Eman's Top 11 Girl Group Songs of 4th Gen

ITZY - Not Shy

Love cruising summer nights with this blasting in my truck with the windows down. This song goes so hard. Don't believe the haters. Not Shy is ITZY at their peak.

H1-KEY - Rose Blossom

This group hit something special with this song. The "No, I'm not goin' down, I'll be alright. Yeah, I'm only goin' up and I'ma be alright..." part hits so good. If they can ever recreate this magic, H1-KEY will assert themselves as a gem.

ICHILLIN - La Luna

A lesser known song from ICHILLIN, a lesser known group. But oh my god. Just watch this performance. This version of the song in this specific performance is so epic. The nugu who went and released the most epic song to put the top groups to shame. It's too bad they may never reach greater recognition. But this song is an absolute gem.

WOO!AH! - Catch The Stars

Oh what a song... WOO!AH!'s biggest hit (I think?). The build-up into that absolutely heart-soaring magical chorus is girl group ecstasy... Peak kpop.

(G)I-DLE - Maze

This song is beautifully cool... From (G)I-DLE during their early peak run when they were doing something special as a group. This is another favorite "driving at night" song. I have distinct memories of Friday nights cruising with this song setting the magic of the night. Near-perfection!

NEWJEANS - Hype Boy

This song is NEWJEANS at their best. The magical centerpiece of their early career peak, when they blew kpop up with a whole new world. Refreshing, so cool, and fun. Part throwback. Part entirely new. NEWJEANS hit on something special with their early period sound and ethos. And Hype Boy is that song. The one to remember for generations.

(G)I-DLE - Hwaa

The culmination of (G)I-DLE's early magic run, where they were at their very best, a time when Soyeon's creative flair into was being honed into something truly magical. Hwaa is that breakthrough. (G)I-DLE's magnum opus. And a kpop masterpiece.

TRIPLES - Generation

Generation is the song I so wished would have blown up. I can't understand TRIPLES as a group... The 300 member thing eludes me... But this song. Is perfection. Cool, yet feminine, youthful and anthemic. It feels like the song to announce a new beginning, a coming of age of an entire generation. The Youth Anthem that never was.

WOO!AH! - Payday

A song not on most kpop fans' radar. A lesser known single from the debut album of WOO!AH!, from a girl group that hasn't quite ever reached widespread penetration, with Nana being the only touchstone that has acheived a measure of widespread notareity. But oh my... what a song... What a video. What a sound. What a feeling! Payday is romantic, gorgeous, soft "girl group magic". An Eman personal fav.

TRIPLES - Touch (Krystal Ver.)

OH MY GOD this song is nostalgic perfection. TRIPLES channels SES and evokes the feeling and sound of kpop's formative generation. A song that was ignored in today's current girl group landscape, but truly reaches something special. Touch is a time machine. To one kpop's legendary beginnings. The sound of a Hallyu wave in the making. The phenomenon that take the world by storm. And this sound harkens back to that truly magical beginning. My heart soars. A masterpiece unnoticed.

PURPLE KISS - 2AM

Here it is. Eman's no. 1 song of 4th generation. This is the sound I most treasure... I've always been particularly enamored with kpop's 2nd generation classic R&B influenced girl group offerings. 2AM evokes a the sound of a particular high point during 2nd generation when kpop girl groups were experiencing a mini rennaisance of R&B influenced kpop wonder, with many groups releasing songs with a distinct R&B feel and influence. PURPLE KISS' 2AM evokes that magic ethos of some of my favorites of that period: WONDER GIRLS's Girlfriend, KARA's debut album (side-note: my favorite album in kpop haha), EXID Call, and more. This sound.... this feeling. I miss this kind of kpop the most. When much of it showcased an distinct R&B feel and presence. A mix of an R&B tradition with the quirky and unique flavor of early Korean pop. In 2AM, PURPLE KISS, they are firmly in the tradition of such R&B tradition... That smooth, cool, and beautiful sound and crooning. Heartfelt romantic vulnerability, hopeful aspiration, confession and regret. This sound moves me like no other. Among a sea-change of new sounds and ethos, PURPLE KISS touches something magical. Reaching for R&B perfection with 2AM. Bringing the sound of kpop's yesteryear to a whole new generation. If only they'd care to pay attention. This is Eman's #1 song of 4th generation. The gem brighter than all others. Old School Kpop Girl Group R&B Magic.

FIFTY FIFTY - Cupid

(G)I-DLE - Dumbdi Dumdi

(G)I-DLE - Hann (Alone)

(G)I-DLE - Hwaa

(G)I-DLE - Maze

H1-KEY - Rose Blossom

ICHILLIN - La Luna

ITZY - Bet On Me

ITZY - Not Shy

ITZY - Wannabe

IVE - After Like

IVE - All Night (Non-Sweetie Ver.)

IVE - I Am

IVE - Love Dive

LESSERAFIM - Blue Flame

LESSERAFIM - Eve, Psyche, & The Bluebeard's Wife (Korean)

LESSERAFIM - Impurities

LESSERAFIM - Sour Grapes

LESSERAFIM - Unforgiven

NEWJEANS - Cookie

NEWJEANS - Hype Boy

NEWJEANS - OMG

NMIXX - Kiss (Cover)

PURPLE KISS - 2AM

PURPLE KISS - Can't Stop Dreaming

STAYC - Like This

STAYC - Run2U

TRIPLES - Generation

TRIPLES - Touch

WEEEKLY - Tag Me

WOO!AH! - Catch The Stars

WOO!AH! - Payday

WOO!AH! - Rollercoaster