Best Non-Title Tracks of 2016
2017-01-19 04:57 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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omonatheydid
So much happened in 2016, both in the world of Kpop and beyond, that it was hard to keep track of what was coming out from one moment to the next. That's why even though many of us are quite content to put
iTunes
A lot of people understandably had mixed feelings about the title track for this mini, "Hate," given its disjointed sound and bait-and-switch expectations from the song's teasers. "Blind" has a similar hard/soft dynamic and uses the same kind of brass wall-of-sound bass effect as "Hate" does in the chorus, but in a more cohesive way. 4Minute may have been cruelly taken from us, but at least they gave us one last great mini to go out on.
Runners Up: Canvas, No Love
Flight Log: Departure was the first album to date that really gave GOT7 more control of their music, and they took full advantage of it - various members have writing credits on almost every song on the album. This song is a bit of a departure (pun intended) for GOT7 compared to their previous releases, featuring a more laid-back and mature sound from a group that often suffers from overproduction.
Runner Up: Can't
Follow-up track to AOA's requisite summer release "Good Luck," "10 Seconds" delivers a more lowkey side of AOA that we don't normally see. The song is reminiscent of the 80s-inspired sound that worked so well for Wonder Girls last year, and proves that AOA has more in them than just catchy concept videos.
Even though Luna's solo debut with "Free Somebody" went largely underappreciated, the mini contains some hidden gems. Luna expanded upon f(x)'s experimental 90s EDM influence from 4 Walls throughout the album, and also gave us a more chill, downtempo track with "Breathe" that would be worthy of top-40 radio play in the States. Of course Luna's vocals get plenty of shine as well.
Runner Up: Galaxy
iTunes
This middle track on Hyorin's solo album It's Me is a cool and sexy-sounding R&B song without any of the unnecessary rap features or weird instrumental breaks that kept some of the other songs on this album from being really perfect. The rest of it is still definitely worth a listen, but in those areas, "꺼져" comes out on top.
2016 truly was the year of Twice, who came out with 2 of the most popular songs of the year within the span of a few months. But while everyone was Cheering Up and Like TT, this underrated gem snuck in as a deep track on their Page Two EP. The lyrics about getting over a breakup by listening to music are something that everybody can relate to, and the song is a certified bop.
iTunes
BTS's Wings had everybody shook in 2016, from the mysterious teasers to the iconic MV for Blood Sweat & Tears to a solo song from every member on the album. "Lost" is one of the few upbeat songs on an otherwise fairly dark album but keeps BTS's signature hard-hitting style. There aren't any live stages of this song from what I can tell but it's one that I'd love to see the group do choreography for.
iTunes
Jonghyun blessed us all with his first full-length album in 2016, giving us a mix of dancier tracks and more dramatic fare. Suit Up rounds the album off with an ode to weddings and Jonghyun's whispery, almost conversational vocals.
Runner Up: Moon
iTunes
The first time I heard Onew at the beginning of Prism, my soul left my body. Shinee's always taken musical risks and 1 of 1 was certainly no exception - they're one of the only groups who could really pull off a weird two-step track like this (which Jonghyun helped compose.) Plus, how could you not love that this album came with a cassette tape?
Runner Up: Feel Good
2PM served us a grown and sexy boyfriend concept with the release of Gentlemen's Game and their single "Promise (I'll Be.)" "Uneasy" is the flipside of that coin, a moody synth-bass driven track about a relationship gone sour.
iTunes
UKISS is the group that just won't die, releasing their Stalker mini (as well as a Japanese mini and best-of collection) in 2016 after one member officially left and another became a baby daddy. It's still a mystery why their company chose to promote the hot mess of a song and concept that was "Stalker" when they had a perfectly good throwback UKISS song in "Heartless" instead.
iTunes
Like many other groups, Hyuna (or more likely Cube) has a tendency of hiding her best tracks in her minis. The single, "어때 (How's This?)" was basically "잘나가서 그래 (Roll Deep)" part 2, full of the bad-girl bravado and bratty rapping style we've come to expect from Hyuna these days. In contrast, "U & Me" is a much more easygoing (and dare I say listenable) track that shows more of Hyuna's softer side.
Day6 released their 2nd EP, Daydream, in 2016, promoting it with another emotionally-driven rock ballad, "놓아 놓아 놓아 (Letting Go)." "Blood" is a less soaring and more funky B-side that deserves more attention.
these were REALLY hard to pick (hence why the runner-up category was included.) I'm sure there are still plenty that I've forgotten about; let me know in the comments!
Source:
Spotify 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
iTunes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
MNET K-pop | got7 - Topic | soshilyrics | 세훈마크 | DAY6 TV
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no subject
Date: 2017-01-19 11:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 04:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-01-19 11:25 pm (UTC)Agreed on Day6, though all their non-title tracks are really good, it's hard to pick one out.
no subject
Date: 2017-01-19 11:29 pm (UTC)exid
Date: 2017-01-19 11:37 pm (UTC)CREAM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGLgBU4z2Ss
plus this one
NYAM NYAM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKcUadgT4qM
RE: exid
Date: 2017-01-19 11:42 pm (UTC)Re: exid
From:Re: exid
From:exo
Date: 2017-01-19 11:41 pm (UTC)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts_x8wjrs4E
Re: exo
Date: 2017-01-20 01:50 am (UTC)Re: exo
From:no subject
Date: 2017-01-19 11:43 pm (UTC)At least they're both mentioned haha.
As for Got7, I'd easily go with No Jam
no subject
Date: 2017-01-19 11:47 pm (UTC)4minute too; I really love that whole mini but Blind just slightly edged the others out for me.
no subject
Date: 2017-01-19 11:45 pm (UTC)and basically every track on Luna's album tbh, although yeah, Breathe was really good ;)
I really can't enjoy any Twice song, it just sounds so noisy. I think TT was the only one that didn't immediately get on my nerves :/
no subject
Date: 2017-01-19 11:46 pm (UTC)my fave non title tracks of 2016 were:
ladies code jane doe
hyomin gold (her whole album tbh)
t-ara farewell movie
d.holic so tight
taeyeon good thing
tiffany what do i do/talk/fool
luna galaxy
exid cream
snuper yes or no
oh my girl 1 step 2 steps/knock knock
fiestar mr black (the whole album tbh)
rainbow black & white (tbh their album was a banger and im glad we at least got that before they disbanded)
yezi sesese
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:02 am (UTC)I also have no idea how I forgot Yezi because I definitely listened to her solo. I'd probably go with The Lunar World over Sesese but I like both of them.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2017-01-19 11:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 01:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:00 am (UTC)Keep On Doin' by Luna
What Do I Do (Eng ver) by Tiffany
Knock Knock by Oh My Girl
U & Me by Hyuna
Follow Me by Hyosung
Oasis by Jieun
Don't Want A Drive by EXID
Cool Hot Sweet Love by Red Velvet
Secret by Taeyeon
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:06 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:01 am (UTC)I'll also add
U Need Me - Shinee
Cocktail - Jonghyun
Next Page - Twice
My Dear - Red Velvet
My Flower - Ladies Code
My Medicine - Luna
No Love - 4Minute
Doo Wap - I.O.I.
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:01 am (UTC)this is like the 3rd separate occurrence where someone has said '10 seconds' was great so i'm gonna take that as a sign and check it out.
other picks:
btob--> killing me, anymore
akmu--> every little thing, around
jun hyoseong--> follow me, busted
fiestar--> come and go, a sip of lips
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:02 am (UTC)GFriend
From 'Snowflake' - Someday (starts slow but turns into a bop)
From 'L. O. L' - Water Flower, Mermaid (neither of which are their usual sound)
Infinite
Zero (should have been the title track tbh)
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:06 am (UTC)Butterfly by BTS (not sure if this is 2016 though)
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 05:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:06 am (UTC)Some of my favorite Bsides from 2016...
Ailee- Live or Die (I feel like this was the single I was waiting for from her)
Taemin-Soldier
Jonghyun-Moon/ Aurora-> (I mean that sexy 90's throwback paired with Jong's vocals...Its fortune cookie all over again)
Sam Kim- Touch My Body
Dean- 21
EXO-Artificial Love (everything is just yasss)
Got7-Prove it
Hoody-Lust ft. Elo
Nuest- R.L.T.L
Ladies Code- Jane Doe
Monsta X-Blind/Queen
Jii Min- Walkin
SHINee- Feel Good/Don't Stop
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 04:01 pm (UTC)finally someone mentions "Blind" and "Prove it" god bless
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:20 am (UTC)(the album came out this year but all the b-sides are from 2016 so)
also hold on/ping pong (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPFifi8ZF4w) from ioi's 'miss me?', still lonely/drift away/can't see the end/simple (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0tFVPQzXV4) from seventeen's 'love & letter' (+ repackage) & smile flower (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGS-3sJVYk8) from 'going seventeen'
edit: oh and ailee's 'a new empire' album as whole tbh
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 02:47 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:30 am (UTC)my flower - ladies code
chaconne - ladies code
some love - red velvet
cool hot sweet love - red velvet
one by one - taemin
insomnia - stellar
gold - hyomin
dear moon - hyosung
artificial love - exo
mystery lover - taemin
rhythm after summer - cbx
one in a million - twice
lie - bts (jimin)
say my name - g-friend
ping pong - ioi
talk - tiffany
canvas - 4minute
baby baby - winner
world tour - lee hi
mr. black - fiestar
one step two step - oh my girl
hands on me - taeyeon
monster - nine muses a
that's just off the top of my head. there's def a lot more, but...
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 02:38 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:34 am (UTC)some of my favourite non-title tracks:
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 12:55 am (UTC)other than cream which has been rightfully mentioned many times in the comments i loved nyamnyamjjeopjjeop, truly the track we needed but not the track we deserved, maybe while solji is ill we can get back-to-back subunits of maknae line and ahn sisters?
my flower & chaconne by ladies code were both incredible, unusual tracks
lost & found by nu'est is a really good little track, in fact that entire mini was #flawless it's such a shame pledis wasted away their k-fandom before giving them the concept change of the century
i love touchdown by twice too!
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 01:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 02:09 am (UTC)i'll never forgive sm for not making it the title track
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 02:05 am (UTC)Wonder girls to the beautiful you needs to be on this list.
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 02:12 am (UTC)10 seconds and lost are major jams. also my guilty pleasure which is red velvet's lady's room lmao
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 02:19 am (UTC)SHIFT - SHINee
Hello - Hyosung (she had a really underrated mini)
Light Me Up - Red Velvet
Lie - BTS
U & Me - Hyuna
World of Dreams - Jessica
Moon - Jonghyun
Mystery Lover - Taemin
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 04:29 am (UTC)she consistently puts out great music and korea just sleeps on her, especially for Find Me... which was pretty flawless.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 02:37 am (UTC)SHINee - Don't Stop
Exo - Cloud 9
Red Velvet - Cool Hot Sweet Love (I think we all agree on this one)
4minute - No Love
Ladies Code - My Flower/Jane Doe
Hyomin - Road Trip
Oh My Girl - Knock Knock
Sam Kim - Mama Don't Worry (this song always makes me cry)
Twice - 1 to 10/Woohoo (both great as comeback stages)
Tiffany - fool (this song is so great likeee)
Luna - Keep on Doin (Can you say bop?)
Taeyeon - Hands on M
NCT 127 - Once Again
2pm - Never (this song does things to me)
no subject
Date: 2017-01-20 10:07 am (UTC)