The following few weeks on The Bias Record shall be full of all method of end-of-year countdowns. From Okay-pop to J-pop to international pop to dramas, it’ll all be lined. It is a enjoyable solution to tie a bow on the 12 months and have fun all of the issues I cherished in 2024. These countdowns kick off tomorrow with my largest one: The Prime 50 Okay-Pop Songs of 2024.
Actually, this has been an odd 12 months for Okay-pop. The business appeared extra scandal-plagued than ever and ended its 12 months with a flurry of disbandments and controversies. It’ll be fascinating to see the place we head going ahead. So far as music is anxious, 2024 was cut up neatly in half. An unlimited share of my favourite music got here from the primary half of the 12 months, leaving the second half fairly underwhelming. Regardless of this, I’d take into account 2024 stronger as an entire than 2023 (although for me that is because of the work of a comparatively small group of artists).
There shall be loads of area to speak about musical developments later, however I’m positively within the temper for a change. I adopted the time period “beige pop” to explain a lot of this 12 months’s choices. Subdued sounds appear to be in. Even when artists borrowed from historically bombastic genres, they usually did so in a extra nuanced manner. I’ve by no means been the largest fan of nuance in pop music, in order that’s a little bit of an issue relating to private style. Because of this, my listing this 12 months is very brief on woman teams. These developments appeared to have an effect on them greater than boy teams and I’m very looking forward to a return to a extra forceful sound (assume Kara, GFriend, T-ara, WJSN, Sistar, and so on).
In fact, there have been loads of wonderful songs launched this 12 months — from boy teams, woman teams and soloists. I’m excited to highlight them over the subsequent few days. Personally, I’m a much bigger fan of my high ten than I’ve been in years. Ultimately, 2024 was extra “high quality” than “amount,” with a handful of songs I adore slicing by the 12 months’s many, many skips. On stability, all of it works itself out. And for these taken with stats, there are additionally some new data inside this 12 months’s countdown that may turn out to be obvious as soon as every little thing is revealed. It’s at all times fascinating to see how issues shake out.
That is additionally a good time to preface the countdown by reiterating how it’s totally different from different year-end countdowns. This isn’t a listing picked by consensus, neither is it one based mostly upon any metric of success past how a lot I personally loved a music. There shall be hits, industrial flops and lots of under-the-radar picks. You in all probability received’t agree with every little thing, however identical to The Bias Record as an entire, you will be assured that it’s 100% genuine to my style.
Talking of the weblog, 2024 is on observe to proceed year-over-year development in views and guests. That’s 9 straight years of enchancment. As I do yearly, I wish to thank each reader — whether or not you’re in settlement with my opinions or not. Thanks for persevering with to go to! Suggestions and exercise are the issues that maintain me posting each day.
This year-end characteristic is my 820th put up of the 12 months, which is up once more from this time final 12 months. That’s 260,000 phrases — or a pair novels’ price of content material, if you happen to’d wish to rely it that manner!
Eligibility standards for my Prime 50 Singles listing hasn’t modified since final 12 months, however for individuals who are new to the weblog, listed here are the principles. This 12 months, there was one music that didn’t fairly match the factors however I simply couldn’t justify counting it as a b-side.
Eligibility standards:
- A music should have been launched as a title, follow-up or promoted observe between December 1, 2023 and November 30, 2024.
- A music should be paired with a full music video or big-budget efficiency video (the traces get extra blurred every year).
- English-language singles are eligible. Japanese singles by Okay-pop artists shall be a part of the J-pop countdown.
Earlier than kicking off the countdowns tomorrow, listed here are the ten songs that didn’t fairly make the Prime 50.
60. TOZ – Nu Sneakers (assessment)
59. Moonbyul – Is This Love? (assessment)
58. Sistar19 – No Extra (Ma Boy) (assessment)
57. DAY6 – Welcome To The Present (assessment)
56. Yena – NEMONEMO (assessment)
55. Purple Velvet – Cosmic (assessment)
54. ITZY – Imaginary Pal (assessment)
53. G-Dragon – Energy (assessment)
52. AB6IX – Seize Me (assessment)
51. Moonbyul – Touchin&Movin (assessment)
