Since the start of The Bias List in January 2016, I’ve always looked back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists each month. Now, it’s time to look even further into the past, one month at a time. And, yes, the top three rankings count toward The Bias List’s personal artist scorecard!
Which month do you want to see next?
March 2015 Overall Thoughts
After a relatively slow start to the year, March of 2015 set things in motion for a continuous stretch of excellent releases that would last long into the fall. Looking back, I’m shocked at how stacked this month was, especially for late-winter/early-spring when the industry tends to be pretty slow.
SM Entertainment, in particular, had a very strong month. Three major releases, back-to-back, helped to generate an exciting sense of momentum. Surprisingly, other agencies didn’t back down from the competition, as the entire month was filled with comebacks from groups both big and small. We even got a direct SM/JYP showdown on March 30th.
So many of my honorable mentions from this month could have been strong number one picks in 2019, and it kills me to leave off highlights from acts like Red Velvet, Crayon Pop and Shannon. But, I had to structure this list around my own musical preferences, and my top three tracks were just too strong to overcome.
Honorable Mentions
B.I.G – Between Night ‘n Music (video)
Boyfriend – Bounce (video)
CLC – Pepe (video)
Crayon Pop – FM (video)
Fiestar – You’re Pitiful (video)
FTIsland – Pray / To The Light (video / video)
Ga-In – Paradise Lost (video)
Hotshot – Midnight Sun (video)
Lovelyz – Hi~ (video)
Miss A – Only You (video)
N-Sonic – Blackout (video)
Red Velvet – Ice Cream Cake (video)
Shannon – Why Why (video)
TOP THREE SONGS
3. Xia Junsu – Flower (ft. Tablo)
2. Super Junior-D&E – Growing Pains
1. EXO – Call Me Baby
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
If you were ever worried that your “I prefer boy groups over girl groups” slip was showing, then THIS was the month that spilled the insam-cha; but then.. ..this site is called “The Bias List”. ;P
Seriously, though:
CLC – Pepe
Crayon Pop – FM
Fiestar – You’re Pitiful
Ga-In – Paradise Lost
Lovelyz – Hi~
miss A – Only You
Red Velvet – Ice Cream Cake
Shannon – Why Why
Also released in March, 2015:
Blady – Come To Me
LABOUM – Sugar Sugar
Minah – I Am A Woman Too
NS Yoon-G – Sincerely
ALL PASSED OVER? REPENT! SINNER!
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Oh believe me, I know it. Guilty as charged.
If it makes you feel any better, I sometimes feel like I’m swimming against the stream when it comes to online K-pop discussion/criticism. Increasingly, it feels like forums, podcasts and (especially) reddit are much more interested in girl groups. And when boy groups do garner tons of responses or discussion, it’s rarely the kind of boy group music I tend to like.
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I’m just giving you guff. It would be hypocritical for me to lecture you on your predilection for boy bands while I’m sitting squarely in the girl groups camp. If you’re feeling that you should be more balanced between both boy/girl camps so you can serve as a fulcrum for all things K-Pop, then I think you’re being to hard on yourself. Music is personal, not practical.
Hell, if you HADN’T made “EXO – Call Me Baby” your number 1 pick of the month, I would’ve sent a team of scientists to your house to search for pods. I mean, if there was any song that bridges your earlier western influences with modern K-Pop, that’d be it. I love it too; if that means anything.
No. You’re fine. This is your site. Your posts lose sincerity if you try to artificially fashion them into what others will like. Keep doing what your doing. But… ..you do realize I’m still going to huff and puff, right? Because that’s me being me. /headbow
“This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!”
~ Polonius; Hamlet – Act 1, Scene 3
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.
I’ve got
Red Velvet “Ice Cream Cake” >> SuJu D&E Growing Pains ~ Exo “Call me baby”
I mean, I am a big sucker for clever key changes.
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