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"PlusDays" Special Article - HallyuPlus' 'Make Music Day' Playlist!
Written by: Polaris_Tae & Chococo
With the help of HallyuPlus' users!
Hallyu+ users, are you ready to celebrate 'Make Music Day' with us this June! Earlier this year, our press team asked our users to choose one song to add to this year's 'Self-Producing Musicians Playlist'. Over the past few weeks, our team has received an extensive selection of songs to add to our playlist. But sadly, we could only select a few from your submissions. Our team (consisting of @Kłapouchy & @Chococo ) have selected eight of them to feature in this article. So without further ado, let's get into the playlist!
#1: IU - Eight(Prod & Feat. Suga of BTS)(Suggested by: @Lilac)
Polaris_Tae: To kick off this playlist, we start with IU's 'Eight'. A song — conceptualised by IU — that has not just one, but two of my favourite Korean soloists. The 2020 Suga-produced hit single was a collaborative work between IU & BTS' Suga. The pair — who have become frequent collaborators at this point — worked together in almost all aspects of this track alongside IU's former labelmate, Jang Yijeong — or EL CAPITXN — in order to present an image of a 28-year-old's story of self-reflection. The single is a nostalgia-filled pop-rock track that acts as one of the singer-songwriter's first official singles under the — at the time — newly established EDAM Entertainment. The duo, who both celebrated their 28th birthday during, or directly after, the release of 'Eight' both take the time to look back on their past experiences throughout their youth. The lyrics stand in stark contrast to the overall feeling of the single. While 'Eight' may, at first, seem to play like your typical break-up song. However, it instead seems to portray the soloist's complicated feelings that come alongside the loss of a friend. IU, during this period in her career, had experienced the deaths of three high-profile celebrity friends in close succession to each other — Jonghyun, Sulli & Goo Hara — and had used this single in order to reflect on the pain of loss and the feelings of change that come with it. At its core, 'Eight' is a bait-and-switch single that, despite the heavy nature of the lyrics, will likely stay at the top of my list of favourite collaborations for years to come.
#2: GFRIEND - Apple (Suggested by: @Chococo)
Chococo: “There's a little witch in all of us.” — Aunt Jet Owens, “Practical Magic”. “Apple” marked a shift in direction for GFRIEND, who had embraced a more mature sound and comeback in 2020 with their Song of the Sirens release. This time, Yuju and Eunha stood behind the production wheel, the pair both worked behind the arrangement and lyrics for the song and transformed the witching hour into the roaring bliss of the thorns off fire. The lyrics employ the apple as a metaphor for temptation, while the music video incorporates visual allusions to dark fairy tales. It's one of the most outstanding GFRIEND releases with a catchy chorus that leaves you wondering if the repetitive ‘kiss’ and ‘dance’ chanting is a form of spell casting.
#3: Yoasobi - Idol (Suggested by: @Chiharu)
Polaris_Tae: One of the biggest OST releases, let alone Japanese single releases of last year was a song by the name of 'Idol'. Which acted as the opening soundtrack to the first season of 'Oshi no Ko'. A Japanese anime that told the story of people who are given a second chance at life when they incarnate as the twin children of their favourite idol. The single, written by YOASOBI's Ayase, is portrayed from the point-of-view of Ai, the mother of the anime's two titular children, Aqua (Aquamarine) & Ruby. It presents her as a complex character in the way it depicts the idol's two-faced nature from not just her perspective, but also from [B-Komachi's] fans and her fellow group members as well as her relationship with lies. Coincidentally, Ayase happened to be a massive fan of the Oshi no Ko manga prior to being approached by production staff to produce the OP and as such, had a deeper understanding of the source material in order to be able to accurately understand both Ai's inner-feelings and motivations, as well as her relationship with her children and those in her inner-circle. As for the single itself, 'Idol' feels like it takes inspiration, not just from Japanese idol culture, but from the Kpop industry as well. This can be seen through the overall structure of the release, which plays more like a traditional Kpop song in the way that it — quite obviously — leaves space for what would traditionally be a designated Kpop rapper position throughout the bridge of the song. Meanwhile, the instrumental, while more traditionally Jpop-sounding, also combines elements that can often be found in the Kpop idol industry. See the orchestral sound of BLACKPINK releases such as 'How You Like That' & 'Kill This Love'. Overall, YOASOBI's 'Idol' has proven itself to be an utter masterpiece in the way that it combines the elements of the two vastly different music industries, while also telling a compelling tale about a mother's relationship with her children as well, and as long as Ayase is at the helm of the music production side of things, the group can do no wrong.
#4: ARTMS - Birth(Suggested by: @Chococo)
Chococo: ARTMS finally made their debut in 2024 after releasing pre-debut songs based on previous unit & solo releases, with 'Air' standing for ODD EYE CIRCLE's 'Air Force One', 'Candy Crush' for Haseul's city pop-inspired track 'Plastic Love' and 'Flower Rhythm' after Heejin's 'Algorithm' (did you know that the song was originally intended to be named Algorhythm?). 'Birth' was decided by the fanbase as the first song to go, and the lyrics were written by the member Jinsoul. The song 'Birth' serves as a powerful reminder of why so many Loona fans initially fell in love with the girl group project. It beautifully showcases their creativity through captivating cinematic mythology-inspired artwork and mesmerizing yet dark guitar riffs. In the MV, the five girls are brought to the world as meteorites by the goddess Artemis, who the group name stands for, as Artemis was the goddess of hunt and fertility in ancient Greek mythology. In more recent times, the goddess Artemis is likened to Selene, the personification of the moon.
#5: moë - No Disk (Suggested by: @gatoelblue)
Polaris_Tae: One of our few Japanese features this time around is moë, a Japanese singer-songwriter who began her music career at only 15 years old. The soloist is unique in the way that she almost single-handedly self-manages every aspect of her career. Aside from writing and producing her own music, the soloist also edits and directs her own music videos. This can be seen not just in 'No Disk', but in her other releases as well. In 'No Disk' the singer-songwriter presents a self-written city-pop release that has an almost bedroom pop feel to the single in the magical feel to the instrumentals. This tone, when paired up with the stunning Wong Kar-wai aesthetic of music video direction. By creating atmosphere through the saturation of light and motion shots further showcases the artist's creativity in every facet of her storytelling journey.
#6: TripleS LOVElution - Black Soul Dress (Suggested by: @tokki, @BianTwo & @Mina)
Chococo: In what is likely our most popular suggestion this time around we have the TripleS LOVElution b-side 'Black Soul Dress'. The song got a whopping three suggestions in total and was released as a part of TripleS LOVElution's debut EP, Muhan (ↀ). TripleS is a 24-member Jaden Jeong-associated idol group with a concept that encourages fan-based participation. This is accomplished via a voting system implemented on the Cosmo: The Gate app. Where fans are given the right to vote for which of the members they would most like to participate in a pre-determined promotional cycle. The LOVElution unit promotion took place in August 2023 with the release of Muhan (ↀ). An aptly named 8-track EP with music composed by Jaden Jeong, EL CAPITXN, LOVElution's Park Sohyun & more. The track that we're going to talk about today is TripleS LOVElution's 'Black Soul Dress', the 4th track from their Muhan (ↀ) EP which was written, composed and arranged by LOVElution's Sohyun. 'Black Soul Dress' is a synth-filled bedroom pop-EDM release with an addictive hook that tells the story of falling for someone so hard that it hurts. Overall, it's the hook that really sells the song. While many people may find themselves turned off from the 'Da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da-da' repetition in the hook, the hook, especially when paired with the synth-based sound established within the instrumental helps to effectively draw audiences into the subconscious thoughts that Sohyun likely had while crafting 'Black Soul Dress' for everyone to enjoy.
#7: Youngjae - Deal (Suggested by: @Chomiczewska)
Polaris_Tae: Following their departure from JYP in 2021 several of the members of Got7 began embarking on solo careers in addition to their group activities. Got7's Youngjae was no different. The idol dropped his first full-length album 'Do It' in late 2023. Included in the 10-track LP was the self-written & composed track, 'Deal'. A song written in collaboration with the well-known Starship Entertainment-associated songwriter & music producer, Brother Su. It's through 'Deal' that the idol brings his creativity and personality to the forefront. 'Deal' presents itself as a song with a cluster of several different genres. It has elements of acoustic in its guitar riff and a blues-inspired vocal technique while elements of synth-pop can be found throughout. The idol also surprisingly tries his hand at rapping throughout the bridge. This, alongside the track's composition & addictive hook, shows us that Youngjae has added yet another top-tier track to his already impressive songwriting catalogue.
#8: B.A.P - 1004 (Angel) (Suggested by: @Polaris_Tae)
Polaris_Tae: B.A.P is one of, I believe, one of TS Entertainment's biggest bag fumbles in terms of management and its overall decision-making in regards to both their collective groups and the company culture in general. B.A.P made their debut in 2012 at a time when there was serious competition between boy groups. SM had just launched their newest boy group EXO, while PLEDIS' new group Nu'est had smashed onto the scene with hits like 'FACE' and 'ACTION'. then there were other boy groups like VIXX & BTOB, who would later establish themselves as staple boy groups within the Korean music industry. B.A.P made their debut right at the beginning of 2012 on the 25th of January with 'Warrior'. Unlike groups like EXO or BTOB, who debuted under labels with multiple successful acts under their wind, TS had only really found success in their 2009 girl group SECRET, so BAP was seen as quite a hefty risk at the time. However, after a steady — almost torturous — amount of back-to-back comebacks, the group managed to break through with their 1st LP, 2012's First Sensibility and its lead single, '1001 (Angel)', the topic of today's discussion. '1004 (Angel)', which is penned by B.A.P leader Bang Yongguk is one of the first B.A.P title tracks that wholly embraces the 'pop' aspect of Kpop. Through this release, the group opted for a much more subdued and emotional release as opposed to their past hits like 'Badman' & 'One Shot', which had many hip-hop-based concepts. '1004 (Angel)' is, at its core a heartbreak song that can accurately utilise elements such as heavy guitar riffs and traditional percussion-based instrumentals in a synth-dominated industry to add a sense of emotion to, what is likely, their most renowned release to date. Through this release, we can see that — similarly to BTS — B.A.P was required to somewhat soften their image in order to appeal to a broader audience and gain recognition and popularity with songs like '1004 (Angel)' and 'Hands Up' being staple examples of this. Unlike BTS, however, the group would later return to their hip-hop image that cemented their early years with hits such as 'Sky Dive' & 'Wake Me Up'.
The group would, sadly, lose a majority of the momentum that they had gained from their success with their First Sensibility release & their B.A.P Live on Earth 2014 Continent Tour after the group were forced on hiatus due to a lawsuit initiated by the six members against TS Entertainment for damages including: unfair working conditions and a lack of profit distributions among the six members and their label. Eventually, the group would leave TS Entertainment one by one starting in 2018 putting the group into an indefinite hiatus following the release of their 2018 Japanese-language LP, Massive. B.A.P, however, isn't over. They'll be back this August for the first time in six years as BANG&JUNG&YOO&MOON and we can't wait to see which direction they go with in the future as well!
#9: PLAVE - The 6th Summer (Suggested by: @Kłapouchy)
Polaris_Tae: One of the artists that I've discovered lately is PLAVE, A South Korean virtual idol group produced by V'LAST. The group consists of five members: Noah (main vocal), Yejun (leader & main vocal), Bamby (the main dancer), Eunho (main rapper) & Hamin (maknae). Many of the members have previously had careers in the entertainment field and have sought to hide their faces following their re-debut with the group, as is common with virtual idols throughout the Korean and Japanese entertainment industry. The group, which made their debut in 2023 with their single album, Asterium has been self-producing many songs throughout their relatively short discography including their title tracks such as "WAY4LUV" & "Wait For You", as well as their B-sides. "Pixel World", "Why?" & "I Just Love Ya" alongside well-known producer and former HISTORY member EL CAPITXN. Their 2023 single, "The 6th Summer" is one such single. The title track from their 2023 EP, Asterum: The Shape of Things To Come was produced & written by the group members alongside their regular collaborator EL CAPITXN. "The 6th Summer" is an uplifting pop ballad that not only showcases their potential as idols, but also as singers and producers. Through the music video, the members once again work to embrace the anime school aesthetic while they sing about running towards and achieving their dreams in order to successfully capture the essence of what makes a self-producing idol in the current Kpop industry!
#10: OnlyOneOf - LibidO (Suggested by: @Vampire)
Chococo: In 2021, OnlyOneOf made their comeback with a third mini-album [Instinct Part. 1] and the title track 'Libido'. The song was composed and arranged by the members KB and Nine. The music video itself is explicit in presenting itself as a story of love, attraction and sexual feelings, aiming the story to be told through the point of the young adult man. The song is described as, “The mind’s energy 'libidO' is considered as a feeling that shouldn’t be openly talked about in real life and should be concealed, so its existence is often denied.” The media tends to focus on the emotions and excitement of first love. Such as when the initial encounter with a lover leaves us breathless and swept off our feet. However, the more intimate aspects are often considered taboo and hidden away, under the seven keys, causing us to feel ashamed of our human nature. ‘Libido’ stands out in OnlyOneOf’s discography, setting a new musical direction for the group and their fans. It also brought a much-needed breath of fresh air to the industry during the pandemic years with its menacing beats and hauntingly catchy bass.
#11: BoyNextDoor - Earth, Wind & Fire (Suggested by: @Polaris_Tae)
Polaris_Tae: One of the post-2020 idol groups that I've been enjoying lately is the Zico-produced boy group, BoyNextDoor. The HYBE-associated boy group recently concluded their 'first love' album series through the release of their 2nd EP, How? alongside its lead single, 'Earth, Wind & Fire'. This release, in particular, follows the self-producing theme of this playlist. Three of the group's members — Taesan, Jaehyun & Woonhak — each contributed to the lyrics and composition of the single alongside the group's main two producers, Pop Time & Block B's Zico. From their debut up until now the group has been playing on a certain kind of nostalgia that was popular during the pop-rock era of the 90s and early 2000s similarly to another HYBE-associated group, NewJeans. However, BND differs in the way that they present this nostalgia. The group essentially embodies the loud and outspoken feel of the '90s & 2000s that acts like Nirvana & All-American Rejects were renowned for while also adding a modern twist to it. The group continued this trend with the release of 'Earth, Wind & Fire' in early 2024. A hyper pop kitsch core-themed release continuing the all-over-the-place aesthetic that the members set in last year's 'But Sometimes...' that — at times — feels like a classic post-Stardom Block B release, which is to be expected considering the groups' main producers. Overall, it's a great release with a ton of personality throughout both the song with its fast-paced sped-up post-chorus and its bright and colourful accompanying music video and I hope that the group can continue to expand their creative freedom in the future as well!
So, what are your thoughts on this selection? If you want to listen to all the songs that were suggested (18 songs total), you can find the whole playlist on Spotify and Youtube.
As promised, if your name is mentioned in this article, you will receive a special present very soon... This time, you win ⨭50,000 and 2 Ørbs! While one special user who submitted a song during our song suggestion phase (regardless of whether your song was featured or not) will be winning a +card pack! But that's not the end... I (Polaris) am organising a special lottery for everyone!
All you have to do is leave a comment in this thread and tell us which song you liked the most among the ones featured here. In 1 week, I'll use a random generator to pick up to three users, who will win ⨭150,000 & 1 Ørb each. So... don't forget to post before you close the tab!
Thank you everyone for reading, and we will see you later with more fantastic updates!
Written by: Polaris_Tae & Chococo
With the help of HallyuPlus' users!
Hallyu+ users, are you ready to celebrate 'Make Music Day' with us this June! Earlier this year, our press team asked our users to choose one song to add to this year's 'Self-Producing Musicians Playlist'. Over the past few weeks, our team has received an extensive selection of songs to add to our playlist. But sadly, we could only select a few from your submissions. Our team (consisting of @Kłapouchy & @Chococo ) have selected eight of them to feature in this article. So without further ado, let's get into the playlist!
#1: IU - Eight(Prod & Feat. Suga of BTS)(Suggested by: @Lilac)
Polaris_Tae: To kick off this playlist, we start with IU's 'Eight'. A song — conceptualised by IU — that has not just one, but two of my favourite Korean soloists. The 2020 Suga-produced hit single was a collaborative work between IU & BTS' Suga. The pair — who have become frequent collaborators at this point — worked together in almost all aspects of this track alongside IU's former labelmate, Jang Yijeong — or EL CAPITXN — in order to present an image of a 28-year-old's story of self-reflection. The single is a nostalgia-filled pop-rock track that acts as one of the singer-songwriter's first official singles under the — at the time — newly established EDAM Entertainment. The duo, who both celebrated their 28th birthday during, or directly after, the release of 'Eight' both take the time to look back on their past experiences throughout their youth. The lyrics stand in stark contrast to the overall feeling of the single. While 'Eight' may, at first, seem to play like your typical break-up song. However, it instead seems to portray the soloist's complicated feelings that come alongside the loss of a friend. IU, during this period in her career, had experienced the deaths of three high-profile celebrity friends in close succession to each other — Jonghyun, Sulli & Goo Hara — and had used this single in order to reflect on the pain of loss and the feelings of change that come with it. At its core, 'Eight' is a bait-and-switch single that, despite the heavy nature of the lyrics, will likely stay at the top of my list of favourite collaborations for years to come.
#2: GFRIEND - Apple (Suggested by: @Chococo)
Chococo: “There's a little witch in all of us.” — Aunt Jet Owens, “Practical Magic”. “Apple” marked a shift in direction for GFRIEND, who had embraced a more mature sound and comeback in 2020 with their Song of the Sirens release. This time, Yuju and Eunha stood behind the production wheel, the pair both worked behind the arrangement and lyrics for the song and transformed the witching hour into the roaring bliss of the thorns off fire. The lyrics employ the apple as a metaphor for temptation, while the music video incorporates visual allusions to dark fairy tales. It's one of the most outstanding GFRIEND releases with a catchy chorus that leaves you wondering if the repetitive ‘kiss’ and ‘dance’ chanting is a form of spell casting.
#3: Yoasobi - Idol (Suggested by: @Chiharu)
Polaris_Tae: One of the biggest OST releases, let alone Japanese single releases of last year was a song by the name of 'Idol'. Which acted as the opening soundtrack to the first season of 'Oshi no Ko'. A Japanese anime that told the story of people who are given a second chance at life when they incarnate as the twin children of their favourite idol. The single, written by YOASOBI's Ayase, is portrayed from the point-of-view of Ai, the mother of the anime's two titular children, Aqua (Aquamarine) & Ruby. It presents her as a complex character in the way it depicts the idol's two-faced nature from not just her perspective, but also from [B-Komachi's] fans and her fellow group members as well as her relationship with lies. Coincidentally, Ayase happened to be a massive fan of the Oshi no Ko manga prior to being approached by production staff to produce the OP and as such, had a deeper understanding of the source material in order to be able to accurately understand both Ai's inner-feelings and motivations, as well as her relationship with her children and those in her inner-circle. As for the single itself, 'Idol' feels like it takes inspiration, not just from Japanese idol culture, but from the Kpop industry as well. This can be seen through the overall structure of the release, which plays more like a traditional Kpop song in the way that it — quite obviously — leaves space for what would traditionally be a designated Kpop rapper position throughout the bridge of the song. Meanwhile, the instrumental, while more traditionally Jpop-sounding, also combines elements that can often be found in the Kpop idol industry. See the orchestral sound of BLACKPINK releases such as 'How You Like That' & 'Kill This Love'. Overall, YOASOBI's 'Idol' has proven itself to be an utter masterpiece in the way that it combines the elements of the two vastly different music industries, while also telling a compelling tale about a mother's relationship with her children as well, and as long as Ayase is at the helm of the music production side of things, the group can do no wrong.
#4: ARTMS - Birth(Suggested by: @Chococo)
Chococo: ARTMS finally made their debut in 2024 after releasing pre-debut songs based on previous unit & solo releases, with 'Air' standing for ODD EYE CIRCLE's 'Air Force One', 'Candy Crush' for Haseul's city pop-inspired track 'Plastic Love' and 'Flower Rhythm' after Heejin's 'Algorithm' (did you know that the song was originally intended to be named Algorhythm?). 'Birth' was decided by the fanbase as the first song to go, and the lyrics were written by the member Jinsoul. The song 'Birth' serves as a powerful reminder of why so many Loona fans initially fell in love with the girl group project. It beautifully showcases their creativity through captivating cinematic mythology-inspired artwork and mesmerizing yet dark guitar riffs. In the MV, the five girls are brought to the world as meteorites by the goddess Artemis, who the group name stands for, as Artemis was the goddess of hunt and fertility in ancient Greek mythology. In more recent times, the goddess Artemis is likened to Selene, the personification of the moon.
#5: moë - No Disk (Suggested by: @gatoelblue)
Polaris_Tae: One of our few Japanese features this time around is moë, a Japanese singer-songwriter who began her music career at only 15 years old. The soloist is unique in the way that she almost single-handedly self-manages every aspect of her career. Aside from writing and producing her own music, the soloist also edits and directs her own music videos. This can be seen not just in 'No Disk', but in her other releases as well. In 'No Disk' the singer-songwriter presents a self-written city-pop release that has an almost bedroom pop feel to the single in the magical feel to the instrumentals. This tone, when paired up with the stunning Wong Kar-wai aesthetic of music video direction. By creating atmosphere through the saturation of light and motion shots further showcases the artist's creativity in every facet of her storytelling journey.
#6: TripleS LOVElution - Black Soul Dress (Suggested by: @tokki, @BianTwo & @Mina)
Chococo: In what is likely our most popular suggestion this time around we have the TripleS LOVElution b-side 'Black Soul Dress'. The song got a whopping three suggestions in total and was released as a part of TripleS LOVElution's debut EP, Muhan (ↀ). TripleS is a 24-member Jaden Jeong-associated idol group with a concept that encourages fan-based participation. This is accomplished via a voting system implemented on the Cosmo: The Gate app. Where fans are given the right to vote for which of the members they would most like to participate in a pre-determined promotional cycle. The LOVElution unit promotion took place in August 2023 with the release of Muhan (ↀ). An aptly named 8-track EP with music composed by Jaden Jeong, EL CAPITXN, LOVElution's Park Sohyun & more. The track that we're going to talk about today is TripleS LOVElution's 'Black Soul Dress', the 4th track from their Muhan (ↀ) EP which was written, composed and arranged by LOVElution's Sohyun. 'Black Soul Dress' is a synth-filled bedroom pop-EDM release with an addictive hook that tells the story of falling for someone so hard that it hurts. Overall, it's the hook that really sells the song. While many people may find themselves turned off from the 'Da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da-da' repetition in the hook, the hook, especially when paired with the synth-based sound established within the instrumental helps to effectively draw audiences into the subconscious thoughts that Sohyun likely had while crafting 'Black Soul Dress' for everyone to enjoy.
#7: Youngjae - Deal (Suggested by: @Chomiczewska)
Polaris_Tae: Following their departure from JYP in 2021 several of the members of Got7 began embarking on solo careers in addition to their group activities. Got7's Youngjae was no different. The idol dropped his first full-length album 'Do It' in late 2023. Included in the 10-track LP was the self-written & composed track, 'Deal'. A song written in collaboration with the well-known Starship Entertainment-associated songwriter & music producer, Brother Su. It's through 'Deal' that the idol brings his creativity and personality to the forefront. 'Deal' presents itself as a song with a cluster of several different genres. It has elements of acoustic in its guitar riff and a blues-inspired vocal technique while elements of synth-pop can be found throughout. The idol also surprisingly tries his hand at rapping throughout the bridge. This, alongside the track's composition & addictive hook, shows us that Youngjae has added yet another top-tier track to his already impressive songwriting catalogue.
#8: B.A.P - 1004 (Angel) (Suggested by: @Polaris_Tae)
Polaris_Tae: B.A.P is one of, I believe, one of TS Entertainment's biggest bag fumbles in terms of management and its overall decision-making in regards to both their collective groups and the company culture in general. B.A.P made their debut in 2012 at a time when there was serious competition between boy groups. SM had just launched their newest boy group EXO, while PLEDIS' new group Nu'est had smashed onto the scene with hits like 'FACE' and 'ACTION'. then there were other boy groups like VIXX & BTOB, who would later establish themselves as staple boy groups within the Korean music industry. B.A.P made their debut right at the beginning of 2012 on the 25th of January with 'Warrior'. Unlike groups like EXO or BTOB, who debuted under labels with multiple successful acts under their wind, TS had only really found success in their 2009 girl group SECRET, so BAP was seen as quite a hefty risk at the time. However, after a steady — almost torturous — amount of back-to-back comebacks, the group managed to break through with their 1st LP, 2012's First Sensibility and its lead single, '1001 (Angel)', the topic of today's discussion. '1004 (Angel)', which is penned by B.A.P leader Bang Yongguk is one of the first B.A.P title tracks that wholly embraces the 'pop' aspect of Kpop. Through this release, the group opted for a much more subdued and emotional release as opposed to their past hits like 'Badman' & 'One Shot', which had many hip-hop-based concepts. '1004 (Angel)' is, at its core a heartbreak song that can accurately utilise elements such as heavy guitar riffs and traditional percussion-based instrumentals in a synth-dominated industry to add a sense of emotion to, what is likely, their most renowned release to date. Through this release, we can see that — similarly to BTS — B.A.P was required to somewhat soften their image in order to appeal to a broader audience and gain recognition and popularity with songs like '1004 (Angel)' and 'Hands Up' being staple examples of this. Unlike BTS, however, the group would later return to their hip-hop image that cemented their early years with hits such as 'Sky Dive' & 'Wake Me Up'.
The group would, sadly, lose a majority of the momentum that they had gained from their success with their First Sensibility release & their B.A.P Live on Earth 2014 Continent Tour after the group were forced on hiatus due to a lawsuit initiated by the six members against TS Entertainment for damages including: unfair working conditions and a lack of profit distributions among the six members and their label. Eventually, the group would leave TS Entertainment one by one starting in 2018 putting the group into an indefinite hiatus following the release of their 2018 Japanese-language LP, Massive. B.A.P, however, isn't over. They'll be back this August for the first time in six years as BANG&JUNG&YOO&MOON and we can't wait to see which direction they go with in the future as well!
#9: PLAVE - The 6th Summer (Suggested by: @Kłapouchy)
Polaris_Tae: One of the artists that I've discovered lately is PLAVE, A South Korean virtual idol group produced by V'LAST. The group consists of five members: Noah (main vocal), Yejun (leader & main vocal), Bamby (the main dancer), Eunho (main rapper) & Hamin (maknae). Many of the members have previously had careers in the entertainment field and have sought to hide their faces following their re-debut with the group, as is common with virtual idols throughout the Korean and Japanese entertainment industry. The group, which made their debut in 2023 with their single album, Asterium has been self-producing many songs throughout their relatively short discography including their title tracks such as "WAY4LUV" & "Wait For You", as well as their B-sides. "Pixel World", "Why?" & "I Just Love Ya" alongside well-known producer and former HISTORY member EL CAPITXN. Their 2023 single, "The 6th Summer" is one such single. The title track from their 2023 EP, Asterum: The Shape of Things To Come was produced & written by the group members alongside their regular collaborator EL CAPITXN. "The 6th Summer" is an uplifting pop ballad that not only showcases their potential as idols, but also as singers and producers. Through the music video, the members once again work to embrace the anime school aesthetic while they sing about running towards and achieving their dreams in order to successfully capture the essence of what makes a self-producing idol in the current Kpop industry!
#10: OnlyOneOf - LibidO (Suggested by: @Vampire)
Chococo: In 2021, OnlyOneOf made their comeback with a third mini-album [Instinct Part. 1] and the title track 'Libido'. The song was composed and arranged by the members KB and Nine. The music video itself is explicit in presenting itself as a story of love, attraction and sexual feelings, aiming the story to be told through the point of the young adult man. The song is described as, “The mind’s energy 'libidO' is considered as a feeling that shouldn’t be openly talked about in real life and should be concealed, so its existence is often denied.” The media tends to focus on the emotions and excitement of first love. Such as when the initial encounter with a lover leaves us breathless and swept off our feet. However, the more intimate aspects are often considered taboo and hidden away, under the seven keys, causing us to feel ashamed of our human nature. ‘Libido’ stands out in OnlyOneOf’s discography, setting a new musical direction for the group and their fans. It also brought a much-needed breath of fresh air to the industry during the pandemic years with its menacing beats and hauntingly catchy bass.
#11: BoyNextDoor - Earth, Wind & Fire (Suggested by: @Polaris_Tae)
Polaris_Tae: One of the post-2020 idol groups that I've been enjoying lately is the Zico-produced boy group, BoyNextDoor. The HYBE-associated boy group recently concluded their 'first love' album series through the release of their 2nd EP, How? alongside its lead single, 'Earth, Wind & Fire'. This release, in particular, follows the self-producing theme of this playlist. Three of the group's members — Taesan, Jaehyun & Woonhak — each contributed to the lyrics and composition of the single alongside the group's main two producers, Pop Time & Block B's Zico. From their debut up until now the group has been playing on a certain kind of nostalgia that was popular during the pop-rock era of the 90s and early 2000s similarly to another HYBE-associated group, NewJeans. However, BND differs in the way that they present this nostalgia. The group essentially embodies the loud and outspoken feel of the '90s & 2000s that acts like Nirvana & All-American Rejects were renowned for while also adding a modern twist to it. The group continued this trend with the release of 'Earth, Wind & Fire' in early 2024. A hyper pop kitsch core-themed release continuing the all-over-the-place aesthetic that the members set in last year's 'But Sometimes...' that — at times — feels like a classic post-Stardom Block B release, which is to be expected considering the groups' main producers. Overall, it's a great release with a ton of personality throughout both the song with its fast-paced sped-up post-chorus and its bright and colourful accompanying music video and I hope that the group can continue to expand their creative freedom in the future as well!
So, what are your thoughts on this selection? If you want to listen to all the songs that were suggested (18 songs total), you can find the whole playlist on Spotify and Youtube.
As promised, if your name is mentioned in this article, you will receive a special present very soon... This time, you win ⨭50,000 and 2 Ørbs! While one special user who submitted a song during our song suggestion phase (regardless of whether your song was featured or not) will be winning a +card pack! But that's not the end... I (Polaris) am organising a special lottery for everyone!
All you have to do is leave a comment in this thread and tell us which song you liked the most among the ones featured here. In 1 week, I'll use a random generator to pick up to three users, who will win ⨭150,000 & 1 Ørb each. So... don't forget to post before you close the tab!
Thank you everyone for reading, and we will see you later with more fantastic updates!
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Full track-list:
One suggestion ended up being ruled out due to not fitting the criteria (LIMELIGHT's 'Eye To Eye')
As for the +Card pack giveaway, the winner is @Bellamy
Congrats and let us know whether you'd like an idol or anime pack (3rd Edition) so we can get it to you ASAP!
If there's no response in 48 hours, I'll be drawing the lottery again
Results:
| Song/Artist: | Suggested By: |
| Eight (ft. & prod. Suga of BTS) - IU | Lilac |
| Every Night - EXID | Ronnie Mars |
| Deal - Youngjae | Chomiczewska |
| moë - No Disk | gatoelblue |
| Idol - Yoasobi | chiharu |
| Black Soul Dress - TripleS LOVElution | tokki, Mina, BianTwo |
| Sweet Sensation - Ha:tfelt | Hatmixx |
| Feeling - Fantasy Boys | sm maid |
| Busted - Woodz | OutroTearTheFirst |
| Starry Night - fromis_9 | fromisJelly |
| LibidO - OnlyOneOf | Vampire |
| 「夜の舞踏会」 - 熊川みゆ (Miyu Kumagawa) | Bellamy |
| Holssi - IU | Sweetheart |
| Birth - ARTMS | Staff Pick |
| Apple - GFriend | Staff Pick |
| The 6th Summer - PLAVE | Staff Pick |
| Earth, Wind & Fire - BOYNEXTDOOR | Staff Pick |
| 1004 (Angel) - B.A.P | Staff Pick |
One suggestion ended up being ruled out due to not fitting the criteria (LIMELIGHT's 'Eye To Eye')
As for the +Card pack giveaway, the winner is @Bellamy
Congrats and let us know whether you'd like an idol or anime pack (3rd Edition) so we can get it to you ASAP!
If there's no response in 48 hours, I'll be drawing the lottery again
Results:
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Plenty of good songs! And 14 is indeed my iconic number
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Eight is potentially my favourite IU song, so that's an easy fave pick for me.
My fave song is Deal, obviously 
But Apple is great too~
But Apple is great too~Girl, how about you change your name in the intro lmao
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How about NO!My fave song is Deal, obviously
Girl, how about you change your name in the intro lmao
How else are people going to remember the figment of the past that was my Winnie the Pooh-themed username?
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It was winnie the pooh-themed???How about NO!
How else are people going to remember the figment of the past that was my Winnie the Pooh-themed username?
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It's Polish Eeyore lolIt was winnie the pooh-themed???
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OooooooooooooohI thought it was Polish coochie or something.
my cute discord name, ruined forever
Sweetheart
Cake boss- Joined
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My favs are definitely IU's songs but
Coco beautifully described gfriend's apple and i have to agree with her
Coco beautifully described gfriend's apple and i have to agree with her
Definitely eight! i really like her collab with Suga 
Thanks for the great writeup!
Also Angel is nice to see, it gives me nostalgia
Thanks for the great writeup! Also Angel is nice to see, it gives me nostalgia
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My fave song is Deal, obviously
Girl, how about you change your name in the intro lmao
I was wondering why do Kłapouchy sound so familiar and where did they disappear off to? Now, I got my answers. Dammit
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Yay, I won something!!!
I wasn't sure which song to submit because the songs I like the most aren't written fully by the idols.
Idol pack, please and thank you!
I wasn't sure which song to submit because the songs I like the most aren't written fully by the idols.
I'm glad to see this bop here!!!
No!! Here I am!!!As for the +Card pack giveaway, the winner is @Bellamy
Congrats and let us know whether you'd like an idol or anime pack (3rd Edition) so we can get it to you ASAP!
If there's no response in 48 hours, I'll be drawing the lottery again
Idol pack, please and thank you!
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yay! my suggestion made it into the article!
it's so... robust... and just a little weird
i liked this song the most! it was a great japanese submission for this article that i completely forgot about beforehand
it's so... robust... and just a little weird
i have to be completely honest, i also kept saying it in my head as "kla pusshy" in my head as if it was... you know... kdjfhgdOooooooooooooohI thought it was Polish coochie or something.
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Back with the RNG giveaway
Our winners this time are @Chomiczewska @Sweetheart & @Lilac
Your state-sanctioned robbery will be in the bank ASAP
Our winners this time are @Chomiczewska @Sweetheart & @Lilac
Your state-sanctioned robbery will be in the bank ASAP
