Music and social media have never been more intertwined. Years from now, when we look back to the sounds that shaped 2023, the 15 songs below - listed by order of release - will definitely be remembered: Fifty Fifty - 'Cupid' There’s a few blustering tracks, too, proving K-pop’s versatility and reinvention powers in a style that has been often overused.
In terms of musical trends, retro sounds dominated the scene, taking inspiration from synth-pop, to disco, to Jersey club. Songs like Jung Kook ’s 'Seven' featuring Latto, or Fifty Fifty’s 'Cupid,' were playing everywhere, from TikTok to Target stores.Īmidst so much content, what singles best defined this year? There’s mighty chart-toppers, such as NewJeans ’s 'Super Shy' and AKMU’s 'Love Lee,' and sales monsters like Seventeen ’s 'Super' and Jisoo’s 'Flower.' Of equal importance, there are also songs that entered our collective unconscious - whether for their flawless melodies, such as NCT DOJAEJUNG ’s 'Perfume', or for their sassy irreverence, like (G)I-dle ’s 'Queencard'. K-pop tours crossed the globe, and acts like TWICE and BLACKPINK filled out stadiums.
As the South Korean industry moves at lightning speed, new albums were released almost every day, and dozens of artists made their debuts.
