Save Me is def my fave one after Bowie's Lazarus. I never really liked Controlla or at least not as much as others. Hallucination was one of the few dvsn songs I enjoy.
At the expense of crashing your computers by adding another 10 YT videos to this page, i'll do it by text! Feel free to click the names to view the video/audio.
30. LOOΠΔ (HeeJin) - ViViD - Earlier in the countdown I placed another LOOΠΔ member's song (Let Me In). Because it came fairly late in the year I wasn't able to place it higher (pls anticipate minho's best of 2017). This song however, was the first taste we got of the LOOΠΔ concept of debuting a new member via their own song/video per month. It's a risky move I suppose, but i'm a fan of it since these girls so far have actually felt like soloists. This song is so fun and weird, I love the "oh my god yes!" part.
29. Beyoncé - Hold Up - It is... a bit unfortunate that the majority of the public latched onto the concepts of "separation" and Beyoncé's own supposed marital troubles from Lemonade rather than the overarching messages of solidarity and uniquely tying in the experience of a Black woman in the U.S. Yet, Beyoncé interweaves her own narrative into a more general sentiment with such convincing ways that it enhances her own artistic message. That backed by a perfect Island beat and a clever sample of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's lyric lead to one of Lemonade's most unique musical moments.
28. Chairlift - Crying In Public - A simple yet poignant lovesong that cleverly uses the lyric of being so hopelessly invested in someone that you're embarrassed of the relative mess you are in public. It's sweet and lovely but doesn't drown itself in emotion.
27. Luna - Free Somebody - SM continues their streak of house inspired songs with Luna's underrated solo. While I ended up liking some of the slower songs a bit more, I was definitely a fan of this style for her. It ended up being one of the better songs that fell into this style, and Luna's vocal works so well with that momentum.
26. Red Velvet - One of These Nights - Red Velvet are, by far, my favourite girl group of the current generation (they're also rotational with f(x) as second fave group overall). Their slower, "velvet" concept initially had us anticipating an R&B style reminiscent of the Janet-leaning "Automatic", so I was a bit taken aback by the straight ballad that was OOTN. Thankfully, I lost myself in its lush instrumental, stunning arrangements and instrumental. Red Velvet are the only kind of group that can have me fully fall in love with a ballad like this, this is honestly perfect.
25. FIESTAR - Mirror - That beat is so infectious and good. The song overall plays two different styles having an emotional/sad/almost solemn quality to it that is lifted with a dancey feel and that RAP. It's such an underrated song that kind of sizzled along the year for me, highly recommend to... anyone really. It has so much going on for it.
24. EXO - Artificial Love - Probably my favourite thing EXO has done. The production is flawless and I really felt like this worked really well with EXO as a group. It felt signature-them but also pushed them in a cool direction.
23. SEVENTEEN - Chuck - This song is loud and cluttered and crazy and its also the best thing they did this year! The energy is so high and there are all these changes in tempo and style building up to this dubstep breakdown. Thing I learned this year - I like dubstep breakdowns.
22. Mitski - I Bet On Losing Dogs - This is just the obvious stand-out from her album. The build up is incredible, the lyrics are super simple so everything is in Mitski's delivery of them. I could listen to this forever.
21. WSJN - Secret - A TOP girl group song. That chorus is splendid, the production is beautiful and intricate. It has everything I'd need and love from a pop song.
Up to top 20
100. Pentagon - Gorilla
99. Halsey - Colours
98. Japanese Breakfast - The Woman That Loves You
97. BTS V - Stigma
96. NAO - Fool To Love
95. Taeyeon x DEAN - Starlight
94. Taemin - Sexuality
93. Ariana Grande - Greedy
92. IOI - Whatta Man
91. Jonghyun - She Is
90. AK Paul - Landcruisin'
89. Brave Girls - Deepened
88. Beck - Wow
87. Wednesday Campanella - チュパカブラ
86. LOONA - Let Me In
85. YG - Still Brazy
84. Gallant - Shotgun
83. Crush - Wanderlust
82. Winner - Sentimental
81. SEVENTEEN - Can't See The End
80. MINO - Body
79. Bruno Mars - Versace on the Floor
78. Tiffany - What Do I Do
77. Vince Staples - Loco
76. Chance The Rapper ft. Justin Bieber - Juke Jam
75. Ladies Code - Galaxy
74. Wonder Girls - Why So Lonely?
73. Flume - Never Be Like You
72. Rihanna - Never Ending
71. Kanye West - Fade
70. Sleigh Bells - Hyper Dark
69. Beyonce - Don't Hurt Yourself
68. James Blake - Love Me In Whatever Way
67. Tinashe - Soul Glitch
66. Utada Hikaru - 人魚
65. Mitski - Happy
64. Chairlift - Romeo
63. Kaytranada - Bus Ride
62. EXO - Lucky One
61. SHINee - Tell Me What To Do
60. BTS Jin - Awake
59. D.Holic - Colour Me Rad
58. EXO - Monster
57. NCT 127 - Fire Truck
56. IOI - Crush
55. FIESTAR - Apple Pie
54. SISTAR - I Like That
53. The Weeknd - I Feel It Coming
52. BAP - That's My Jam
51. SHINee - Don't Let Me Go
50. SEVENTEEN - Pretty U
49. Mamamoo - Hometown
48. James Blake/Bon Iver - I Need A Forest Fire
47. Blood Orange - Hadron Collider
46. Blood Orange - Hands Up
45. DEAN x ZICO - Pour Up
44. Berry Good - Don't Believe
43. Gfriend - Rough
42. Rihanna ft. Drake - Work
41. Stellar - Sting
40. Grace - I'm Fine
39. SHINee - U Need Me
38. Esperanza Spalding - Unconditional Love
37. Jamie Woon - Sharpness
36. David Bowie - Lazarus
35. dvsn - Hallucinations
34. Drake - Controlla
33. SEVENTEEN - Highlight
32. Gfriend - Navillera
31. BTS - Save ME
30. LOOΠΔ (HeeJin) - ViViD
29. Beyoncé - Hold Up
28. Chairlift - Crying in Public
27. Luna - Free Somebody
26. Red Velvet - One of These Nights
25. FIESTAR - Mirror
24. EXO - Artificial Love
23. SEVENTEEN - Chuck
22. Mitski - I Bet On Losing Dogs
21. WJSN - Secret
ViViD is so good. They are releasing a dance practice for it when the video reaches 300K so stream it!
Free Somebody, One of These Nights, Mirror, Artificial Love & Secret.
I hate that I only found out about Mirror like last week. Their only song I knew was You’re Pitiful which is also amazing. I need to check out more of their stuff.
im fine, navillera, save me and lazarus are my favs. I hope rough is higher up since its clearly the best single theyve done. well i guess theyre all similar enough for that to be subjective hehe
I thought of a way better way for me to structure this Best Of songs section today and I'm wishing I had that idea earlier since it would've been more organized and easier to understand.
TOP 20
The idea I was talking about was me picking ONE song from each release and then also recommending a corresponding B-side I really enjoyed. But alas!
20. VICTON - I'm Fine - A new group that I am (clearly) already loving, this song is super colourful and fun with a solid 90s throwback feel to it. Unlike most songs that indulge themselves in retro-ness, this avoids nostalgia and instead just borrows from the signature style to create something else. I like that.
19. 100% - Better Day - The instrumental is pretty gorgeous and mysterious. I like the way it matches a dance beat but maintains this certain aura it has. The chorus... someone's vocals could be deleted I suppose, but it has this quality where you yourself just want to belt it out. Nice and dramatic.
18. Anderson .Paak - The Bird - I think it's really interesting that many publications have picked this as their favourite also. I think it encompasses everything I liked about his album and style. The instrumental is beautiful - feels almost cinematic, with a touch of jazzy soulful vibe. The lyrics are so damn good too. This is an incredible song, the message of unity is beautiful.
17. E-Girls - Pink Champagne - My favourite Jpop song from this year, whew. That chorus is so feel-good, ready for the weekend. That's really all there is too this. Straightforward classic pop.
16. Utada Hikaru / KOHH - 忘却 - This song is almost unreal. That ominous intro that is extended for quite a while is the perfect way to set the mood for what is in my opinion the most emotional and dark song on the album. KOHH is a unique touch, but he actually brings a different dimension to the song with his rap. This isn't on youtube unfortunately, but if you can venture out to listen to ONE song on my list, I'd suggest you make it this.
15. Solange - Don't Touch My Hair - Isn't it bizarre how a message like this STILL needs to be said? Solange takes it and turns it into her own, culminating in a beautiful musical moment where she collabs with Sampha in ASATT's most thoughtful statement. This is also my runner-up VOTY if we're counting (Formation takes the lead there).
14. TIFFANY - I Just Wanna Dance - You know what's unique about this synth pop song? At first glance you listen to it like "yeah sure, this is pretty slick and cool", and then you listen again, and then again, and then you never want to stop. It's so simple yet perfect. It hits you in the least obvious way and ends up as one of the most brilliant pop songs of the year.
13. Taemin - Press Your Number - SM had incredible solos this year. Almost all of them served quality, with Taemin being one of the best examples of this with his synth heavy brilliance. This song is one of the better choices off the album so it worked well as the lead single. It's almost hypnotic in its style.
12. KAYTRANADA / Anderson .Paak - GLOWED UP - The biggest standout for me, its lit.
11. James Blake - My Willing Heart - I think this gives the "storybook" feel of the album the best. It has multiple parts, from a distorted intro, to a dramatic build up, and every bit of it is brilliance.
wait I missed all of this but i'm in love with so many of these songs.
I haven't been seeing dvsn on any lists but I was so obsessed with their album earlier in the year. Surprised many didn't like it...but then again I also loved Views as a whole
Solange
all of my kpop favs on here too Your avi actually made me look up Victon yesterday and I really like 'I'm Fine'!