66 Korean songs that I liked in 2018. Part 4: 33-23

Another one of those.

33. Olivia Hye (LOONA) - Egoist (Feat. JinSoul)

Olivia Hye was the very first thing that opened my eyes to LOONA thanks to her overall very nice song, Egoist. At first glance, the song is rough on the edges. The 1st verse is a bit bland, but it doesn’t come back again once "내 맘에 가득" (nae mame gadeug) comes in, which is good. The 2nd verse is unconventionally replaced by the instrumental solo in the middle out of nowhere and meh rap, that's actually a little bit better than the ballady 1st verse and the sleepy breakdown. However, the upbeat chorus contrasting Olivia's mellow singing obliterates those minuses.

32. MOMOLAND - BAAM

MOMOLAND's BBOOM BBOOM is a fun sax earworm with a cringy t-rap horned in. The song is repetitive af, but that doesn't bother me, because every time I watch the MV, my brains automatically turn off on their own and the only thing that remains is a sweet aftertaste.

31. SUPERBEE - Jagsaga (Feat. Swings, Young B)

This metallic hollow sounding Drop It Like It's Hot  song, with occasional sax support, is catchy. I like all the rappers involved, except the last one. Young B sounds horrible and ruins the song for me. Chorus  being sung by each rapper is a nice touch.

FYI: Here's Superbee's another head-bobbing track, that was released at the very end of 2017.

30. Lee Byoung Hyeon - EMBER

When an MV is a meme it doesn't mean that the song has to be of a bad quality too. This is the case with EMBER. I find the juxtaposition between the song's seriousness and the ridiculousness of the MV interesting. Lee Byoung Hyeon's trotnes fits this surprisingly catchy folk song like a glove. Thank you for showing me that a historical drama OST is capable of not being boring.

29. John Park - Understand

When everyone in KPop is busy chasing trends and shit, here's John Park doing his own American BritPopRock thing. I have a soft spot in my heart for him since BABY. That song was such a feel-good effort. Understand is as uplifting and enjoyable. Understand is probably the only song of 2018 in which I like the vocal onanism in the breakdown.

Bonus empty calories for wearing the same outfit from another great song of his, U, in the MV.

28. TWICE - What is Love?

I wanna know, know, know, know how to get this bubbly song out of my head and stop tap dancing, goddammit.

Bonus garçon tips for ONCEs annoying everyone, me included, in the comment section of the video for the Pulp Fiction's iconic dance scene.

27. Dong Woo (Infinite) - TGIF

YaDong's better person who raps overshadowed INFINITE's awful title track from their Top Seed album (yes, Top Seed, not Top Speed), AND Woohyun's AND NELL fanboy's solos altogether, y'all. I enjoyed Dongwoo's unpolished bumpy vocals over a laid-back bass driven rhythmic beat in the song.

FYI: Classic 2017th INFINITE song with a bomb of an inst. - Air - exists and I knew about it only recently. (I think it's produced by Sweetune)

FYI 2: INFINITE's labelmates, Lovelyz, has a song Daydream with an amazing intro, that exterminates the whole song. (I think it's produced by Sweetune)

26. SUNMI - Siren

Get out of my face, Sunmi, with your nice fast retro electro beats, eh jarring breakdown and addicting lalalalala lalalalala with instruments  laughing at me.

25. NCT 127 - Regular

I did't hate any of NCT 127's Hep-Hap songs last year, I think, therefore one of them is bound to appear on my list, because SM somehow experiments with low BPM (Non)Hip-Hop shit and doesn't make it totally horrendous. I don't remember Regular's idol swaeg rap verses utilizing Migos'™ flow over fapping sounds. The only shit that I care about is the extremely catchy chorus, especially at the end, when it's extended and the trademarked everyone-sings-together SM technique is used.  Listening to this song is like eating untasty food, complaining about it, and still continuing eating it, 'cos the aftertaste is not that bad. Actually this analogy can be applied to a lot of KPop songs, as well as the ones that are on my list, hmm.  Also, did I just hear Nelly's patented ahh-s throughout the song? lol

24. SUPER JUNIOR - Me & U

This is much better song than the Latino pop trash Lo Siento. Like why did they pick the worst song of the album, that doesn't represent the feel of the album, my god. Why don't you la-la-la-la-love me, SM? Me & U is a good song, despite a bit lame happy verses and whatever breakdown. Whatever you want/need sung in usual SM unison is the best shit ever. I wish the song didn't finish abruptly, tho.

FYI: Good Day for a Good Day is a consistently awesome song from the album, reminiscing Take That's These Days, but it's from 2017.  

23. YONG JUN HYUNG - Go Away

Junhyung continues Highlight's usual sad mid-tempo style with this release. The pleasant ballad-y verses are OK for passing my time while I wait for the chorus. Just go awaaay followed by "broken tape" sounds is why this song is on the list.