"Dear My Friend" - Agust D ft. Kim Jong WanOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

"Dear My Friend" was something I didn't expect from Agust D. I wasn't much active on Genius to help out with the song but I remember listening to it and the tone with the piano was just amazing. The more ballad-like tone really made me love it even more! When I went to the English Translation while listening to it and immediately teared up. I loved the song since due to the whole pandemic I wasn't able to see a good friend of mine and I feel that we maybe have drifted apart. Especially the line that parallels "Spring Day," that goes like,
"Was it you who changed? Or was it me? Uh
I hate this flowing time, it's us who changed"
I can relate to Agust D and that line in particular as I've seen many who were good friends turn on each other and went separate ways. They just move on. To them, life goes on. For Agust D to have put this as the ending for D-2 just showcases the lyrical genius he is. Hopefully, if this pandemic ends, I can chat with my friend and catch up.
- Hobschiske"덤더럼 (Dumhdurum)" - ApinkOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

The veteran Kpop girl group, Apink reinvented their style in 2018 and have since released some of the most sophisticated songs in Kpop. The song was produced by the legendary producer, Black Eyed Pilseung, the duo behind several Kpop hits. With “덤더럼 (Dumhdurum)”, the ladies of Apink showed a maturer side of love and heartbreak not only through their lyrics but also their sound. With the song, Apink tackles the stereotypes of ageism in the entertainment industry. The song became their 4th Top 10 hit on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart. Apink is living proof that it is possible for K-Pop idols to evolve and age gracefully with their fans. They have managed to retain their fans who came to love them in 2011 and have gained new fans in today's industry. My only wish is for Apink to have more than one comeback each year.
- ssaa10dec"God's Menu" - Stray KidsOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

Most will remember this track as “that cooking song,” but this intense and addictive track is a good preview of what Stray Kids have to offer. “神메뉴 (God's Menu)” is full of cooking metaphors that represent Stray Kids' uniqueness and their resistance of fitting into the mold crafted by the K-Pop industry. Furthermore, the song highlights Stray Kids' strengths beautifully. The group's producing unit, 3RACHA, brought the track to life: making sure to keep Stray Kids' signature flair while also implementing unfamiliar but addictive sounds. Moreover, the group uniquely showed off their all-roundedness, with members that rapped, sang, and even some that did both. Felix's captivating voice was utilized really well throughout the track, turning heads whenever his parts came up. This song may only be a taste of what Stray Kids have to offer, but I believe its many elements perfectly summarizes their abilities.
- PlanNine16"Stay Tonight" - Chung HaOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

'Stay Tonight' has all the features one could expect from a Chung Ha single: sultry vocals, a strong build-up to the chorus, and overall dynamic production allowing impressive dance performances showcasing her talent. But what really sets the song apart from her other singles, and as one of the most striking songs of the year, are its atmospheric, mysterious vibe; its 90's influences and incorporation of harps and piano; and her vocal delivery, both seductive and impressive (those high notes right before the choruses and bridge!). As a whole, it sounds very unique and does a great job creating hype for her first full album.
- ab212"에잇 (eight)" - IU (ft. SUGA)Original Song | Romanization | English Translation

Korean songstress, IU joined forces with BTS member Suga to release an uplifting anthem for turning 28 years old. This song was obviously going to be extremely popular not just in Korea but also internationally. But after hearing the song and reading its lyrics, I was happy that it gained all the popularity. The two artists aged 28, sang about the challenges of being a certain age in the music industry but also the joys of being an adult. It was also really nice to hear that the song might have been dedicated to IU's friends, Goo Hara and Jonghyun. The song followed IU’s age-themed hits like 2015’s “스물셋 (Twenty-three)” and 2017’s “Palette”. Each song including “Eight” is written as a self-reflection of her year. Combining the popularity of the two singers, the song debuted at #1 on both South Korean charts and the Billboard World Digital Songs chart.
- ssaa10dec"Ghosting" - TOMORROW X TOGETHEROriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

From the first seconds, I knew this song was going to be great. My breath was taken. "Ghosting" has a very dreamy sound, it reminds me of tracks like G-Dragon's "CROOKED" or Emarosa's "IW2WY". I don't know a lot of Korean, but all the angsty feelings were expressed very clearly throughout the vocal and instrumental melodies. Once I looked up the lyrics, I think it's easily relatable to anyone. The story is told through a lot of metaphors and references to social media. While I normally find the latter kind of cringy, I'm a sucker for metaphors, and also… that's just life. We exist in the digital era, a lot of quarrels happen online and it's part of how our world works nowadays. People are meant to come and go in our lives, they're only here to stay in our memories.
- EleventhCassette"Kick It" - NCT 127Original Song | Romanization | English Translation

Something I enjoy about NCT 127 is how experimental their music is, though they always maintain the group's signature sound. "Kick It" is one of the few songs I liked from the moment I first listened to it and it can rightfully be described as experimental; starting from the chorus, which is memorable and catchy, to the rap verses that are energetic enough to get you excited, I had no problem letting myself get lost within the pulsating bass and synth. The powerful song is balanced out with the bridge, which allows you to slow down for a bit while enjoying the melodious voices of the main vocalists. Finally, there is a well-executed high note followed by a breakdown that is showcased through an amazing choreography. The impact "Kick It" has had not only on the Korean netizens but also on the international crowd is most definitely expected, considering this song was meant for greatness. In my opinion, this track is an anthem and it marks a before and after in the group’s career.
- loveholic"Black Swan" - BTSOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation
This blend of R&B, trap, and classical music can seem strange at the first sight but works beautifully. The meaning of the song can be summed up with a paraphrase of the quote from Martha Graham—the artists die twice, the first time when they stop doing what they love. The lyrics are very personal and introspective, BTS wrote about the fear of growing distant from their passion for music after being on the stage for more so many years (the group debuted in 2013). This song is definitely timeless. Talking about "Black Swan" it's hard to not mention the Orchestral version, that was released with accompany of the art film and is played only during live performances, but definitely should be released officially!
- siannve"보라빛 밤 (Pporappippam)" - SunmiOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

Sunmi has established herself as a reputable and successful soloist in the K-Pop industry. With "Pporappippam", Sunmi brought a much-needed breath of freshness to 2020's K-Pop sound. While her tracks, "가시나 (Gashina)" and "사이렌 (Siren)" were viral hits and personal favorites of mine, "Pporappippam" presented Sunmi's truest self as a performer. It had the nostalgic sound of Wonder Girls discography but still felt modern. With the song's lyrics and visuals, Sunmi painted the imagery contrasting reality and dream. The duality of the song can also be seen in Sunmi's overall persona evident in the wardrobe choices, choreography, and even color scheme for the era. Sunmi has continued to stand-out with her music and performance and she makes it work every single time.
- ssaa10dec"Lovesick Girls" - BLACKPINKOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

I’ve been enjoying BLACKPINK’s B-side tracks more than their promotional singles for a while now, from “Forever Young” to “Don’t know what to do.” Although “Lovesick Girls” is the third single off of THE ALBUM, it gives me a similar vibe as other B-sides: nothing grand, magnificent, or badass; the girls are having a good time, and it doesn't feel like making a hit was the only thing on Teddy’s mind when he co-wrote the song. The song takes me back to the early 2010s and the resemblance between “Lovesick Girls” and songs like “All Night” and “Wake Me Up” is just uncanny. The contrast between black and pink has appeared in BLACKPINK’s music videos numerous times in the past, but when Rosé pours the black paint on the pink wall, it has since become my favorite black-pink-contrast moment ever.
- peaker"욱 (UGH!)" - BTSOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

This B-side from Map of The Soul: 7 somehow fits into 2020 perfectly. Performed by BTS' rap line (RM, SUGA and j-hope), the song discusses sudden and strong anger, but not necessarily as a negative emotion, as it can be used to fuel important changes, no matter if in person’s life or globally. The Korean word 욱 (ugh) can means so much depending upon the context, and as the group said it "includes all of the life's up and downs." The song can feel almost cathartic—Angry? Play "UGH!" Frustrated? Play "UGH!" Need a boost? Play "UGH!"
- siannve"이데아 (IDEA:理想)" - TaeminOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

"Criminal" vs. "IDEA" is an impossible choice because well Taemin only puts out iconic songs. But the reason I finally went with "IDEA" because it really reminded me of his old songs like, "괴도 (Danger)" and "Drip Drop". The performance-centric songs where Taemin truly shines. The whole concept of aiming for perfection is something only Taemin can do. The concept is intertwined in the song's music video, choreography but also in its lyrics i.e. "You are my messiah". Also, nobody can pull off a magenta-colored velvet jacket besides Taemin. BoA's haunting "Killing Me Softly" adds to the menacing vibe of the song. I have said this before and I'll say it again, Taemin can do no wrong in my book.
- ssaa10dec"Misfit" - NCT UOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

There is no better way to introduce a project as big as NCT 2020 than with an addictive 90's themed cypher that features the group's rap line. It is no surprise the group would make a notorious and hefty entrance to let everybody know that NCTzen's most awaited event of the year is on its way. Featuring NCT 127's Mark, Taeyong and Johnny, NCT DREAM's Jeno, WayV's Yangyang and Hendery and NCT U's newest member Sungchan, this song is an explosion of power and energy with a punchy melody that would make anybody go crazy if they ever got the opportunity to see this at a live show. The rock hip-hop song flows aggressively and builds up excitement for the chorus that is filled with chants that remind me, in a nostalgic way, of the rebellious phase each teenager goes through at a certain point in life. The performers find it easy to convey the youthful feeling of not fitting in, and they let us know that that exact feeling is what makes us special and what gives us the spirit to make a difference in this world.
- loveholic"Answer" - ATEEZOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

ATEEZ were my discovery of the year. While I had enjoyed their previous singles like, "Wonderland" and "Wave", I had never tried to dive deeper into their discography. However, following their performance at the 2019 Mnet Asian Music Awards, I had to check them out. "Answer" was a very early 2020 comeback but it has remained my Top boy group track of 2020. After listening to the 'Treasure' series of albums by ATEEZ and seeing their musical journey begin from "Pirate King" and "Treasure", and the culmination of their adventure is very evident in "Answer". Not just lyrically but sonically as well, the track sounds like a well-deserved celebration. It only helps that the song is an absolute banger with a killer choreography. I honestly believe that with "Answer" and now "Inception", ATEEZ have found their sound and are on a trajectory to mega-stardom.
- ssaa10dec"Maria" - HwasaOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

"Maria" is one of the first Korean songs I had ever heard. It's a really unique track with a lot of diverse elements. In the beginning, I only kept listening to "Maria" whenever it came up in my playlists, but eventually, I decided to look up the lyrics. To have learned what this song is really about is quite shocking. Although "Maria" is an upbeat song, it talks about the hate in Hwasa's journey. At this point in her life, she's fed up with it and she gives herself the empowering message to stop focusing on the negative people and just love herself instead.
- EleventhCassette"살짝 설렜어 (Nonstop)" - OH MY GIRLOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

When the song was released in end-April, any escape from the daily life in lockdown was more than welcome – and 'Nonstop', with its cheerful beat, innocent lyrics, and colorful music video, instantly set up a positive and optimistic mood, away from ambient gloominess and uncertainty. Its tropical pop sound felt refreshing and energizing for the upcoming summer; this, along with the group showing us a bolder side of them, especially with Mimi's rap verses, made this song one of the most exciting releases of the year in my opinion.
- ab212"Jazz Bar" - DREAMCATCHEROriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation
DREAMCATCHER is mainly known for being the baddest and rockiest Korean girl group this decade, mixing EDM and heavy metal like it's nothing. While I was listening to their debut album Dystopia: The Tree of Language, I was surprised by the sudden change in "Jazz Bar" with a modern take on the genre. Surprised and not disappointed at all. This song makes me very nostalgic of songs like Wham's "Careless Whisper" or even Lily Allen's "Smile".
- EleventhCassette"Up No More" - TWICEOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

When I first heard TWICE’s album, I was pulled towards this song because it was bright, captivating, and had an oddly relaxing melody. As I did more research, I discovered that TWICE's Jihyo wrote the song while she was suffering from insomnia. Although I don't suffer from insomnia, I was feeling very restless and this song acted as my “emotional breather,” making me feel more relaxed and at peace with myself. It's a great gift from Jihyo, knowing her background. As she started training in 2005, she and her health have more than likely been victims of the K-Pop industry's harsh expectations of perfection. This song from her makes me realize that if she could persevere and face the world to reach her dreams, I can too.
- PlanNine16"오늘도 여전히 (Still)" - DKBOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

During this year I came across this song and from that moment my year changed. The beautiful vocals and rapping are perfectly mixed in this fast-paced love/melancholy song. And keep it low-key, I'm in love with GK voice. After this song, I quickly went and listen to everything DKB had released and every song is a little work of art. Now I'm a big BB (DKB's fandom). In my humble opinion, I can say without any doubt that DKB are the biggest revelation in 2020, but the fact that they are so underrated makes me very sad. Go and give those guys a listen!
- TheArteek"HOME;RUN" - SeventeenOriginal Song | Romanization | English Translation

"Left & Right" might be the song of summer this year but I really think, "HOME;RUN" is the superior song (but still behind the magnificent "Falling Flower"). "HOME;RUN" is the perfect product of Seventeen's classic high energy, quirky sound blended with the 2020's retro style that swept the music industry this year. The song, therefore, showed Woozi's producing genius. He constantly amazes me with every Seventeen comeback. The music video for the song was one of the best of this year. Filled with Seventeen's silliness, bright colors, and a hilarious storyline, the music video was everything and more. P.S. they all looked dapper but Joshua in silver hair is just on a whole other level.
- ssaa10dec