TXT's '0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You),' aespa's 'Next Level,' and More Chosen as the Best K-Pop Songs of 2021 by Billboard Critics

By Robyn Joan Dec 19, 2021

From songs by groups like TXT and aespa, to songs by solo artists like IU and Lisa, Billboard's music critics chose the songs they consider as the best K-Pop songs this year!

Keep on reading to know whose songs made it in the list.

TXT's '0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)' Chosen as the Best K-Pop Songs of 2021 by Billboard

Released on May 31, TXT (also known as Tomorrow X Together) released "0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)" as the lead single of their second full album "The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE."

According to Billboard's music critics, "0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)" is TXT's "rawest vocal performance" released to date, and with the addition of singer Seori into the song, it has become a song that didn't sound like anything that has been released by K-Pop in 2021.

(Photo : Twitter: @TXT_bighit)

"0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)," which is described by Billboard as a "pop-punk space," was written and produced by Big Hit Music's in-house producer Slow Rabbit, with participation from BTS' leader RM, Bang Si Hyuk, Melanie Joy Fontana, Mod Sun, Matt Thomson, Andrew Migliore, Max Lynedoch Graham, and more.

The song went on to take four music show wins. It also entered several of United Kingdom's Official Charts, such as debuting at No. 80 on the Official Singles Download chart, and ranking at No. 84 on the Official Singles Sales Chart.

(Photo : Twitter: @TXT_bighit_jp)

Not only that, but TXT became the first boy group with a Korean-language song to spend more than 100 hours at No. 1 on Japan's Line Music's real time chart, as well as top the daily chart for several consecutive days.

The song also topped iTunes' Top Songs chart in 31 different countries and regions.

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aespa's 'Next Level' and IU's 'Lilac' Included in the Top 3 Best K-Pop Songs of 2021 by Billboard

Coming in as the second best K-Pop song of 2021 according to Billboard is rookie girl group aespa's May 2021 release, "Next Level."

(Photo : Twitter: @kpop_sbs)

"Next Level" was released as a digital single as a continuation of aespa's hit debut track "Black Mamba" released in 2020. The dance and hip-hop track went on to peak at No. 2 on Gaon Charts, No. 3 on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart, No. 65 on Billboard's Global 200, and at No. 77 on Billboard Japan's Hot 100.

As for IU's "Lilac," the song was chosen as the third best K-Pop song of 2021. Released in May 2021 as part of her fifth full-album "LILAC," Billboard described it as a song that "shows how IU makes introspective storytelling sound effortless."

(Photo : Instagram: @dlwlrma)

"Lilac," which is an upbeat pop song featuring nostalgic sounds, peaked at No. 1 on Gaon Charts and at No. 11 on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart.