my kpop archives

happy 10 years of hallyu immersion!

1. a song that i overplayed

i got into stray kids the day after they came back with the ‘i am who?’ album, and this song was on REPEAT whenever my hands could reach for the remote or music app. my mom even complained saying that this was the only song she heard playing on the tv for months. for 12 year old me, this song was AMAZING. (and hyunjin looked ethereal so why not look at him more?)

my favourite lyric: “앞서 간다는 먼저 가는거 아냐 baby/저 멀리 보고 take your time” (being ahead doesn’t mean you’ll reach first/look far ahead and take your time)

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2. a song that gives me the chills

despite only being released yesterday, this song has been on my mind. i took a look at its lyrics and i felt goosebumps rising up my arms and legs — the vulnerability, anxiety and doubt of the boys running away and leaving behind everything they’ve ever known to be with the girl they love shines through, and rather than confidence, all i hear is dilemma and forced courage to stay strong for the girl they love. it also kind of sounds like they’re hesitating, doubting themselves for this choice, and how it’ll affect their girl. i loved the emotions in this song, and how their faltering resolve solidified as the track progressed.

my favourite stanza: “타고 온 배는 다 불태워/가져온 두려움 실어서/파편 그 위를 걸어 나가/No way back now” (Burn the boat we took here/ Carrying the fear we brought/ Walking out on the rubble/ No way back now)

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3. a song that feels meaningful to me

this song knocked on my door when i was dealing with the early stages of my burnout last year. the message itself resonated with me — “when tomorrow comes, it might be better than today”. this song gave me the strength to go to school and keep up with my life, even when the burnout and helplessness was weighing me down. it gave me hope that as long as i look towards tomorrow, everything will get better.

my favourite lyric: “미소를 되찾는 날이 기다려 maybe tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow” (waiting for the day i find my smile again, maybe tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow)

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4. a song i think more should know about

i think tws as a group is overall being slept on. their music really reflects the energy and purity of adolescence and youth! this song especially … i had this one on repeat since the album dropped, and my spotify wrapped is proof. i think i listened to this song at least 3 times a day. from the beat, to the lyrics, everything felt like pure youth in the vibes and the process of acknowledging romantic feelings for someone. a beautiful listen, especially for teens like me.

my favourite lyric: “혼자서 생각하기엔 알 수 없으니까” (thinking about it alone won’t help me find out)

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5. a song i enjoy the instrumental of

if we are talking about instrumentals, i’m definitely mentioning this song. day6 has been one of my favourites since i discovered them in 2019, and again in 2023. the ending guitar riff and drum combination is TO DIE FOR. every time i’m in need of an energy boost i play this song and all of a sudden i’m roaring to go. this song is also one of my favourite day6 songs!

my favourite lyric: “날 가지 않을거면 풀어줘” (if you’re not gonna have me, let me go)

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6. a song i can sing for a karaoke

look at how day6 appeared twice in a row. there’s this one specific live performance of theirs where they performed i’m fine + i wait + love me or leave me + shoot me, and i think i’ve watched that clip almost 30 times. these songs just go so well with each other, and shoot me is such a good song to belt out in the karaoke to let off all that stress and pent up anger. a solid recommendation for anyone who likes band music. this also happens to be the first day6 song i listened to when i found them in 2019. the ending riff is ALSO to die for.

my favourite lyric: “서로를 향한 말투는 점점 더 날카로워져만 가” (our tone towards each other is just getting sharper)

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7. a debut song i like

honestly one of the best debuts in all of kpop history, if i dare say. although i wasn’t their fan during debut, this song was on repeat after i got into them. the song is so refreshing and relatable, with it being about first meetings and being nervous making friends at an unfamiliar environment. the school theme also caught my eye, and i love how their youthful energy radiated throughout the song. it blew up during their debut, so i wouldn’t be surprised if kpop fans heard this song before in passing.

my favourite lyric: “계획은 완벽 빨리 말 걸어보고 싶어 hey” (my plan is perfect, i can’t wait to speak to you hey)

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8. a first comeback song i like

i clearly remember watching their comeback performance on tv. their iconic all white adidas fits and yeonjun’s blue hair… peak perfection. i didn’t understand much of the lyrics then, but listening to this song now could trigger a tear or two. this was released during covid, and txt played a huge role in getting me through lockdown. if anyone needs some comfort, this is your go to song. it’s okay to run away sometimes.

my favourite lyric: “나만 빼고 다 행복한 것만 같아/ 우는 것보다 웃을 때가 더 아파” (it feels like everyone but me is happy/ it hurts more smiling than crying)

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9. a song i like in another language

this was their title for their japan debut and i LOVE it. i still can’t understand the lyrics of the whole song, but i understand bits and pieces. the choreography is super cute and the song is so cheerful and upbeat. it reminds me of spring and new beginnings. i’m not a really big fan of japanese music, but this i will listen again and again on repeat.

my favourite lyric: “初めて会うみたいだね/久しぶりなのに 胸が高鳴る” (nice to see you, we meet again/ even though it’s been a while, my heart throbs)

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10. my favourite b-sides that should’ve been the title track

i cannot say this enough. flashover is THE song. everything about it just feels so mysterious and the TENSION throughout this song…. LOVE. it’s about crossing the line to protect what’s yours, and i love the way they expressed becoming out of control, relenting to their desires. this song is too short UGH i love it so much i had it on repeat for at least a whole month.

my favourite lyric: “네 눈빛이 gasoline/ 끝 없이 쏟아 붓지” (your gaze is gasoline/ pouring it with no end)

i also have a lot to say about this. the song, the vibe, the choreo??? this deserves title track status. i loved it upon first listen. although i could say the same for the title track of that album, something about this just felt more alluring compared to the theme of their title track that was more emotional. txt always serves with the contrast in the tracks they have within albums.

my favourite lyric: “너와 내 두발이 서로 다른 세상에/ 몪여 닿을 수 없대도 that’s what i like” (even though our pairs of feet are tied to different worlds, that’s what i like)

yes, another enhypen song. same as my rationale above, this song is too good to be this short. it has similar themes of crossing the boundaries to pursue their desires, but this one specifically talks about how they cross the line of logic to protect their love interest. this song just screams craziness in a good way. the lyrics EAT.

my favourite lyric: “추악한 욕망 널 데려가지/ 내 이성에 경계선 넘어까지” (my ugly desire takes you/ beyond the boundaries of reason)

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bonus: my favourite breakup song

i’m not sure why the title is korean ballad, but the korean title is “뻔한 발라드”, which translates to obvious/ typical ballad. the emotion build up in this is so beautiful, and i resonated with this song a lot when i was moving on from my first love. this song had a theme of wondering why people always listened to ballads after breaking up with someone, then understanding why after dealing with a painful breakup himself. it’s typical for people to cry and whine and listen to sad songs after separating, but it was after experiencing a break-up of sorts that i realised why people do that. the emotional validation i received from this song when my heart hurt the most helped a lot.

my favourite lyric: “맘껏 비웃어/ 내가 그런 애야/ 뻔한 발라드 왜 듣나 알겠다” (laugh all you want/ i’m that kind of person/ i understand why people listen to obvious ballads)

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conclusions

after 10 years of listening to kpop, i still have so many artists left undiscovered. i used to be an open casual listener to whatever new songs dropped, but my tastes have solidified over the years and i think it’s safe to say that i’m not stepping out of my comfort zone anytime soon. these songs are a select few of my countless favourites that i would like to introduce my substack community to, and i hope you would give them a listen :—)

i truly can’t imagine my life without kpop. if it wasn’t for discovering bts, i would not be here, writing about kpop at all. i’ll probably be some loser with no interest in music with a lot of money saved up because it had nowhere to go. although i’ve only mentioned songs from my current favourites, kpop has played a part in shaping me over the years. i learnt of love and heartbreak, unrequited love and angst, self-love and happiness, all through kpop. i guess you could say that my cognitive scripts on love were somewhat shaped by kpop songs.

hopefully, i’ll never let go of this piece of my youth until i become a wrinkly old granny sitting on a rocking chair, knitting away in a house surrounded by tulips. wish me luck!