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?
February 2011 Overall Thoughts
As is often the case with K-pop, February of 2011 was a total lull compared to the months around it. There weren’t many high-profile releases, though the month was dominated by a couple of the industry’s biggest names.
Bigbang released their highly anticipated mini album Tonight — their first new Korean work in over two years. I don’t consider its title track to be one of the group’s better offerings, but is an easy standout in a weak month. And, it would be followed by a killer repackage single in the spring. Elsewhere, IU and MBLAQ re-released their albums with ho-hum new material and PSY continued to milk his fifth full-length with one last stellar single.
My top three picks are similar in their bombast, each going over-the-top with surging instrumentals and big, anthemic hooks. My sole honorable mention is a very close fourth place, but other than that there just wasn’t much happening this month. That’s okay. 2011 was about to blow up as we moved into the spring and summer.
Honorable Mentions
Super Junior-M – Perfection (video)
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I have to laugh because my number one played February 2011 song is a remastered re-release of Duane Eddy “Peter Gunn” theme.
I love Big Bang “Tonight”. I love singing along to Taeyang’s sampled synthed harmonies in the chorus, because they are interesting chords yet clean enough to pick out a line top/middle/bottom. Its a very simply written and produced song, and each member has their own role that fits their own individual style. (Well, idk about Seungri, what part does Seungri get? Do I zone out during Seungri’s part? I just watched a lyric video, it seems he gets perhaps two lines.)
Of course Super Junior M “Perfection” is in frequent rotation. Its a key member of the sonic evolution of their Bonamano Mr Simple Sorry Sorry era, that percussive tight chord style with a minimalistic arrangement that doesn’t interfere with the appreciation of such chords. These days, kpop producers would feel the need to add twelve other sonic elements, but happily they did not here.
I also have Dream High OST “Dreaming” by Kim Soo Hyun. mmmm yes, Kim Soo Hyun. Lovely rich tenor. Yes please!
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Excuse me?! “Tonight” was one of the formative experiences of my youth! This is injustice!
“Tonight is such a beautiful night // sing with me now 2011 follow me” is the anthem through which I achieved eudaimonia. I shan’t forgive this transgression!
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Tonight is such a product of it’s time. It’s kinda outdated while at the same time, not. i love when autotune is used to give more power to the chorus
Also, you got the wrong video for super junior one i think
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Oops, you’re right. Trying to sneak in a little 5dolls, I guess!
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I don’t know if I’m the only one who has this problem, but the link for Super Junior-M’s Perfection sends me to 5Dolls’ Your Words.
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Never mind, I didn’t see the other comments, sorry.
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Tonight is yet another song that just keeps on enduring on my top K-Pop playlist (quite the feat since I keep that one to a max playtime of 8 to 9 hours and remove tracks at the end of each month). The only downside is hearing the “2011” at the beginning of each song and realizing how much time has passed lol.
Out of curiosity, once you eventually catch up on the “looking back” feature to the start of TBL, would you ever consider doing the ultimate challenge: The Top 50 (or however many you choose) songs of the decade?
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