May-June 2008 Overall Thoughts
In addition to my monthly K-pop round-up, I’ve taken a look at my favorite three singles from each month since 2009 and factored them into my ultimate Bias List scorecard, which can be found here.
The problem is, prior to 2009 it becomes harder to find reliable sources for K-pop release dates. I’m going to do the best I can with the information I have, but occasionally I may place a song a month early or late (it becomes even more confusing when you factor in separate release dates for mv and album!). And because K-pop releases were far less prolific fifteen years ago than they are today, I’ve decided to feature two months each week. That gives me more music to choose from and ensures I’m not spotlighting songs I dislike simply because there’s nothing else that came out during that period!
With hindsight, this period’s biggest claim to fame is the debut of SHINee! Yes, it’s been fifteen years since Replay graced our lives. Who could have foreseen the group they would grow into? Replay may lack the ambition of some of their later work, but it’s still one of K-pop’s best debuts. It easily takes the top spot for me.
Just as iconic is Wonder Girls’ So Hot — a hit back then and an enduring classic now. In fact, it fits right into the retro-obsessed trends of today.
These two songs are the biggest pillars of May-June 2008, but if you look further there are other treasures to uncover. This was still an era of fun, upbeat hip-hop, contrasting with the relentlessly vibey stuff we often find now. Two established duos — Mighty Mouth and Baechigi — released standout singles. The latter gains my praise for its excellent chorus. No.3 harnesses that big Chaser-esque energy I always love despite being a completely different genre.
Other highlights of this period include the solo debut of Bigbang’s Taeyang, the prickly electropop of Seo In Young’s Cinderella and the Sechs Kies sub-unit J-Walk. Then there’s Super Junior-H’s Cooking? Cooking! — a song I can’t say I particularly *like*, but one that deserves a mention for its sheer absurdity. The “H” stands for “happy,” by the way. Maybe SM Entertainment should rethink this concept and give us an “NCT-Happy”?
Honorable Mentions
J-Walk – My Love (video)
Mighty Mouth – Energy (ft. Sunye) (video)
Seo In Young – Cinderella (video)
Super Junior-H – Cooking? Cooking! (video)
Taeyang – Only Look At Me (video)
Notable J-Pop Releases from K-Pop Acts
BoA – Sparkling (video)
TOP THREE SONGS
3. Baechigi – No.3 (ft. Sol Flower)
2. Wonder Girls – So Hot
1. SHINee – Replay
