[ASKKPOP] Staff Picks: Best Songs of 2015 (First Half)

Posted on 2015-07-02 18:49:00

by asianlook

After choosing thebest videosso far for the first half of 2015, the staff members ataskkpopwent on to choose the best songs! Now that it's July and summer has arrived, that means 2015 is already halfway over (That was fast)! The year was a blur so far with all the dating scandals, debuts, and more - but the crazy (good) music releases are what always has the K-Pop fans coming back for more.

To commemorate the halfway point to what hopefully will be an even more awesome second half of 2015, here are the staff picks of their favorite songs so far in 2015.

Paul: SHINee "View"

Fun party dance song in the mold of2PM's "Hands Up."LDN Noise, Adrian McKinnon,andRyan S. Jhuncreated an awesome, easy-to-listen track that is perfect for the summer time.Jonghyun's lyrics are fun and I like this new sound from SHINee. My favorite song from the first half of 2015.

Annie: MAMAMOO "Um Oh Ah Yeh"

Honestly, I was despairing for the first half of this year because there just weren't that many K-Pop songs I was getting into, but now that summer's started, all the fun releases are out! I can't get this song out of my head and I've legit had it on repeat for days now. It's just so fun, catchy, and addictive. I can sing it all day, and there are plenty of changes to the song that keep things interesting.

Eric: BoA "Shattered"

Best song is a difficult choice. I considered a ton of songs, from the manic energy ofBastarz' "Conduct Zero" to the nonstop fun ofBig Bang's "Bang Bang Bang." In the end, I settled on a deeper cut, BoA's "Shattered." The Queen of K-Pop had her comeback recently and her album went on repeat immediately upon release, and I fell in love with this song as soon as I heard it. Almost a "Shadow" part II, the trance elements, layering, soaring breakdowns, and ethereal vocals leave me in aural ecstasy.

Yuna: IU "Heart"

I literally love anything by IU, making this my current favorite song. The wistful, almost haunting melody sticks with you even after the song slowly fades off. IU's voice only fits the lyrics and melody perfectly. It almost feels like you're in a dream as you take a listen.

Jenny: BTS "Move"

"Move" actually is one of the less popular tracks on the 'HwaYangYeonHwaPt 1' album. People die for the title song "I NEED U", forSuga's "Heungtan Boys" and "Intro", forV's "Hold Me Tight", forJungkook's "Outro", forRap Monster's favorite "Converse High", for the fan-favorite (and follow up song) "Dope", so I think it's pretty fair to say "Move" is probably the least hyped song on the mini. But all the same, it's my favorite. It's not the usual BTS sound - it's a lot more mellow, but I still love it because the lyrics talk about the boys' own experience. Rap Monster starts off with his and Suga's moving into the dorm, about how they felt as they struggled through their early days.J-Hopetalks about the actual moving experience from their old dorm into their current dorm. Suga talks about his actual life and how far he's come and how far he has to go. It's a lovely song that explores the usual 'moving=maturing" theme, done in BTS's own way, and it makes for an amazing song.

Elisa: ANDA "Mastering"

With its laid-back vibe and cheeky puns, "Mastering" makes me smile. I like the way ANDA goes from breathy vocals to rap with ease, something artists don't always do right.

Annie S: Big Bang "Loser"

I really like all of Big Bang's releases so far this year, but the passionate yet sad song known as "Loser" is my favorite, not only from Big Bang but also from all the songs released this year. The lyrics are so deep and meaningful, but it's not a downer song either. It's a perfect balance.

Jessica: Zion.T "Eat"

Not only do I absolutely love Zion.T's unique and easily noticeable vocals but I also really appreciate the sincere and genuine lyrics of the song."It's not easy, you're busy. You wonder why you have to go this far, there's so many damn things they want,"and"Even if you're tired, make sure you eat breakfast and lunch."If you know me personally, I tend to skip lunch and dinner, especially when it gets busy, and it takes a toll on my body and health. Despite the stress that the real world brings, this song brings me peace and comfort mentally. It also made me realize that it's time to eat.

Jennifer: Hyunseung "You're The First"

Ever since "Troublemaker" I realized just how talented Hyunseung is. This guy is seriously an underrated artist, dare I say even a rare gem in K-Pop. His latest single single "You're The First" accomplished nothing short of blowing me away on first listen. An incredibly lively number built on electrifying squeaky synths that is so addictive that it is like to leave you intoxicated, this song will without a doubt have you feverishly grooving along.

Carol: The Ark "The Light"

I was super pumped about this new rookie girl group coming out, expecting some fierce, hip-hop style group, especially with formerYGtraineeYuna Kimin it. They also released some awesome dance covers earlier, leading us to believe that they'd be debuting with a strong sound... and then out comes this song! It took me by surprise, but it was a pleasant surprise. Yuna takes the center stage for this song with her rap, and I like that it's a song where the rap verses aren't some random lines squeezed in, just to give the rappers in the group something to do. The sweet and catchy chorus also ended up getting stuck in my head and I found myself playing it over and over. The music video is also very emotional and well shot, and overall, a really great debut for a rookie group!

What was your favorite song?