BAZAAR Wrapped 2022: The Top K-Pop Bops Shazamed This Year
Which BTS member notched two entries in this year's top ten?
From BLACKPINK to SEVENTEEN, there was no shortage of K-pop group comebacks this year which sent shockwaves around the world and soared to the top of the global charts. Catchy and perfect for karaoke, K-pop songs are known to be earworms - but which 2022 releases did Singaporeans resonate with the most? Some of the following entries are both unexpected and underrated, while others aren't as surprising. Below, BAZAAR reviews all top ten K-pop tracks which kept Singapore singing and dancing all year long, courtesy of data from everyone's go-to music identification app, Shazam.
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Smooth and soothing, TREASURE's "DARARI" wouldn't sound out of a place at your favourite café on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The group's ten members croon their way through this highly addictive track, making confessions to an unnamed lover in lyrics which would drive any number of fans absolutely wild.
There are songs which first find success on the charts before going viral on social media, and then there are songs which go the other way around. These days, most songs seem to fall into the latter category, and "Polaroid Love" is no exception. As a B-side song off ENHYPEN's January album DIMENSION: ANSWER, many fans were surprised to find "Polaroid Love" climbing the South Korean music charts, only to find a dance move inspired by the song, created by TikTok star Reiner Acuario, which has since gone viral. The official song has since been used over 130,000 times on the social media platform.
Lisa is the third member of BLACKPINK to have made a highly-anticipated solo debut, following Rosé and Jennie. Though her single album release, featuring the tracks "LALISA" and "MONEY," technically dropped in 2021, that didn't stop the success of "MONEY" from bleeding over into 2022. A staple for hip-hop and K-pop dance troupes everywhere, "MONEY" features an addictive horn loop and lyrics about living lavish.
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A solo release by BTS' goofy oldest member, Jin, "Moon" is a pop-rock fan favourite from the group's 2020 album, Map of the Soul: 7. And while this deep cut continues to inspire singalongs at fan-meets and concerts around the world, ARMYs everywhere will have to wait a while longer before another release from the singer, who just enlisted in the South Korean army for mandatory military service earlier this month.
As one of the most unabashedly outspoken rappers working in K-pop today, Jessi has always been known for churning out bold and brash party anthems. She came back earlier this year with another banger, "Zoom," which carries a loud and proud hip hop beat and some unstoppable bass. Co-written and produced with hitmaker Psy, the song's lyrics poke fun at today's social media-driven generation, making this a hilarious track perfect for TikTok.
B.I. has bounced back with a successful solo career after a controversial few years, which saw the rapper leave behind his agency YG Entertainment and boy band iKon. In advance of his first global album project, Love or Loved, B.I. dropped the catchy atmospheric track "BTBT' earlier this year in collaboration with American rapper and record producer Soulja Boy.
With over 300 million YouTube views and counting, "The Feels" marks one of TWICE's most popular songs to date. The groovy English-language track, paired with a glittering retro music video, delivers everything fans have come to know and love about TWICE - memorable melodies, pitch-perfect harmonising and cute, bubbly lyrics which capture the glow of young love.
Six-piece girl group IVE became overnight superstars after their recent debut in December 2021. With a debut song like "ELEVEN," it's easy to see why. Marimba melodies and snappy percussion echo throughout the dance-pop track, which talks about the heart-pounding joy one experiences when crushing on another, and falling in love for the first time.
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BTS' second entry in this year's top ten also came from none other than Jin. "Epiphany," released back in 2018 on BTS' compilation album LOVE YOURSELF: ANSWER, is a deep, heartfelt song about hiding from one's true self and, finally, learning to embrace and love oneself despite all possible imperfections and flaws.