Billboard Releases Their ‘20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2020’ List

By Alexa Lewis Dec 23, 2020

On Wednesday, Dec. 23, Billboard released their "The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2020: Critics' Picks". See which K-pop songs made it to the list.

Every year, Billboard releases their "The Best K-pop Songs" list. Each song on the list is selected by music critics and is given reasons as to why it was selected. This year, the music outlet noted how this year was especially hard for everyone. It was brutal for the K-pop industry due to the cancellation of all offline concerts, but artists still kept recording and still kept releasing music at a steady pace. After all, the show must go one.

Their songs this year not only brought happiness but also brought comfort. Hope, even. During a time when anhedonia was just around the corner, K-pop transported many of us to a happier time and allowed us moments to forget about the worries of the world. The songs Billboard chose dazzled them, impressed them, and moved them throughout the past 12 months.

Their number one song is from the up-and-coming Yuehua Entertainment girl group EVERGLOW. The song they selected is "LA DI DA", from their "-77.82x-78.29" album. The song was noted to have major throwback sounds and mirror U.S.'s pop magnum opus, similar to The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights". The difference between EVERGLOW and The Weeknd's song is the message; while the latter's work is sinister in its search for love, EVERGLOW is a confident kiss-off to all the "hater, the bad guys, and the players".

"LA DI DA" is heavily inspired by popular '80's music, with layered chants that draw influence from "Mickey" by Toni Basil and the same loud and proud girl power of Cyndi Lauper. The '80s was blasting synth-pop, which is "LA DI DA" is influenced by. Of course, "LA DI DA" is still proudly K-pop. The temp-shifting rap by E:U is something that is usually found in K-pop and is more evocative of 2010's K-pop. If you have not listened to it yet, then you should before the year ends!

Number two went to long-time girl group Apink for "Dumhdurum" from their "LOOK" album. The song proves that senior acts can still remain popular in K-pop. The song talks and melancholic longing for another person and sucks you in with its synth-pop hoo, pop gold verses and chorus, and the catchy repetition of "Dumhdurum". The track details remaining calm in the presence of the one you love, even as your heart beats out of your chest.

The mature message of the song was a huge hit not only in South Korea but worldwide. Nine years into their career and Apink is still putting everything they got into their music. If you haven't gotten into Apink, "Dumhdurum" is a good place to start.