Typically, it’s enjoyable to make a journey again in time and immerse your self in a particular Ok-pop 12 months. Just like my Battle of the B-sides, this characteristic sees me shuffling an enormous playlist of songs from a sure period, selecting out six at random and sharing my ideas about every. All songs are eligible: Title tracks, b-sides, Japanese tracks from Ok-pop acts. The one standards is that they should have been launched of their goal 12 months.
At this time, we’re travelling again to 2015.
Listed below are the six rivals:
BoA – Hiya
Boys Republic – Hiya
Ladies’ Technology (SNSD) – Bump It
Halo – Sleepless
HIGH4 – D.O.A (Useless Or Alive)
SHINee – Love Sick
Who will rank first??
6. BoA – Hiya
2015 was a really robust 12 months for many returning acts, however I wasn’t as bought on BoA’s large comeback album. She co-wrote all the pieces herself, which was an amazing inventive leap. Total, the album may be very strong however doesn’t symbolize the most effective of her sprawling discography in my view. Hiya is a delicate mid-tempo that leads us into the finale of the observe listing. It’s a really fairly piece of music and she or he sounds nice on it, however this type of observe is far more about sentiment than thrilling songcraft. Oh properly, each album wants a lighters-in-the-air second like this, I suppose.
Ranking: 7.5
5. Ladies’ Technology (SNSD) – Bump It
2015 was a giant 12 months for SNSD, bringing the group again collectively for a really profitable album. I keep in mind Celebration (and to a lesser extent, Lion Coronary heart) being a bit divisive once they got here out, however each songs sound so enjoyable right now. The album was host to plenty of robust b-sides, together with Bump It. The observe is a bit generic in locations and will do with a a lot stronger hook, however the women promote it and the thumping beat injects loads of angle. It’s one in all my least-listened-to songs on the album, so I type of want a distinct one had popped up on my shuffle button to provide them a greater probability on this rating!
Ranking: 8
4. SHINee – Love Sick
Love Sick is a b-side from SHINee’s Odd/Married To The Music album. I keep in mind not being thrilled with the album on first pay attention, which appears extremely loopy with hindsight. Nevertheless, we now have to do not forget that this was the follow-up to the unimaginable Misconceptions sequence and their equally improbable All people EP of 2013, so my expectations had been ridiculously excessive. With 2025 ears, this music is an absolute delight. It’s a bit extra mid-tempo than my favourite SHINee songs are typically, however the insistent bounce and unimaginable vocal manufacturing steal the present. The bridge injects an additional rhythmic push that reappears as a standout finale. As with most all the pieces this group has launched, Love Sick has fully stood the take a look at of time.
Ranking: 8.5
3. Halo – Sleepless
Halo had a handful of nice hits, even when the group by no means made it large. They had been early on the brand new jack swing revival, harnessing potent grooves that buttressed sugary pop melodies. Their brilliant, assured vocals are the proper vessel for this fashion of music, effortlessly grooving over the sunshine funk. Sleepless was not a single, but it surely’s undoubtedly robust sufficient to be one. The refrain appears like classic Teen Prime however the music’s most foundational influences come from a long time earlier. It’s good to listen to a music whose idea is just good power and nice melodies.
Ranking: 8.5
2. HIGH4 – D.O.A (Useless Or Alive)
HIGH4 had been most identified for a spring-time hit, however this killer fall single stands as their crowning achievement. From its sharp synth accents to the icy vocals to the startling melodic builds, the music pulses with such character. It’s without delay pensive, mysterious and ferocious. Moderately than funnel all of its bombast into anticipated choruses, the manufacturing spreads its mini climaxes in sudden locations. This causes the observe to really feel each unpredictable and frequently absorbing. All of it builds to a whopper of a finale, bringing all the pieces collectively because the beat intensifies.
Ranking: 9
1. Boys Republic – Hiya
Boys Republic actually have an unimpeachable discography. They didn’t have to launch as many classics as they did, however I’m very glad they saved their high quality degree excessive. The summer time of 2015 was a stellar one for breezy mid-tempos. Ok-pop acts don’t usually promote ballad-like comebacks, however a music like Hiya showcases simply how efficient the method may be. I’ve spent a lot of 2025 ragging on what I name “beigepop,” and from a purely goal degree I suppose you may classify Hiya‘s general sound as “beige.” EXCEPT… and it is a large “besides”… its melodies are extremely potent. There’s no foolish sing-talk, no flat repetition. The tune simply climbs and swirls and crystallizes into a few of the most lovely turns of its 12 months. I cherished this single again then and proceed to adore it right now.
Ranking: 9
