2024 has once again been one of varied K-pop releases. From the staggering rise of promising rookie groups to the glorious comebacks of K-pop icons, this eclectic mix of popular songs reinforces the genre’s global dominance. Read on for a hit parade—our 10 best K-pop songs of 2024 thus far (in order of their releases).
“Love Wins All” – IU
“Love Wins All” is IU’s flawless singing, reminiscent of a tender love ballad in an emotionally charged romantic K-drama. Her smooth, velvety vocals never falter even while hitting those high registers.
The song runs like a calm river within a somber music video; of course, its visuals flatter its essence thanks to IU and BTS’s V playing lovers in a dystopian future battling for survival while reflecting on good times—cozy moments, marriage, and love.
Again, IU’s voice is a total winner; it lends the piece sensitivities juxtaposing emotive and expressive characteristics of the music and lyrics. Words or none at all serve an overall visual composition of gestures, acts, and scenes in this fine artistic musical imagination.
“Lovers or Enemies” – CIX
The first single album by CIX, 0 or 1, marks a momentary break from its universe story; it’s unique without straying from what makes CIX unique—breaking down CIX without losing sight of its core qualities and capturing the nuanced feelings of love most simply through contrast. “Lovers or Enemies,” the album’s title song, captures that with clarity and succinctness.
The song’s interesting visuals, contagious energy, and groove steal the show, but what most makes it attractive are the raw emotions—honesty and passion—that complement the excellent vocal performance. It’s an amazing vibe!
“Super lady” – (G)I-dle
With the band’s electrifying performance, “Super Lady” is concept and performance brilliantly coming together for a strong statement. Its lyrics, bolstering the premise of women’s empowerment in sync with the throbbing rhythms of the song, are a call to action for women to own their power—a tribute to their beauty and resilience. The massive, concert-like setting in the music video gives it a more visible, larger-than-life presence.
Sonically, “Super Lady” is a fusion of styles, with the gritty energy of G-house and the racing rhythms of electro-house, plus aggressive drumming and hymns offering a solid base for the soaring, anthemic melodies and bass. Dynamic vocals, rap, rousing sound, and striking visuals create a rich aesthetic and listening experience drawing deeper into its thought and message—something that (G)I-dle has become known for.
“Magnetic” – Illit
Fresh from the rookie girl group that debuted in March this year with their EP Super Real Me comes a pretty, cute, fun track, “Magnetic.” With its soaring statistics and inclusion in multiple major song charts, the lead single off the record has had a fantastic run already, making Illit one of the best debuts of the year so far.
“Magnetic” marries a soothing ambient tone with electronic dance music. It extols Illit’s charming image, that of a young girl chasing her crush with a spring in her step. A bright-eyed, dreamy pop tune that, in Illit’s distinguished singing, fizzes with the beauty of innocence and strong feelings.
“Impossible” – Riize
With its uplifting house beats and dreamy synth, “Impossible” resonates with the message of the song—that teamwork makes dreams happen. The flow of rhythm is at the heart of this house music experience. With its use, melodic elements stacking them, and the deft execution of “Emotional Pop,” Riize is known for, it’s a special sonic encounter.
“Impossible” also provides an ideal dance experience, allowing for pure, unrestrained expressiveness on trance-inducing beats. I dig the choreography and the euphoric floaty vibe of the music and mostly its ability to elicit an effective emotional response, which is where “Impossible”’s essence shines through.
“Spot!” – Zico feat. Jennie (Blackpink)
As Zico and Jennie’s singular styles meld on “Spot!” it’s quite the jam and more fun to behold. Easy to listen to and never dull, the hip-hop hit is a perfect one for on the road. The repeating “Up and down, ‘round and ‘round, hit the spot, spot, spot, spot” adds to the feels; it refers to a want to have fun, seen via Zico and Jennie—when they meet for a night party.
As I said, the arrangement is simple but addictive. Jennie’s hook line is impressive, Zico’s flow [as usual] is fantastic, and this is one swaggering track hitting the right spot. Summer 2024 saw the release of this dynamic collab, which has since solidified its place as one of the top K-pop releases of the year to date, and is likely to remain that way for a while.
“Maestro” – Seventeen
Seventeen slays “Maestro” with flair and finesse. It incorporates facets from the band’s earlier releases: “Adore U,” “Very Nice,” “Oh My,” “Fear,” “Rock with You,” “Cheers,” and “Super” in addition to an altogether new sound and concept.
“Maestro” drips energy from the outset and a snappy pre-chorus transition. A sultry sound is made possible by the subtle fusion of R&B and cool EDM beats. The dramatic arrangement within adds extra entertainment value.
The narrative of the song unfolds a future when artificial intelligence (AI) can create anything, even art and music. “Who is the real Maestro?” is what it asks, while the zany, inventive music video evokes an eerie tone. Robot strikes amid tech-heavy sets highlight AI dominance in music, which might end up in rigid decision-making, putting first algorithm-friendly sounds ahead of those with emotional depth and human touch.
“Supernova” – Aespa
Aespa’s debut full-length album, Armageddon, signals the opening of a new chapter in its trajectory while preserving what makes it stand out. Armageddon feels like an exhilarating musical odyssey encapsulating Aespa’s own “concept and identity” and traversing both the physical and virtual realms into the multiverse.
The imposing double title track “Supernova,” of dance and hyper-pop ingredients, presents each member with a superpower, giving diverse viewpoints on Armageddon’s underlying story. Its highlights are its distinct metallic and catchy sound; the chorus, especially, gives it a lot more oomph. “Supernova” is Aespa’s vocal powerplay, stage presence, and the grandeur it brings into its performances—rolled into one.
“Cosmic” – Red Velvet
“Cosmic” is a dazzling, soaring Red Velvet song fresh from its extensive discography. Sonically alluring that it is, its exquisite music video—of floral, summer-world aesthetics—gingers up the dance-pop track of synth melodies and disco beats.
The potent chorus of “Cosmic,” the amazing bridge section, and the fluid melodies together add to its existing sense of beauty—a dreamy listening experience that gradually builds up in rhythms—a Red Velvet magic, its choral delight and exceptional, mystical details of the synth-driven melodies.
“Who” – Jimin (BTS)
I absolutely love it for how it is and how enigmatic the accompanying video is, heightened by Jimin’s star power and delivery that define the song. His cool, free self, accompanied by dancers performing under neon lights, strolling around the boulevards at nighttime and singing “Who is my heart waiting for?” seeking that special “someone” he’s never met.
The ambient lighting, Jimin’s dance moves, signature tone, a unique voice texture, and the music—the strings, rhythms, and synth notes—all coalesce into something surreal. “Who” employs a broader palette of sounds—its effects accent Jimin’s voice just right—makes the song, if anything, sound a bit trippy and ethereal, leaving it a smashing hit.
