From ‘Stereotype’ by STAYC to ‘Lilac’ by IU, five best K-pop songs of 2021

While the rest of the world was still recovering from the pandemic-induced horror that was 2020, K-pop came out of the gates swinging in 2021, with milestones, successes, and record-breaking feats aplenty. From Brave Girls’ 2017 single ‘Rollin” going viral to BTS’ 11-week reign atop the Hot 100, and everything in between, 2021 was a year to remember.

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However, despite a year full of various singles, a vague pattern began to emerge while sifting through the best and brightest K-pop has to offer. Many of this year’s greatest albums focused on the nature of time, lyrically or otherwise, whether it was nostalgia for sounds and trends of the past – disco, punk, synthwave, or even traditional Korean instrumentation – or keeping an eye on the next level of the music industry.

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And, given the length of time many of us have been in a strange and unsettling limbo, it’s only fitting that we and our favourite musicians find solace in the same pieces of music as we slowly but steadily return to normalcy. But, rather than pondering the meaning of pop music, let’s get right into it, shall we?

5. ‘Stereotype’ by STAYC

In this congested business, capturing the public’s attention has proven to be more difficult than ever for new K-pop groups. STAYC, on the other hand, have overcome the odds this year with back-to-back viral blockbusters that have cemented their status as a band with infinite potential, with the bouncy ‘Stereotype’ being their most effective yet.

On this Black Eyed Pilseung-produced track, bubblegum pop meets future bass and flute-like synths, finding a middle ground between the hard-hitting ‘So Bad’ and their first viral hit ‘ASAP,’ creating yet another masterpiece that has already been picked up by a portion of the tastemaking TikTok crowd. 

Best part: Isa’s flawless bridge, which slows things down and brings the song’s chorus down a notch, letting it hit even harder.

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4. ‘The Feels’ by TWICE

TWICE’s first English-language single introduced the world to what ONCE had already established: a girl group fueled by the power of bright, cheerful pop and a penchant for concocting sparkling dream worlds through their songs. The shamelessly euphoric ‘The Feels’ hits you directly in the feels, as the band depicts the fizzing sensation of someone else taking control of your heart.

The members’ powerful vocal delivery and attitude served as neon flashes through a sparkling disco environment, combining to produce the ideal soundtrack for when you need a pick-me-up or to act out all your romantic fantasies too. 

The best part is when Dahyun raps, “Under the neon lights, darling / Electricity tonight, baby,” each line glowing with a carefree, enthusiastic enthusiasm.

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3. ‘Bad Love’ by Key

It’s always thrilling, almost primal, to witness someone being completely themselves. It leaves you feeling a little out of breath and fully blinded, as if you’ve gone through a life-changing shift in the span of a song. On similar ways, Key’s ‘Bad Love’ is a religious experience, partly because it is so wonderfully, unapologetically, liberally him that you can virtually taste his life experiences, thoughts, loves and dislikes on your tongue.

We saw numerous versions of retro throughout K-pop in 2020, but if there was anyone who genuinely grasped the era, it was Key – even if the song was released a year after the throwback resurgence. Key flourishes and becomes himself among the fascinatingly macabre pink, goopy aliens, and PVC space suits, the deconstructed jackets and David Bowie-inspired style, the booming voice, and the atmospheric synthwave-influence. This isn’t his first rodeo, but it’s certainly the most honest. 

Best part: As the song progresses, the outstanding chorus gives way to a peaceful outro, in which Key sings out steady, crisp high notes over a sparse drum arrangement until being abruptly cut off. Did we watch it over and again? You’ll never be able to prove it.

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2. ‘Next Level’ by aespa

You might be perplexed when you first hear ‘Next Level.’ Perhaps even on the second and third listens, as your brain adjusts to the unique many-songs-in-one structure and mid-track pace shifts that keep you on your toes. The fast electro rhythm, staccato intonation of the lyrics, and undeniably powerful vocals blend together brilliantly to create one of the year’s most captivating earworms. In this song, the rookie group oozes confidence in a way that rubs off on you as you listen, and you’re ready to push play again as soon as it’s over to bask in that attitude once again.

Best part: While not a musical element, it’s nearly hard to listen to ‘Next Level’ these days without thinking about the iconic dancing steps that go along with it. The arm and wrist choreography has gone viral, and it’s now so well-known that you can’t even utter “next level” without instinctively stomping your feet into place.

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1. ‘Lilac’ by IU

‘Lilac,’ IU’s first album in four years, is just stunning. The 10-track comeback album not only reaffirmed her as an all-rounder capable of fluidly transitioning from beautiful disco pop to soaring ballads to smokey R&B, but also as a skilled storyteller and songwriter. IU presents her most sympathetic story yet on the album’s title track: the heartbreaking road of letting go of your youth.

‘Lilac’ feels more intimate and knowing than the others, despite the fact that age has always played a key role in IU’s music — ‘Twenty-three’ from ‘CHAT-SHIRE’ is a perky coming-of-age bop, while the minimalist ‘Palette’ finds her embracing maturity on her own terms – this surprisingly dancey track is a sincere love letter to the singer’s roaring 20s before she enters a new decade, and it’s drenched in nostalgia.She sighs on the glittering chorus, “The day when the lilac flower withers, goodbye / This kind of ending suits us,” as she looks forward to the rest of her life’s adventure. You can always count on IU to make breaking up with your younger self sound so romantic and beautiful.