'top 20 b-sides of 2020'
- steph
- Dec 8, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 15, 2021
2020 has finally finished and what a horrid year it was. although this was new territory for many, the korean entertainment industry adapted swiftly. overall, there was some really sickening tracks to come out of 2020. here are my picks!
DISCLAIMER: this is an unranked list, but there is one song that i believe is first.
this track has a sinister melody and powerful vocals that elevate the song. i must compliment taemin on his vocal performance, especially his ad-libs in the last chorus. black rose utilises trap tastefully and makes kid milli the perfect feature.
itzy borrows from the music in teen movies in the 90s and early 2000s. however, this is the best example of itzy putting their own spin on it to reckon a new era of girl crush. its a song for the rebellion of the youth and the unapologetic acceptance of self.
love song is nct at their best. it has nice bass and the classic vocal melodies that we know and love from sm. it's the effect put on the bass and the dull flute in the melody that made this track a clever and witty.
once an album, bts do a song that is an ultimate balance between their rap line and vocal line. this was that song on BE. there are many spectacular parts to it but most of all, its well rounded and rooted in a style only bts can do. dis-ease told me they still got it.
city-pop is something i never really got into. even so, twice pierced through my dead city-pop heart with say something. what i enjoyed the most was its soft and delicate approach to the genre. the sax riff at the end also adds to the suave mood.
kai's vocal colour flourishes on amnesia. its the perfect gloss on top of an rnb song. amnesia repeats its chorus quite often but one never gets sick of it because it makes us feel the longing and hints of reverence for the object of his affection.
pit-a-pet combines elements of city pop with an electro-pop foundation. this makes sure the song is fresh on each and every listen. its bridge ties the song nicely in its instrumental by adding a guitar melody; this gave the song a new dimension.
the boyz have warmed my insides like a first kiss. its simple and sweet like cotton candy, but its not corny at all. rather, it's earnest and pure. break your rules is young love in a song and can even make the adamant pessimist feel their heart beat again.
fall again concretely puts into sound the feeling of yearning towards a love that is no longer yours. it uses a pretty autumn soundscape to push this, hence “fall" again. definitely, a highlight song in loona’s discography.
this dark track combines the classical instruments of old with the popular trap of recent times. the autotuned vocals and rap also compliment this union. however, the key of this song is the heavy bass, particularly in its triplet form in the pre-chorus.
this is what dreaming sounds like. with the breathier vocals and the lofi instrumental, the listeners feels as if they're floating in space. the vocals with its little rests between each syllable in the chorus, also slow the song down to create that lethargic feeling.
amidst the disco trend in the 2nd half of 2020, yooa went a different route. diver is an 80s song however it is funk. the best part of this song is how the vocals are sung in the chorus. the vocals go up and down in its notes but its still lower than 'bon voyage'.
LTB is actually quite tragic in nature. however, the song doesn’t become loud because of it. it hangs in the balance between an irreparable breakdown and the hope one feel as they cry for help. it is indeed shakespearean.
it was love at first listen. if you know me, i'm a lover of surfer/indie rock. to hear influences from garage rock tingled my ear buds. this song is also quite hypnotic in its soundscape and lives up to its name love “spell”.
the duo gave us smooth rnb in a way only red velvet can deliver. although its simple, thats exactly where its charm is. diamond doesn’t too much and is a worthy successor of red velvet’s 'be natural' in its stripped back sexy allure.
cross the line is composed transports the listener to a creepy circus and the darkness behind it. the song does not stop there. in the 2nd half, an organ replaces the accordion in an effect that can only described as gothic.
i chose tension as the standout of the album. just as the title describes, the song has an unmistakable tension throughout. who doesn’t love tension in rock? this is on my list because it is one of the best rock songs dreamcatcher has released.
the aerialist is another clever song on my list. the highlight of the track is the 2nd half of the chorus. the aerialist also shines in the vocal department because they’re pristine and strong. most of all, the ad-libs in the final chorus really uplifts the song and creates a satisfying experience for the listener.
txt released one of the most emotional kpop songs i’ve ever heard. it has a gradual build as each section adds a new instrument. by the end one feels the sorrow deeply. maze in the mirror has proven itself to be the best song txt has put out so far.
without a doubt, pantomime is the best b-side of 2020. even with many things going on, its still clever, cohesive, clear and strong. most notable is the switch up near the end where they lower the key, emphasise the bass and play with song structure.
other special mentions:
- wings; the boyz
- surf; itzy
- impressionable; taemin
- baby tonight; A.C.E
- player; everglow
- make me go; twice
- sorry i’m not sorry; monsta x
- black or white; dreamcatcher
- my universe; stray kids
- day dream; izone
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