24 Oh My Girl, Banana Allergy Monkey - I don't like cute songs. I only occasionally make exceptions for cute songs and when I do they seem to be the cute songs that the majority of cute song fans don't like. Banana Allergy Monkey is one of those songs. It was unpopular with the majority of Oh My Girl fans, but I really like it.
23 Marmello, The Moment of Glory - This son was written for the World Cup Soccer Tournament. I remember it was playing when I read the news that Korea had won a big soccer game and I said "woah" at the same time girls were singing the "wo-o-oah wo-o-oah" chorus.
22 Exid, I Love You - I never have high expectations for Exid. I have never liked any of their other songs. This one makes my list because of song composition and vocal performance. However, seeing EXID dance this song live is a little unsatisfying.
21 14U, N.E.W.S. - Big groups are awesome to watch dance. 14U has had a few songs that I really liked, and that, sadly, went ignored. I think they could catch fire if they got a bit more exposure.
20. April, Oh My Mistake - I've had had fascination with April ever since 'Tinkerbelle' caught my eye in an unexpected way. With this slightly more mature concept I can appreciate them so much more and they've earned a spot on my list.
19. CROSS GENE, Fly - Cross Gene made an album where almost every song was title-track worthy. Of the three singles that were made into videos this one has the most uplifting vibe. To me music is all about how it makes you feel.
18. A.C.E., Take Me Higher - Last year was A.C.E.'s debut year, and debuts are always strong, but A.C.E. is keeping up the quality into year two. I'm looking forward to them coming out with that one song that makes them stars!
17. Sugar Tint, Heart Pyong - I heard that this group is under direction of a former member of Purfles. No wonder they have a great song and choreo and far too few people have heard of them, just like the Purfles.
16. Kim Donghan, Sunset - I was skeptical about the idea of a dancer/visual becoming a soloist. In fact, despite being a Joyful I'm reluctant to stan any of the members of JBJ post-breakup except Taehyun, my UB. But... Donghan and JBJ95 really are winning me over with good music.
15. TVXQ!, Love Line - If this song had been performed by anyone lesser it would have been ridiculously boring forgettable. It sails along like a pleasant dream. and TVXQ perform with the precision you could only expect from experienced veterans like them.
14. NCT 127, Regular - I love NCT 127's experimental sound. Whatever you hear from NCT 127 you know they are not trying to copy anyone else.
13. Sunmi, Siren - "Get away outta my face!" I like songs that are aggressive. I like Sunmi's legs. I like that this song feels like it's about her breakup with JYPEntertinment.
12. Sam Kim, Make Up - Sam's song writing is so emotionally personal. The way he is able to pull good songs out of his life experiences is a gift.
11. iKon, Killing Me - Usually I love iKon songs but hate the way iKon performs them. This time however they did it! They had major "it".
10. BLACKPINK, DDU-DU-DDU-DU - How could anyone not be seduced by BP's unique vocal tones, but the song itself is a bit too expected. This is generic YG sound. But even generic YG is soo good, so it gets in the top 10
9. Eric Nam, Potion (ft Woodie Goldchild) - I'm not sure why this song was less popular than the other song he released at the same time "Honestly". 'Potion' is fun and enchanting. Eric Nam song are ones that I usually have to squint at to see that they are good, because they are not my preferred concept, but this one is! Now that I can properly enjoy Eric Nam I can put him on my top 10 list.
8. S.O.U.L., Get Myself With You - This is a song from a fictional Kpop group in a Kdrama. Is it a bad sign that a fictional group is better than so many legit ones?
7. LUCENTE, Your Difference - The award for the most underrated song of the year goes to LUCENTE. Did someone say "nugu"? This group has the sound that I think is lacking in most of the current Kpop groups
6. BOL4, Travel - I am so thrilled to be adding Bol4 to the top 10 for the first time. They have the most amazing folk vocal tone. Now that they have an amazing pop-folk single I can add them to this top 10 without bias.
5. BTS, Fake Love - If this were a list of the top ten best Kpop performances of the year BTS would be on top. But it is top ten Kpop songs of the year. Fake Love is not quite at that masterpiece level. That being said, it is beautifully moody and striking. I get the impression that this is a song written about the love they get from the public and how it is not unconditional love. Fans only love them for the image that they choose to show in public... and BTS might doubt whether people would still love them if they knew all their private thoughts.
4. Amber X Luna, Lower - When this song came out in January my immediate reaction was "Amber and Luna have saved Kpop 2018 before it's barely even started!" f(Amber+Luna) is a severely under rated duo.
3 The East Light, Real Man - I love the subtle humour of this song. A group of teenage boys telling the older women that they are the real men that they need. The East Light made some great songs this year. Sad to hear that they were being abused while making it. They deserve a new company who treats them right. P Nation, will you step up?
2 Shinhwa, Kiss Me Like That - It's really easy to love this song. If you can't tell that this is a good song from just one listen then there's something wrong with you.
1 Pentagon, Shine - This song comes together perfectly from the boys performance to the combination of the good song composition and quirkiness. This song is seriously perfect and delightfully playful. The song of the year.
