Over the years, perfectly-scored, 10/10 songs have developed a sort of mythical status on The Bias List. I didn’t intend for this to be the case, but my hesitance to give full marks on release day has resulted in the concept of a “legendary song.”
Last year, I inaugurated a handful of songs into this illustrious category, and I intend to revisit this hallowed ceremony each year. After all, some songs take ages to reveal their perfection!
2020 did not offer many legends – at least in my opinion. It was an odd year that paved the way for a much stronger 2021. So, in addition to my 2020 picks, I’m including a few songs from past years that have finally clawed their way to the top. 2021 releases will not be included until next year. J-pop releases prior to 2020 are not included either since I rarely wrote about them before last year. They may get their own post sometime in the future.
For now, let’s celebrate these amazing songs, and hope that more are soon on their way!
2020
Lucy – Flare
Year-end write-up
(No original review)
Sexy Zone – Run
Original Review
Rating change: 10 –> 10 (no change)
Taemin – Criminal
Original Review
Rating change: 9.25 –> 10
2019
NCT 127 – Highway To Heaven
Original Review
Rating change: 9 –> 10
TXT – Run Away
Original Review
Rating change: 9.25 –> 10
2018
No additional choices.
2017
Taeyeon – Time Lapse
Original Review
Rating change: 9 –> 10
2016
Snuper – It’s Raining
Original Review
Rating change: 9.25 –> 10
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
How’s your love for Miroh going though? I hope it has clawed its way into the top 20 all-time faves of yours haha. It is STILL going strong for me despite listening to it on repeat for 2 years… IDK what’s wrong with me.
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Still going strong, though I’ll confess that I haven’t listened to it in months. But, that’s not all that unusual for me, even when it comes to my favorite songs.
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I didn’t share anything about My Legendary Song Inauguration last year, so I’ll share now.
2020:
Title Tracks:
Taemin – Criminal
Golden Child – One
2 Tracks in total.
2019:
Title Tracks:
Stray Kids – Miroh
ONF – We Must Love
ATEEZ – Wave
A.C.E – Undercover
4 Tracks in total.
2018:
Title Tracks:
ONF – Complete
Golden Child – Genie
SHINee – Good Evening
Sunmi – Siren
B-sides:
Infinite – Wind
5 Tracks in total.
2017:
Title Tracks:
Snuper – The Star of Stars and Back: Hug
Seventeen – Don’t Wanna Cry
Red Velvet – Red Flavour
GFriend – Fingertip
5 Tracks in total.
2016:
Title Tracks:
Seventeen – Very Nice
BTS – Fire and Blood, Sweat and Tears
GFriend – Rough and Navillera
Astro – Hide and Seek
B-sides:
Taemin – Sexuality and Guess Who?
8 Tracks in total.
Yep! that’s my list! I really love all of these songs!
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Not surprised at all by the songs here. You have often professed your love for them. Honestly, though, I find Criminal ‘great’, nothing more. Love some of the songs here a whole lot.
The biggest surprise miss for me is UP10TION’s Tonight, which I was sure would make it. Sunmi’s Siren was another failed guess.
Wondering which songs barely missed out of this list.
And finally, wondering about the J-Pop legendary songs list. Definitely going to see some Nissy, Daichi Mirua, Flowback, SHINee, and more. Hopefully, AAA’s Deja Vu can sneak in too.
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Oh yes… forgot about Tonight. I may have to re-evaluate and add to the next batch…
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What about the two *very excellent* Taemin b-sides of Press It?
Guess Who and Sexuality are the definition of chef’s kiss.
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My predictions for your next inauguration then.
M!LK – Winding Road
UP10TION – Tonight
Taemin – Guess Who
Sunmi – Siren
BuZZ – Sun and Love
Higedan – Laughter (I hope)
Yurina Hirate – Reason for Dance
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Nick, I have a few questions!
Which songs are currently in the point of breaking in your list?
Where is Blood Sweat and Tears and Tonight? Thought they would be here.
This is regarding the last year’s inauguration ceremony and I don’t want to annoy you but….It says that ONF’s Complete and ATEEZ’s Wonderland both gained 9.25 when the former had 9.5 and the latter had 9, is there any reason for this?
Thanks a lot for making this!
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I like everything else on this list but Highway to Heaven has always bothered me :,,( It feels like a rip off or just a combination of western songs like Charli xcx’s “Doing it”
Its not close enough to be an official issue but to me its not original or interesting either…
I loved Crown so much more than Run Away, but its such a random song? Im here for it
I feel like Beautiful Beautiful is already legendary
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Yes, Run Away! That was truly something special, still my fav.
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Although I only started listening to Kpop in 2019, I might as well list my 10/10’s too.
2020
Title Tracks:
– SF9 ‘Summer Breeze’ [10 -> 10]
– Ateez ‘Inception’ [9.5 -> 10]
B-Sides:
– K/DA ‘I’ll Show You’ [9.5 -> 10]
– Dreamcatcher ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind’ [10 -> 10]
– Stray Kids ‘Phobia’ [9.5 -> 10]
2019
Title Tracks:
– Stray Kids ‘Miroh’ [10 -> 11]
– Seventeen ‘Hit’ [10 -> 10]
– Oneus ‘Valkyrie’ [9 -> 10]
B-Sides:
– Ateez ‘Utopia’ [9.5 -> 10]
– Dreamcatcher ‘Silent Night’ [9.5 -> 10]
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damn, the taste….
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I do love some good EDM 😊
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Tumyeonghan,Surusturu, Tang Tang Tang, Mukseori, and Tik Tak Tik Tak missed the list.
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I was so sure ONF’s New World is gonna be here… (or does this list only count title tracks?)
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Personally, I don’t grade songs on a numeric scale. I don’t have a “5 star” rating, a “10”, or anything other than “thumbs up/thumbs down”. That’s it. I either like it or I loathe it. However, there are songs that are staples. These are songs that I will never tire of and enjoy listening to often.
I play computer games. Some of these games allow you to import your own music. For example, The Sims 4 allows you to populate the in-game radio/stereo system with your own MP3s. You have to use the folder names they established, but you can fill them up with your choice of songs. One folder is titled “Romance” which I filled with “Red Velvet”. “Lullaby” is filled with “LOONA”. “Summer Strut” is “Sistar”. “Winter Holiday” is “WJSN”, “Backyard” is Boy Bands (BigBang, EXO, NCT 127, etc.). Then there’s catch all folders like “SPOP” with TWICE, GWSN, OMG, WJSN, SNH48, etc.. Only songs that I won’t get tired of hearing go in these folders so I guess these are sort of “10”s.
Another way I “rate” K-pop is by assigning a single song by an artist as their “plateau” release; meaning they may release better, but this is their best thus far. Examples of this would be “Fiestar – You’re Pitiful”, “SPICA – Painkiller”, “WJSN – Secret”, “Stellar – Vibrato”, etc.. These would be “10”s of a sort.
Another way I consider top songs is the one song that best represents a single category of music. For example, “Taeyeon – Rain” is one of my favorite slow songs by a female soloist; another is “Lee Hi – Rose”. “Red Velvet – One Of These Nights” is one of my favorite girl group slow songs; another is “April – April Story”. There are “Best of the Best” songs in my library for Bubble Gum, EDM, Power Vocals, Girl Crush, Jazzy, Show Tunes, Bombast, Slow Songs, etc., etc..
I know I have eclectic tastes. I just have to read how songs are received here by others on “The Bias List” to see that. So what I would consider a “10” is probably way off in the woods compared to mass appeal and I’m fine with that. Still, it’s nice to hear other perspectives and I learn from the little nuggets of wisdom that other visitors pepper their posts with; so win/win.
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My personal additions:
-“Someone like you” Dal Shabet
-“Sober” Big Bang
-“All Mine” f(x)
-“You Better Know” Red Velvet
-“Fighter” Monsta X
-“Adreneline” SNSD TTS
-“Decalcomanie” Mamamoo
-“Up and down” EXID (i just want them to come back :(((()
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i swear, the next legendary song better be Kara’s Step. you’ve been tantalizing us for a full review for so long i can’t stand it.
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Though it’s not officially a “legendary song” post, I did write about Step via my “Breaking Down the K-pop Song” feature, which goes into even more detail. And yes, it’s certainly a 10/10 track!
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