2015 is over, so it’s time to talk about my favorite Korean songs of the year! While these lists don’t get a lot of attention each year, I still have a great deal of fun remembering the songs that I heard, tracking down my favorites, and figuring out just why they stuck with me; it is seriously the most rewarding work I do all year. There have been some fantastic trends this year: songs willing to go outside the typical pop structure, a continuing focus on retro sounds (particularly groove/funk this year), catchy bangers, and positively killer production across the board. Nailing down my top 10 list wasn’t too hard, but ordering it was a bit complicated, forcing me to decide between songs I appreciated creatively and songs that just sounded great. Still, I managed to finally distill my year down into these ten tracks, the ones I plan to keep listening to well into 2016.

If you love (or hate) a track, please post telling me what you think--or maybe even take the time to post some of your favorite Korean songs of 2015!

10. Awoo - Lim Kim

I’m a big fan of Lim Kim. Her debut in 2013 was an instant favorite of mine, with songs like Goodbye 20 and All Right showing off her smooth, skilled voice. When Awoo first released, I was eager to experience her newest song. My first listen left me cold, but I eventually came to appreciate the track for its creativity. This is not your typical Korean pop song: the beat is much too slow, the production is almost abrasive, and you can’t really call it catchy. It’s because it’s so atypical that I like it, an attempt to do something new in the genre. The song, and video, are both very striking, displaying a confident style. My only complaint is that it doesn’t quite show off Lim Kim’s vocal strengths, shackling her range a bit. Despite that issue, this is still one of the most memorable songs of the year, if only for its bravado in going outside the box..

Also from Lim Kim: Stay Ever

9. OMG - Risso

I keep a fairly large list of music on hand. Whenever I find something I like, I write down its name or bookmark it on Youtube. This lets me go back and remember the tracks I enjoyed throughout the year (and helps make creating these lists more manageable!). Sometimes, as was the case for OMG, it can bring about new appreciation for a song I had entirely forgotten existed. The production on this track is superb, bubbly and bassy in a way that reminds me of the disco era. I particularly enjoy the way the sounds fall and rise again just before the chorus, giving it an exciting burst of energy. The vocals are gorgeous, adding a lot of personality and flair to the track. Sadly, I feel like their true strength is hidden a bit behind the noisy production; despite that, the vocal track is easily my favorite part of the song. All in all, this track is just plain fun.

Also from Risso: Feels Like You

8. Springirls - Sunwoo Jung-A

Korean music tends to use a lot of things you might not expect in its pop songs, such as the genre’s huge focus on horns. It also likes to revisit old styles, finding ways to expertly meld them with modern pop to make something new. Springirls is a track with a definite retro groove sound to it, hearkening back to a style from the 50s and 60s. I particularly enjoy the sparing but excellent usage of both guitar and bass, each adding different elements of sound to the song. Tying the production together are the various voice samples, such as the remarkably catchy humming refrain. The delicate lyrics work perfectly with the instrumentation, creating an aural wave that’s all too easy to get swept up in. The style of the video is worth mentioning as well--bright and colorful depictions of several different women, each with their own style. Few songs this year manage to have so much flair, let alone are so enjoyable to listen to.

7. Comes and Goes - hyukoh

I really enjoy music with an easygoing sound. Oftentimes, this means a track with an acoustic guitar, one of which was on each of my last two years’ lists. While Comes and Goes isn’t one of these tracks, I still think it fits that laid-back style. This song is one of the most relaxing songs I heard all year. The verses are slow-paced, mellow and contemplative. Whenever a chorus kicks in, the instrumentation picks up in pace but still manages to retain the lazy feel. It’s a sublime sound, incredibly pleasant and appealing. I also can’t say enough good things about the vocalist on this track. He fills his lyrics with emotion, especially during a lovely bit of vocalization near the end of the song. This song just feels human to me, not produced for the sake of making money but to express something meaningful.

6. Twenty-three - IU

The most notable thing about Twenty-three is how it almost seems to be a step back from IU’s more mature album in 2011, with a video that has her acting childish and girly. Looking at the lyrics, however, I think it’s clear that she wanted to try and capture that feeling of straddling the line between immaturity and maturity, the challenges of growing up and becoming an adult. I feel like the song does a good job of speaking to this, utilizing a balance between her early girly pop and the more mature sounds from 2011’s album. Above all, however, it’s just a damn catchy song. The production is surprisingly addictive for being so simple, and IU’s vocal work is just as superb as ever, especially during the memorable chorus. It’s one of those songs I suddenly find myself humming under my breath, even months after I first heard it.

Also from IU: Red Queen

5. Hello - Primary ft. Lena Park

I feel like I ran into Primary EVERYWHERE this year, a popular Korean producer who lends his talents to various pop artists (including my #10 pick). While I enjoyed nearly everything I heard from him in 2015, it was his solo stuff that impressed me the most. Hello released during the tail end of summer and was an absolute perfect cap to the season. The production is delightfully languorous, mimicking that drowsy desire to do nothing when it’s too hot to go outside. The bass in particular is phenomenal, a constant thrum that lulls you into the rest of the song. Combine this with an instantly memorable chorus from guest vocalist Lena Park and you have a perfect summer song. The video is equally great, a silly story that is drenched with style and fun acting. This would be THE song of 2015’s summer releases if not for another song on my list...

Also from Primary: Don't Be Shy

4. 4 Walls - f(x)

This year, f(x) went from five members down to four with the loss of Sulli, who decided to focus on acting instead of music. While this change was slightly worrying at the time, f(x)’s album this year is just as excellent as I’d hoped it would be, their third killer release in as many years. 4 Walls is deep house music at its best, a chill production that never aims to build and break but instead keep steady pace until the end. I really love the main throughline of this song, a subtly throbbing synth line and beat that weaves perfectly with the chorus. Each of the members brings a fantastic vocal performance, especially Amber’s rap verses. This song, like the rest of the album, marks a steady progression into a more EDM style with less pop overtones. While I really enjoy some of f(x)’s early pop work, the direction of this new material makes me eager to see what comes next from one of the most talented groups in KPOP today.

Also from f(x): Deja Vu

3. Brave New World - Brown Eyed Girls

Brown Eyed Girls is one of the most consistently interesting groups I can name in KPOP. They only put out an album every other year or so, but they are always entirely unique while still managing to be enjoyable to listen to. Brave New World is a very experimental pop song, utilizing a sound and style that feels like a mesh of 70s/80s throwback and modern electronic music. It’s a wonderfully bassy song, with a funky vibe that runs throughout the entire length. Add in the mesmerizing backing track and you have one of the coolest productions I’ve heard in pop music all year. The vocals are as stellar as always, with each member performing their own typical sections and coming together for the powerful chorus. I adore the video as well, a remarkably colorful and psychedelic trip (complete with Ga-In writhing in glitter!). You’d be hard pressed to find anything more unique this year, especially in mainstream pop.

Also from Brown Eyed Girls: Warm Hole

2. Shit - KIRARA

I can’t thank resident artist/music aficionado @aurahack enough for exposing me to KIRARA in the Top 10 Albums of 2014 list. KIRARA is an independent electronic music producer from Korea, and her work is some of the most effervescent music you’ll find in the genre. My favorite track of hers from 2015, Shit, is a perfect example of her style. She loves to use sounds and samples that are maybe a bit harsh yet work astoundingly well under her guiding hand. Most of her songs, this one included, also feature a steady build, adding in new elements slowly until it finally reaches a crescendo where everything is firing at once in a thrillingly overwhelming cacophony; that moment in Shit is one of my favorite moments in music for 2015, a onset of paralyzing electronic beats. While each of KIRARA’s tracks is entirely its own thing, nearly any of them shows why I love her work so much: a clear enjoyment for the art of music creation. Despite that fact, I do still hold Shit as one of her best creations.

Also from KIRARA: ct14072, Buy My Music

1. Shake It - Sistar

Shake It was the song of the summer for me. Hell, it’s the definitive summer song for me--this song is my new summer anthem. It’s an exceptionally addictive track, so much so that I can actually manage to half sing-along for the entire track, despite not knowing a word of Korean. The instrumentation is deceptively well-crafted, the beat is absolutely stellar, and the chorus practically hums with energy. The video is worth praising as well, a vibrantly colorful showing that drips with style and a healthy appreciation for the female butt. While it feels almost offensive to put a typical Korean pop song on the top of my list, despite the array of creative songs featured therein, I just can’t help myself. Shake It may not be the most important song of 2015 or the most impressive song, but I don’t really care. No other song this year stuck with me like this one did. It’s a track I’ve heard countless times already and will gladly listen to again and again for some time to come.