Typically, it’s enjoyable to make a journey again in time and immerse your self in a selected Okay-pop 12 months. Much like my Battle of the B-sides, this function sees me shuffling an enormous playlist of songs from a sure period, choosing out six at random and sharing my ideas about every. All songs are eligible: Title tracks, b-sides, Japanese tracks from Okay-pop acts. The one standards is that they should have been launched of their goal 12 months.
At this time, we’re travelling again to 2015.
Listed below are the six opponents:
BoA – Good day
Boys Republic – Good day
Women’ Technology (SNSD) – Bump It
Halo – Sleepless
HIGH4 – D.O.A (Lifeless Or Alive)
SHINee – Love Sick
Who will rank first??
6. BoA – Good day
2015 was a really sturdy 12 months for many returning acts, however I wasn’t as bought on BoA’s large comeback album. She co-wrote the whole lot herself, which was a fantastic inventive leap. General, the album could be very strong however doesn’t signify the very best of her sprawling discography in my view. Good day is a mild mid-tempo that leads us into the finale of the monitor checklist. It’s a really fairly piece of music and she or he sounds nice on it, however this sort of monitor is far more about sentiment than thrilling songcraft. Oh properly, each album wants a lighters-in-the-air second like this, I assume.
Score: 7.5
5. Women’ Technology (SNSD) – Bump It
2015 was a giant 12 months for SNSD, bringing the group again collectively for a really profitable album. I keep in mind Get together (and to a lesser extent, Lion Coronary heart) being a bit divisive after they got here out, however each songs sound so enjoyable at present. The album was host to a variety of sturdy b-sides, together with Bump It. The monitor is a bit generic in locations and will do with a a lot stronger hook, however the ladies promote it and the thumping beat injects loads of perspective. It’s one in every of my least-listened-to songs on the album, so I sort of want a special one had popped up on my shuffle button to offer them a greater likelihood on this rating!
Score: 8
4. SHINee – Love Sick
Love Sick is a b-side from SHINee’s Odd/Married To The Music album. I keep in mind not being thrilled with the album on first hear, which appears extremely loopy with hindsight. Nevertheless, we’ve got to do not forget that this was the follow-up to the unimaginable Misconceptions sequence and their equally improbable All people EP of 2013, so my expectations have been ridiculously excessive. With 2025 ears, this music is an absolute delight. It’s a bit extra mid-tempo than my favourite SHINee songs are typically, however the insistent bounce and unimaginable vocal manufacturing steal the present. The bridge injects an additional rhythmic push that reappears as a standout finale. As with most the whole lot this group has launched, Love Sick has fully stood the check of time.
Score: 8.5
3. Halo – Sleepless
Halo had a handful of nice hits, even when the group by no means made it large. They have been early on the brand new jack swing revival, harnessing potent grooves that buttressed sugary pop melodies. Their brilliant, assured vocals are the right vessel for this model of music, effortlessly grooving over the sunshine funk. Sleepless was not a single, however it’s undoubtedly sturdy sufficient to be one. The refrain seems like classic Teen Prime however the music’s most foundational influences come from a long time earlier. It’s good to listen to a music whose idea is just good vitality and nice melodies.
Score: 8.5
2. HIGH4 – D.O.A (Lifeless Or Alive)
HIGH4 have been most recognized for a spring-time hit, however this killer fall single stands as their crowning achievement. From its sharp synth accents to the icy vocals to the startling melodic builds, the music pulses with such character. It’s without delay pensive, mysterious and ferocious. Fairly than funnel all of its bombast into anticipated choruses, the manufacturing spreads its mini climaxes in sudden locations. This causes the monitor to really feel each unpredictable and frequently absorbing. All of it builds to a whopper of a finale, bringing the whole lot collectively because the beat intensifies.
Score: 9
1. Boys Republic – Good day
Boys Republic actually have an unimpeachable discography. They didn’t have to launch as many classics as they did, however I’m very glad they saved their high quality degree excessive. The summer season of 2015 was a stellar one for breezy mid-tempos. Okay-pop acts don’t typically promote ballad-like comebacks, however a music like Good day showcases simply how efficient the method could be. I’ve spent a lot of 2025 ragging on what I name “beigepop,” and from a purely goal degree I assume you may classify Good day‘s total sound as “beige.” EXCEPT… and this can be a large “besides”… its melodies are extremely potent. There’s no foolish sing-talk, no flat repetition. The tune simply climbs and swirls and crystallizes into among the most stunning turns of its 12 months. I cherished this single again then and proceed to adore it at present.
Score: 9
