment anthems, so their comeback with "I Love You" stood out as it talked about a completely new topic, which is love.
PSY "Gangnam Style"
K-pop further became popular outside of South Korea after PSY dropped his sixth studio album "PSY 6 (Six Rules)," which features the now global hit "Gangnam Style." This track set numerous historic records for a K-pop artist and any other artist at the time of its release, including the Guinness World Records for being the most liked video on YouTube, receiving over 1.57 million likes.
PSY's "Gangnam Style" is widely popular for its point choreography that involves pretending to ride a horse while holding the reins and spinning a lasso in the air.
EXO "Mama"
EXO's "MAMA" is another K-pop song turning 10 years old this 2022 as it was digitally released on April 8, 2012 in both Korean and Mandarin. Two music videos for both versions were also revealed. This is actually the debut song of the nine-member boy group from SM Entertainment.
READ MORE: Netizens Can't Believe These Idols Are Turning 30 in 2021
Super Junior "Sexy Free & Single"
Dropped on July 1, 2012, "Sexy Free & Single" is Super Junior's title song from their sixth studio album of the same name. This soulful house genre music boasts an easy and captivating chorus and contains lyrics about the successful life of sexy and free single men.
INFINITE "The Chaser"
Another legendary K-pop song on the list is INFINITE's "The Chaser." Dropped on May 15, 2012, "The Chaser" was named the "Best K-pop Song of 2012" by Billboard.
Featuring a modern yet powerful beat, "The Chaser" showcases INFINITE's potential as the rising artist in K-pop. It comes with the group's trademark "perfect synchronization" dance moves.
f(x) "Electric Shock"
Another K-pop song by a girl group that will turn 10 years old this 2022 is f(x)'s "Electric Shock," which is one of the band's renowned tracks. After its digital release on June 10, 2012, it debuted at No. 1 on the Gaon Digital Chart. In three weeks, over 1.12 million copies of the song were sold.
Moreover, the "Electric Shock" music video became f(x) first MV to hit 100 million views on YouTube.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: These are Some of the Must-Hear Underrated K-pop Songs Released in 2021
miss A "Touch"
Released on Feb. 20, 2012, "Touch" is the title song from miss A's first EP of the same name. In just two days of release, the "Touch" MV garnered over one million views. A Chinese version of the track was subsequently released in March of the same year.
This was the time when miss A member Suzy was still not an adult in Korea yet she was able to pull off the sexy concept of "Touch."
Girls' Generation-TTS "Twinkle"
On April 29, 2012, Girls' Generation debuted its first sub-unit called Girls' Generation-TTS, which consists of Taeyeon, Tiffany and Seohyun. "Twinkle" is the title track of their debut EP of the same name. The album is the first Korean work in history to place No. 1 on the Billboard World Albums chart.
Girls' Generation-TTS's "Twinkle" became the most-downloaded song on Gaon Chart within the first week of release, recording over 600,000 downloads. As of July 2014, the track has exceeded 2.5 million downloads in South Korea.
For those unaware, the "Twinkle" MV features EXO members Chanyeol, Baekhyun, Sehun and Kai
SHINee "Sherlock (Clue + Note)"
To cap off the list of 2012 K-pop songs that will turn 10 years old this 2022, let's talk about SHINee's "Sherlock (Clue + Note)," which is one of the group's signature tracks. It is actually a medley of "Clue" and "Note," two songs from their fourth EP "Sherlock."
As it is a mashup of two tracks, SHINee's "Sherlock (Clue + Note)" is regarded as K-pop's first "hybrid remix." It achieved commercial success, scoring No. 1 on the Gaon Digital Chart. A Japanese version of the song arrived in May of the same year.
For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.
KpopStarz owns this article
Written by Mhaliya Scott
