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!
November 2011 Overall Thoughts
The first thing that struck me when looking back at 2011’s November releases was just how many of these acts have disbanded or gone on eternal hiatus. November of 2011 feels like a time capsule, filled with those dearly departed groups that exist only in memory. Of course, Apink and IU stand out big time here for their continued longevity.
While September and October saw a huge rally from Korea’s boy groups, November was all about the girls. All three of my top choices are from female acts, and each represents a different approach to K-pop. All are enduring classics in their own right, though none are what I would consider the absolute pinnacle of their respective artists’ discography.
Elsewhere, November gave us some solid idol rock courtesy of band LEDApple and 2AM-vocalist-turned-soloist Jeong Jinwoon. Kudos also goes to AA’s So Crazy – one of my favorite ultra-nugu K-pop tracks and the only traditional boy group release of the month. In a similar category is the quickly-forgotten New.F.O, whose silly and addictive Bounce had great energy. And though it didn’t quite make my honorable mentions, Babysoul’s No Better Than Strangers laid the very first seed for what would eventually grow into Lovelyz.
Some might wonder why Trouble Maker’s debut isn’t on this list. Though it was technically available on November 30th in some countries due to time differences, its official release date was December 1st. So, I’m saving it for next month.
Honorable Mentions
AA – So Crazy (video)
Apink – My My (video)
Jeong Jin Woon – Now Or Never (ft. YB) (video)
LEDApple – Someone Met By Chance (video)
New.F.O – Bounce (video)
Phantom – Hole In Your Face (video)
Seo In Young – Oh My Gosh (video)
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I got … nothing. Well, except for darling daughter’s One Direction download on my itunes, but that gets nil pois from me.
Also, possibly IU, because no one can sell show tunes as pop like IU can. I never downloaded the song though. Its not the same for me without the extravaganza. (Hey, I still have a girl crush on Gene Kelly.)
I never got into Wonder Girls, but it was refreshing to listen to this song again and hear that JYP gave each girl 4 or 8 lines in a row to sing, all by themselves. What, a whole stanza for one person? Shocking!
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For joooo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdE8sX3tWPs
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For yooooooo: “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDooJpzvKYE”
Hello legs!
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How did you know? Did I mention her in a previous post? I swear that woman is made up of machine parts.
Thank you for my present. 😀
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First of all, sorry for my English. I must say that the background of “Be My Baby” is like the key to my happiness. Also, this song is named the same as another legendary girl group song (by The Ronettes), which is one of my all-time favorite songs.
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Man, this was a tough one. When I first saw your top 3 ranking, I thought to myself, IU should be in first place, followed by T-ara, then WG.
I then listened to IU’s “You & I” and I felt confirmed in that order because say what you want about IU, but when she shoots from half court, it’s nothing but net.
I then listened to T-ara’s “Cry Cry” and thought, no, the order should be T-ara in first, IU in second, WG in third. I mean, come on.. ..it’s T-ara. If anyone can turn a fourth down with 50+ yards to go into a game winning TD, it’s them.
I then listened to WG “Be My Baby” and dammit.. ..and effortless grand slam.
CURSES! You picked the right three and in the right order, but I’ll get you next time, Nick! Just you wait!
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As a longtime wonderful – since So Hot – BMB will always be VERY hard for me to love because they pushed Sohee’s voice into a register she couldn’t handle in the recording – and live stages were a bigger mess – while shoving power vocalists Ye Eun and Sun Ye into that chorus. Like, what was JYP THINKING?!
And yet, wonder world truly is a classic kpop album isn’t it? So many of my favorite WG songs come from it.
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Hole In Your Face was such a great song.
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