Friday, December 11, 2020

Thursday, December 3, 2020

2020 Songs of The Year!!!

December 03, 2020 by 

It's early this year because I want to post this the same day with Spotify Wrapped which is out today (ok, yesterday because I can't finish writing the post on time)! I'd made my own nominations yesterday (2 days ago) to compare with Spotify so the rankings will be more objective and data based LOL (cry in undergraduate thesis). 

Some of the songs from my Spotify Wrapped aren't 2020 releases so I'll need to exclude them. Also, I don't always listen to music from Spotify, sometimes I listen more from JOOX/YouTube so the Spotify Wrapped is only a comparison. 

Songs of the year aren't only songs I listened the most (on repeat, which I think is Spotify Wrapped's way of judgement) but also about the meaning, songs that describe this year the most for me; songs that are basically the OSTs of my life. 

Just like last year's, I'll make Top 10 (that usually consists of more than 10 songs duh), honorable mentions (good songs I don't listen too often), and 2019/older songs I still listen a lot. I will add a new category: 2020 discovery, that will consist of new music (singers, songs, albums, genres) I find this year and grow to love <3

Without further due, let's get it~!

10. Sejeong - Whale 


My healing song, a song that helps me going through so many upsetting moments this year. Sejeong won my heart back after forgetting her since IOI disbanded. Whale makes me want to try again, keep pushing forward, and believe life will get better. The chorus feels like saying goodbye to our sad days, a start of something new. I always feel hopeful and a lil bit more cheerful after listening to Whale, not to mention Sejeong's soulful voice. This year my fav soloists like HyunA, Sunmi, and Chungha don't release anything that suit my liking so re-finding Sejeong is such a God-gift. 

Other song by Sejeong I love: Tunnel (2019)

9. SF9 - Summer Breeze 


Another happy-go-lucky song of 2020. I've been following SF9 since their debut but not really stanning because sometimes I'm head over heels for their songs like Easy Love, Now or Never, and Good Guy but hate RPM, O Sole Mio, and MAMMA MIA. Thankfully, this year they release Summer Breeze that hit all the right spots in my ears. Every lines are sung beautifully by each members, there are many catchy killing parts, and the performances are good too (they can sing live). 

Also deserve this number: AB6IX - The Answer (thanks Zico), BTS - Dynamite

8. J.Rabbit - You Always


My favorite from all the good OSTs of Hospital Playlist! You Always is a song I always run to whenever I need a booster for my mood. It's like an ice cream, sweet and addicting. Being Hospital Playlist OST, listening to it brings back memories of the drama, so many memorable scenes, warm and touching. I can't wait for the Season 2 OSTs! 

other fav OSTs: Miss You 3000, Gaho - Start (I don't watch the drama tho :D)

7. N.Flying - Oh Really


Another happy song by such a happy band consists of  crazy guys LOL. N.Flying is a band I grew fond of since 2019 with their hit song Rooftop but this year I dig deeper into their amazing discography. I find myself liking their cheerful songs more than the sad ones, somehow the opposite of Day6. Actually their song that made into my Spotify Wrapped big 10 is It's Fine, but it was released last year so I choose Oh Really instead. Oh Really is a fun song to have fun with, it's one of the song I never skip on my playlist because I know it will be fun! 

recommended b-sides: 4242, Run, Leave It

6. Golden Child - Lately


This song turned me into a Goldenness, my fandom of the year (I'm a multifandom). Lately is not a title-track but it sure has the potential (wasted, lol). What stands out the most for me when I first listened to it is Golden Child's vocals! It's insane that Lately has quite a fair line-distribution because it's a vocal-heavy song. Only Golden Child can do that for sure, they have a solid vocal line, 6/10 of them can pass as main vocalist. 

Oh, Lately is my #1 most played song on Spotify Wrapped! Yeah, I replayed it so much because I was obsessed with Joochan's vocal duh :") it's so beautiful... Also, Lately kinda sounds like Infinite's songs (they're from the same agency, Woolim Entertainment). I stopped listening to it when my dear dog died, because I used to listen to it with her... but these days I've managed to listen to it again without crying. 

Other Golden Child songs I love: LET ME, Compass, I'm Falling

I remember re-discovering ONF last year with We Must Love and Why, this year they also have awesome releases: New World and Sukhumvit Swimming. I really really love their music, the EDM touch and overall uniqueness. Hoping 2021 will be their year. 

5. Everglow - LA DI DA


What I love about LA DI DA is the emphasize on vocal, Everglow past title-tracks used to have EDM chorus which are good, I love Dun Dun but I still like it more when singers sing. LA DI DA also has mesmerizing choreography and the live performances are very enjoyable, I love everything about the song. 

This year I listen more badass, girl-crush songs rather than cutesy ones but it also because there weren't much good cutesy songs. Oh My Girl's Nonstop and Dolphin aren't my jams. We can't possibly call IZ*ONE - Secret Story of The Swan as cute, right? I love love that song!! I don't want them to disband T_T

Other girl groups songs I love: Stayc - So Bad, ITZY - Wannabe/Not Shy, Refund Sisters - Don't Touch Me, Nature - Girls

4. Stray Kids - SLUMP


If in the beginning of this post I said, "OST of my life", SLUMP is THAT song. Wait, okay all the songs in this list are but SLUMP is like the main OST, maybe the OST when an episode ends with cliffhanger, the credits are being played continued by next ep's preview. The background music when the conflicts are getting to climax. LOL. Like the lyrics are crazy, it describes my life drama perfectly haha...

Stray Kids have an amazing journey in 2020. They release bops after bops with no pause. More than SLUMP, I actually listen to Levanter more. That song is... sad but hopeful but was released last year so yeah... and of course I jam religiously to God's Menu and Back Door. Please keep making bops, 3racha <3 

3. Hoppipolla - Enough


It calms the storm beneath my skin. Enough is very peaceful and heavenly. Hoppipolla helps me getting through my worst days in 2019 and 2020 and I believe in the upcoming years too. Ha Hyunsang's voice is so healing, it's like a drug but also like an angel's. 

2. Day6 - Afraid


For the big 2, I don't have much to say. This year is extra. It's unlike every other years I've ever lived. I also have to work on my final thesis so yeah, I listen A LOT to Afraid because I'm almost always afraid 24/7. I need to project that emotions and feelings. I cry a lot listening to this. I scream a lot singing to this. It's crazy how much this song helps. Thank you, Sungjin <3 

1. IU - Eight (prod. SUGA)


Nothing compares to the feelings I get when I first listened to Eight. I was happy, sad, and every other things. My heart felt like it was going to explode because it couldn't contain and process all the feelings. It became even more relatable and close to my heart after my dog died...

"So are you happy now?" is a question I ask myself almost on a daily basis and I want to cry everytime because I don't know the answer. The confusion is perfect to describe 2020. So many things happened and didn't happen. So many things changed and remained the same. 

2019 and older Songs on Repeat:

  1. ATEEZ's songs LOL (esp Say My Name, Wave, and Promise)
  2. Day6 Entropy album (esp Not Fine, Not Mine, and Like a Flowing Wind)
  3. JJ Project - Tomorrow, Today
  4. Taeyeon - Fine 
  5. Zico - Human
  6. Super Junior D&E - Growing Pains 
  7. Jonghyun - End of a Day (cover by Crush)
  8. TXT - Our Summer
2020 Discovery:
  1. Baek Yerin
  2. Han Yo Han
  3. Official HigeDandism
  4. Rina Sawayama
  5. Paul Kim
  6. Crush
  7. Sandeul B1A4
  8. Stella Jang
notes: discovery doesn't really mean I just came to know them this year, I already knew some of them for long but in 2020 they finally release music that suit my ears so I became very invested, interested, sometimes obsessed and turned into a fan LOL *which means maybe next year they'll make into my top 10 <3

See you December 2021! 

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