[Bonus] Best Of Debuts: SME Edition

They're the only label with such a large assortment of artists to even do this for, so here is SM Entertainment's version of the Best Of Debuts (which has only one prior post). Some of this will overlap with said post because a handful of their groups made it on this list. However, times change and not only that, but this is only having their debut tracks in direct competition with each other. How good the song is / was overall matters most, but I also took into account relevancy at the time and if it withstood the modernization of Kpop. Because we wanna see each of their main superstars go head-to-head, TRAX and Zhang Liyin will be absent from this list, as will subunits and project groups like S.M. The Ballad and EXO-CBX. That could make for an entertaining revisit in the future though.

#10. Red Velvet - Happiness

Yeah...there's no way that Red Velvet wouldn't be last on a list like this. I still have nightmares about this song. From the awkward pronunciation of "happiness" to the terrible rapping heard throughout, there was a lot to forget about this debut. There was also the MV and the many issues there. Not much else to say other than thank heavens they turned it quite the ways around.

#9. Super Junior - Twins (Knock Out)

Despite not needing to compare with modern era boy groups, Super Junior 05's debut simply lacked the knock out capability their title claimed. I just don't think "Twins" is that good a song. Unremarkable in all facets, this was only impressive in the sheer number of members, as having 12 members was and still is unusual to see. In retrospect they almost had a fusion element to their early songs (almost like Dreamcatcher but a little more intense) and that's probably why I didn't like their pre-breakout era music.

#8. CSJH - Too Good

Before Mamamoo, there was SPICA. And before SPICA, there was CSJH. Pure vocalist groups can all trace their ancestry to the girls of CSJH The Grace. Their debut video has nothing but powerful voices and closeups to focus on the faces behind the voices. All these girls could sing and would dominate the competition today. Stephanie left and they've basically been dead but Dana's still kicking it today! Or at least, she did a ways back with "Touch You." Oh fuck that was two years ago...

#7. f(x) - La Cha Ta

Experimentation was the game and f(x) was the name. This was not the younger sister group of Girls' Generation (and if she was, she was definitely adopted). f(x) pulled no punches with this dance track that was practically the complete opposite of Girls' Generation's debut before them. I loved the lighthearted feel of the song plus the final chorus layered over Amber's rap. And then obviously I have to talk about Amber setting the precedent for future girl groups out in the Kpop world to having one androgynous member (or at least one with an androgynous hairstyle). A solid debut, but SME has more to offer.

#6. SHINee - Replay

Cute dance track? Check. Different style from Super Junior? Check. Addicting hook? Check. SHINee filled some important spaces when they debuted and were helped along by the magical voices of Jonghyun and Onew. SM continued their stellar track record for finding the best vocal talent in the nation. Choreography-wise, they were fresh and Taemin began his campaign to capture noona hearts everywhere. "Replay" was SHINee's best song for years. Enough said.

#5. TVXQ - Hug

Of all debuts from the 2000's, the choreography was the most exciting here (yes, even more than BoA). TVXQ would go on to do a lot of things and many different genres, but the one common denominator was a strong choreography. "Hug" gave us the early glimpse of that. And who could forget their voices. Those harmonies during the bridge were beauteous. "Hug" would be a quality change-up title track for many top tier boy groups today.

#4. BoA - ID; Peace B

BoA was 13 years old when she debuted. I feel like that fact is lost with time and her legacy. Not even the youngins nowadays are debuting that early, and certainly not with the energy, poise, and talent that little BoA had. "ID; Peace B" was era-appropriate and still manages pretty well in 2018 ignoring the technical advancements. BoA's debut was good on its own right, and not a byproduct of the legend that she turned out to be.

#3. NCT U - The 7th Sense

Although NCT U was merely a subunit, "The 7th Sense" was unlike anything we'd ever seen from SM let alone for a debut. SM actually having good rappers? The world is falling apart. The trap mood accompanied by a strong rapping presence is a combination that the label had failed to produce (mostly due to lacking good rappers). "The 7th Sense" did that and since this was the world's first view of NCT, this is my favorite subunit and song from the new army of idols.

#2. EXO - History

As mentioned previously, I consider this their true debut despite what "Mama" was marketed as. "History" was a delightful first look at what this new group brought to the table, and appeared to be the best of all the Super Junior, TVXQ, and SHINee worlds. The choreography was crisp, the members looked snazzy, and the rap was surprising. To be honest, only a couple of their future title tracks would challenge "History" in terms of overall quality in all aspects of the song.

#1. Girls' Generation - Into The New World

If you can sing / perform this song years after your debut, then you've got a masterpiece. Out of every entry here, this debut was the closest to matching prime Girls' Generation so that has to count for something. For being rookies, their uplifting vocals carried the song which was doubly impressive coming after CSJH. In terms of how the song holds up today this is obviously marred by the internal group fracture after 2014, but nonetheless "Into The New World" is the strongest debut by any S.M. artist.