BIGBANG Lies 2nd Generation K-pop Electronic Hip Hop Revolution Released in August 2007 as the title track of BIGBANG’s mini-album 《Always》, ‘Lies (거짓말)’ is often cited as the revolutionary song that divided K-pop history into ‘before Lies’ and ‘after Lies.’ The track moved away from the dominant R&B and ballad…
Girls’ Generation Into The New World 2007 K-pop Dance Youth Anthem Girls’ Generation (소녀시대) made a radiant entrance into the music scene on August 3, 2007, with their debut single, ‘Into The New World (다시 만난 세계)’. The song is celebrated as the iconic track that signaled the end of…
god Friday Night 1999 K-pop Dance Party Anthem god (지오디)‘s “Friday Night” is a beloved track from their 1999 second studio album, Chapter 2, and was promoted as a successful follow-up single. After gaining initial fame with emotional ballads like ‘To My Mother’ and ‘Love and Remember,’ god, under the…
SHINHWA I Pray 4 U 2002 K-pop Ballad Fan Song SHINHWA (신화) released ‘I Pray 4 U’ as the follow-up single to their 5th studio album, Perfect Man, in 2002. In stark contrast to the powerful choreography of their title track ‘Perfect Man,’ this was a warm, emotional ballad. It…
Im Chang-jung Again 1997 K-pop Ballad Legend The song that solidified Im Chang-jung’s (임창정) status not merely as a multi-entertainer, but as a leading South Korean ballad singer, is “Again (그때 또 다시),” the title track of his 1997 third studio album, Again. Written by Park Ju-yeon and composed by…
Young Turks Club Jeong 1996 K-pop Yoon Il-sang Dance Young Turks Club (영턱스클럽) was a five-member co-ed group that took the Korean dance music scene by storm upon their 1996 debut. Their biggest hit, “Jeong (情) – Dangerous Farewell,” the follow-up track from their first album, became an instant phenomenon.…
Song Dae-kwan Haet Deul Nal 1975 National Hope Trot Released in 1975, Song Dae-kwan’s (송대관) “Haet Deul Nal (해뜰날),” literally meaning ‘A Sunny Day Will Rise,’ is one of the most brightly optimistic songs in Korean trot music history. The lyrics were written by Song Dae-kwan himself during his long,…
Lee Jung-hyun Change 1999 K-pop Techno Warrior The year 1999 marked a turning point in Korean popular culture with the emergence of singer Lee Jung-hyun (이정현). Her track “Change (바꿔)”, a follow-up single from her debut album ‘Let’s Go To My Star,’ delivered a powerful shock with its combination of…
Lee Ji-yeon Please Stop the Wind 1989 K-pop In the late 1980s, Lee Ji-yeon (이지연), known as the ‘Tear Sheet Goddess’ for her innocent beauty and touching voice, released her mega-hit “Please Stop the Wind (바람아 멈추어다오)” as the title track of her 1989 second album. Composed and written by…
Clon First Love 2000 K-pop Techno Dance From the late 1990s into the early 2000s, Clon (클론) dominated the Korean dance music scene. Their mega-hit “First Love (초련)” was released in 2000. Already dance powerhouses with hits like ‘Kungtari Shabara’ and ‘Escape from the City,’ Clon embraced the Techno sound…