Billboard Releases 'The 10 Best K-Pop Albums of 2020' List

By Alexa Lewis Dec 23, 2020

On Wednesday, Dec. 23, Billboard released their "The 10 Best K-Pop Albums of 2020: Critics' Picks" list. Keep on reading to see which K-pop albums made it to the list.

K-pop albums help showcase the variety of skills an artist - whether a soloist or a group. Albums showcase the types of genres a group can pull off, their versatility, and their vocals or raps. In K-pop, albums contain numerous B-sides that are not promoted on music shows or in award shows, which can usually help show other the full strength of a K-pop artist.

The albums in Billboard's list includes full-length studio albums, mini-albums, and extended plays (EPs). Curious to see which made number one?

Number one is by veteran soloist BoA for her album "BETTER." BoA has been a successful K-pop soloist for two decades and has blessed the K-pop industry with countless songs, each proving just how much she deserves the fame she has gotten.

"BETTER" is BoA's 10th Korean studio album and is one of her strongest ones to date, with not a single bad song on the album, which was released in celebration of her 20th debut anniversary.

The lead single and title track, "BETTER," is highly reminiscent of early 2000s R&B, with full and charismatic production, an addictive bassline, and addictive strings that provide a backdrop for BoA to showcase her intense vocals. The song talks about her need for security in her relationship (doesn't everyone relate?) and she is able to showcase that message perfectly. Her voice is able to show a wide range of emotions; at one moment, her voice is pained, desperate for everyone.

In another moment, she sounds fed-up with her lover and his antics, making known her needs and wants. The song is inspiring in how raw and vulnerable she is, but she never sounds weak.

The rest of the album is as perfect as her title track. Billboard specifically mentions the song "Temptations," which blesses the listener's ears with pizzicato strings and brass stabs. The song, which talks about a lover giving in to her, and her voice perfectly shifts between sultry and domineering.

For the song "All That Jazz," BoA speaks bravely about being brokenhearted, and the song's classy arrangement is able to mirror BoA's message in a way that clearly showcases what she is trying to see. In the song, it sounds almost as if she is fighting back tears, but there are some verses in which she is fighting for her dignity as well.

(Photo : SM Entertainment)

Of course, BoA does not only sing about sadness. "Start Over" is an addictive synthpop track that transports us back to the '80s, "L.O.V.E" is a disco-funk song that has us feeling like we are dancing in a disco. "Gravity" is a beautiful ballad over acoustics. BoA proves that she does not just sing - she performs.