~ November 2021 ~

Hello everyone and welcome to the ranking of my favourite korean music releases for the month of November 2021. I discovered quite a handful of artists this month, some I didn't hear about and others I knew but never actually listened to their music, so I hope you enjoy reading this and listening to the YouTube playlist I prepared for you (the link is available at the end of the article as always)! 

Before we start the ranking, here's the usual disclaimer: All the pictures included in this article are screenshots taken by me from official music videos. If there is copyright infringement, I apologize in advance and will remove any problematic picture upon the owner's request. Now let's dive right into it!

#22 Lilli Lilli - Barcode - November 11

INTERESTING! I've never actually heard any Kpop duo in a long time. Aside akmu, I've never heard of a Kpop duo which is sad honestly. These two seem to have great chemistry, and even though the song doesn't really match the intensity of the choreography, it's still a catchy song. I just love the choreo a thousand times more than the song x) Watch the official MV for "Barcode" right here.

#21 Brooklyn - I'm gonna love you - November 19

It's the first time I hear about him, I got his MV recommended on my YouTube feed so thank you YouTube algorithm lol. Honestly he reminded me a little bit of Justin Bieber when he started with his songs baby and all around the world. Watch the official MV for "I'm gonna love you" right here.

#20 Bang Yongguk - Race (solo comeback) - November 23

I discovered Bang Yongguk through a very talented youtuber called GZBkarma (coco if you pass by there I love you and thank you so much for introducing me to him, but I'm sure you won't :/) and I've been waiting for him to release some more music. I didn't really know what to expect since he's kind of versatile, but I surely didn't expect something that goes hard. I'm not complaining tho! Welcome back Yongguk :) Watch the official MV for "Race" right here.

#19 Jeong Dong Won - Goodbye my love -November 17

I don't know him, but that song sounded… familiar? Although I had never heard it before, I just felt this familiar feeling when listening to it. Plus, the MV is kinda beautiful. I love hearing the violin in instrumentals. It makes a whole lot difference, it adds so much emotions. Watch the official MV for "Goodbye My Love" right here.

#18 Luna - Beautiful Breakup - November 11

Y'all this is surreal this is a fictional band that was created only for a Kdrama (it's called "Your Knight"). It's like the Crude Play band for the drama "The liar and his lover" (starring Joy from Red Velvet). The song is actually pretty good they have great vocals omg I am really in need of more bands! Watch the official MV for "Beautiful Breakup" right here.

#17 Super Junior D&E - Zero (comeback) - November 2

I'm not really up to date with the Super Junior sub units, but as soon as I heard this song I felt something. It's such a happy and upbeat song you want to listen to in order to ligten up your mood. Watch the official MV for "Zero" right here.

#16 Junny - Hide & Sick - November 10

I love the word play in the title, and honestly this is such a feel good song. I really have nothing else to say, it's a feel good and nice song to vibe with. I'm not a pro in MV making but I absolutely love how the MV was shoot. Sometimes simple is more impactful, and it's the case with this music video. And that guy seems so cool and relaxed, I wish I could meet him ^^ Watch the official MV for "Hide & Sick" right here.

#15 Billlie - Ring X Ring (debut) - November 10

The best way to describe this song would be unconventional. I never heard a song with a progression like this. Starting with such chaotic instrumental and never have a break during the song is interesting, almost tiring sometimes, but I appreciate it when it comes to making unusual stuff. And I have to admit that the chorus is hella catchy. Watch the MV for "Ring X Ring" right here.

#14 Løren - All my friends are turning blue - November 25 [ENGLISH]

That's what I'd call a discovery of the month. This is an example of why I started doing these rankings, because I wanted to give you the opportunity to discover new artists. I had previously heard about him, I knew he was working at YG and was close with blackpink members, but I didn't know he had debuted. This song is very nice, I'm not sure I quite understood the message behind it, but it has a really nice vibe. Watch the official MV for "All my friends are turning blue" right here.

#13 Big Naughty ft. eaJ (of Day6) - Stab - November 18

I didn't know of Big Naughty, but I saw that Jae was featured in this song and I was like "let's give it a listen", because it couldn't go wrong right? And I was pleasantly surprised. The melody is unconventional, the message is not "pretty" as much as the song is upbeat, and I honestly like that Big Naughty guy. Jae's high-pitched voice adds to the emotion and I felt something. Watch the official MV for "Stab" right here.

#12 Drippin' - Vertigo (comeback) - November 16

I've come to realize that it's literally impossible for me to keep up with all the groups there is on the Kpop market because there are just so many of them. And Drippin is one of those groups I know debuted not long ago but whom I don't follow closely. However, when I heard this song I was like "this is great, the chorus is really powerful"! Which is why I included this song in my ranking :) Watch the official MV for "Vertigo" right here.

#11 Leo (of VIXX) - I'm still here - November 2

I really don't know how to describe what I felt listening to this song. It was more than nostalgia… A tear almost escaped from my eyes. I never dived deeper into the members of VIXX, I definitely should have and I'm going to do it right now (better late than never right?). Watch the official  MV for "I'm still here" right here.

#10 Adios Audio - Letters to you (comeback) - November 6

I absolutely love this band's vibe. The vocalist has pretty unique vocals, the kind of vocals you'd find in anime openings or Jpop songs, but there it was kinda different and I loved it. I don't know if I included this group in the past but I remember listening to their song "Make One's Way" on REPEAT. Watch the official MV for "Letters to you" right here.

#9 E'last - To lie (comeback) - November 17

These boys have been on my radar since they released their song "Tears of Chaos". And honestly I never thought they'd release a song like this. I don't know if it's a proper comeback or if it's just a special release, but sometimes it's refreshing to have songs like these. And when this group has had a kind of dark and fierce concept since their debut, it's great to see them in a refreshing concept. AND  THE GUY WITH THE YELLOW SWEAT AND MINT HAIR, I NEED TO KNOW HIS NAME! Watch the official MV for "To.Lie" right here.

#8 Onewe - Star (comeback) - November 23

I definitely have a special thing for Kpop bands. I love how Onewe mixes pop and rock elements very well, and their voices are really unique. I could tell it was a Onewe song even if I didn't know it was their song. This song is definitely on the slower side and I'm not complaining. Watch the official MV for "Star" right here.

#7 The Boyz - Maverick (comeback) - November 1

When I first listened to that song I was like "oh no, what the hell is that song…" But then I listened to it again, and again… and again. And it got stuck, and I started to like it and to sing along to it. Watch the official MV for "Maverick" right here.

#6 Hwasa - I'm a 빛 (solo comeback) - November 24

That WOMAN is POWERFUL! Hwasa has always been a beautiful woman to me. Maybe she doesn't fit in the korean beauty standards, but objectively speaking that woman is classy, she has attitude, she has charisma, it's impossible not to look at her when she's on the screen. The choreography is powerful and sensual, and so is the song. I absolutely love it. It's my new anthem. Watch the official MV for "I'm a 빛" right here.

#5 Oneus - Luna (comeback) - November 9

Yaaa… Oneus is really great at doing traditional concepts. Lit was amazing, I remember loving the chorus with the drums and the singing-shouting style. But then you have Luna that's very different but that's still an amazing song. The instrumental is softer, the song is very vocal-centric and the MV is gorgeous as well, everything I love. I just wished the chorus was less monotonous, but Luna is still an amazing Oneus title track. Watch the official MV for "Luna" right here.

#4 Gaho - Right now (solo comeback) - November 23

I'm sure I said it already in my previous rankings but I'm going to say that again just in case you stil didn't get the idea: GAHO IS A MUSICAL GENIUS! SO PLEASE, CHECK HIS MUSIC OUT. This man is so talented, there's not a single song he made that I dislike. Plus this time he released a full album, so please check it out, it's a masterpiece. This song has everything I love in it: High notes, strong vocals, a catchy melody you can easily sing along to, and beautiful epic instrumentals. Watch the official MV for "Right now" right here.

Honorable mentions: 

• 2AM - No good in goodbye - November 1 - Official MV
• Victon - Sweet Travel - November 9 - Official MV
• B1A4 - Adore You - November 10 - Official MV
• Sohlhee - Daffodils - November 11 - Official MV
• T-Ara - Tiki Taka - November 15 - Official MV
• Mark Tuan (GOT7) - Last Breath [ENGLISH] - November 12 - Official MV

#3 Monsta X - Rush Hour (comeback) - November 19

I think it's the fiercest way to start a song. I mean… I felt offended. Why do you start a song by saying "eat this" in such an aggressive way? Excuse me sir I.M? And excuse me sir Jooheoney? I was not expecting this, or maybe I was? The last time I felt like that was when I heard Shoot Out for the first time. And oh my god I'm so happy they released that song. I love it. I adore it. It's the type of song you want to listen to when you're andry or when you have a boost of energy, and at the end you'll have a feeling of relief. Yeah I just love that song. Watch the official MV for "Rush Hour" right here.

#2 B.I - Cosmos (solo comeback) - November 11

I'm so happy to see him come back with such a happy and hopeful song! B.I has been through a lot and I'm so happy to see that he's being able to release music, because I know that it's like a therapy for him. And honestly I love that song, I immediately smile as soon as it starts playing. I really hope that he's happy like that in his life, because he definitely deserves it. Watch the official MV for "Cosmos" right here.

#1 Eric Nam - Any Other Way  (solo comeback) - November 12 [ENGLISH]

It's the goddamn whistle EVERY SINGLE TIME! You just put a whistling sound and the song immediately stays stuck in your head. That put aside, Any other way is such a good song. It might be my favourite song he has released so far. The melody of the song, the guitar, ... THE WHISTLING OH GOD! It's so catchy. And at the same time it's melodious and nostalgic... This is going to be my go to song for quite some time I'm telling you. Watch the official MV for "Any Toher Way" right here.

That's it guys! I hope you enjoyed it, and let me know your own favourite releases of November 2021 in the comments down below. Here's the link to the YouTube playlist: Top Kmusic November 2021. 

Take care and I'll see you soon!

 

Love, Swan

~ OCTOBER 2021 ~

Hello everyone and welcome to our monthly rendez-vous! Today I'm going to rank my favourite kmusic releases for the month of October 2021. I know this one is VERY late (November is almost over), but I managed my time and myself to put it out asap. By the way if you still didn't cast your votes for the Swans Awards, you can click right here. YOU HAVE UNTIL NOVEMBER 30TH! I'll close the votes after that, and let me tell you that results are really tight, so now's the time to show your love and support for your faves!

Before we start the ranking, here's the usual disclaimer: All the pictures included in this article are screenshots taken by me from official music videos. If there is copyright infringement, I apologize in advance and will remove any problematic picture upon the owner's request. You can also find the link to the YouTube playlist at the end of the article. Enjoy!

#26 Jo Yuri (former IZ*One) - Glassy (solo debut) - October 7 

There's only one thing I want to talk about for this song: THE "LALALA" PART IN THAT CHORUS! They really know how to make a song get stuck in our heads huh? Watch the official MV for "Glassy" right here.

#25 BugAboo - Bugaboo (debut) - October 25

What's up with all these labels making addictive songs? That one wasn't able to get off my head for one whole week! Seriously speaking, the song is very upbead and the "I don't need nananananana" and the "bugaboo" part in the chorus are super catchy. Watch the official MV for "BugAboo" right here.

#24 Luminous - Home Alone - October 18

I honestly don't know this group but one thing I can say with confidence is that they are solid vocalists. You don't need a lot of money to make a good comeback, you just need passionate people with great vocals and that's enough (for me at least). Watch the official MV right here.

#23 Eric Nam - I don't know you anymore (solo comeback) - October 15 [ENGLISH]

Eric Nam is an artist I wish I could see in concert, because his songs would get a thousand times better if sang live (but his songs are great anyway). This man is really talented and is not appreciated as he should be, so take this opportunity to check out this song. Watch the official MV for "I don't know you anymore" right here.

#22 Huh! - MBT - October 20

This guy is my discovery of the month! He apparently was a contestant on Show Me The Money 9, and is a rapper under Amoeba culture. Well, he gives off a strong vibe, and raps with such a great flow! I just wished the song was longer. Watch the official MV for "MBT" right here.

#21 Paul Kim - Gloomy Sunday (solo comeback) - October 8

I could recognize his voice from a thousand miles away because I'ts so unique. You need a song to relax or to calm yourself? Well, congratulations, you've finally found it! Watch the official MV for "Gloomy Sunday" right here.

#20 Woodz (former X1) - Waiting (solo comeback) - October 5

There's a huge paradox between the song and the lyrics. The lyrics are sad, this song talks about a toxic relationship to the extent that he's going crazy, but the rhythm is pretty upbeat with these guitar riffs kicking in the chorus and the electric guitar at the end of the chorus. And I really like it. Watch the official MV for "Waiting" right here.

#19 EPEX - Do 4 Me (comeback) - October 26

I love how energetic this song sounds like and this MV looks like. I liked the vibe of their debut track "Lockdown" but honestly thought that it lacked a bit of dynamism. But with "Do 4 me" they really pumped up the energy bar! Plus they look so cute uwu. At this point in their career a refreshing concept suits them better than a bad boy concept. Also, I'm sorry, I usually use group pictures but this time I had to take a picture of him. I don't know his name, but he's so gorgeous and cute at the same time, this hair looks perfect on him (and I know he's a rapper)! Watch the official MV for "Do 4 me" right here.

#18 Tri.Be - Would you run (comeback) - October 12

I absolutely loved their song Doom Doom Ta, it was so addictive and I'm going tell you a secret: I vibe to this song whenever I clean up my room ^^' Anyways, regarding "Would you run", I absolutely LOVE it, except for the verses. I think it's the intro that threw me off, the melody feels too weird for me to grasp. But then you have the pre-choruses and chorus that are totally awesome and addictive, especially that first part before the first chorus drop (they do that only for the first and third chorus). Watch the official MV for "Would you run" right here.

#17 Bol4 - Butterfly Effect - October 26

I am not a big fan of BOL4 but holy moly, I was about to fall sound asleep thanks to these heavenly vocals. The MV is also beautyful and sober at the same time. Watch the official MV for "Butterfly Effect" right here.

#16 N.flying - Sober (repackage comeback) - October 6

Sober is on a whole other register compared to Moonshot. Sober is definitely a slower song, with some blues chords and smooth vocals. I really like this song, but I guess Moonshot is still the number one in my N.Fia heart. Watch the official MV for "Sober" right here.

#15 CNBlue - Love Cut (comeback) - October 20

I'm usually not a fan of the western/cowboy concept, but they totally nailed it. Plus, it's very addictive. Whenever there's a whistling melody you know that the song will get stuck in your head x) Watch the official MV for "Love Cut" right here.

#14 NCT 127 - Favourite (Vampire) (comeback) - October 25

Just like every other NCT song, I had that "WTF" moment when I heard this for the first time. I still am not grasping the verses, but the chorus definitely stole my heart. And y'all know the whistle got me addicted. Watch the official MV for "Favourite (Vampire)" right here.

#13 IU - Strawberry Moon (comeback) - October 18

I love how soothing and calming this MV is, and IU's vocals are so powerful but delicate at the same time, which is why I enjoy it so much. Watch the official MV for "Strawberry Moon" right here.

#12 Youngjae (former GOT7) - Vibin - October 5

This song is such a great song to vibe with in your car! It's just an amazing "feel good" song. Listen to it and it'll brighten up your mood. Youngjae has very soothing and powerful vocals at the same time, and he's killing these notes that are fairly high for a male singer. Also, you HAVE to watch the MV just to see his precious smile. Watch the official MV for "Vibin" right here.

#11 CL - Tie a cherry (comeback) - October 20

Alpha is, for me, CL's best solo album. This album is simply fantastic, the queen is giving us attitude and strenght, and I honestly feel proud. I don't have anything else to say. Watch "Tie a cherry" right here.

#10 Luna (of f(x)) - Madonna - October 6

I guess she really wanted to pay tribute to madonna, and I can totally picture madonna singing this song when she was younger. I really like the rhythm of the song, and Luna's outfits are simply stunning. Watch the official MV for "Madonna" right here.

#9 Ateez - Eternal Sunshine (comeback) - October 3

There's nothing wrong in releasing a summer song in October right? I lowkey like this song more than déjà vu. I'm not saying déjà vu is not a great song, it is, but I prefer the vibe of Eternal Sunshine, and I kinda missed the ciolorful and joyful vibes they previously showed with Wave and Illusion (which was kind of a long time ago). Shoutout to my boy Jongho who's killing those high notes and to my boy Seonghwa for rocking his outfits. Watch the official MV for "Eternal Sunshine" right here.

#8 Ailee - Don't teach me (comeback) - October 27

I can't say anything else than "SHE FREAKIN' KILLED IT"! The musical concept suits her voice SO MUCH, and she was so gorgeous in all her outfits and the choreography was matching the vibe, wery classy with so much attitude, ugh I'm living for it. Watch the official MV for "Don't teach me" right here.

#7 Twice - The feels (single) - October 1 [ENGLISH]

The queens are back with a … prom concept! I don't think any group had that concept before, or at least not a lot thought about it. I have to say that I love the choreography, especially the chorus part. The only thing I'm not fond of in this song is the pre-chorus. As soon as the auto-tune becomes too obvious, it throws me off. But this song is still amazing and VERY CATCHY (as it should from Twice haha). Watch the official MV for "The Feels" right here.

#6 Somi - Xoxo (comeback) - October 29

I've always liked Somi, especially her song "Birthday", but I was waiting for something to happen, I don't know what but something. And that thing happened when "XOXO" came out. For some reason, I kept listening to that song all day long when it came out and it's now on my playlist, and I listen to it at least twice a day. Watch the official MV for "XOXO" right here.

#5 Raiden ft. Taeil, Illiboi - Love right back - October 11

Taeil is one of SM's best vocalists, and I believe that he'd be able to showcase more of his talent if he starts doing solo stuff. I'm not saying he should leave NCT, not at all. But I'd be very happy to see him releasing a single or a solo album before he enlists. Watch the official MV for "Love right back" right here.

#4 Kingdom - Black Crown (comeback) - October 21

These guys have the coolest concept I've ever seen in Kpop. Seriously, calling your group Kingdom and telling the story of different kings that marked history is too cool. Plus, they have killer vocals, and their MVs cannot be even called music videos because they're like movies. And not any group could be able to pull of such concept, so they're really worth checking out if you still don't know them! Watch the official MV for "Black Crown" right here.

Time for honorable mentions!

• Blitzers - Make a mistake - October 6 - Official MV
• Cravity - Veni Vidi Vici - October 7 - Official MV
• Golden Chil - Ddara - October 5 - Official MV
• Pixy - Addicted - October 6 - Official MV
• Blackswan - Close to me - October 14 - Official MV
• Secret Number - Fire Saturday - October 27 - Official MV

 

#3 CL - Let it (comeback) - October 27

The lyrics to that song are so powerful: "I will never change myself to follow the crowd, Just living to be me", "what matters is your dreams, hope plus your spirit". It really made me feel good listening to that song, and CL singing it is even better. Watch the official MV for "Let It" right here.

#2 Enhypen - Tamed-Dashed (comeback) - October 12

I'm absolutely loving the rock vibe every Hybe artist has been going for lately. TXT, Enhypen and Seventeen, it's totally my jam! The chorus is upbeat, and you really want to bop your head to it. I just wished the song was less repetitive towards the end and to have a different, more crazy last chorus, but the song is still amazing! And oh my god, Niki has grown so much! Watch the official MV for "Tamed-Dashed" right here.

#1 Seventeen - Rock with you (comeback) - October 22

This song is so close to become my favourite Seventeen title track. It has everything, the rock vibe, the vocals, the choreo, the MV, the attitude, EVERYTHING! Objectively, this song is perfect. Subjectively, this song is the best that was out in October. Watch the official MV for "Rock With You" right here.

That's it guys! I hope you enjoyed it, and let me know your own favourite releases of October 2021 in the comments down below. Here's the link to the YouTube playlist: Top Kmusic October 2021. 

Take care and I'll see you soon!

Love, Swan

~ September 2021 ~

Hello everyone and welcome to the top Kmusic of September 2021! This month was full of amazing comebacks which made it very hard for me to rank all of them. The top 3 kept changing to be honest but I had to make up my mind. I just want to remind you that this ranking is purely subjective and based on my own personal preferences. Your favourite releases might be on a low ranking, others might not even be there, and that's because we all don't have similar tastes.

Now, before we start, here's the usual disclaimer: All the pictures included in this article are screenshots taken by me from official music videos. If there is copyright infringement, I apologize in advance and will remove any problematic picture upon the owner's request. The link of the YouTube playlist can be found at the end of the article. I decided to make YouTube playlists instead of Spotify or Apple Music playlists to make it available for everyone. 

#23 Hyuna & Dawn - Ping Pong (duo debut) - September 9

These two are so unique. I love how everyday they show the world they're a beautiful couple and that they don't care about what others say about them. This song is as crazy as they are, and I love how they assume their musical signature that is, let's admit it, very special and unique. I want to praise the creativity and the professionalism behind the MV. This release could've easily been a mess but it wasn't, thanks to the team behind it. The reason why this song is in last place this month is because it is so special that I cannot listen to it very often. Watch the official MV for "Ping Pong" right here.

#22 Seori ft. eaJ (Jae of Day6) - Dive with you - September 16

VOCALS!!! VOCALS VOCALS VOCALS! Seori starting the song, and then Jae coming in in the second verse is a perfect combination. Also, I don't know where they shot the MV but the location is stunning. I could picture myself running on the beach.  The song in itself is very refreshing and nice to listen to. Watch the official MV for "Dive with you" right here.

#21 Lisa (of Blackpink) - Lalisa (solo debut) - September 10

The choreography for this song is DOPE, the outfits are badass and cool as hell, and the MV is very well shot. Lisa smells confidence and talent. However, I'm going to be honest, I'm not a fan of the song. There's too much electronic sounds and I don't like the instrumental and melody. Hence why I couldn't rank this higher. Watch the official MV for "Lalisa" right here.

#20 Stray Kids - Surfin' (unit release) - September 15

This song suits the personality of Changbin, Lee Know and Felix. It is a very summery, lighthearted song, with a very catchy hook. I wish it was released during summer though. The MV is very bright and the choreography is RELATIVELY easy to replicate (I say relatively because I wouldn't be able to do a single move). Watch the official MV for "Surfin'" right here.

#19 Kim Woojin (former Stray Kids) - In my space (comeback) - September 29

This song is proof that you don't need a lot of money to make a great song and a great MV. The song is impactful because of its simplicity. What really touched my heart is Woojin's vocals. Woojin is an incredible singer, and his vocals were already showcased in the previous songs he made. But this one is different because the song sounds nostalgic and melancholic. I love it when he goes in the deeper tones. The MV is pretty simple as well, but it definitely does the job. Watch the official MV for "In my space" right here.

#18 Ateez - Deja Vu (comeback) - September 13

I remember listening to Pirate King and Treasure (Ateez's debut songs), and thinking "wow, this group is going to be big". Then, I was embarked on an amazing journey with Ateez as pilots and Atinys as passengers. This ride was made of ups and downs, my best moment being when they released Inception. Inception has to be my favourite Ateez title track. I won't say that Déjà vu is a bad song because it's not, it's a very sensual song with a very sexy choreography. I loved the sets and the outfits (especially at the rain scene, oh my god they all looked so fine) abd I liked how they tried to step out of their comfort zone (and did it pretty well). But I still wished this song was a tiny bit different. I don't know, something is still missing for me to rank it higher. Watch the official MV for "Deja Vu" right here.

#17 NCT 127 - Sticker (comeback) - September 17

Had this song been released at the end of the month it would've ranked lower, because I always have a hard time processing a new NCT song. Every time they release a new song, especially the 127 unit, I first go like "what the hell is that". And then, the song grows on me. Although I still don't get the concept behind the MV, I totally love how vocal-centric this song is. My favourite part has to be the chorus, although they sometimes abused of the autotune. The choreography is also eye-catchy. This is not my favourite NCT 127 title track, but this song is definitely something. Watch the official MV for "Sticker" right here.

#16 Young K (of Day6) - Guard You (solo debut) - September 6

I'm sick of watching all my favourite artists going to the military. I know we can't do anything, but it still hurts to think that we won't hear any new music or see any new projects for quite a long time. Young K left us at least an amazing goodbye gift with his first solo album. It does take the pop route more than the rock route, but I really like this song. The part that quickly got stuck in my head was the "I, will never let you cry" right before the chorus drops. I really love how the "cry" goes into minor out of nowhere. That's something day6 does a lot: playing with major/minor chords and with the rythmic progression of songs, and I LOVE it. Watch the official MV for "Guard you" right here.

#15 JayB (of Got7) ft. Junny - Fame - September 27

Although I'm not a fan of the RnB genre, this song is different. When I heard it for the first time, I was like "this song is great, but I just don't like RnB so it's not my type of music". But then on the second listen, the chorus hit me hard. Jay B's vocals are shining through this song, especially through the chorus. Junny is a great addition to the song, I didn't know him before but he still adds a small touch. Watch the official MV for "Fame" right here.

#14 Itzy - Loco (comeback) - September 24

As much as I love Itzy, I didn't really like mafia in the morning. But Loco is a whole different story. First, the song is very upbeat, and I love the energy this song conveys. Second, the MV is very colorful and full of attitude. I love when Yuna is "walking" on a billboard like she's the queen of the red carpet, and how Lia & Chaeryeong are rocking this choreography. Last but not least, this song is very catchy and easy to sing along and dance to. I'm definitely a fan of this concept, and the other songs on this album are as good as the title track if not better. Watch the official MV for "Loco" right here.

#13 E'last - Dark dream (comeback) - September 29

This group has been on my radar since their debut. Their identity is very unique, and they give off a very 2nd gen vibe which I absolutely dig. We can find this same epic/melancholic vibe in all the title tracks they've released so far, and I absolutely love it. They really showcased their vocals on that one, and the MV is gorgeous. Their outfits and face expressions are on point. I also love how the choreography is strong but fluid at the same time. Watch the official MV for "Dark dream" right here.

#12 CL - Lover like me (pre-release) - September 29 

I think it's safe to say that we're all excited for the Queen's return. CL is back, and I'm so happy. Talking about this song, it's surprisingly "american", in a good way. Because Kpop is becoming popular in the US, a lot of groups and artists are trying to "modify their style" to fit the needs of the american market, and, well... it usually flops in my humble opinion. But here, CL is just being herself. She doesn't need to modify anything, and that's what's great about her. Watch the official MV for "Lover like me" right here.

#11 Monsta X - One Day (single) - September 10 [ENGLISH]

Oh gosh how I wished this song was longer! I hope with this song everyone realised how good Jooheon's vocals are (they all had amazing vocals in this song). I really can't wait to be at a Monsta X concert to hear that song performed live. Watch the official MV for "One Day" right here.

#10 Dowoon (of Day6) ft. Seong Heejin - Out of the blue (digital single) - September 27 

I was so excited when I heard that Dowoon was going to release a solo track (although I would've wanted a whole album but a single is already good). Dowoon's voice goes so well with Seong Heejin's. The mix of both voices sounds cute, adding to that the MV with all the nice and cute drawings, you get a comfy song to listen to. I'm sure I'll hear this song whenever I need comfort. Watch the official MV for "Out of the blue" right here.

#9 Stray Kids - Gone Away (unit release) - September 17

I'll always be amazed by how good Han is at rapping and singing. I'm so proud of I.N and Seungmin, they've gotten so much better, it shows that they worked hard to reach this level. Out of all the unit songs that are on the "Noeasy" album, this one's my favourite. Watch the official MV for "Gone Away" right here.

#8 Woosung (of The Rose) - Dimples (solo comeback) - September 23

I'm really proud of Woosung's positive attitude regarding what happened with The Rose's company. I don't know where things are regarding that matter, but what I'm happy to see is that Woosung keeps making music, and everyone should know how amazing of an artist he is. Woosung has this thing in his voice that you can't miss even if you're a thousand miles away. That's his vocal signature, and he does it so well. The song is very energetic and makes you want to dance, and the chorus is really catchy and makes you want to sing along (even though you'll end up talking in 'yogurt' like they do in animal crossing but we don't care right). Watch the official MV for "Dimples" right here.

#7 Stray Kids - Cheese - September 10

This song is so funny and clever at the same time. The bridge talks about blue cheese, cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese (Felix's line), but then they address their haters by telling them "You find 'du du du du' funny? (reference to god's menu) What's so funny about A-class?" There's only Stray Kids to make this type of songs out there and I love it. Oh, and lastly, "HANA, DEUL, SET, CHEESE!" Watch the official MV for "Cheese" right here.

#6 Stray Kids - The View - September 3

If you guys want to stan a versatile group, go stan stray kids. These guys have everything from electronic to pop to ballad to summer vibes to cringey to intense rap to whatever else remains. I have to admit that I find it easier to listen to their summery songs, and Blueprint was my favourite in that category. But The View definitely joined the chat right now. I really appreciated that they got the chance to perform it on a live stage, it gave the opportunity for the choreography to shine. As for the song, my favourite part has to be the one right before the last chorus drops, that part where Changbin and Lee Know go crazy with their vocals (oh my god Lee Know, he improved so much lately and I'm so proud of him). Watch the official MV for "The View" right here.

#5 Oneus - Life is beautiful - September 2

It felt so good to have a fresh concept from them. It's been long since they've done a song like this and I'm not going to complain. As much as I love their deeper stuff, this song is a good refresher and came in time. The song is very chill and I love the instrumental, although I don't know what that instrument is... maybe a flute? I'm not sure. It just gives a nice and cool "tropical" vibe to the song and I absolutely love it. Watch the official MV for "Life is beautiful" right here.

#4 Coldplay ft. BTS - My Universe - September 24

I always loved Coldplay's music and the positive messages they conveyed in their songs. I had the chance to see them in concert in 2017, which is still one of the best concerts I've ever attended. I remember singing my heart out to every single song and to jump around until I was out of breath. The same thing happened when I went to see BTS in concert in 2019, and to think that my favourite non kpop group was going to collaborate with BTS was crazy. I think that deep down I was hoping for this to happen, but like Chris Martin said in the behind the scenes video, I never thought it was actually possible. But it happened, and thank god it did. Even though they come from very different worlds, they still wanted to convey the same message of love and acceptance, and this is what allowed them to come together around 1 song. And what a song! First, I'm so happy it includes korean lyrics. Second, the fact that Chris Martin actually flew to South Korea to record the song with BTS is proof that this collaboration is genuine. Third, the lyrics are so beautiful and communicative. Fourth, all the harmonies in that song sounds like heaven to my ears. And, last but not least, CHRIS MARTIN SANG THE KOREAN LYRICS DURING THE GLOBAL CITIZEN LIVE PERFORMANCE!!! You guys, this was awesome, and I can't wait for them to perform together on an actual stage (although the BTS holograms were cool). Watch the official MV for "My universe" right here.

Honorable mentions:

• Cravity - Divin' (comeback) - September 15 - Official MV
• Ciipher - Blind (comeback) - September 28 - Official MV
• AB6IX - Cherry (comeback) - September 27 - Official MV
• Wonho - Blue (solo comeback) - September 14 - Official MV
• Mamamoo - Mumumumuch (comeback) - September 15 - Official MV
• StayC - Stereotype (comeback) - September 6 - Official MV

 

#3 Ha Hyunsang (of Hoppipolla) - Burning sunset - August 28

I know this song was released in August but I discovered it not long ago and couldn't not mention it. So, here's the perfect recipe to kill me: You put someone who has amazing and powerful vocals with a nostalgic vibe to it, you add instruments (especially bass and electric guitars) and there it is, you have me dead. Seriously, songs made by kpop bands or soloists who come from bands are so underrated and I have trouble understanding why. They are as talented, they trained as well, they just play instruments instead of dancing. And if they don't come from one of the Big 3 chances are that the majority of the community don't even know they exist. And this is so unfair. This is why I'm doing these rankings, for you to discover such amazing people. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Ha Hyunsang from the band Hoppipolla (winners of the contest "superband") and his fourth digital single Burning sunset, a song that will hit you in the feels. Watch the live clip for "Burning Sunset" right here.

#2 A.C.E - Changer - September 2

You guys know that I fell in love with A.C.E recently (and I regret it not getting into them before because now they're enlisting in the military and I just hate myself for this), and if you still are unfamiliar with them you can check out the presentation I made about them right here. This song… made me cry. I know it's an upbeat song and they all look happy in the MV, but I couldn't help but feel sad watching this. I love the second part of the chorus where they go "Changer, Changer, Love is like a danger". I also love the choreography at that part. This song will always hold a special place to my heart, because it hit me in the feels even though I can't really explain why. Watch the official MV for "Changer" right here.

#1 Key (of SHINee) - Bad Love (solo comeback) - September 27

This song had to be number one. I have so many things to say about this song and I don't know what to start with ^^' Well, first, the retro vibe has been overused for the past two years, but it's Key, so it's fine. What I mean by that is Key has his own way of doing things, this is why this song doesn't sound like any other retro song. Then, the MV is really well produced. The outfits, the sets, the choreography sections, everything looks perfect. Special mention to the backup dancers who really make Key shine in the center. I just have to say that I fell in love with that red and black trakcsuit. It looks so good on him. Last but not least, HIS VOCALS! I knew Key was a great vocalist, and I always thought that he had a unique timber. He finally had the chance to showcase the whole scope of his vocals. I really like how he switches from soft to powerful vocals, he has such great control over his voice which is achievable only with hard work. Watch the official MV for "Bad Love" right here.

That's it! These were my favourite kmusic releases of the month of September 2021! Feel free to comment down below your own favourites, and which release are you looking forward to in the next months. Don't forget that the end of the year is coming and that the form for the "Swans awards" first edition will be available  starting November 1st (let's pretend last year's edition didn't happen ok?). 

If you want to listen to all the songs on this ranking back-to-back, here's the YouTube playlist link: Top Kmusic September 2021.

Take care and I'll see you all soon!

Love, Swan

 

Sources: YouTube.