At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade.
September 2023 Overall Thoughts
After a very strong August, it felt like we entered the K-pop doldrums once again this month. September wasn’t completely devoid of standouts, but as far as the blog goes I was handing out mid-7 ratings like they were candy. Though my cumulative rating is a few notches higher, a “7.5” about sums up this month. It was pleasant, but unremarkable.
So, let’s delve into the highlights. I’m really impressed with Riize’s debut and I’m crossing my fingers (and toes) that they continue to deliver strong music and don’t begin to blend in with the various NCT units. Get A Guitar has grown on me immensely, helped along by stellar live stages. It’s an easy number one pick.
I’m less ecstatic about the rest of my top three, though they’re strong songs. One was an instant hit while the other was a grower. BBGirls’ Lemonade was a contender, too. I just didn’t play it as often — probably because it’s been in my music library since early August.
J-pop was also on the slow side this month. Like K-pop, I’ve got one song that towers above the rest. My September was devoted to its accompanying EP and this fantastic b-side.
Historically, October tends to be a strong K-pop month and I’m feeling the potential again this year. We have confirmed comebacks from ONF, IVE, TXT, Sunmi and Seventeen — among many others. There are also rumors of an impending Golden Child comeback. Please, universe! Make it happen! It’s been eighty-seven years!!
Month Cumulative Rating: 7.8
(compiled by averaging the scores of every K-pop review from this month)
J-Pop Highlights
New & Noteworthy J-pop: Week One
New & Noteworthy J-pop: Week Two
New & Noteworthy J-pop: Week Three
New & Noteworthy J-pop: Week Four
TOP J-POP SONGS OF THE MONTH
3. Yuzu – Beautiful
2. IMP. – IMP. (review)
1. Ryugujo – 2 MUCH (review)
K-POP
Honorable Mentions
BBGirls – Lemonade (review)
Billlie – BYOB (Bring Your Own Best Friend) (review)
CRAVITY – Ready Or Not (review)
Fantasy Boys – New Tomorrow (review)
Hur Youngji – L.O.V.E (review)
Jungkook – 3D (ft. Jack Harlow) (review)
Kep1er – Galileo (review)
Key – Good & Great (review)
POW – Favorite (review)
Purple Kiss – 7HEAVEN (review)
Trendz – My Way (review)
Weeekly – Good Day (Special Daileee) (review)
This Month’s Risers and Fallers
This Month’s Global Pop Round-Up
TOP THREE SONGS
3. BOYNEXTDOOR – But Sometimes (review)
2. TXT – Back For More (ft. Anitta) (review)
1. Riize – Get A Guitar (review)
Top Three K-Pop Songs Of August 2023
Top Three K-Pop Songs Of July 2023
Top Three K-Pop Songs Of June 2023
Top Three K-Pop Songs Of May 2023
Top Three K-Pop Songs Of April 2023
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Nick have you listened to Space by the weird af avatar thing Apoki? No idea what she is but the song is totally great and I think right up your alley
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I have the exact same top 3, all three songs were listened to in rotation the entire month
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I am crushing on “Your City” by Jung Yong Hwa. Straight ahead leading man pop song with a nice melody and vocals confidently delivered.
There is also an OST “Chosen One” by Forestella which returns them to the big expansive cinematic sound they should be doing more often. Not whatever “Kool” was meant to be. This OST is from the Sword of Aramun which is the return of Lee Joon Gi too, my other other hot honey.
The rest of the month was meh.
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I was so happy to see Yonghwa promoting this song. There were so many second generation moments. He’s just a good performer and entertainer.
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Definitely an overall meh month but there were some bangers! My top 5 is:
5. El7z Up – Cheeky (this was a very surprising grower)
4. TXT – Back for More
3. Weeekly – Good Day
2. Key – Good & Great
1. Riize – Get a Guitar
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The POW – Favorite, BOYNEXTDOOR – But Sometimes and Riize – Get A Guitar rock sound is really nice and I hope to hear more along these lines but I also hope the industry doesn’t overdo it with the relatable 2000s garagenextdoor highschool rock bands vibe
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If there’s one thing I know about K-pop, they will 100% overdo a trend…
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These aren’t title tracks but my top three songs for this month are:
Dive by Tempest
Megaphone by Cravity
Jukebox by EVNNE
If bands count though, my #1 song is Lifeline by The Rose. Their entire album Dual is just great.
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1. Key – Good & Great – literally everything he touches is magic
2. RIIZE – Get A Guitar – the stages elevated this from a “really good” to “absolutely great”
3. TXT – Back for More – the opening verse and the final dance break eclipse everything else but it’s just soooooo fun to sing along and imaginary-dance along to
3. Trendz – My Way – like the rest of their singles, a slightly less-polished past ATEEZ track (here it’s Promise), but I like it regardless.
4. Kep1er – Galileo – liking it more every time I listen to it…
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I always find stuff to like:
Top 3:
Riize – Get a Guitar…the talent is latent🤩
Xodiac – Lemonade…loved it
Oneus – Baila Conmigo…good stuff
HM:
Trendz- My Way…so good🤩
BoyNextDoor-But Sometimes…adorable
Evnne – Trouble…my favorite BP song
POW – Favorite
IVE – Either Way
Young K – Nothing But
DO – Somebody
AJAA – Hany…youthful happy pill
TOZ – Magic Hour…same as above
Bsides:
Dawn – Fallin’
TIOT- Starlight
Pentagon – Loop
Yong Hwa – Season of Love
Fantasy Boys – Shangri la
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Key Good And Great
Cravity – Megaphone
Riize – Get a Guitar
Haven’t listened to much new stuff lately.
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TOP 5 TITLE TRACKS:
1. TXT – Back For More (ft. Anitta) Perf version
2. BOYNEXTDOOR – But Sometimes
3. Kep1er – Galileo
4. Billlie – ‘BYOB
5. PURPLE KISS – ‘7HEAVEN
Grower of the month: Hwasa – I love my body
TOP 3 B-SIDES:
I haven’t heard almost any b-sides this month but these are the ones I liked the most
1. El7zUp – Die for you (both korean and eng version)
2. Billlie – BYOB (English Ver.)
3. Kep1er – Tropical Light
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