#10. Akdong Musician - Dinosaur
Akdong Musician have been a sleeper pick all these years. They release solid music and I've casually glanced over them time and time again, but no more. "Dinosaur" was AKMU's first take on the EDM genre and it's a mighty successful one at that. I like how the song opens with guitar for ten seconds before sucker punching you into reality. In the last couple of years plagued by songs with disappointing climaxes, "Dinosaur" avoids this mistake with a brilliant break-chorus hybrid. The first time I heard this song was through speakers so I didn't even know that Suhyun was actually singing those notes (starting at 1:42). Her voice is incredible and she'll be a superstar vocalist for many years to come. Also helpful is that Chanhyuk's rapping is absent. Those were always my least favorite parts of AKMU songs. "Dinosaur" is brilliant and I hope they return to some of this stuff once Chanhyuk finishes military service.
#9. Sistar - Lonely
In a year where girl groups disbanded left and right, it felt good to see at least one end their group career peacefully. This is as beautiful and solemn a goodbye as you'll see in Kpop. Their voices are pristine, and while Soyu and Hyorin's abilities are of no surprise, Dasom turns in her strongest performance yet. Bora also shines with a powerful rap that helped erase her mediocrity of the previous few years. These solid factors make this breakup all the more painful. This was as well-rounded of an effort since "Alone," and off the heels of "I Like That" one thought Sistar would be returning to form. But alas. The fact they got to perform this song live makes their finale all the more bittersweet. God, I miss Sistar so much.
#8. Zion.T - The Song
Another artist I've missed out on until recently (bless KCON for showing me the light), Zion.T's "OO" mini was delightful and title track "The Song" spearheaded the effort. In the traditional Zion.T way, "The Song" is very relaxing and smooth. Mixing both singing and rapping, Zion struts his stuff and the chill vibes never stop. The lyrics are meta, hoping the song doesn't get popular and that people don't memorize the lyrics. Of course, if you weren't Korean you probably had to Youtube / Google them in the first place haha. I saw a Youtube comment that said the "T" in his name stands for talent. That's definitely something I agree with. "The Song" has quickly become a staple in my library and with good reason.
#7. 9MUSES - Remember
Despite losing more members than they've retained over the years, 9MUSES prove they still can hang with the young groups by dropping quality songs like this one. "Remember" is a reminder of what they're capable of, as with only four members they brought a song on par with those during their 2013 run. The track is the darkest we've ever seen from them, and the instrumental amplifies that. Hyemi is in her element - she sounds her best in songs like this and "Glue" - while Kyungri and Keumjo are only a few steps behind her. Sojin surprises with a spectacular rap, and her deep husky voice will give her an advantage against other girl group rappers. Don't hold your breath because we're already at the 3rd best group release of the year.
#6. Heize - Don't Know You
Thus far, a trend in the picks has been a balance between singing and rapping (or in AKMU's case, the absence of a bad rap). Perhaps this Heize track is the best embodiment of that equality. She does many different things in "Don't Know You" at different speeds, which creates a beautiful blend of Heize's talent. The rapping is laid-back yet exquisite, and her vocals are pretty and distinct. Much like Zion.T's "The Song," it's a relaxing number perfect for a quiet evening. Heize gained fame through her appearance in Unpretty Rapstar, but her abilities on both sides of the ball (mic?) can always be appreciated. I'd argue this is the best song to introduce her to new listeners, because something in her library can match what you like the most in "Don't Know You."
#5. Winner - Fool
This is yet another year where the slower, sentimental songs dominated the competition. Now that sounds contradictory given the last few songs ahead of "Fool," but don't be mistaken. Quality always defeats quantity any day of the week. Winner bring out their soft sides with a beautiful performance from all the members. Seriously, you'd be hard-pressed to find the weakest singer on this track. "Fool" also benefits from not having true rap parts, which was the biggest fault in "Really Really." It's not that they can't incorporate rapping into this type of song (after all "Empty" did exactly that) but it's more reassuring to not take the risk. With that culprit gone, what you have is a gorgeous, emotional ballad. Winner has done wonders with "Fool," and usurps "Empty" as my favorite song in their discography.
#4. Red Velvet - Peek-A-Boo
Red Velvet has done it. They have a dance track that has surpassed the likes of "Ice Cream Cake" and "Dumb Dumb." This song is cute yet emphatic, and refines elements that past songs had trouble with. The instrumental doesn't have any awkward moments and the chorus lets said instrumental run free. It's charming how the song bounces / flits around the members all the while sounding in unison. Truth be told I find that an underappreciated aspect of Red Velvet is how similar their voices are, both in sound and skill. "Peek-A-Boo" also houses the best Red Velvet rap to date. Full of sass and charisma, the Irene fan in me is ultimately jealous that Yeri "stole" it away, but kudos to her for killing the rap break. This group has made the top 4 in back-to-back years. Not bad at all.
#3. BoA - Camo
The immortal queen is back. Whether it's singing or dancing, BoA is a master of performance and the sleek sounds of "Camo" highlight her wonderfully. Her voice is as solid and consistent as ever, take a listen to the bridge that crescendos into the final chorus. The dancing is extremely sharp (check out the sequence at 1:16), though it's a shame that she never performed this on music shows. BoA's choreography is always a treat. BoA has been so excellent for so long that I think her high standards often leave her out of the discussion. Had this been released by a less famous artist it's likely the numbers would've skyrocketed. "Camo" is an exhilarating listen through and through.
#2. Sunmi - Gashina
After Wonder Girls disbanded it was only a matter of time before a member rose from its ashes with a legendary piece to make the WG name proud. Sunmi's "Gashina" is precisely that. This song destroyed the charts and for good reason. Killer beats (shoutouts to Black Label), wonderful singing, and a thrilling choreography are the driving forces behind "Gashina." This dance was special since it combined elements of both cute and sexy, which is something rarely seen. Most dances tend to lean heavily in one direction or the other. In terms of content, Sunmi has a stunning resume as both a group member and individual artist. Three fantastic works in "24 Hours," "Full Moon," and "Gashina" are as prolific as any girl group soloist out there. I'm slightly concerned that the bar has been set too high for her comeback early next year.
#1. IU - Palette
When "Palette" was released I immediately penciled it in for a top 5 song of the year. The question was, where would the track rank? Despite the strong showings from the dance-heavy competition, I'm quite happy picking "Palette" as the #1 song in 2017. This piece is breathtakingly beautiful and IU's voice is dreamy and soothing. It's a therapeutic ballad combining her soft singing coupled with a simple backing instrumental. As the chorus implies, the song has matured much like IU has over the years and the choreography's movements match that. Never afraid to call in help, G-Dragon's feature provided a stellar complimentary rap to IU's sweet vocals. Bonus points for the live performances where she didn't need GD and decided to rap herself! IU can do it all. In a year where many ballads and calming songs were noteworthy, "Palette" reigns above all.
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