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!
Links to old reviews will be provided when applicable, though those ratings may be somewhat out of date.
Countdown Archive: Honorable Mentions
100. Sistar – I Swear (2014)
I Swear is a breezy, brassy whirlwind of pop magic. It feels completely effortless, from the breakneck pace of its propulsive chorus to its multiple musical breakdowns. It’s emblematic of the style of summertime K-pop I crave each year.
99. Kara – Lupin (2010)
Lupin takes a darker, more fashionable turn when compared to the youthful material Kara had released until this point. Its thundering verses set up a gorgeous, Abba-esque chorus that absolutely soars. (full review)
98. BTS – Danger (2014)
Laying electric guitar over a commanding hip-hop beat, Danger fuses BTS’s pop and rap sides in an unrelenting display of charisma that would soon see them rocketing to the top of the global charts. (full review)
97. SHINee – Everybody (2013)
A schizophrenic beast of a song, with its blistering dubstep breakdown and intense choreography. At times, its sheer cacophony threatens to derail it, but that singalong chorus always brings it slamming back.
96. TXT – Run Away (2019)
In an age where the classic pop chorus seemed to be a fading antiquity, Run Away ran the opposite way and leaned into its punchy, arena-ready hook. A sense of fantastical whimsy gives the track its own identity, while the members’ wide-eyed earnestness sells the sentiment. (full review)
95. H.O.T – Hope (1998)
Emotive hip-hop pop tracks are a dime a dozen when it comes to K-pop’s many boy groups, but Hope set the template with its surging melody and dramatic performance. There’s a reason why this classic is still covered today.
94. Lovelyz – Ah-Choo (2015)
Ah-Choo is the perfect distillation of Lovelyz’ K-pop identity, filled to the brim with sing-along hooks and anthemic synth riffs. It has quickly become an evergreen girl group standard.
93. TVXQ – Mirotic (2008)
One of the most iconic K-pop tracks of all time, Mirotic casts a wide influence. Its jerky, unbalanced verses give way to a grand chorus that swirls with mystical synths, soundtracking TVXQ at the height of their immense popularity.
92. VIXX – On And On (2013)
On And On is a taut encapsulation of VIXX’s edgy, high-concept style. Its jagged chorus has only improved with time, offering a pop punch that feels just as disarming as it did upon the song’s release.
91. Beast – Shadow (2013)
Shadow is still the most sophisticated Beast has ever sounded, with an elegant aura that draws upon the strength of each members’ talents. Its gorgeous melody, dynamic production and lilting hook are to die for.
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Ooh some tough competition, albeit I do not love the Sistar song, Lupin is top 50 for me.
Danger is around the same place for me.
Oof everybody is in the top 20 for me. I love it’s experimentation and it has my favorite choreo ever, I love it.
Run Away is great, but I do not think it would make it into my top 100
Hope and Achoo are songs that I feel need more appreciation…
Mirotic was my first k-pop song ever, I love it. I would put it around the top 80 though, it is not even in the top 10 TVXQ songs for me.
Also, congrats to on and on and shadow…. (mutters something about how even shock is better than shadow)
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I feel the same about Lupin and Everybody! I almost can’ t believe Everybody isn’ t higher :0
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Nick, you have far more stamina than I do. Far far more. Two days in, and I would have collapsed. Now, I listen to a shed load of kpop, just about every new release, supplemented by binge watching youtube lists and listicles. So lets take HOT and god for example. I would never include them in my list. Sure, I have listened to these songs a few times each just to know, but they have no resonance for me. Girl groups would be seriously under-represented, just because. SM artists would be over-represented. I would sprinkle in more ballads than you will (ahem, Gaho), along with a few surprises of tiny groups from tiny agencies (Aweek “Breathe” for example.) And for a few notable examples I would break the B-side exclusion rule (Shinee “One Minute Back”). My list would be so biased, that it would be just my list.
That said
TXT Run Away would be lower. Nice song, but not up there.
KARA Lupin, Shinee Everybody, and TVXQ Mirotic would be higher. I don’t know how much higher, not top 20, but somewhere in the middle of the muddle.
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So happy I Swear made the top 100 ♥️
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Vixx is in there. Now I can rest in peace.
Agree with the list so far except for TXT’s Run Away and BTS’s Danger. They’re great but more like honourable mentions for me.
Thank you for this though. I love your lists and rankings feature.
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Great lists! Kara’s Lupin, SHINee’s Everybody and TVXQ’s Mirotic would be much higher for me tho, definitely in the top 50. Actually, my top 50 would probably be made up of just SHINee, EXO, Kara, TVXQ, Infinite, 9muses, Orange Caramel, SNSD, and a few other 3rd/4th gen groups. Mainly those first eight groups.
Sistar’s I Swear and BTS’ Danger (one of the only two BTS’ songs I like, the other one being Boy in Luv) would also be in my top 100, probably a bit higher than your placement.
Beast’s Shadow and Lovelyz’ Ah-Choo would get honourable mentions. TXT’s Runaway is good, but not up there.
Don’t care for that VIXX song.
Never heard of those SS501 and H.O.T songs before.
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Also, I’m hoping to see ITZY’s Dalla Dalla somewhere in your list! That song is bonkers, and I LOVE bonkers kpop!
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Thank the lord! There are no peaks and everybody lives to see another countdown!
Itzy’s Dalla Dalla and NCT 127’s Highway to heaven has risen more than Runaway? cool!
And I agree with MyMaGoogle I’d fall to the ground doing my list , I haven’t even done my Top 100 K-pop Songs from 2005 – 2015. How can I add older songs mixed in with newer songs to make a 100 list?
I didn’t even The Chaser was my favorite song until last month otherwise I didn’t even know what’s my favorite song?!
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Hahaha are you doing a “Artists’ peaks in TBL’s Top 100 Songs”? Such dedication 😂.
We can already guess some artists who peak in the top 25; Infinite (The Chaser duh!!!), TVXQ (Rising Sun), SHINee (Lucifer/Sherlock!!!), GD (Crooked), KARA (Step!), EXO (History!), Big Bang (Monster), and B1A4 (don’t know which song). Infinite and TVXQ alone might just take up half of those top 25 spots lol, and I won’t be complaining :))).
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Mirotic is 4th in TVXQ’s countdown , So Infinite might take at least 7 and TVXQ might take 3 of the Top 25 , Miroh , Star of The Stars , Complete and Golden Child Songs(Oooo Yeah!) might as well be there. Also I hope ATEEZ take up high spots also Astro’s amazing Hide&Seek.
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I’d be surprised, in a GOOD way ofc, if Miroh managed to snatch one of the top 25 spots :))). That song is my favourite kpop song of the last 2 or 3 years :).
I also love both Astro’s and Snuper’s songs you mentioned :). Too bad Snuper abandoned their excellent sound completely :(.
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I’m living for all this speculation! 🙂
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Ah-choo is SO underrated! I definitely my favorite of their title tracks
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I know this is ‘TheBiasList’ but I could never put out a list like this because I know I’m way TOO biased and would just be slamming second gen groups everywhere.
The variety going on is great! I forgot how dramatic H.O.T was
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Their concepts and visuals were kind of insane, especially when you compare it to today’s hyper-polished K-pop products.
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Nick, you should rename this list “The Chaser and number 2-100 of the Best K-pop Songs of All Time”
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I’m waiting to see where Nick will place TXT’s crown and ATEEZ in general
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Yess “I Swear” is perfection.
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I’m sorry but Run Away at 96 is outrageous
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I Swear is fun! I swear![ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Lupin is a masterpiece. That chorus is so magical.
[ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
I appreciate Everybody for its boldness. Not my type of song but I can’t help but to listen to its glory.
[ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Danger took time to grow on me, luckily it did. The rappers ate this song! [ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Run Away is a classic from 4th Generation of KPop. One of the best choruses of all-time.
[ENTERED MY PLAYLIST]
Hope is weaker than One Candle in my opinion. That mv tho, HAHAHHAHAHA, The Penthouse could never!
I don’t find Mirotic special. It’s good but forgettable. The rap is nice and the chorus is nice but that’s it.
On and On = Mirotic
Ah-Choo is a great cutesy song, not cloying and exaggerated. The bridge and last chorus are beautiful.
Shadow is great. The chorus is really to die for!
HONORABLE MENTIONS: 15/25
TOP 100-91: 5/10
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