Best Concert-Ready BLACKPINK Songs

If you could only drop one song in a single year, this would have to be it. Backed by the tribal beats and brass which made 2016 single "BOOMBAYAH" an instant smash, "AS IF IT'S YOUR LAST" builds on the promise which that song made, and then some. The 2017 song - BLACKPINK's only Korean release that year - remains an instant classic with fans, and the accompanying music video is full of nostalgia with young BLACKPINK at their best, twirling and dancing in hip streetwear outfits.

Released at the height of the pandemic, "How You Like That" was a classic BLACKPINK banger with a fun trap music twist. The song featured some of the most refreshing sounds to hit the group's discography in years, along with memorable lyrics which will be remixed and played in nightclubs everywhere for years to come. And while the girls' decadent outfits will go down in history as some of their best, the music video will also be remembered for its unforgettable hip-hop choreography.

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It's the song which made BLACKPINK famous, a true EDM hit which put the band on the map and took them straight to Coachella. While the title "DDU-DU DDU-DU" doesn't give much away, a few plays of the track will have any listener hooked, with some of the most intricate raps from Lisa and Jennie yet and a signature dance move which was made to be replicated a million times over on TikTok. 

Could Dua Lipa potentially become the fifth member of BLACKPINK? "Kiss And Make Up" seems to say yes. Seamlessly trading English and Korean verses back and forth, Dua and BLACKPINK joined forces on this upbeat 2018 dance number, with their voices blending perfectly together over a pulsing EDM beat and tropical vibes. With very little promotion, the song has still racked up millions of views online, making it a cult favourite for hardcore BLINKs - and a perfect formula for pop collab gold.

BLACKPINK has often stuck to the hip-hop infused dance tracks which they are known for, but "Lovesick Girls" - the lead single off their first full-length album - offered up a refreshing change of pace for the group. Playing like an indie-pop tune in the buildup to the chorus, where Rosé belts out both a declaration of love and a desperate plea for help all in one, the track plays on the dual themes of being both a lovesick girl, and a proud one at that.

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While "Hope Not" might've initially flown under the radar for millions of fans worldwide, it was certainly brought to our attention by Light Up The Sky, the concert documentary which followed BLACKPINK's journey to Coachella and overall rise to global fame. In a standout moment from the film, the camera follows Rosé as she sneaks out to practice on her own, playing a stripped-down version of the heartfelt track - originally on BLACKPINK's 2018 EP Kill This Love - alone on her guitar. Only real fans will know about this deep cut.

Hidden underneath the lead single "DDU-DU DDU-DU" on BLACKPINK's 2018 EP Square Up, "Forever Young" is an oft-underrated track which the group frequently performs at their concerts. With lyrics in the same vein as Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" and a pulsing tropical beat, it's no wonder that fans keep coming back to this song when they think of a career-defining track which perfectly describes the band: young, hip and fun.

As another one of the group's OG songs, "Playing With Fire" has achieved cult classic-status over the years for its catchy chorus and visually stunning music video. It's fully representative of the classic BLACKPINK sound, a unique blend of hip-hop and EDM with rapid-fire raps and a healthy dose of swagger. Jisoo with red hair? A whole entire verse for Lisa? Say no more.

"Whistle" is the breakout song any girl group would dream of, and BLACKPINK's debut single nonetheless. Shooting BLACKPINK straight into our area and right to the top of the charts, "Whistle" was a subtle yet confident introduction to the world of Jennie, Lisa, Rosé and Jisoo, announcing their arrival in no uncertain terms: every time they show up, they blow up, without a doubt. (And as a bonus for all of us BLINKs, the acoustic version is somehow even better.)

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