As K-Pop has entered into the mainstream in the 2010s, fans all over the world have begun reminiscing about the "Good 'Ol Days" or "Golden Age" of K-Pop. This iconic era had the musical styling of groups like Girls' Generation, SHINee, and Big Bang (among many others!) paving the way for the sound that we hear today. Songs like "Gee," "Mirotic," or "Fantastic Baby" have permanently written themselves into K-Pop history books and are great reflections of the sentiments of that time. As the genre as a whole evolves and grows into something much bigger than we could've anticipated, we can't help but wonder what songs are going to make it into the history books for future generations to enjoy. Here are 10 K-Pop singles released over the past few years on the path to "Classic" status:
10. Gashina - Sunmi
Sunmi's "Gashina" is a pop masterpiece. Her dancehall style synth pop was named among the best in 2017 and has ingrained itself in all our brains. "Gashina" and Sunmi were even nominated for multiple awards for this performance and concept.
9. Red Flavor - Red Velvet
"Red Flavor" was the summer release of this generation. The girls of Red Velvet came together for a fun and totally unique to them song that ended up gracing the playlists of fans worldwide. The adorable music video and live stage concept propelled this song into a classic party staple for K-Pop fans.
8. Really, Really - WINNER
"Really Really" marked a huge turn in WINNER's sound. The group, up until that point, was utilizing a pop-rock vibe to their sound, but with "Really Really" we saw the first inkling of a strong dance beat concept. WINNER has continued to rock their performances and appearances, establishing themselves as a highly recognizable group in the industry.
7. Missing You - BTOB
BTOB's own member Hyunsik wrote this lovely ballad. "Missing You" topped five charts within 3 hours of its release. This autumnal track would go down in history from then on to become a new age K-Pop classic. "Missing You" is the pop ballad of this generation.
6. Bboom Bboom - MOMOLAND
This song by MOMOLAND was written by Shinsadong Tiger and Beom x Nang. As soon as this bubbly pop song debuted, it debuted at number 4 on the Oricon Singles Chart. This girl group from a small company has risen to compete with some of the giant girl groups of the industry and "Bboom Bboom" was a huge factor in this ability.
5. Monster - EXO
As soon as the beginning beats of this song hits, every K-Pop fan looks at each other knowingly. This iconic EXO track is a highlight in their illustrious K-pop career. "Monster" is an absolute soon-to-be K-Pop classic.
4. Love Scenario - iKON
This iconic break-up song has become a staple for K-Pop fans. "Love Scenario" is mellow, but still upbeat and fun. iKON, at the time, was releasing a number of louder more eccentric songs, so "Love Scenario" hit the scene at just the right moment, giving fans a different side of iKON they weren't getting before.
3. TT - TWICE
The iconic dance, amazing group dynamic, and adorable concept tie TWICE's "TT" up in the perfect bundle. This song is set to be a K-Pop classic as it's already earned its place in our hearts as one of our favorite cutesy performances of this generation of artists.
2. DDU-DU DDU-DU - BLACKPINK
BLACKPINK's "DDU-DU DDU-DU" is an all-around global hit. These four talented ladies have absolutely captivated audiences, going viral all over social media with their jaw-dropping live performances. It's no argument that this song will bring great memories back up in a nostalgic flashback ten years from now.
1. Blood, Sweat, and Tears - BTS
BTS has ingrained itself onto history, and rightfully so. This group's outrageously complex concepts and comebacks have captivated audiences worldwide. When BTS released "Blood, Sweat and Tears" all hell broke loose. This song is no doubt going to write itself into the K-Pop history books.
A good way to see if a song would be a "classic" is to ask yourself if the songs could be sung on shows like Immortal Songs and be commemorated by future performers in 10+ years.
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