Generally, it’s enjoyable to make a journey again in time and immerse your self in a particular Okay-pop yr. Much like my Battle of the B-sides, this function sees me shuffling an enormous playlist of songs from a sure period, selecting out six at random and sharing my ideas about every. All songs are eligible: Title tracks, b-sides, Japanese tracks from Okay-pop acts. The one standards is that they will need to have been launched of their goal yr.
Right this moment, we’re travelling again to 2015.
Listed here are the six rivals:
BoA – Hey
Boys Republic – Hey
Ladies’ Technology (SNSD) – Bump It
Halo – Sleepless
HIGH4 – D.O.A (Useless Or Alive)
SHINee – Love Sick
Who will rank first??
6. BoA – Hey
2015 was a really robust yr for many returning acts, however I wasn’t as bought on BoA’s large comeback album. She co-wrote all the things herself, which was a terrific inventive leap. General, the album could be very strong however doesn’t signify one of the best of her sprawling discography in my view. Hey is a delicate mid-tempo that leads us into the finale of the observe record. It’s a really fairly piece of music and he or she sounds nice on it, however this type of observe is rather more about sentiment than thrilling songcraft. Oh properly, each album wants a lighters-in-the-air second like this, I suppose.
Score: 7.5
5. Ladies’ Technology (SNSD) – Bump It
2015 was an enormous yr for SNSD, bringing the group again collectively for a really profitable album. I bear in mind Occasion (and to a lesser extent, Lion Coronary heart) being a bit divisive once they got here out, however each songs sound so enjoyable at this time. The album was host to a variety of robust b-sides, together with Bump It. The observe is a bit generic in locations and will do with a a lot stronger hook, however the women promote it and the thumping beat injects loads of perspective. It’s considered one of my least-listened-to songs on the album, so I sort of want a special one had popped up on my shuffle button to provide them a greater probability on this rating!
Score: 8
4. SHINee – Love Sick
Love Sick is a b-side from SHINee’s Odd/Married To The Music album. I bear in mind not being thrilled with the album on first pay attention, which appears extremely loopy with hindsight. Nonetheless, we’ve to keep in mind that this was the follow-up to the unbelievable Misconceptions sequence and their equally improbable Everyone EP of 2013, so my expectations have been ridiculously excessive. With 2025 ears, this track is an absolute delight. It’s a bit extra mid-tempo than my favourite SHINee songs are usually, however the insistent bounce and unbelievable vocal manufacturing steal the present. The bridge injects an additional rhythmic push that reappears as a standout finale. As with most all the things this group has launched, Love Sick has utterly stood the take a look at of time.
Score: 8.5
3. Halo – Sleepless
Halo had a handful of nice hits, even when the group by no means made it large. They have been early on the brand new jack swing revival, harnessing potent grooves that buttressed sugary pop melodies. Their brilliant, assured vocals are the right vessel for this type of music, effortlessly grooving over the sunshine funk. Sleepless was not a single, however it’s positively robust sufficient to be one. The refrain appears like classic Teen Prime however the track’s most foundational influences come from a long time earlier. It’s good to listen to a track whose idea is just good power and nice melodies.
Score: 8.5
2. HIGH4 – D.O.A (Useless Or Alive)
HIGH4 have been most recognized for a spring-time hit, however this killer fall single stands as their crowning achievement. From its sharp synth accents to the icy vocals to the startling melodic builds, the track pulses with such character. It’s without delay pensive, mysterious and ferocious. Quite than funnel all of its bombast into anticipated choruses, the manufacturing spreads its mini climaxes in surprising locations. This causes the observe to really feel each unpredictable and frequently absorbing. All of it builds to a whopper of a finale, bringing all the things collectively because the beat intensifies.
Score: 9
1. Boys Republic – Hey
Boys Republic actually have an unimpeachable discography. They didn’t have to launch as many classics as they did, however I’m very glad they stored their high quality stage excessive. The summer time of 2015 was a stellar one for breezy mid-tempos. Okay-pop acts don’t usually promote ballad-like comebacks, however a track like Hey showcases simply how efficient the method could be. I’ve spent a lot of 2025 ragging on what I name “beigepop,” and from a purely goal stage I suppose you can classify Hey‘s total sound as “beige.” EXCEPT… and this can be a large “besides”… its melodies are extremely potent. There’s no foolish sing-talk, no flat repetition. The tune simply climbs and swirls and crystallizes into a few of the most stunning turns of its yr. I liked this single again then and proceed to adore it at this time.
Score: 9
