Generally, it’s enjoyable to make a journey again in time and immerse your self in a selected Ok-pop 12 months. Much like my Battle of the B-sides, this function sees me shuffling an enormous playlist of songs from a sure period, selecting out six at random and sharing my ideas about every. All songs are eligible: Title tracks, b-sides, Japanese tracks from Ok-pop acts. The one standards is that they will need to have been launched of their goal 12 months.
As we speak, we’re travelling again to 2015.
Listed below are the six rivals:
BoA – Whats up
Boys Republic – Whats up
Women’ Era (SNSD) – Bump It
Halo – Sleepless
HIGH4 – D.O.A (Lifeless Or Alive)
SHINee – Love Sick
Who will rank first??
6. BoA – Whats up
2015 was a really sturdy 12 months for many returning acts, however I wasn’t as bought on BoA’s massive comeback album. She co-wrote all the things herself, which was an incredible creative leap. Total, the album could be very stable however doesn’t signify the most effective of her sprawling discography in my view. Whats up is a delicate mid-tempo that leads us into the finale of the monitor listing. It’s a really fairly piece of music and he or she sounds nice on it, however this type of monitor is far more about sentiment than thrilling songcraft. Oh effectively, each album wants a lighters-in-the-air second like this, I suppose.
Score: 7.5
5. Women’ Era (SNSD) – Bump It
2015 was a giant 12 months for SNSD, bringing the group again collectively for a really profitable album. I keep in mind Social gathering (and to a lesser extent, Lion Coronary heart) being a bit divisive after they got here out, however each songs sound so enjoyable in the present day. The album was host to a lot of sturdy b-sides, together with Bump It. The monitor is a bit generic in locations and will do with a a lot stronger hook, however the ladies promote it and the thumping beat injects loads of angle. It’s one in all my least-listened-to songs on the album, so I type of want a distinct one had popped up on my shuffle button to present them a greater likelihood on this rating!
Score: 8
4. SHINee – Love Sick
Love Sick is a b-side from SHINee’s Odd/Married To The Music album. I keep in mind not being thrilled with the album on first pay attention, which appears extremely loopy with hindsight. Nevertheless, we’ve got to keep in mind that this was the follow-up to the unimaginable Misconceptions sequence and their equally unbelievable Everyone EP of 2013, so my expectations have been ridiculously excessive. With 2025 ears, this music is an absolute delight. It’s a bit extra mid-tempo than my favourite SHINee songs are typically, however the insistent bounce and unimaginable vocal manufacturing steal the present. The bridge injects an additional rhythmic push that reappears as a standout finale. As with most all the things this group has launched, Love Sick has fully stood the take a look at of time.
Score: 8.5
3. Halo – Sleepless
Halo had a handful of nice hits, even when the group by no means made it massive. They have been early on the brand new jack swing revival, harnessing potent grooves that buttressed sugary pop melodies. Their vibrant, assured vocals are the right vessel for this type of music, effortlessly grooving over the sunshine funk. Sleepless was not a single, however it’s undoubtedly sturdy sufficient to be one. The refrain feels like classic Teen Prime however the music’s most foundational influences come from a long time earlier. It’s good to listen to a music whose idea is solely good power and nice melodies.
Score: 8.5
2. HIGH4 – D.O.A (Lifeless Or Alive)
HIGH4 have been most identified for a spring-time hit, however this killer fall single stands as their crowning achievement. From its sharp synth accents to the icy vocals to the startling melodic builds, the music pulses with such character. It’s directly pensive, mysterious and ferocious. Relatively than funnel all of its bombast into anticipated choruses, the manufacturing spreads its mini climaxes in surprising locations. This causes the monitor to really feel each unpredictable and frequently absorbing. All of it builds to a whopper of a finale, bringing all the things collectively because the beat intensifies.
Score: 9
1. Boys Republic – Whats up
Boys Republic actually have an unimpeachable discography. They didn’t must launch as many classics as they did, however I’m very glad they stored their high quality stage excessive. The summer season of 2015 was a stellar one for breezy mid-tempos. Ok-pop acts don’t typically promote ballad-like comebacks, however a music like Whats up showcases simply how efficient the strategy may be. I’ve spent a lot of 2025 ragging on what I name “beigepop,” and from a purely goal stage I suppose you could possibly classify Whats up‘s general sound as “beige.” EXCEPT… and it is a massive “besides”… its melodies are extremely potent. There’s no foolish sing-talk, no flat repetition. The tune simply climbs and swirls and crystallizes into among the most stunning turns of its 12 months. I cherished this single again then and proceed to adore it in the present day.
Score: 9