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!
June 2009 Overall Thoughts
Whether accurate or not, I’ve always considered June to be an especially exciting month in K-pop. As the gateway to the summer season, the energy and excitement seems to kick up a notch this time of year. Because of this, I’m surprised how lacking 2009’s June was when it comes to releases. There just weren’t that many comebacks.
Luckily, the month was spearheaded by Girls’ Generation’s industry-defining Genie. This song alone lands June in the hall of fame, and easily eclipses everything else.
4minute’s Hot Issue has become iconic in its own right, and marks the debut of this much-loved group. Listening back to it now, it’s striking how much its delivery recalls K-pop girl group trends of today.
Elsewhere in this month, IU followed up April’s Boo with a rock mix of Hey. Girl group Mascara released a fun (slightly trot-influenced) dance track, while boy group Xing and Shinhwa’s Lee Minwoo opted for more trendy material.
Lurking around the corner, July was about to explode with a parade of retro-inspired hits, including a classic that gives Genie a run for its money.
Honorable Mentions
Brand New Day – Mascara (video)
Lee Minwoo – Minnovation (video)
Untouchable – Oh (video)
Xing – Hi-Five (video)
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Hot issue is such a camp classic. 4minute is kind of the blueprint for the teen crush concept but that’s a conversation for another story
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Genie tops by a mile or two, no questions there. Probably one of the strongest tracks of that time.
Minus Minwoo (who trails by a good deal over here), the rest of the songs are all around the same quality. I think Untouchable might take number 2, but not by a lot.
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Pingback: Looking Back: The Top Three K-Pop Songs of June 2009 | Beatsway
Girl’s Generation for the win.
The song, the dance, and the costuming are classics of kpop. Notice how everything about the choreo, the costume, even the low camera angle here and there, show off legs legs legs. I am going to bet Xeno floves this one too. Xeno is a legs guy.
Also on my list is Super Junior-M “Super Girl” in Mandarin and Korean.
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I must correct you. I know no song called Super Girl, only a Suju song called ‘Oh my SHUPA GUL’.
Love it, one of my first ever K-Pop songs.
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Don’t mind me, I’m just here, raving towards Taeyeon’s adlibs at the end of Genie.
Hot Issue is aligned with the current girl crush songs with more focus, hooks, and flavor. If they release it now, it will be the anthem of the 13-year-old K-pop fans.
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