In celebration of The Bias List’s fifth year anniversary, I’ve embarked on my most ambitious project yet. After years of hemming and hawing, I’ve finally ranked what I consider to be the best 100 songs in K-pop.
There will never be a definitive list of this nature, because it’s impossible to rank something that’s inherently subjective. Please feel welcome to agree, disagree, argue and justify, but at the end of the day know that this list is personal. If we happen to share a similar taste in music, it may match closely to your own list. If not, I hope you enjoy reading (and discussing) anyway!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Before we start the main countdown tomorrow, let’s enjoy a slew of excellent tracks that almost made it into the top 100. There’s no shame being an honorable mention for “best K-pop song of all-time!” Here are songs 125-101, presented without comment:
125. g.o.d – One Candle (2000)
124. Produce 101 Season 2 – Pick Me (2017)
123. Nine Muses – Wild (2013)
122. B1A4 – Baby Good Night (2012)
121. Sunmi – Siren (2018)
120. Winner – Empty (2014)
119. Block B – H.E.R (2014)
118. BoA – Girls On Top (2005)
117. Stray Kids – Side Effects (2019)
116. A.C.E – Under Cover (2019)
115. Oh My Girl – Windy Day (2016)
114. AOA – Heart Attack (2015)
113. Yoon Do Hyun Band – A Flying Butterfly (2006)
112. Rain – Rainism (2008)
111. Super Junior – Bonamana (2010)
110. Infinite – Before The Dawn (2011)
109. f(x) – Rum Pum Pum Pum (2013)
108. EXO – Miracles In December (2013)
107. Infinite – She’s Back (2010)
106. Nine Muses – Hurt Locker (2015)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sna6j078eOw
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Damn if this is 125 – 101 then I cant wait for what is in store for the top 100! I’m assuming most of the songs in the top 100 would get 10’s from you?
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Thank you for doing this, Nick. I love lists and rankings and I’m sure I’ll make some discoveries reading this one.
PD: I guess this means no f(x) or 9MUSES in the top 100 🥺
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pretty sure 9MUSES’ Hurt Locker will be in the Top 100
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i’m stupid i’m sorry
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It very nearly made it there!!
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Yep, sorry to say those two groups just missed the main countdown. Nine Muses put up a good fight, though, and for me f(x) is more about the b-sides than the title tracks.
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Nooo you can’t do that… Rum pum pum pum is one of the most influential kpop song ever…
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It’s REALLY good, and was in the top 100 during an early draft 😦
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I didn’t even watch Produce 101 Season 2 and I listened to that song a disgusting amount of times.
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The best thing to come out of any Produce season, imo
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I’m getting excited! A lot of these are already all time favorites, so I’m going to start building the playlist from here. Unless there are already The Bias List playlists out there?
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This list is going to be insanely competitive. But I know one thing for sure: Infinite “The Chaser” will be number 1, just because.
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There will be plenty of celebratory fist pumps and “Nick, how could you?”s… probably in equal measure. I’m prepared to accept both!
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The way this was absolutely correct no mistakes 😭
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Seeing some of these relegated to Honourable Mentions is… quite jarring, but I trust your judgment! ‘Windy Day’ and ‘She’s Back’ would definitely be within my personal Top 100, and ‘Siren’ and ‘Side Effects’ likely within the top 20.
(My only knowing K-pop dating back to ~2011 certainly contributes!)
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Yep, it was a tricky choice. But when you think of the many thousands of tracks released these past decades, even being in the top 125 is a pretty big deal.
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Does this include b-sides? Some of these are on my top 100! Man, this is exciting.
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No b-sides this time, though I doubt it would have changed much within the top 100.
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I’m already sooo excited to see the rest of the list. This feature is awesome, Nick. How hard was it for you to finalize the ranking? I guess you went through many drafts 😉
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VERY hard! I thought I had it after a couple of drafts, but then I listened to the playlist during a long walk and had many changes to make.
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i am shocked to see she’s back outside of the top 100 not gonna lie
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Don’t worry, Infinite have nothing to fear 😉
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No offence , Nick , I forgive you for She’s back and Before The Dawn but……….. Lately deserves at least to be in the Top 25
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There’s a lot of songs here that i thought would be much higher (Like…..block b – her would be close to top 10 for me) but, i’m surprised at yb’s inclusion here.
My personal favourite is “Peppermint Candy” even thought they usually don’t hit it well for me.
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My favorite place on the internet right now ❤
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Hello! I’ll be the peak calculator , I am gonna Take the songs which got first place for Nick in those Artists and enter that as their peak. Meaning , they won’t be coming further inside the list.
G.O.D’s Peak: 125! (Peaked Song: One Candle)
Produce 101 Season 2’s Peak: 124! (Peaked Song: Pick Me)
Winner’s Peak: 120! (Peaked Song: Empty)
Block B’s Peak: 119! (Peaked Song: H.E.R)
A.C.E’s Peak: 116! (Peaked Song: Undercover)
Oh My Girl’s Peak: 115! (Peaked Song: Windy Day)
AOA’s Peak: 114! (Peaked Song: Heart Attack)
Rain’s Peak: 112! (Peaked Song: Rainism)
F(x)’s Peak: 109! (Peaked Song; Rum Pum Pum Pum)
Nine Muses Peak: 106! (Peaked Song: Hurt Locker)
Miss A’s Peak: 102! (Peaked Song: Bad Girl , Good Girl)
SS501’s Peak: 101! (Peaked Song: 4 Chance)
There are 12 peaks here!
And It’s a disgusting amount.
I really can’t wait for more
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I love your dedication so much!
With that said, you may be surprised by some of the placements. Based on older countdowns, several songs have either risen or fallen. But so far, all of these peaks are accurate 🙂
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Can you tell me again that this is just the HONORABLE MENTIONS….
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Glad to see SS501 so high! I feel that their awesome discography is often forgotten…
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One Candle is simple yet engaging. I like it. [ENTERED PLAYLIST]
Nayana have a great production but the hook is weak.
Wild is wild. I love every bits of it. [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Baby Good Night is addicting. The chorus is amazing. Baro’s rap is cute. [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Siren is awesome. I love the chorus. It might be my favorite Sunmi’s chorus. The bridge threatened to derail my experience but it grew on me. [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Empty is nice. Just like One Candle, it’s laid back but done well. [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
H.E.R’s intro and chorus is fantastic. The hook nearly ruined the song, thankfully, it grew on me. [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Objectively, Girls on Top is amazing. Boa’s voice is fantastic. However…I don’t know to myself.
I love Side Effects. The chorus hits my heart. Felix’s voice…Felix’s deep voice. [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Under Cover is so cool. The chorus soars. [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Windy Day’s verses are refreshing. The chorus is epic. I LOVE IT. [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Heart Attack’s pre-chorus leaves me breatheless. The chorus grew on me. The final chorus with ‘Everybody say what, AOA!’ is addicting. Brave sound. [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
A Flying Butterfly is not my cup of tea.
Rainism is a great song with actual hooks…ruined by those trap breaks. Missed opportunity for me.
Bonamana have great production and hooks. Not sure to it’s longetivity.
Before The Dawn is bombastic. I love the chorus. [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Rum Pum Pum is very cool. It’s experimental but not cloying. [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Miracles in December is a nice song. Great vocals.
After my first listen to She’s Back, I’m willing to put in my Top 5. This song is INCREDIBLE. It just grow on me every time I listen to it. I’m inlove.
Hurt Locker is a good song…but lacks extra punch.
Tried to Walk’s chorus is gorgeous. [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Nothing Lasts Forever have INCREDIBLE chorus but the final minute of it pulled down the song.
Lately have nice melody.
Bad Girl, Good Girls is definitely unique. I can listen to it anytime of the day. [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
4 Chances is messy and forgettable. Nice production, tho.
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She’s Back entered my playlist, obviously.
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