There are few things I enjoy more than a great summertime song. They’re bright, they’re exciting, and they remind me of my favorite time of the year.

There’s no telling what this summer in K-pop will bring, but over the next few weeks I’ll be flashing back each day, showcasing a highlight from past summers. The rules are simple: I fire up my carefully compiled “K-pop summer” playlist, hit ‘shuffle,’ and if the song that pops up hasn’t already been featured on the site, it gets a post and mini-review of its own.

So, get ready for a summer of K-pop on The Bias List!

(View all the Summer of K-pop songs here)

<< Song 22 >>

Taeyeon – Baram x 3 (2018)

For a performer who most listeners strongly associate with power ballads, Taeyeon has actually released a fair amount of upbeat summer tracks. Baram x 3 (바람 바람 바람) is one of the strongest, fueled by an optimistic sense of joy. The instrumental is incredibly groovy, whether that’s accomplished by the chopped guitar percussion or the sprightly synths that underline the post-chorus. But, it’s Taeyeon’s unique and infectious phrasing during the hook that really steals the show. I mean, this chorus is so catchy that they named the entire song after it. If you’re not singing along by the end of this track, I think you might have listened to it wrong!