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The end of the year countdowns are finally here! As always, we’ll kick off with the big one: The Bias List’s top 50 songs of the year! Each day this week, I’ll be counting down ten of the year’s best, until number one is revealed on Friday.
To be eligible for this top 50 list, songs must have had a Korean release as a title track, follow-up or promotional video between Dec. 1st, 2023 and Nov. 30th, 2024.
Curious about past countdowns? Check out the masterpost here!
Honorable Mentions
Songs 50-41
Songs 40-31
Songs 30-21
20. Fantasy Boys – Pitter-Patter-Love
You’ve got to respect a song from an album called “Make Sunshine” going as bright and bubbly as humanly possible. K-pop lacked big summer-themed hits this year, but Pitter-Patter-Love offered an irresistible launch to the season. (full review)
19. EPEX – Youth2Youth
EPEX took a more emotive approach to their sound this year, revealing a knack for melody-driven angst. Youth2Youth‘s chorus hits hard, but its softer moments reveal a touch of musical theater that become the song’s secret weapon. (full review)
18. WHIB – Rush Of Joy
I need at least one song a year to be called “Rush Of Joy.” Pop music has such innate ability to spread positivity and WHIB took those vibes to the disco for this breezy funk workout. (full review)
17. G-Dragon – Home Sweet Home (ft. Taeyang & Daesung)
There are few K-pop acts legendary enough to force a change in my eligibility rules, but even if Home Sweet Home lacked a music video its declaration of staying power and cultural dominance make it too big and anthemic to ignore. (full review)
16. Kep1er – Shooting Star
Shooting Star marks the end of an era with a celestial, synth-driven sound. The production is immaculate, blending the members’ voices with a lush, propulsive instrumental. (full review)
15. TAN – Hyper Tonic
TAN had two back-to-back highlights with Heartbeat and Hyper Tonic, proving themselves far more than a generic survival show project group. Hyper Tonic‘s complex electro attack also represents the final work of legendary producer Shinsadong Tiger, who passed away shortly before its release. (full review)
14. The Wind – H! TEEN
Down a member, The Wind returned strong early this year with the irresistible punch of H! TEEN. The track moves from a catchy Vivaldi sample to 60’s pop flourishes with ease, fully capturing their youthful energy. (full review)
13. SF9 – Bibora
I love a mystical-sounding house track, and SF9 delivered with the wispy power of Bibora. The song never loses its intensity, recalling second-gen sounds as it whooshes to a frenzied climax. (full review)
12. TWS – Last Festival
Melody remains king in pop music, and Last Festival‘s melodies are airtight. Gorgeous synth tones support the group’s most engaging vocal performance yet, proving that subdued sounds don’t have to be dull if you bolster them with a palpable sense of tension and release. (full review)
11. aespa – Supernova
Supernova took K-pop by storm this year, and it’s easy to see why. The song melds old with new, providing a springboard for aespa to showcase their effortless charisma. It includes some of 2024’s most iconic moments, but the accelerating energy of its chorus feels like its most enduring asset. (full review)
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