40. HIGHLIGHT – Plz Don’t Be Sad (얼굴 찌푸리지 말아요) [CAN YOU FEEL IT?]
Despite the issues that BEAST had when they left Cube, the group’s return as HIGHLIGHT is definitely something to be happy about. Although I did enjoy quite a few of their songs, BEAST never quite grabbed my attention. Plz Don’t Be Sad is exactly what I was looking for though. Unlike the darker sound they released in 2016, this tune is so fun and upbeat. Every part of it is exciting (although the lyrics could have been tweaked a bit). The cheerful chorus that mixes some catchy hooks with a more melodic edge really works and helps to create a full experience. Their other releases in 2017 were also quite strong.
39. AOA – Excuse Me [Angel’s Knock]
2016’s Good Luck did very little for me. Although it was meant to infectious, the hook just seemed too obvious and a bit lackluster compared to the run the group had from 2013 to 2015. While Excuse Me isn’t going to be that classic jam, its retro vibe definitely switches things up. The repetition can be rather bearing at first, but it is certainly an earworm and is worked around cleverly to not focus entirely on it. While others haven’t taken too lightly to the random rap break, I find it helps to break the song up a bit.
38. VAV – Venus (Dance with Me) [VENUS]
VAV debuted in 2014, but have failed to really find their footing. With a revamp in 2017 that included a number of member changes, it seems as though VAV has finally found that spark. While the group released a solid four tunes in 2017 with Ryan Jhun, their comeback Venus (Dance with Me) was the song that really grabbed me in. Funk is one of my favourite genres and Venus is one of the strongest examples in K-Pop. That wicked bassline that keeps the song going really brings some refreshing life to the song, while the brass mixing also helps to fuse things into a catchy and unforgettable tune.
37. Red Velvet – Red Flavor (빨간 맛) [The Red Summer]
Red Velvet seemed in a weird place last year with the weak reception of One of These Nights. Although Russian Roulette helped to bring the spark back, 2017 saw the group really take off again. Red Flavor was undoubtedly one of the hallmarks of 2017 K-Pop with its summer freshness and dance-pop catchiness. Definitely something that could be by girl group Little Mix (it was originally crafted for them), it has that spunky element to it that only gains power as the song progresses.
36. The Boyz – Boy (소년) [THE FIRST]
The Boyz boasts a staggering thirteen members. While there have been numerous groups with this number in recent years, it is still quite a large amount. Unfortunately, Boy fails to really help distinguish the members from one another and instead we get a hectic bouncing of member to member. Fortunately, Boy is still an excellent song. It really grasps that youthful vibe that the group has going on and it does have its charm points. That booming and swift chorus comes and goes, but it has so many twists turns that it keeps the song flowing and interesting.
35. Joo – Late in the Morning (어느 늦은 아침) [Late in the Morning]
Joo has been on of my favourite ballad singers since her debut. Although her recent stunt on the survival show, The Unit, has shown that she has versatility, I still find her fragile voice works best in these simple ballad tunes. Late in the Morning is not an explosive and passionate song. It’s a gentle and calming tune that is more fitting for a rainy day. It’s the vocal performance that shows off Joo’s emotional yet sweet tone that really gets the work done. She really captures the emotion.
34. Dream Catcher – Chase Me [Nightmare]
One of the most surprising debuts of the year, Dream Catcher is actually the re-debut of girl group MINX. What makes the group so different is the choice of music they chose to come back with. Instead of the bubblegum synths or EDM beats, we given something more in tune with J-Rock. The piano line that plays helps to create a haunting foundation for that blast of guitar. The chorus is absolutely infectious and really makes me think of an impactful anime opening theme.
33. IU – Palette (팔레트) [Palette]
Slowing things down again is IU’s Palette. IU got into controversy over 2015’s Zeze, but 2017 saw her return to music and despite what happened a few years ago, she still showed she is a powerhouse. Palette brings us a gentle mid-tempo R&B-influenced pop song that focuses on self discovery. It really sounds like something played in Korean cafes, but there is something that really keeps it afloat and not lost in the sea of the majority of these tunes. IU’s airy vocal delivery and G-Dragon’s rap really help bring the star power and they both make the song so believable.
32. GFRIEND – FINGERTIP [The Awakening]
GFRIEND saw the peak of their popularity hit in 2016. Unfortunately, while their tunes were beloved, the group found scrutiny coming from those who wished the group change up their sound. FINGERTIP keeps a lot of the same aspects of some of their other songs like Navillera, but brings a great 80’s funk vibe to it. It’s definitely more mature than their past songs. With that said, it has some really great points. That explosive and catchy chorus tied with Yuju’s classic vocals really carry the song a long. It’s their strongest title track yet and I hope they bring back this sound.
31. DAY6 – You Were Beautiful (예뻤어) [SUNRISE]
2017 saw DAY6 go on a twelve month promotion cycle with every month bringing fans two new songs. You Were Beautiful was released as the title track for the February single and what a haunting tune it is. Unlike the more upbeat tunes that surrounded it, this one was definitely the prototype a lot of DAY6’s ballads followed. It’s an emotional pop/rock ballad that really captures the emotions of a break-up. The soaring chorus with its towering percussion and haunting synths really help to highlight the strong vocals the band can put out.
Kuuki to Hoshi 