Cameron Tyo
June, 9th, 2024
K-Pop, also known as Korean Popular music, is a music industry staple. As the name suggests, the music is created by Korean artists in the Korean language. K-pop music and, therefore, the performances that go along with this music are often super flashy. The outfits worn by K-pop idols, combined with the intense and difficult choreography, catchiness, and grooviness of the tunes due to soaring melodies, etc., often create memorable performances and fan chants from fans who love to listen to and support their favorite groups. While K-pop originated in Korea, the music has become westernized in recent years, and more lyrics in the songs have been in English, gaining popularity in the U.S. Last year, I ranked my top ten groups of 2023, but from that point until now, I have been introduced to new K-pop groups and their music. With that, my ranking has changed drastically. Like I did last time, I’ll put what label each group is under and the members from each group. I’ll also put videos under why I ranked a group the way I did, showing my favorite songs from the group or just points of interest for readers interested in any particular group.
10. ARTMS
Members: HeeJin (Rapper), HaSeul (Vocals), Kim Lip (Dancer), JinSoul (Rapper), and Choerry (Rapper)
Bias: HeeJin
Label: Modhaus
ARTMS is a relatively new group. Made up of former Loona members, the group creates music that is very reminiscent of that group’s music. Their first album <Dall> consists of many songs that sample tracks from different Loona member’s solos and subunits, and many of the songs that do so are very fun to listen to. My favorite song from the group is “Candy Crush,” which samples the trumpet opening and chorus part from Haseul’s “Plastic Candy.” The song gives major city-pop and RnB vibes. The vocal colors of the members blend perfectly to create the sweet-sounding melody heard in “Candy Crush,” and I like how synths are placed in the interpolated melody as well as the soulful voice of Choerry, etc. It’s such a captivating song. I also enjoy “Air,” which samples “Air Force One,” a song from ARTM’s sub-unit ODD EYE Circle. The melody of the “Air” is quite literally a much more slowed-down and relaxed version of the chorus of “Air Force One.” I love the Afropop vibe that is also given out due to the reggae-sounding instruments that are placed throughout the song. Finally, there is “Flower Rhythm,” which implements the na na na of Heejin’s “Algorithm” but is also an extended version of Kehwa. It is a more frantic-sounding song, and the straining and high notes of the voice show this. Overall, I love the variety of songs and the girls’ personalities as a whole. Despite being fairly new, they are already one of my favorite groups.
9. Stray Kids
Members: Hyunjin (Rapper), Felix (Rapper), Lee Know (Main Dancer), Bang Chan (Dancer), I.N (Vocals), Han (Rapper), Seungmin (Vocalist) and Changbin (Main Rapper)
Bias: Felix
Label: JYP Entertainment
Stray Kids is still a K-pop group I’m conflicted over. There are moments where I constantly listen to their music, but others where I’ll go periods without listening to it because I’m not feeling it. However, currently, I have been able to vibe with their music, if only just a little bit. My favorite songs from them are “S-Class,” “LALALALA,” and “Maniac.” “S-Class” kind of starts out slow but gets fast at the chorus, only to get slower again. The constant speed changes in the song make you curious about how the song will end. The aggressiveness of the rap and singing can be heard in the song, much like their other songs. In “LALALALA,” I like Feix’s deep vocal part that leads up to a sudden pause until an energetic and shouty chorus with good basic beats pops in. “Maniac” has a very techno feel to it. What sounds like a bass guitar complements the deep vocals and raps of the music. Putting their music aside, if you watch their choreography, you can see how difficult it is, and yet the members are all able to move correctly with fluidity. Stray Kids is one of the more unique-sounding groups on the list and one of only two boy groups. The personality of the members is fun to watch. I’ll always appreciate Seungmin and his love for flaming hot Cheetos and the shenanigans Felix might get himself into on live streams.
8. 2NE1
Members: Park Bom (Vocals), Sandara Park (Vocals), CL (Vocals), and Minzy (Vocals)
Bias: Minzy
Label: YG Entertainment
2NE1 is one of YG’s first groups. While most of my favorite K-pop groups are Gen 3 and 4, there are some Gen 2 groups that I really like. 2NE1 is one of those groups. A lot of their songs include energetic drum beats with bass moments. The vocals are super strong, showing the fierceness and charisma of the group, which was different for the time, and I like the futuristic sound of most of their songs. The autotune is used very extensively throughout their music to create harmonies that seem “technoey” in a sense. A lot of the music has a “club” vibe. Their unique style of music can be heard in “I Am The Best” and “Fire,” which aren’t only two of my favorite songs from the group but by the majority of fans. While a lot of the music is synth-like and experimental, there are moments where pure vocals can be heard without any unique instrumentalization. However, I think the unique instrumentalization creates unexpectedly fun moments in their songs to listen to. Another song I really like is “Gotta Be You,” which mixes rave-like music with softer music, making what is being sung seem more hopeful than that of the other songs. It’s a shame the group had to disband, but luckily, their music is easily accessible, and fans are constantly being introduced to it.
7. Girls’ Generation
Member: Im Yoon-ah (Vocals), Taeyeon (Vocals), Seohyun (Vocals), Tiffany (Vocals), Hyoyeon (Vocals), Kwon Yuri (Vocals), Choi Soo-young (Vocals), and Sunny (Vocals)
Bias: Taeyeon
Label: SM Entertainment
Girls’ Generation is perhaps one of history’s most universally loved K-pop groups. It was one of the first recognizable K-pop groups worldwide. “Into the New World” is the song that catapulted them into success. The song’s lyrics discuss women’s empowerment, the spread of love and kindness, etc. The song was used in women’s rights, protests, etc. The vocals are sung so beautifully, etc. This group can definitely be chalked down as the one that led to the success of other girl groups. “Into the New World” is the most recognized song in the group’s discography, and it also happens to be my favorite. The synth guitar playing alongside the chimes and electric guitar creates a groovy beat. The background vocals overlapping the main ones are so addicting to listen to, etc. I also really like “Gee.” It is a very bubbly song that is fast in the chorus but slower with claps in the bridge parts. The infectious melody is nice to listen to when following along to the story the lyrics suggest, which relates to someone having first love. Another song I like is “Paper Plane,” which is one of Girls’ Generation’s newer songs and the electric synths in the song are great to listen to, much like other Girls’ Generation songs; a sense of hopefulness can be felt in the song. I like how funny the members of Girls’ Generations are. They might be an older group, but there are still times when they can be non-serious but get their stuff done.
6. NMIXX
Members: Haewon (Vocals), Sullyoon (Dancer), Jiwoo (Rapper), Bae (Dancer), Lily (Vocals) and Kyujin (Rapper)
Bias: Bae
Label: JYP Entertainment
The last time I made my list, I had never heard of NMIXX, but ever since listening to their style of music, I have grown super fond of their songs. I always love the pace and style changes that NMIXX does in their title track, which you often know is coming when the members yell out, “NMIXX, Change up.” The vocals in this group are some of the best I’ve ever listened to. One of my favorite songs from the group is “Dash.” The hook is catchy, as all can get out, and the baseline is super groovy. I love the random small changes in the pace of some words sung. The change-up goes from a techno-like sound to a power anthem. The song sounds sort of Arabic, in a way that I enjoy. Another song I really like is “Dice.” At the bridge of the song, I love the bass drop into synth-like instrumentalist, which leads to the actual end of the song where vocals are sung so triumphantly accompanied by trumpets. It’s not about the music side, but I love NMIXX’s MVs. They’re always so unique to watch. I also really like “Sonar.” I love how NMIXX tries to gear to their Hispanic fans. I also love the simplicity of the song, with drums playing lightly after the chorus is sung, but when the change up happens, drums start playing much more vigorously after what is being sung and become the primary instrument being played, giving a jungle vibe to the music. NMIXX releases experimental music, and I very much enjoy that
5. New Jeans
Members: Hanni, Minji, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein
Bias: Danielle
Label: ADOR under Hybe Entertainment
New Jeans is one of the most recognizable K-pop girl groups to exist today. They were the first group to perform at Lollapalooza in the U.S., and all members have proven to be really good at dancing, rapping, and singing. New Jeans was the group that got me into K-pop after I kept hearing “OMG” on TikTok. This led me to listen to more of their music on Spotify, and that, in turn, made my Spotify filled with different K-pop music that I started to listen to. As of the last time I ranked this group my three favorite songs are still “Hype Boy”, “ETA,” and “Cool With You.” I love the melodies of Hype Boy. Pull-Push Effect is used in the song. This means that the chorus is 100 BPM while the rest of the song is 200 BPM. Because of this, when the chorus starts to be sung, it has a punchy and catching entrance. The vocals are so pretty, and I love the energetic feeling that is given off. “Cool With You,” on the other hand, is inspired by garage punk. I like how the intimate, breathy vocals of the members are paired with the bass drum as it creates an atmospheric mood for the story, which is a retelling of Psyche and Eros, which is a tragedy. Finally, you have “ETA,” which is a fast-paced song filled with jersey beats, which I’m a sucker for. The group has many more amazing songs, and I love how the members get along despite there being a clear difference in personality traits among them. New Jeans will always be important to me, being the first K-pop group I listened to by choice.
4. TXT (Tomorrow X Together)
Members: Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Huening Kai, and Taehyun
Bias: Huening Kai
Label: Big Hit Entertainment under Hybe
TXT is my favorite boy group. Yes only two boy groups made it in my top ten. I love the youthful energy that seemingly comes from the group. My three favorite songs from the group are “I’ll See You There Tomorrow,” “Sugar Rush Ride,” and “Do It Like That,” which was a collab song with the Jonas Brothers. However, there are many other songs that I quite enjoy from the group. “Do It Like That” is a great dance song and summer track. I love the bass that is played throughout the song, and I like how the vocals are distributed, going from TXT singing to the Jonas Brothers, etc. “Sugar Rush Ride” consists of ethereal vocals amidst a background of a bouncy guitar rhythm. This instrumentalization fits well with the theme of members realizing that childhood must end. Finally “I’ll See You There Tomorrow,” goes for a more futuristic sounding track, which makes sense, being that the theme of the album is looking forward to the future. Synths and skittering bass beats are scattered throughout the song as the members start to sing. Another song I really like but doesn’t quite make my top three is “Happily Ever After.” I love how the vocals and energy of the members dancing in the MV sell the fairy tale concept that the song was going for. TXT happens to be one of the funniest groups when it comes to interacting on live streams and being themselves on variety shows, etc.
3. Red Velvet
Members: Irene (Vocals), Joy (Vocals), Yeri (Rapping), Wendy (Main Vocals) and Seulgi (Lead Vocalist)
Bias: Irene
Label: SM Entertainment
Red Velvet is one of the best third gen groups to exist. Their songs range from darker, “velvety” sounding ones to “red,” fantastical, and cute-sounding ones, hence their name. Creating songs ranging from mature sounding to cute keeps Red Velvet’s discography fresh. One song I really enjoy from the group is “Day 1.” Every time I hear the song, it reminds me of an anime relating to school. The instrumentals create a cute, bouncy rhythm, and everyone seems comfortable singing.This is a B-side, but a perfect one at that. In fact, all the groups in this list create very good B-sides. “Wildside” is my second favorite song, and it is a Japanese single that was featured in their album Bloom. While “Day 1″ is part of the r”ed” concept, this is a more mature concept. The harmonies are powerful, and each vocals gets their chance to shine charismatically. My third favorite song from the group is “Bamboleo.” The chorus is sweet and soft, and the whole song has 80s retro vibes. Two other songs that I really like are “Feel My Ryhtym” and “Chill Kill.” I like the classical music sampling of “Air on G String” that is used in Feel My Rhytym and the operatic high notes of the members that are sung throughout the song. For “Chill Kill” it’s the haunting melodies that I love listening to. I like how the instrumentals are disoriented mostly in the song but randomly throughout; it sounds majestic. It gives a unique sound to the music. Red Velvet is releasing another album later this month, and I’m super excited to give it a listen.
2. Twice
Members: Jihyo (Main Vocalist), Nayeon (Lead Vocalist), Jeongyeon (Lead Vocalist), Momo (Main Dancer), Sana (Vocalist), Mina (Main Dancer), Dahyun (Lead Rapper), Chaeyoung (Main Rapper) and Tzuyu (Lead Dancer)
Bias: Sana
Label: JYP Entertainment
Twice is probably not only one of the most recognizable Gen 3 K-pop groups but all of K-pop. People who haven’t actively listened to K-pop have probably heard a song or two from them. Twice has many good songs, but one of my favorites is “Doughnut,” which is a Japanese ballad released from them. I love the mellow and sentimental vibe throughout the song, which is given off by the piano and the way it is played. I like the atmosphere of the MV, which is a wintery palace landscape. I especially love the part of the song when the bridge leads to the final chorus, where Nayeon harmonizes over the other embers. The high note is pretty, and the harmony is so good. My second favorite song is “Signal”. Often hated by many, I love the song’s cute scientific feel. I think the chorus is cute and super catchy, probably one of the catchiest choruses I’ve heard in K-pop. The synths in the song create a sense you might feel meeting up with extraterrestrial life, and the MV shows members interacting with an alien as a way to represent them, trying to signal to someone that they like them despite them showing no interest. Two other songs I like are “Alcohol-Free” because of the bossa nova beats that are heard throughout the song, and “Look at Me,” which has a fun vibe. I love the frantic instrumentalization of the song and the repetitiveness of the line “Look at Me.” I love Twice’s variety of content, like their Time to Twice, and they just seem like they’re a group where the members get along with each other. I really like the group’s vibe during their MVs and when they create content, whether on Bubble or for promotions, etc.
1. fromis_9
Members: Saerom (Leader/Dancer), Hayoung (Main Dancer), Jiwon (Main Vocalist), Jisun (Lead Dancer), Seoyeon (Main Rapper), Chaeyoung (Main Dancer), Nagyung (Lead Dancer) and Jiheon (Maknae/Vocalist)
Bias: Jiwon
Label: Pledis Entertainment under Hybe
fromis_9 was yet another K-pop group I wasn’t aware of until this year, but I’m so glad I did. I love the personalities of all the members of this group. They are all so entertaining to watch. Their songs are so amazing. Everyone in the group is so talented. Can’t you tell they’re my favorite group from all this gushing? My favorite song of the group, and one of my favorite songs in general, is “DM.” I like the energetically paced vocals of the song and the bass guitar playing alongside them. I love how soulful and powerful the vocals are. I also love Hayoung’s whistle notes at the song’s end. I always find myself humming to this song. Another song I really like is “Airplane Mode.” Nagyung’s bridge part is what really makes me enjoy this song a lot. The bridge is filled with hope, and I love how she ends the bridge with her high notes. I love how chill most of the song is. My third favorite song is “Love Bomb.” The song is so infectiously happy but kind of gives sad vibes at the same time. The harmonies at the end are very emoted in a good way. These three songs are bops. The MVs of the songs are also great to watch. There are so many other songs that are great to listen to. “Fun” is a cheery and cute simplistic song, and “Attitude” is a power ballad filled with techno and synth moments. fromis_9 seems to try new things each time with their music, and it plays out. I can’t wait to see what new music fromis_9 might release in the future. The group deserves more recognition than they have received.
And that is my top ten K-pop groups of 2024 as of now. There are K-pop groups that aren’t on here whom I adore, but I had to narrow it down to just ten. There are so many K-pop groups in the world right now, so if yours wasn’t chosen, don’t be upset. That doesn’t mean I don’t like them. Who knows, maybe I haven’t heard of your favorite group.