The Top Three K-Pop Songs of August 2024

1 month ago 29

At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade.

August 2024 Overall Thoughts

Over the past few years, the month of August has trended toward being the strongest period for K-pop releases. I guess all trends have to change sometime, because this August veered in the exact opposite direction. Much of this can probably be blamed on music show cancellations due to coverage of the Olympics, resulting in a pretty barren slate for the first two weeks of the month. But even though there were strong tracks during the second half of August, none stood out as major highlights.

In fact, after a very strong start, K-pop’s 2024 summer kind of fizzled. There really weren’t any massive, season-defining hits. Instead, spring tracks held on for much longer than normal. Aespa’s Supernova is still sitting at the top of the charts!

Though I didn’t rate any title track “9” or above this month, there were a handful of songs that impressed me. Many of these came from acts who I wouldn’t have expected. Young Posse totally won me over, Moonbyul got me with her TWS-cosplay and ZEROBASEONE improved upon their mixed singles run. Other highlights came from Rescene and DRIPPIN. I’m still not completely sold on Taemin’s Sexy In The Air (though I like the album), but Horizon would have topped my picks this month had its video been released. Alas, that will have to wait until September.

On a more biased note, this was the month we learned the fate of Golden Child’s contract renewal. Given the lack of promotion over the past two years, I honestly expected them to leave Woollim and disband. So while I’m gutted to lose Bomin, Jibeom and Tag, the bad news was tempered by the fact the group will be carrying on. I hope we get new material this year after Y is discharged from the military. I can’t imagine a year without a killer Golcha single.

In contrast to K-pop’s dull month, J-pop had a stronger than usual slate of releases (at least where 2024’s concerned). Multiple new tracks caught my ear in the second half of August, including some from consistent groups who have had a more mixed track record this year. My top three choices are all a little unhinged, which I also appreciate. Honorable mentions would be &TEAM’s Aoarashi and One Or Eight’s Don’t Tell Nobody. I hope J-pop’s second half of 2024 will bring some big highlights, and with new albums from Ryugujo and Snow Man on the way I feel like I can be a bit optimistic.

Unfortunately, we have two truncated months back-to-back this year, with September’s Chuseok holidays likely stalling releases for another week or two. It honestly feels like we’ve been in a musical drought since late-June, so I’m eager for some new music to really break through. Looking forward, I’m most excited for BOYNEXTDOOR’s upcoming album, but there are a few teased projects that sound promising. Hopefully we’ll get something epic from a place we’d least expect it.

Month Cumulative Rating: 7.6

(compiled by averaging the scores of every K-pop review from this month)