The subsequent few weeks on The Bias Listing can be full of all method of end-of-year countdowns. From Okay-pop to J-pop to world pop to dramas, it’ll all be lined. This can be a enjoyable solution to tie a bow on the 12 months and rejoice all of the issues I cherished in 2024. These countdowns kick off tomorrow with my greatest one: The Prime 50 Okay-Pop Songs of 2024.
Truthfully, this has been an odd 12 months for Okay-pop. The trade appeared extra scandal-plagued than ever and ended its 12 months with a flurry of disbandments and controversies. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see the place we head going ahead. So far as music is anxious, 2024 was break up neatly in half. An unlimited proportion of my favourite music got here from the primary half of the 12 months, leaving the second half fairly underwhelming. Regardless of this, I’d take into account 2024 stronger as an entire than 2023 (although for me that is because of the work of a comparatively small group of artists).
There can be loads of house to speak about musical tendencies later, however I’m undoubtedly within the temper for a change. I adopted the time period “beige pop” to explain lots of this 12 months’s choices. Subdued sounds appear to be in. Even when artists borrowed from historically bombastic genres, they typically did so in a extra nuanced manner. I’ve by no means been the largest fan of nuance in pop music, in order that’s a little bit of an issue in the case of private style. For that reason, my checklist this 12 months is particularly quick on lady teams. These tendencies appeared to have an effect on them greater than boy teams and I’m very anticipating a return to a extra forceful sound (assume Kara, GFriend, T-ara, WJSN, Sistar, and many others).
In fact, there have been loads of wonderful songs launched this 12 months — from boy teams, lady teams and soloists. I’m excited to highlight them over the following few days. Personally, I’m a much bigger fan of my prime ten than I’ve been in years. In the long run, 2024 was extra “high quality” than “amount,” with a handful of songs I adore slicing by way of the 12 months’s many, many skips. On steadiness, all of it works itself out. And for these serious about stats, there are additionally some new data inside this 12 months’s countdown that may grow to be obvious as soon as every little thing is revealed. It’s all the time attention-grabbing to see how issues shake out.
That is additionally a good time to preface the countdown by reiterating how it’s completely different from different year-end countdowns. This isn’t an inventory picked by consensus, neither is it one based mostly upon any metric of success past how a lot I personally loved a track. There can be hits, business flops and lots of under-the-radar picks. You in all probability gained’t agree with every little thing, however identical to The Bias Listing as an entire, you might be assured that it’s 100% genuine to my style.
Talking of the weblog, 2024 is on observe to proceed year-over-year progress in views and guests. That’s 9 straight years of enchancment. As I do yearly, I need to thank each reader — whether or not you’re in settlement with my opinions or not. Thanks for persevering with to go to! Suggestions and exercise are the issues that maintain me posting every day.
This year-end characteristic is my 820th put up of the 12 months, which is up once more from this time final 12 months. That’s 260,000 phrases — or a pair novels’ price of content material, should you’d prefer to rely it that manner!
Eligibility standards for my Prime 50 Singles checklist hasn’t modified since final 12 months, however for many who are new to the weblog, listed below are the foundations. This 12 months, there was one track that didn’t fairly match the factors however I simply couldn’t justify counting it as a b-side.
Eligibility standards:
- A track will need to have been launched as a title, follow-up or promoted observe between December 1, 2023 and November 30, 2024.
- A track should be paired with a full music video or big-budget efficiency video (the strains get extra blurred annually).
- English-language singles are eligible. Japanese singles by Okay-pop artists can be a part of the J-pop countdown.
Earlier than kicking off the countdowns tomorrow, listed below are the ten songs that didn’t fairly make the Prime 50.
60. TOZ – Nu Footwear (assessment)
59. Moonbyul – Is This Love? (assessment)
58. Sistar19 – No Extra (Ma Boy) (assessment)
57. DAY6 – Welcome To The Present (assessment)
56. Yena – NEMONEMO (assessment)
55. Purple Velvet – Cosmic (assessment)
54. ITZY – Imaginary Good friend (assessment)
53. G-Dragon – Energy (assessment)
52. AB6IX – Seize Me (assessment)
51. Moonbyul – Touchin&Movin (assessment)