In 2022, we've heard a lot from the world of K-pop. From shiny debut tracks that had everyone dancing to comeback title tracks that live rent-free in our heads, the sub-culture has been stronger than ever—even making up a good portion of our other Best of 2022 lists.
While title tracks are undoubtedly good, we think they get too much of the love. If you trek your way down tracklists and dig a little deeper, you'll find some true gems that are worth sharing in the spotlight.
So, next on Bandwagon's musical roundup of the last year, here are our Top K-pop b-sides of 2022.
'SHADOW' - SEVENTEEN
Things get superheated early in Face the Sun’s title track ‘HOT,’ but this doesn’t scorch out the rest of the record, where you get a proper sense of how SEVENTEEN has gotten into the groove after a sonically adventurous 2 years since An Ode. Among the other 8 tracks (or 12, in the repackage, Sector 17), ‘Shadow’ impressed me the most. Co-written by mainstays Woozi and Bumzu along with maknae Dino, it’s such a tautly produced track – self-assured in execution, steady in intensity. I also think it’s the most realised concept in their 4th full-length album (down to its choreography, if you’ve caught one of their Be the Sun concerts), and I’d die on this hill.
Speaking to Consequence, Vernon has identified strains of 2-step garage, hyperpop, and 1980s pop in the production, meant to evoke a certain poeticism through contrasts. Frenetic breakbeats chase glimmering synths, like a never-ending marathon to outrun the darkness. Then, a solemn pause in the chorus, sans a gratuitous drop. As if “in a place without light,” a lone guitar strums along as Mingyu, Wonwoo, Hoshi, Vernon and S.Coups show off their vocal chops, singing, “Shadow, my shadow, my shadow / 널 남에게 보이지 않으려 […] 미워하고 아파도 했어 (I don’t want others to see you… I hated you and hurt you).”
This B-side is a clear representation of Face the Sun’s concept: as you race towards the blazing sun, you must also reckon with the shadows it casts. “We might all have worries in our hearts, represented by the shadow, but we can overcome this and emerge stronger,” Woozi himself explained. Just as Dino raps in the bridge, it’s about embracing the darkness within – fears, insecurities, and whatnot – as you look towards the light: “우리의 관계는 유일해 / 같은 발맞춰 달려 everywhere.” (Our relationship is unique / Let's run together, everywhere.) — Paolo Abad, Contributing Writer
'IMPURITIES' - LE SSERAFIM
Before we get down to why ‘Impurities’ is such a bop, I would like to say that LE SSERAFIM has so many good b-sides. From the ever-iconic ‘Sour Grapes’ to the headbang-worthy ‘No Celestial’, it was so hard to choose just one to rave about. But I finally settled on ‘Impurities’ because it’s just so pristine.
The Yunjin-co-written track is a self-love anthem, but not in the way we’ve heard before. Choosing to stray away from the loud, in-your-face declarations of embracing your imperfections, LE SSERAFIM opted for a laid-back 90s R&B sound to speak of self-worth and acceptance in quiet confidence—giving way for the group’s vocals to shine. It’s addictive, flirty, and effortlessly cool, what’s not to love? — Franchesca Judine Basbas, Staff Writer
'CHILDHOOD' - SUNMI
Listening to music may be an auditory experience, but there are certain songs that possess the ability to conjure up detailed images, and sometimes even entire worlds. SUNMI’s ‘Childhood’ — the B-side to her summer hit ‘Heart Burn’ — is a track that belongs to this category. When I played it for the very first time, the place that I pictured was a very specific one — a beautiful open pasture covered in a bright orange filter. Thanks to the song’s entrancing instrumentals, particularly its extremely satisfying bassline, it wasn’t long before I started drifting further and further into this daydream.
This exact same place still comes to mind whenever I listen to ‘Childhood’ and I cannot think of a better setting for the tale that SUNMI tells in the number. As it title suggests, the track finds the vocalist looking back on a relationship that did not work out during her adolescent years. And as she ponders on what could have been and would have been, you can feel some sadness creeping into the warm and dreamy world that the song’s instruments have created. Nostalgia is, after all, defined as a feeling of pleasure that comes with a hint of sadness when looking back on the past, and SUNMI has done such a terrific job of capturing that here. B-sides are sometimes overlooked when they accompany popular title tracks, but you would be doing yourself a huge disservice by not giving ‘Childhood’ the attention it deserves. — Brandon Raeburn, Staff Writer
'DEAD MAN RUNNING' - SEULGI
There were so many directions that Seulgi could have gone, what with her being such a diverse artist, but we are so glad that this was the path that she set out on for her solo debut. I’m sure that many of us were absolutely captivated by her in the title track ‘28 Reasons’, but it’s in ‘Dead Man Runnin’’ that we really get to bask in Seulgi’s warm, sultry, and deep vocals as she showcases her lower register. When I first heard this, I was caught off guard by what at first seemed like an unassuming B-side. Then I proceeded to replay the song for hours on end.
This song seamlessly fits into the mysterious, thrilling universe in which the album is set. What made this track even more special was how Seulgi participated in writing the lyrics herself. She cleverly depicts the idea of a chase with lyrics such as “You can run but you can’t hide.” A closer listen will make you realise how it’s designed like a dangerous game with Seulgi effortlessly controlling it all. If this is already what Seulgi’s first solo album sounds like, we are definitely in for a treat for her future music releases. — Glenda Lim, Writer
ALL DAY - RM FT. TABLO
Google "all day RM" and you most likely won't get this track first off. Instead, you'd probably see the link to a video documenting a day in the life of BTS' leader, with the track softly scoring its first minute.
But 'All Day' is so much more than that. For one, it features Tablo who in my opinion, dominates the list of RM's collaborators for Indigo. The two hip-hop artists have undeniable artistic chemistry which is why the song feels like a conversation between the two and yes, I would like to be part of it, please.
Truly, this b-side track serves. By flipping off AI and the algorithm, pointing out how you hold the match that can set your life on fire, and proclaiming how we have dynamite in our DNA, RM and Tablo urge us to take a hard look at our situation and what we're doing about it while teasing our bodies to move to the beat. Now, where is that dance video this bop so rightly deserves? — Maddie Castillo, Staff Writer
'DESIGNER - NCT 127
There’s just something about ‘Designer’ that’s so dreamy, not in a hazy, shoegaze pop kind of way but in like the lead guy in a teen rom-com kind of way. For a good majority of the song, it embodies those butterflies you get when you see your high school crush down the hall. I also would like to point out how obsessed I am with Mark’s first verse—the way he sings (or rather says) “I think I’m in love with you” is to die for, oh my—and the way Jaehyun takes over so seamlessly. I cannot tell you how many times I replayed that verse alone.
Sonically, ‘Designer’ is quintessential NCT 127. A cheerful R&B instrumental that then descends to a simple piano melody led by Jungwoo and Doyoung’s crystalline vocals before erupting into the group’s signature hip-hop boom backed by Taeyong’s rapping. Everything just works so beautifully together. — Franchesca Judine Basbas, Staff Writer
'CLOSER' - GIRLS' GENERATION
In FOREVER 1, Girls’ Generation’s 15th-anniversary comeback, sentimentality is the name of the game. Across 10 tracks, the eclectic record nods to their different eras, but it’s not exactly a retrospective. SNSD gleefully references their own past, but they also fashion something that feels like the fierce comeback it ought to be. It’s a beaming signal that the unassailable OG Nation’s Girl Group are the trailblazers. The eponymous title track makes that epic statement, complete with an ‘Into the New World (다시 만난 세계)’ sample.
By track number 6, ‘Closer,’ however, I get something more up my alley: a glittery nu-disco joint recalling the Mr. Mr. (2014) days – particularly the dazzling B-side ‘Europa.’ It has a sheen of sophistication befitting these 30-something icons. Of course, you will no longer find the saccharine naïveté of their breakthrough hit ‘Gee,’ or even the need to find their footing or prove themselves here. You get a slinky romp steeped in nostalgia, and SNSD confidently owns every second of it.
Carried by a melancholic piano refrain and an Italo-flavoured groove, ‘Closer’ is a breath-taking dream. It even has hints of city pop or retro 가요 (gayo), like their juniors who’ve dabbled in the sound (listen to YUKIKA’s ‘SOUL LADY 서울 여자’ or TWICE’s ‘Say Something’), or their contemporaries back in the day (see: 9MUSES’s ‘Dolls’). The production is cozy and exquisite, with a nostalgic vibe reminding me of Daft Punk’s ‘Veridis Quo’ or Jessie Ware’s ‘Spotlight,’ for instance. As they yearningly sing, “내 채워줄 진심 그 한마디 / 네 한마디로 써 내려갈 story / 그 결말 따윈 상관없단 듯이 그냥 내게로 closer (That one sincere word will fill me, a story in one word. As if the ending doesn’t matter, just come closer),” you just might find yourself cry-dancing alone. — Paolo Abad, Contributing Writer
'GOOD NIGHT MY PRINCESS' - CHUNG HA
In an album led by the effervescent title track ‘Sparkling’ and populated by fun pop numbers such as ‘Louder’ and ‘California Dream’, it is the ballad ‘Good Night My Princess’ that stands out the most. Although it is the quietest song on Bare&Rare, Pt.1, it continues to be the first one that comes to mind when I think of the project from CHUNG HA because of the deeply moving message that it carries.
Co-written by the South Korean soloist, ‘Good Night My Princess’ is a heartfelt ode to her mother, who is clearly the most important person in the 26-year-old’s life based on the song’s lyrics. As CHUNG HA looks back on a difficult season that she and her mother had to endure, the singer, who’s known for performing with a swagger, reveals a more vulnerable side of herself that we do not usually see. While there is a tinge of pain in her voice as she digs into her past, there’s also a comforting quality to it which reflects CHUNG HA’s desire to reassure her mother and thank her for all she has done. “I’m here as I am now because of those times we’ve gone through together,” she explained in a behind-the-scenes interview.
When ‘Good Night My Princess’ reaches its soaring final chorus that concludes with the powerful line “your love is almighty”, it cements itself as not only one of the best b-side tracks of 2022 but also an important milestone in CHUNG HA’s development as an artist. — Brandon Raeburn, Staff Writer
'MY BAG' - (G)I-DLE
I first came across 'MY BAG' on TikTok. At first, I didn't pay attention to it but as it kept finding its way into my For You page, the more I found myself singing its insanely catchy chorus. For a couple of months since then, the (G)I-DLE track had carved out a permanent space in my head. There was not a week I did not have it blasting through my apartment—and of course, since it would be criminal not to do so, I had to dance along.
I had a chance to catch (G)I-DLE live at the Manila stop of their tour and the hours leading up to the show consisted of me just pestering our writer, Kara with ‘MY BAG’. And as expected, the song goes so much harder live—everyone was either shouting the earworm-y chorus at the top of their lungs or dancing like their entire life depended on it (or if you were me, both). The song is just so catchy and so fun. — Franchesca Judine Basbas, Staff Writer
'LONELY BOY' - TXT
‘Lonely Boy’ comes as one of the two sub-unit tracks (the other being ‘Thursday’s Child Has Far To Go) that TXT has ever released, and I’m so glad Hueningkai and Yeonjun paired up. Their voices couldn’t be more different, with the former’s soft and airy vocals contrasting with the latter’s strong and punchy raps, and yet works so well together. It adds a tension to ‘Lonely Boy’ that I love so much.
Comparing a regretful love to a tattoo, the song revolves around dealing with the traces of a relationship that’s no longer there. It’s heavy, especially so with only an electric guitar and occasional beats making up for its lack of instrumental. Inspite that, ‘Lonely Boy’ is still so gentle and delicate. Hueningkai and Yeonjun did an amazing job bringing the story to life, you could feel their entire heart and soul in every lyric they sang (especially, Yeonjun’s second verse—wow). — Franchesca Judine Basbas, Staff Writer
'FAIRYTALE' - DREAMCATCHER
While we already know Dreamcatcher as an absolutely versatile septet, nothing could have prepared us for the release of ‘Fairytale’. If the title track ‘Vision’ was an anthem in preparation for a war to save the Earth, ‘Fairytale’ feels almost like we are transported to a new, mystical land where hope and light are in abundance. The third song in Dreamcatcher’s latest mini-album Apocalypse : Follow Us, charms listeners to follow their hearts in an uplifting tune. It is impossible to feel any ounce of sadness when you’re listening to this track, which is something we all need more of. When you think you’ve already heard the best from the septet, you’ll be proven wrong with each new B-side that follows the title track. It feels like Dreamcatcher are constantly reinventing and outdoing themselves with every new addition to their repertoire, taking on new roles in their musical journey, but one thing is for certain: they always know how to surprise and impress their listeners.
In a past interview with Bandwagon, main vocalist Siyeon fondly chose ‘Fairytale’ as her most memorable to record and it’s easy to ascertain why. As Yoohyeon sings, “This might sound like a fantasy, don’t worry look up and you’ll see, you’re living a fairytale.” it feels comforting to know that the seven ladies are with us as the main characters in our fantasy fairytale. — Glenda Lim, Writer
'I WANT U BABY' - STAYC
I’ll be honest, at the start of the year, my only knowledge of STAYC was of a short article we wrote about YOUNG-LUV.COM. It was only when our photographer, Micah, went on about their music that I finally decided to check them out. So I returned to YOUNG-LUV.COM and instantly fell in love with ‘I WANT U BABY’.
There are so many layers to the song that blend so beautifully together It’s a modern R&B ballad that’s so satisfying to listen to, stepping away from the pleasant explosion of bright pop in the mini-album’s earlier tracks. There’s still so much about STAYC I have yet to discover but they’re definitely a K-pop group worth checking out. — Franchesca Judine Basbas, Staff Writer
Check out the rest of our Best of 2022 lists where we round up our top songs, music videos, albums/EPs, collaborations, and more.
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