From an over-abundance of debuts to a handful of career-defining comebacks, 2013 has been a big year for K-Pop. But what were the best, most important songs of 2013? Here at allkpop, we're trying to answer that question with our 'Top 50 K-Pop Songs of 2013'!
Some of the staff members combed through this year's numerous releases to bring you a list of fifty of the year's most noteworthy songs.
Note: To be on this ranking, the songs had to be released between the dates of December 1, 2012 to November 15, 2013 for consideration.
Today, we bring you the final ranking for numbers one through ten on our list!
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10. Lee Seung Chul "My Love"
Album: My Love
Label: CJ E&M
Release Date: June 18th, 2013
In 2013, one of the former vocalists of Boohwal, Lee Seung Chul, brought us one more in a long line of hits. While the lyrics are sad, the song has a bright, sweet sound to it that captured people's attention and kept it on the charts for a long, long time. He skipped out on a more typical drama video for this song, instead using his MV as a vehicle for a hidden camera proposal of epic proportions.
9. G-Dragon "Crooked"
Album: Coup D'etat
Label: YG Entertainment
Release Date: September 5th, 2013
When G-Dragon does a comeback, he does a COMEBACK. Multiple songs, multiple videos, multiple concepts, and more guest vocalists than you could shake a stick at, he knows how to make an impact any time he comes on the scene, and 2013 was no exception. This time around, it was the rock-inspired "Crooked" that stood out in the midst of all his comeback singles- looks like everyone can relate to the pain of lost love, doesn't it?
8. Cho Yong Pil "Bounce"
Album: Hello
Label: Pil Records
Release Date: April 23rd, 2013
2013 marks the year that international fans finally became aware of the old school legendary singer/songwriter Cho Yong Pil, who made his highly-anticipated first television comeback since the nineties with his 'Hello' showcase. "Bounce" took over the charts, knocking Psy's "Gentleman" out of the top spot and garnering nothing but praise from listeners.
7. Davichi "Turtle:
Album: Mystic Ballad Part 1
Label: Core Contents Media
Release Date: March 4th, 2013
Any time power duo Davichi brings us a new ballad, you can guarantee it's going to dominate the charts. While the girls had a number of hits this year, it was the beautiful song of encouragement, "Turtle", that got them off to a strong start in 2013.
6. Baechigi "Shower of Tears" ft. Ailee
Album: 4th Album Part 2
Label: YMC Entertainment
Release Date: January 14th, 2013
It was a big year for both Baechigi and Ailee, who each seemed to turn everything they touched into gold in 2013. It's no surprise, then, that their collaboration, "Shower of Tears", saw huge success with its release. Things are going nowhere but up for both artists heading into 2014.
5. EXO "Growl"
Album: XOXO Repackage
Label: SM Entertainment
Release Date: August 5th, 2013
While EXO's first 2013 comeback, "Wolf", left many listeners scratching their heads in confusion, nobody could deny the infectious groove of their repackage single, "Growl". Slick enough to be a SHINee production, but powered by twelve voices instead of five and supported by fantastic choreography, "Growl" took home trophy after trophy and officially put EXO on the map.
4. 4minute "What's Your Name?"
Album: Name is 4minute
Label: Cube Entertainment
Release Date: April 26th, 2013
It wouldn't be a K-Pop top ten without a Brave Brothers production, and this year it was 4minute's zombified "What's Your Name?" that kept him at the top of the charts. Full of arcade noises and over-the-top sound effects, "What's Your Name?" was one of 2013's catchiest songs, and had us all doing the answer-the-phone dance.
3. Sunmi "24 Hours"
Album: 24 Hours
Label: JYP Entertainment
Release Date: August 26th, 2013
With the Wonder Girls drifting further and further apart by the day, nobody expected former member Sunmi to pop back up and take over with the surprise smash hit "24 Hours". Her dramatic, sexy makeover, unusual choreography, and (of course) her J.Y. Park-produced song took Sunmi's fading star and shot her back to the top of the charts.
2. Crayon Pop "Bar Bar Bar"
Album: Bar Bar Bar
Label: Chrome Entertainment
Release Date: June 20th, 2013
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It took a while for Crayon Pop's "Bar Bar Bar" to take off, but when the public finally discovered it, it rocketed to national craze level in no time flat. From cover videos by everyone from police officers and firemen to martial artists and "Pop-jussis" (the title Crayon Pop's uncle fans gave themselves) to a live stage with Ylvis, Crayon Pop's infectious song and five-straight-engine dance turned the ordinary helmet into an iconic piece of fashion history.
1. Girls' Generation "I Got a Boy"
Album: I Got a Boy
Label: SM Entertainment
Release Date: January 1st, 2013
Whether you loved it or you hated it, Girls' Generation's "I Got a Boy", the first K-Pop song released in 2013 exactly one year ago, was easily one of the most influential songs of the year. While the jarring, genre-mashing thing has been done before (as recently as Super Junior's "SPY" in 2012), it was "I Got a Boy" that brought it to the forefront and made it a bonafide trend. For all the controversy over the song (and boy was there a lot of it!), it became one of this year's most defining songs, setting the standard for the genre-mashup style that swept K-pop in 2013.
Check back next week on Wednesday, January 8 as we begin our rankings for the top 50 MV's of 2013!
allkpop's 'Top 50 K-Pop Songs of 2013' is staff-determined and is not in any way connected with the fan-voted 2013 allkpop awards.
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