[instiz] Melon K-POP Ranking with 20 best songs through history

Quote from Bottles

If I was trying to rank a top 5, while aiming to be objective and choosing songs for cultural impact first and foremost, it would probably be:

1. Seo Taiji - Nan Arayo

2. H.O.T - Candy

3. 2NE1 - Fire

4. Exo - Growl

5. NewJeans - Hybe Boy

I think there you have 5 "cultural resets" that shaped K-pop in Korea.

Seo Taiji for being counter culture and sparking modern youth culture in Korea. HOT for being the first proper kpop group (idols), 2NE1 for bringing in Girl Crush which reached its pinnacle recently with Blackpink and KPDH (and Girl Crush is for many, the main look and feel they associate with kpop). Exo for being the first modern kpop song (I think there's a bigger gap stylistically between 2nd and 3rd gen kpop than there is 3rd and 4th), and for sweeping the nation in a craze. And then NewJeans for ushering in the new modern era which we're in today.

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Can't talk about "cultural resets" without "Tell Me". This song changed the way kpop hits was made.

It should replace "Fire". 2NE1 wasn't the first group to bring Girl Crush, this style predated kpop since 1st gen.

Quote from vinslow4

Can't talk about "cultural resets" without "Tell Me". This song changed the way kpop hits was made.

It should replace "Fire". 2NE1 wasn't the first group to bring Girl Crush, this style predated kpop since 1st gen.

Tell Me was more a national craze in my opinion than a true cultural reset, so in a longer ranking I would definitely include it, just not above any of those songs (probably somewhere between 11-15). I think 2NE1 very much defined Girl Crush and we still see their direct impact today on younger artists.

Feel free to make your own list however, I would be interested in seeing it.

snsd with 2 songs.. now THAT is a cultural reset.. we all know ITNW is THEE ANTHEM for kpop ggs and it always has been