As someone who has been into Kpop for a little over a year now, I’ve discovered so many groups, artists and songs.
In this post I summarized my top 50 Kpop songs of 2019. This list consists of songs that I personally like (it isn’t based on charts or sales).
Music is very subjective. Not everyone will like the same songs I do. Some of the songs on this list actually took a while for me to like.
With that being said if you don’t see a certain group or artist mentioned here, please know it doesn’t mean I didn’t like their music. I tried my best to condense this list.
Alright, here’s my top kpop songs of 2019:
50. ITZY – DALLA DALLA
JYP’s newest girl group, ITZY debuted with their song, Dalla Dalla. The song and music video are bright, colorful, fun, and energetic. After listening to Dalla Dalla several times it grew on me and now I love it.
49. X1 – MOVE
X1 is a group that was created by the popular ‘Produce’ series, which disbanded due to misconduct from companies and producers. But while they were still a group they released a great album. One of the songs called Move (which was produced by Zico) caught my attention. Move was performed during the Produce show and I loved the song ever since. I was glad to see the song made it in X1’s official album.
48. EXO – OBSESSION
EXO continued to push boundaries with their Jekyll and Hyde themed comeback. I thought the song is something EXO hadn’t done before. The music video shows two sides to the members and I thought they delivered this concept perfectly.
47. GOT7 – YOU CALLING MY NAME
When I first heard this song, I thought it was pretty good, but the more I listened to it the more I loved it. The choreography is different and it really works well with the song.
46. GOT7 – NOW OR NEVER
This track instantly became a favorite the second I heard it. Also it was a collaboration with Jonas Blue, which I recently found out about. I wish the group (and Jonas Blue) would’ve promoted the song more, it’s amazing. I think international fans would love this track, I could picture it playing on a ‘Top 40s’ playlist on the radio.
45. A.C.E. – SAVAGE
A.C.E. delivered an out-of-the-box concept. Mix in some quirky outfits, tough facial expressions, a few mischievous smiles, add a dash of the Joker and you get a fascinating music video. I loved everything about this comeback.
44. GOT7 – ECLIPSE
Another song from GOT7 that grew on me the more I listened to it. GOT7 continued to grab audience attention with their music and performances.
43. SUPERM – JOPPING
The Avengers of Kpop. I’ll admit SM did a great job assembling these talented guys. Jopping went above and beyond what anyone expected and they delivered. Very well done.
42. SUPER JUNIOR – I THINK I
Smooth with a bit of Latin flare, I loved this comeback from Super Junior. They continue to please their devoted fanbase while appealing to new fans (like myself) with elegant songs such as, I Think I.
41. MONSTA X – FOLLOW
The traditional Korean elements in the song and mv really made it stand out from any of Monsta X’s previous comebacks. It’s infused with energy and I love every bit of this song.
40. A.C.E. – UNDER COVER
This comeback really put A.C.E. on people’s radar again. This group has some epic choreographies and their songs seem to be made to showcase just that. Their dance breaks, vocals, rap abilities are all solid. The concept for Undercover is just epic. The red suits and makeup made the music video all the more fascinating. Undercover (just like Savage) is a perfect blend of crazy and cool. I can’t get enough of it.
39. NCT127 – HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN
First time I heard this song was in NCT127’s concert, it quickly became a favorite. It’s a song that I associate good memories with.
38. MAMAMOO – HIP
The music video is unique, the choreography is iconic, and the song has a bold statement no one can ignore. Mamamoo did a fantastic job with this comeback. Yes, I learned the choreography and every time the song comes up in my playlist I can’t help but dance to it. HIP, is an instant mood-booster, it’s fun and…hip.
37. A.C.E. – SLOW DIVE
From the first few seconds of this song I instantly fell in love with it. It’s smooth and the choreography goes well with the song too. Once again, A.C.E. is an all-around group and I’m never disappointed in what they release. They are just so good.
36. NCT DREAM, HRVY – DON’T NEED YOUR LOVE
This song is fun and more often than not, it’s on repeat. The collaboration between NCT Dream and HRVY worked really well.
35. STRAY KIDS – DOUBLE KNOT
In 2019 Stray Kids continued pushing themselves musically and lyrically. They don’t shy away from heavy topics and they did a fantastic job throughout their Clé series. Although I really enjoyed each of their comebacks, one song that I often keep going back to is Double Knot. The choreography is one of my top favorites of the year and the song is just epic.
34. SEVENTEEN – FEAR
Seventeen is another group that carries strong choreographies and excellent music. Fear showed a darker side to the group, but they made it work and they really owned the concept. The music video is artistically stunning with all the metaphors depicting the members’ fears, it was well done.
33. SEVENTEEN – LET ME HEAR YOU SAY
As soon as the beat dropped in the chorus my jaw also dropped. This song is so good. I wish the group would’ve released a video for this song (whether a choreography or performance video). It is a song that gets overlooked (because of the strong title tracks) but Let Me Hear You Say is definitely worth listening to (and repeating).
32. NCT DREAM – BOOM
This song was stuck in my head after I first listened to it. The chorus is addicting and the choreography is so good. NCT Dream has shed away from their cutesy concept for something more mature.
31. DAY6 – BEST PART
When I first heard DAY6’s album, The Book of Us: Gravity, the song Best Part stood out to me. I loved the message behind it and how uplifting it sounds. I watched DAY6 live and when they performed this song the crowd was full of energy and it was one of the best feelings singing this song with all the fans and DAY6. The guys did such a great job. This is a song that I consider (one of) my anthems from 2019. Every time I listen to Best Part I can’t help but smile.
30. HBY – TAM TAM
HBY is a lesser-known group but they have some high energy songs and TAM TAM is one of them. The song feels like a celebration and it’s a perfect mood-booster.
29. SEVENTEEN – GOOD TO ME
I almost forgot this song was released in 2019, because I’ve heard it so many times I just assumed it was a classic Seventeen song. It’s a great track, the choreography is clean and smooth, overall it’s another one of my favorite Seventeen song.
28. EVERGLOW – BON BON CHOCOLAT
This was another strong debut from a girl group. Everglow really grabbed people’s attention with this debut. From the hypnotic chorus to the memorable choreography, this debut made everyone keep an eye on this group. I loved the concept and the song is addicting.
27. TWICE – FANCY
There’s no denying Twice reigned as one of the top girl groups of 2019. Fancy is bright, catchy, and memorable. When I first heard the song I thought it was okay (just how I felt with ITZY) but the more I listened to it the more the song grew on me. Now I can’t help but jam out to it when it comes up on my playlist. The choreography for Fancy is iconic, I’ve seen countless people do dance covers and it’s very hard to forget.
26. BTS – MIKROKOSMOS
I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it. The lyrics are so sweet and BTS truly connect with their fans in this song. BTS is a powerhouse group, they’re dominating the music scene globally and have brought so many people into Kpop…myself included. If it wasn’t for their song Idol, I would have never gotten into Kpop.
25. NU’EST – BET BET
Nu’est embodies modern day princes in their music video for Bet Bet. From the vocals, the song, the choreography, all the guys shined in this comeback. Nu’est has really risen from the ashes and are now flying high in their career. Truly, this group is an inspiration.
24. ATEEZ – WIN
If you need a song to motivate you, this is it. The lyrics and the beat gives an infusion of energy and I play it every time I need some motivation. I wish Ateez would’ve released a video for this song or at least a performance, it’s just too good to not be noticed.
23. ONEUS – LIT
I love it when Kpop groups incorporate traditional Korean sounds and elements into their music videos, songs, and performances (just like Monsta X Follow). Oneus did just that with their song. It’s lively and extremely vibrant. This is a song I would love to see live.
22. KIM DONG HAN – IDEA
When I hear or read the name, Kim Dong Han, the song Idea comes to my mind. It’s an addicting song and the choreography Dong Han created worked so well. He is truly a talented guy.
21. 1TEAM – COUNTDOWN
This group debuted in 2019 with a fun music video for their song Vibe (a great song too). I really enjoy the songs they have released but Countdown is a song I often go back to. But if you get the chance, check out the rest of their music.
20. MONSTA X – PLAY IT COOL
I didn’t get into this song until later in the year but once I found it I did not stop playing it. It’s fun and addicting. I think collaborating with Steve Aoki was perfect.
19. BAEKHYUN – UN VILLAGE
This song took me by surprise. Baekhyun is a powerhouse vocalist. When I heard he would have a solo album I assumed it would be full of ballads but I was pleasantly surprised that he went full R&B. I think the genre suits him and Un Village was the perfect song to showcase his solo work.
18. SEVENTEEN – HIT
One of my top favorite choreographies of 2019, once again, goes to Seventeen. With Hoshi as the group’s main choreographer, you can expect nothing less than the best.
17. BAEKHYUN – BETCHA
This is a very groovy track from Baekhyun, again. Honestly, each song in his EP is replay worthy.
16. BLOCK B (BASTARZ) – FROM SEOUL
From Seoul is a calming track. It’s my go-to song when I’m driving or when I’m in a coffee shop. It’s a great song to just unwind.
15. WOOSUNG – FACE
Woosung released a song that is fresh and quite different from anything I’ve heard in the Kpop music scene lately. Each song in his EP showcases his charismatic personality. I was able to see The Rose live last year and Woosung performed Face. He had an electric performance that I won’t forget.
14. HWA SA – TWIT
Hwasa solidified herself as a strong soloist with the song Twit. Throughout the year she performed the song and each time she delivered a powerful performance.
13. BAEKHYUN – DIAMOND
Is anyone surprised that Baekhyun has another song on my list? In Diamond Baekhyun hits the high notes smoothly and it’s the type of song you’ll want to play while driving through a city at night.
12. ASTRO – ALL NIGHT
I’ve never said this before but I’ll say it here…pastel/floral concepts for boy groups aren’t entirely my thing. Very few groups have pulled it off and Astro is one of those groups. The song’s chorus is just catchy and I have good memories attached with this song as well.
11. ONEUS CRAZY & CRAZY (Prod. CyA)
CyA (a member of Onewe) did a fantastic job creating this song (which he gave to Oneus). It’s completely different from any other song Oneus released and it’s just awesome. I really enjoy this song and I hope CyA can continue to experiment and show off different genres of music like this. There’s no denying the guy is talented.
10. TOMORROW X TOGETHER – CROWN
All eyes were on TXT, since they are the label mates of BTS. TXT debuted with a young cutesy concept. Although cutesy concepts aren’t my thing, their title track, Crown, made me a fan. Their debut album The Dream Chapter: STAR, is filled with well produced songs that I kept replaying all year.
9. THE ROSE – RED
Red is one of those songs that I fell in love with the instant I heard it. Like I mentioned earlier, I saw The Rose in concert and Red was the grand finale. It was so fun watching them perform especially this song. Yes, now when I listen to Red I have good memories attached to it. This is another song I consider as my anthem of 2019 (along with DAY6 Best Part).
8. ONEUS – VALKYRIE
One of my favorite debuts of 2019 (mostly because it was the first debut I witnessed in Kpop) was amazing. Oneus set the standards high for the groups that would debut in 2019. Their music video and performance was powerful and the song is unforgettable.
7. WINNER – AH YEAH
Summer, summer, summer. That’s the main thing I attach with this song. During the summer I replayed AH YEAH so many times. I played it on my to work, school, the gym, when I went running, vacation, etc. This song just boosts my mood and puts a smile on my face.
6. ATEEZ – SAY MY NAME
This was the first comeback from Ateez I witnessed and oh boy….it was epic. From the song, to the choreography, their outfits, to the music video and performances…Ateez proved they are one of the strongest rookie groups currently.
5. ONEUS – HERO
Did I mention how much I liked Oneus debut album, Light Us? When I first heard Hero I knew this would be a favorite of mine. I can’t say how many times I’ve replayed it…but it’s a lot.
4. ATEEZ – WONDERLAND
Ateez went all in for this comeback. When Hongjoong started the song I got chills. Wonderland is so powerful and the choreography is epic. The music video and their performances speak for itself.
3. RAVI, Rick bridges – U-NIVERSE (Cosmocorps)
In 2019 Ravi has released so many songs, started his own label, promoted various artists, did several collaborations, he was nonstop working. But one song that I can’t get enough of is his song U-NIVERSE from his R.OOK BOOK album. It’s a very sweet song and I don’t know why I always go back to it.
2. KEY, SOYEON – I Wanna Be
I have very good memories attached with this song. Key’s personality was present throughout the entire music video, it’s bright, fun, and energetic. The collaboration with Soyeon (from G-Idle) worked really well.
1. ATEEZ – HALA HALA
Without a doubt, Hala Hala is my top favorite song from 2019. When I saw their performance video (the black and white video) I got chills. When the official video was released, I also got chills. The entire concept for Hala Hala (and Say My Name) is my top favorite concept ever in Kpop (as of right now that I’m writing this). The whole ‘bandits’ attire was so unique. The choreography is epic, the song is epic, everything about this comeback is epic. Hala Hala is one of those songs that makes me feel proud of Kpop and excited to see what else Ateez (or any other group) will release.
That wraps up my list. I wish I could’ve mentioned way more groups but that would make this list twice as long.
Thanks for reading!
-EliMarie
