I spend the whole year plucking “buried treasures” from K-pop’s vast slate of albums, and now it’s time for those b-sides to have their own countdown! As usual, some of 2022’s strongest music was never promoted with a glossy video or music show blitz. Over the next two days, I’ll be counting down my forty favorite b-sides of the year.
This countdown encompasses any track that didn’t receive a full music video. This includes album tracks, as well as songs that may have been performed but never actively promoted. It also includes Japanese b-sides from Korean acts. Just like the Top 50 Singles list, all songs here were released between December 1st, 2021 and November 30th, 2022.
Check out tracks 40-21 here!
2022 YEAR-END MASTERPOST
20. GOLDEN CHILD – MIRACLE
Golden Child’s excellent Aura album closes with this bounding dance track. It’s stuffed with breakdowns and glitchy electronics, but always revolves around the group’s powerful performance. (full review)
19. CRAVITY – COLORFUL
CRAVITY wring everything they can from Colorful‘s measured thump while putting a much-appreciated focus on their vocals. When that lush chorus sweeps in, everything’s right with the world.
18. KEY – GUILTY PLEASURE
Guilty Pleasure‘s single-minded electro groove takes Key straight to the dancefloor. I love the hypnotic production and the slight percussive switch-ups during the hook. (full review)
17. NAYEON – NO PROBLEM (FT. FELIX)
If the English-language No Problem is any indication, Nayeon has been listening to some Carly Rae Jepsen. She and Stray Kids’ Felix make a perfect match with the song’s bubbly production and earworm chorus. (full review)
16. DREAMCATCHER – STARLIGHT
Will Dreamcatcher ever choose a synthwave track for promotions? I know they’re loved for their rock sound, but songs like Starlight are just too good to bury on an album. (full review)
15. PSY – NOW (FT. HWASA)
I did not have “PSY and Hwasa cover a cheesy Jermaine Jackson/Pia Zadora 80’s cult classic” on my 2022 K-pop bingo card. This is one of the year’s most leftfield (and welcomed!) surprises. (full review)
14. CHANGMIN – FEVER
Changmin keeps the classic Yoo Youngjin SM sound alive with this theatrical standout. His otherworldly vocals — paired with a stomping, jazzy instrumental — make Fever hard to forget. (full review)
13. BRAVE GIRLS – CAN I LOVE YOU
Can I Love You is the most exciting Brave Girls track of the year, fueled by an unflagging dancefloor throb and piercing post-chorus that’s sure to get your pulse racing. (full review)
12. ENHYPEN – SHOUT OUT
HYBE artists tend to excel at this style of radio-friendly 5SOS-esque power rock. ENHYPEN out-TXTed TXT in this regard with the cathartic Shout Out. It’s a song that gets more addictive each time you hear it. (full review)
11. TXT – THURSDAY’S CHILD HAS FAR TO GO
Speaking of TXT, this was by far my favorite 2022 song of theirs. Thursday’s Child melds a brilliant melody with beautiful synth and a propulsive beat that gives the track anthemic heft. (full review)
10. CRAVITY – AUTOMATIC
Automatic is such an earworm. It sneaks up on your over time — each little hook burrowing into memory until you can’t wait to play it again. I’m surprised how much longevity it’s had on my playlist. (full review)
9. ATBO – GRAFFITI
Graffiti is a real outlier on this year’s list, coming from a rookie group whose title tracks I actively disliked. But buried within the murk was this gleaming gem — a perfect distillation of immense, percussive 80’s funk pop. (full review)
8. WJSN – DONE
WJSN have slowly transformed into dancefloor warriors and Done is the furthest they’ve delved into club sounds yet. The two-part chorus is pure heaven, showcasing range and drama within its taut frame. (full review)
7. DRIPPIN – GAME
I chose the wrong “buried treasure” for DRIPPIN back in June. Trick And Treat is fun, but Game proved to be the real MVP. I adore the lush, layered chorus and resounding thump of the instrumental. And rather than stall momentum, the second verse sweeps in to elevate the entire track.
6. GIRLS’ GENERATION (SNSD) – LUCKY LIKE THAT
I chose the wrong “buried treasure” again! Initially, I was smitten with the more experimental You Better Run. But when it comes down to it, what I really want from Girls’ Generation is epic pop fluff. Throw in an electric guitar solo and I’m sold.
5. CSR – EURATCHA!
Sweetune! It’s Sweetune, everybody! They’re at their brightest and cutesiest with Euratcha, but there’s no mistaking the layered arrangement of the song’s robust chorus. This kind of K-pop will never go out of style. (full review)
4. GOLDEN CHILD – 3! 6! 5!
Golden Child deliver excellent songs whatever concept they tackle, but I’ll always have a soft spot for their bright, debut-era pop sound. 3! 6! 5! revisits that energy with gleeful abandon, standing as the summer’s most effusive joy bomb. (full review)
3. ATEEZ – CYBERPUNK
ATEEZ haven’t yet embraced the techno cyberpunk sound I envision for them, but they threw me a bone with this b-side. I mean… they even called it Cyberpunk! Its hard-hitting, jagged electronics resonate immediately, crafting a larger-than-life energy that surpasses all of their recent title tracks. When an artist is capable of something this great, I want everyone to hear it. (full review)
2. DRIPPIN – SILENCE
The instrumental underlining Silence‘s gargantuan chorus sounds a lot like The Chaser. For me, there is no higher praise than that. I’ve come around to the song’s slower moments, if only for their ability to set-up some incredible climaxes that keep Silence compelling throughout. But when the track drops its beat and lets loose, there’s nothing stopping it. (full review)
1. GOLDEN CHILD – KNOCKING ON MY DOOR
Some pop songs just soar. When Knocking On My Door‘s chorus unfurls, it’s the sonic equivalent of lifting off and taking flight. To think Woollim had this track kicking around in their vault for over a year! The vocal performance here is stirring, perfectly matched to the song’s ever-growing energy. From start to finish, Knocking On My Door is a tonic for the ears and the heart. It just makes me feel giddy. (full review)
