[Bonus] Best Of 2015 Revisited

The finale to the Best 201X Revisited is probably premature, considering we're only barely halfway through 2016, but I committed to it and wanted this one written before anything like a Best Of 2011 so here's another look. Unlike other installments, I'm pretty satisfied with my 2015 set (and part of that is certainly due to the shorter time between revisions) so there are relatively few changes across the board. With the said, it'll likely prove difficult to write anything substantial about the songs that I didn't already say before in December. Still, we'll give it a go and wrap up this series today.

#12. Big Bang - Loser (-2)
Original: 9MUSES - Hurt Locker
Simplicity is key, and Big Bang capitalize on that statement with the quiet and calming track that is very much the successor to "Blue." However, while no one can question the quality, it simply loses out to other songs based on their general noise and energy. When you need some relaxing tunes, or want to emo out for a bit, "Loser" has your back. "Loser" falls to 12th not because it's a loser - it is very much a winner, but because it's the most boring song on the list.

#11. Mad Clown - Fire (NEW)
Original: IU - Twenty Three
Honestly, Mad Clown has some transcendent stuff. He has a pretty unique flow and his voice can sometimes be grating, but it's never really turned me away from his music. With "Stupid In Love" having placed him on the radar, Mad Clown joined forces this time with the less known Jinsil for "Fire." Jinsil has a sultry seductive voice, which is a pleasant counter to Mad Clown's explosive rapping. By all means this song should've catapulted both into stardom but that hasn't happened quite yet.

#10. 4minute - Crazy (-5)
Original: Big Bang - Loser
"Crazy" was rated as a top 5 song just eight months ago. What happened? Well for starters, it is the most disjointed out of the original top 5, with a rap, prechorus, and bridge that only mesh together because of the sassy instrumental. Very strong individually, less strong as a unit. Furthermore, it's a dance track with a simple chorus - and shares this trait with f(x)'s "4 Walls," but again, there's the segmented aspect to factor in. Still, some newfound complaints should do little to take away from the general greatness of "Crazy."

#9. Taeyeon - I (--)
Original: Taeyeon - I
"I" is still excellent in all facets, and Taeyeon parades her voice which is beautiful throughout. There's practically no problems with Taeyeon's part in the song. Of course, there is Verbal Jint to talk about. After having reviewed Jessica's "Fly" and my concerns with the unneeded rap, it has put Verbal Jint's appearance in a new (and different) light. However, with the rap being placed at the beginning of the song, the tempo of the track remains mostly intact despite the rap coming in. The importance of "I" proving Taeyeon's solo capability also can't be ignored.

#8. IU - Twenty Three (+3)
Original: EXID - Ah Yeah
IU's cantrip comeback continues to remain a fun listen whenever you need something light and sassy. IU's delicate vocals are in pristine condition and she delivers a great performance overall. Admittedly this song isn't one of her most memorable but that's unfair to be compared to the likes of "Good Day." As someone more into the music and not so much the aesthetics, choreography and MV are less important to me, but the video for "Twenty Three" was equally fun and artistic as the song.

#7. Big Bang - Sober (--)
Original: Big Bang - Sober
Big Bang's best track of 2015 remains "Sober," with one of the best instrumentals to boot. The heavy drum usage makes this song an instant headbanger and the carefree attitude of the chorus is infectious as hell. It's one of the best party songs and the attitudes in the vocals of G-Dragon and friends will always lift your mood. As a result, we see no changes in "Sober" for the revised list. The only thing this song needed was a live performance where the members were drunk.

#6. EXID - Ah Yeah (+2)
Original: Mamamoo - Ahh Oop!
The most important thing after a viral hit is the following release. Nobody wants to be a one hit wonder, and EXID certainly took that to heart, dropping "Ah Yeah" to much success. The track took several qualities that made "Up & Down" great and capitalized on them, with the electric rapping from LE and the smooth Hani vocals. "Ah Yeah" is wonderful in cementing the Cinderella story of EXID - an excellent song that kept the group rolling off their newfound popularity.

#5. Mamamoo - Ahh Oop! (+1)
Original: 4minute - Crazy
What's better that Mamamoo doing retro? Mamamoo doing retro accompanied by the charismatic and underrated eSNa. Her collaboration with the beagle idols was extremely polished and if you didn't know better you'd think she was part of the team (or at least some sort of manager or something). Mamamoo's vocals keep shining ever so brightly and Moonbyul's rap here is perhaps her greatest both by itself or as a component of the song. "Ahh Oop!" is all sorts of delightful.

#4. f(x) - 4 Walls (--)
Original: f(x) - 4 Walls
As I mentioned earlier, I much prefer proactive choruses and even though "4 Walls" lacks one, the rest of the song is spectacular enough to overlook. The emergence of Krystal as a secondary vocalist is the most significant one I've seen in recent memory, and Luna always puts on a show. Victoria and Amber also do well with their support roles, the latter even getting one of her better raps in, too. Despite the suboptimal bridge, it simply isn't enough to make me reevaluate this piece.

#3. INFINITE - Bad (-2)
Original: FIESTAR - You're Pitiful
After "4 Walls," the remaining songs are in a class of their own. They're all dance-oriented tracks with plenty of impact. In the case of "Bad," the song is driven by the powerful strings of the instrumental, and the non-strings parts are nothing to scoff at, either. The choreography is as intense as the song, which itself is spearheaded by the vocals from Woohyun and Sunggyu. "Bad" is ridiculously energetic from start to finish and is their best song to date.

#2. FIESTAR - You're Pitiful (+1)
Original: EXO - Call Me Baby
This song was singlehandedly responsible for pushing FIESTAR so far up my girl group ladder that I had them marked as an honorable mention. Delicately beautiful, yet with enough power and emotion to sell a convincing message. Linzy, Jei, and Hyemi do a great job with their vocals while Yezi dropped one of the strongest raps all year. It's simply a serene listen which provides "You're Pitiful" with immense staying power. Oh and did I mention Yezi's rap? It's marvelous.

#1. EXO - Call Me Baby (+1)
Original: INFINITE - Bad
EXO claim the top spot in 2015's best, because "Call Me Baby." is superior to Infinite and FIESTAR's work. The song is smooth, matched only by a suave bridge and excellent choreography that is trademark to EXO's music. They have consistently put out exhilarating dances and this one is no exception with the crisp moves and formation changes. It seems every iteration of the group has a memorable dance track, but this one is probably the most memorable. Also, I usually don't mention this, but the fact that the song sounds just as good in Mandarin is a bonus plus.