Many readers have been asking for it, and I’m finally ready to unveil this year’s Bias List Legendary Songs Inauguration Ceremony!
A total of forty-nine songs have already been inaugurated as part of this feature, including a few J-pop highlights. As a rule, this ceremony only covers material released since The Bias List‘s inception (Jan 1st, 2016), but there are obviously plenty legendary songs from years prior to that — some of which I’ve already written about at length.
As you all know, I very (VERY) rarely award a 10-out-of-10 rating on release day. Instead, Legendary Songs pull their way to the top over a course of many months — sometimes even years. Because of this, I won’t be featuring any 2024 tracks in this post, though there are already a few that are likely contenders. As in past years, I’ll be mixing J-pop (and even a bit of C-pop) into this ceremony as well!
Let’s celebrate these amazing songs, and hope that more are soon on their way!
- First Annual Inauguration Ceremony
- Second Annual Inauguration Ceremony
- Third Annual Inauguration Ceremony
- Fourth Annual Inauguration Ceremony
2023
Genic – Flavor
Original Review
Rating change: 9 –> 10
IVE – I Am
Original Review
Rating change: 9 –> 10
NINE.i – Turn It Off
Original Review
Rating change: 9.25 –> 10
Queen Bee – Violence
(Technically a late-2022 release, but included in last year’s countdowns)
Original Review
Rating change: 9 –> 10
RIIZE – Get A Guitar
Original Review
Rating change: 8.75 –> 10
Ryugujo – 2 MUCH
Original Review
Rating change: 9.25 –> 10
Tokyo Gegegay – Top Down
Original Review
Rating change: 9.5 –> 10
On the bubble: none at the moment
2022
One Love One Heart – Honjitsu Wa Seitennari
No original review.
2021
No additional choices.
2020
Genic – Sun Comes Up
Original Review
Rating change: 9.25 –> 10
Wu Jia Cheng – Wild Island
Original Review
Rating change: 9 –> 10
2019
No additional choices.
2018
Golden Child – Eyes On You
Original Review
Rating change: 9.5 –> 10
Golden Child – It’s U
Original Review
Rating change: 8.5 –> 10
2017
BLACKPINK – As If It’s Your Last
Original Review
Rating change: 9 –> 10
Generations – Taiyo Mo Tsuki Mo
No original review.
Golden Child – DamDaDi
Original Review
Rating change: 8.5 –> 10
Nissy – The Eternal Live
Original Review
Rating change: 9.5 –> 10
Wanna One – Energetic
Original Review
Rating change: 8.75 –> 10
2016
BTS – Blood, Sweat & Tears
Original Review
Rating change: 9.25 –> 10
FlowBack – Heartbreaker
Original Review
Rating change: 9.5 –> 10
Generations – Pierrot
No original review.
Oh My Girl – Windy Day
Original Review
Rating change: 9.25 –> 10
Taemin – Sexuality
No original review.
UP10TION – Tonight
Original Review
Rating change: 8.5 –> 10
Wednesday Campanella – Aladdin
No original review.
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Ooh! What a stacked lineup! And yay for Riize! GAG deserves it and I almost fully expected it. And yay for I Am too! And seeing Blackpink in your hashtags was unexpected, but AIIYL deserves it. I also lowkey expected a The Wind song, but maybe next year methinks.
Anyways, my 10/10 K-Pop songs from last year would be:
I Am (IVE)
GAG (Riize) (the abbreviations says it all ‼️)
Heartbeat (TAN)
Welcome to My World (aespa) (and yes, WTMW is just one majestic mid-tempo that always gives me goosebumps)
Maybe there are more, but as of now, these are what I can think of.
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I struggle to find another mid-tempo track that captivates and creates such a compelling atmosphere as Welcome To My World. It sounds quite unlike anything else (at least from what I’ve heard through my life so far). I completely understand your sentiment!
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The production of WTMW was what sold the song for me (the instrumental is a whole another level of perfection). Just like you, no mid-tempo has captivated me as much as it did!
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Besides a The Wind song, I also expected SHINee’s I Really Want You to make it here since you once mentioned it getting close in 2022’s Ceremony and also almost gave it a full 10 (which is understandable, I fell in love with it at first sight too!)
Anyways, here are more cause I’m bored.
2022: Cyberpunk (ATEEZ), New Genesis (Ado, I discovered the song last year)
2021: I Really Want You (SHINee), Hello Future (NCT Dream) and Born to Be Wild (JO1)
2020: Answer (ATEEZ) (aka, their best song)
Again, there might be more, but I love forgetting things when I was supposed to remember them, and then remember them later on out of the blue and regret why the hell I didn’t mention it earlier.
And for J-Pop, I’m still exploring the genre, so maybe next year I’d include more too!
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Damn, all those songs are so good.
WTMW is the best Aespa song, and I was shattered to see how little attention it received.
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10/10 songs from 2023:
– I AM (IVE)
– Drama (aespa)
– WAVE (IVE)
– Chill Kill (Red Velvet)
10/10 songs from 2022:
– Love Dive (IVE)
– After LIKE (IVE)
– Hype Boy (NewJeans)
– Ditto (NewJeans)
– Change (G-IDLE)
10/10 songs from 2021:
– Advice (TAEMIN)
– WE GO (fromis_9)
– Stereotype (STAYC)
– LUNA (ONEUS)
– Dahlia (G-IDLE)
2024 contenders would be: Supernova (aespa), Bloom (G-IDLE)
The way Minnie outdoes the whole k-pop industry with her 10/10 b-sides (Dahlia, Change, Bloom). Truly no one understands her as I do
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I AM and Windy Day would definitely be on there for me, too.Some others I’ve bumped up to classic 10s: GFRIEND Mago, Taeyeon INVU, (G)I-DLE Tomboy, and NewJeans Hype Boy. Jungkook’s Standing Next To You is knocking on the door.No kpop 10s for me in 2024 (so far). QWER TBH probably highest at 9 or so.For Jpop, I don’t think I have any 10s, but Takane No Nadeshiko’s Koi wo Shitta Sekai, Ado’s Aishite x3, and STU48’s Under the Shade of the Elm Tree are very high.For Western, Olivia Rodrigo gets three on there: good 4 u, brutal, and jealousy jealousy. Need to sit with Ariana Grande’s bye, but it’s up there.
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ARE YOU ME OR SOMETHING lol? I Am and Windy Day are literally my picks too!!!!!!!!
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I’m so glad a Black Pink Song finally received a 10/10 from this blog especially. And the fact that it is AIIYL instead of Playing With Fire makes me even happier (for I have always preferred the former to the latter). I think the kind of energy AIIYL captures is very distinct- fun, yet underneath there is a tinge of yearning and emotion beyond just trying to party life’s worries away. A lot of ‘party songs’ just sound like trying to recreate that moment of partying, but then this song goes beyond, feeling strangely introspective (in terms of its melody, as if it is reflecting on why they they should party ‘as if it is your last’) to its counterparts. I’m not sure if I make much sense right now but its just such a great song.
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Oh, Wild Island! I found that song through your blog and have really grown to love it. Glad to see it getting at 10!
This list convinced me to finally listen to Nine.i Turn it Off. I learned about the group watching Boys Planet and was butthurt when Winnie left, so I kind of avoided them. But a really cool song.
Happy to see Energetic and Get a Guitar, what fantastic songs.
The only 10 I’m unsure about here is BlackPink’s As If It’s Your Last. I love that song, and have karaoked it tons, but over time the reverb on the vocals has hurt the replayability for me. That halts it from being a perfect 10.
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As for 2023, Gag totally deserved the spot, in winter it already felt like a classic. I am also, perhaps one of the few actually good girl group songs that came out last year imo.
Other possible 10/10s: Boynextdoor – Serenade – from that first lil guitar riff, to this day, it’s just so nice; Seventeen – either Idubilu or Dust; Stayc – Teddy bear or Bubble; Onew- Rain on me; Chen – Light of my life
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Love seeing Violence, Wild Island, and Aladdin on here! Ever since being featured on here all three have become staples in my playlists. I never get tired of any of them.
For me, Shinee’s The Feeling is the most obvious contender from last year. It’s so euphoric.
Just curious, does Kara’s Step make the cut? I think I feel about Step the way you feel about The Chaser haha
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Oh without a doubt! If I hadn’t already written an in-depth analysis, I would probably feature it in its own Legendary Songs write-up.
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imma be honest im still on the fence about turn it off being a legendary song, it is a definite 9+ but i feel if 2023 was a stronger year it wouldnt make it on the top 10 lol
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also windy day and taiyou mo tsuku mo getting its dues yessir!!!
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For Sweetune fans, Turn It Off is a 10 no matter what year it comes out; could came out the same year as The Chaser or Step, and it’s still a 10 in my book:)
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im also a sweetune fan but i dont think i would put the song on my top 10 ranking of their songs 😛
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fuck wordpress emoticon conversion why did you have to make my statement sound condescending wtf
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Oh, I wouldn’t put it in my top ten either. The thing is, Sweetune has way more than ten legendary songs imo 😎
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^ Ditto:)
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Surely there will be another round that includes ACE. I’ll take Goblin/Favorite Boys or Undercover. Either. both.
Goblin in particular, if you like lore, as it is loaded with real Korean mythology. All of the costumes and settings aren’t just made up, they mean something. There is a DKDK video on it.
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And don’t forget Callin’! (which also topped Nick’s list of his best A.C.E songs so I assume it grew to a 9+ or 10) Man, A.C.E really nailed the hardstyle sound with their 2017 tracks. Maybe next year we’d see Undercover and Favorite Boys (and hopefully Callin’), fingers crossed!
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also i love looking back at the millennium project/playlist on alienhits, i feel its the best capsule of 2000s nostalgia ive ever seen lol (though it is pretty dated since you definitely would add a ton more albums to the list now, but the ark is still taking the top spots)
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Windy Day and I AM are definite 10s for me, as well. I think Windy Day is top 20 all-time kpop tbh.
Others I have bumped to 10: Taeyeon INVU, (G)I-DLE Tomboy, and NewJeans Hype Boy.
Nothing from 2024 (so far) is in 10 territory. Closest is probably QWER T.B.H or Kiss of Life Midas touch hovering around a 9.
No 10s for Jpop, although Takane No Nadeshiko Koi wo Shitta Sekai, AKB48 Koi Tsunjatta, STU48 Under the Shade of the Elm Tree, and Ado Aishite x3 are 9+.
For Western, Olivia Rodrigo gets in with 3: brutal, good 4 u, and jealousy jealousy. Ariana Grande’s bye is knocking on the door, but I need to sit with it some more.
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commenting for the third time, since damdadi is on here, we should compile the only lines jaeseok ever had before he left the group after debut, just as a little nostalgia treasure chest
Damdadi: “damdadi damdadi I like that” (x2)
With Me: “eochapi haryeodeon geugeo” “geugeo narang geugeo narang hae”
What Happened: “geu padoe i sungan nareul matgineun jung” “nunchi mot chaege jogeumsshik dagagallae (x2)”
I Love You So: “a geureonikka nae mareun mwonyamyeon”
Sea: “sarange ppajil neowa na ahoo hoo hoo (with all, x2)”
yeah that was very little lmfao
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soo incredibly happy by ive blackpink and bts lol, ive is truly 4th gen excellence and aiiyl + pwf are blackpink’s best, bst is definitely peak bts too
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As If It’s Your Last!! It’s been a 10 for me since the first time I heard it 😀
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Love to see FlowBack’s Heartbreaker and Generations’ Pierrot here! Two of my favorite Jpop songs!
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ok nick u HAVE to do a 2017 top 10 revisited now theres no excuse
im assuming its smthn like
10: either nayana or on/off
9: damdadi
8: aiiyl
7: energetic
6: dont wanna cry
5: fingertip
4: mfal
3: back hug
2: red flavor
1: the star of stars
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I really should. I was just looking back at the one I did for 2016 and that was a fun format (though two years later I still have some edits… these things are constantly in flux).
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Nick, I accidentally stumbled upon the 2020 end of year countdown, and from the 60 choices, I was stunned that Black Mamba didn’t even make it (coming from someone who feels like the song has stood the test of time). I’m wondering if your opinion on the song has changed either direction? (If it has grown on you, or your opinion on it is kinda fixed). Also, would you say it’s your least favorite from their rookie years? (not including covers or Forever)
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I like Black Mamba, but I haven’t returned to it much throughout the years. I think I rated it mid-8’s when it first came out? That feels about right to me. Something like 8.5 or 8.75. I’d probably rank it 4th or 5th in their singles run, below Supernova, Next Level and Spicy.
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aw sunmi’s siren missed out again! i’ve always associated that song with these posts haha, but glad tonight and bs&t finally made it! pleasantly surprised as well by AIIYL, and love to see the growth of many others, specially get a guitar and windy day! i think this is the first time you’ve given bts a “known” 10 which is pretty amazing considering all the 9s you gave them early on hehe, it’s been a long time coming!
another song i associate with these lists is side effects, it would be cool to see that! hope these can make it one year too: ateez – answer, everglow – la di da, sunmi – pporappippam, dreamcatcher – scream, twice – i can’t stop me & talk that talk, shinee – the feeling
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I’m surprised some of these songs from years ago took a long time to reach legendary status, but that’s just the way it is.
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Some didn’t take that long… I just neglected to make it official haha
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That’s exactly what I thought seeing Sexuality here lmao
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