Like Popjustice’s main Top 45 Singles list, I’ve been quite strict on what constitutes a K-Pop Single here. I haven’t included any Korean acts’ Japanese-language material, like the excellent ‘Scream’ by 2NE1 and ‘Paparazzi’ by Girls’ Generation. Equally, album tracks weren’t allowed, like 4minute’s iridescent ‘Dream Racer’ and f(x)’s ‘Beautiful Stranger’, which was co-written by A*M*E.
15. Wonder Girls – Like This
14. SHINee – Sherlock
13. KARA – Pandora
12. f(x) – Electric Shock
11. Ga-In – Bloom
10. Girl’s Day – Oh! My God
9. GLAM – Party (XXO)
8. Hello Venus – Venus
7. After School – Flashback
6. Miss A – I Don't Need A Man
5. Hyuna – Ice Cream
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The Girl In The ‘Gangnam Style’ Video and 4minute member Hyuna returned this year with the fun and frothy ‘Ice Cream’ . To accompany the single-entendre, the video sees Hyuna hosting a foam party for one, chows down on a radioactive-looking cone and fires a big frothy canon from her ice cream truck. What a mess. But with 2011′s best K-Pop song ‘Bubble Pop!’ to her name, it felt a bit like ‘Ice Cream’ didn’t take full advantage of Hyuna’s platform as the best internationally-known female K-star.
4. 4minute – Volume Up
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The girlband’s best single to date, with a narcotic sax hook and huge ramp up to the delirious chorus. Considering that this is a song about pressing F12 on a Macbook, the video is absolutely ludicrous, with vampires that appear from a cloud of smoke, Hyuna rolling around in the mud, a fair smattering of lesbo moments and a snake.
Best Bit: When, apropos of nothing, a solitary tear rolls down Ji-hyun’s face at 3:34..
3. T-ARA – Day By Day
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I’m not linking to T-ARA’s official ‘Day By Day’ video – a bloated 16-minute futuro-dystopian odyssey which looks fantastic but doesn’t fit with the song. Rather, I fell in love with the song after seeing the intricate live performances, which were arranged by Beyoncé’s choreographer Jonté. The haunting ‘Day By Day’ was one of the most unique-sounding K-pop tracks of 2012, and even though everyone commented that the flute hook was a rip-off of Britney’s ‘Criminal’, that’s no bad thing really. Somewhere between the two rap interludes, “doo doo doo” post-chorus and I’m A Little Teapot dance moves, magic happens.
2. Big Bang – Blue
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There were other Big Bang videos that were more instantly iconic this year, but ‘Blue’ was the ‘Diamonds’ to the ‘Where Have You Been’ of ‘Fantastic Baby’. ‘Blue’ is Not A Banger, but it subtly morphs and builds into a non-boring slowburn anthem, punctuated by G-Dragon’s occasional croon “I’m singing my blu-oo-ooos.” I’ve no idea what they’re talking about, but the breakdown at 3:18 always makes me feel a bit funny, just before it kicks back in and they’re singing their blues again, and singing their blues some more. Despite the song’s non-banger status, Taeyang still manages to get a pirouette in there, too.
Best Bit: The bit where T.O.P pops the collar of his jacket at 02:11. Just amazing.
1. 2NE1 – I Love You
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With a few “oo-wa-oooh, oo-wa-ooohs,” ‘I Love You’ combines the the best bits of pop into a rarefied cavalcade of amazingness. It’s essentially a Xenomania-style medley-in-a-song. The song starts off with an ‘I Feel Love’-esque disco gloss, but transforms into a monster about 40 seconds from the end with a spill-your-drink synth explosion. CL, Minzy, Bom and Dara also rhyme “I love you every day in every way” with “neol saranghae,” the Korean for ‘I love you.’ This is the song that made me most excited about pop this year. You hear something new every time you listen to it.
Best Bit: The shots of Dara among red lanterns in the snow from 1:04 – 1:16, among Mad Men sillhouettes, who – pouf! – disappear into thin air.
I didn't include all the reviews, click here to read all of them.
absolutely beyond bored of ILY. it's good but definitely isn't worthy of being the top kpop song of the year, especially over a musical masterpiece like blue
but no Nine Muses