For those who are familiar with this post (which I've been doing for 6 years now), the songs that I list here are more contemporary in nature. Some people have said I include too many ballads, but I think in the long run, the ballads are the songs that people come back to listen to and also remember. Just like every year, I try to include all genres of songs: pop, R&B, hip-hop, rock, OST songs, etc. This year is the same. I am pretty sure that most of you have not heard of some of these songs. I hope to take this opportunity to introduce these good songs to you. These songs may have gone under the radar and it is time to discover them.
To sum up the k-pop music scene in 2007, I notice the following trends:
1. The class of new singers this year may be the strongest ever. We have a few rookie singers in this countdown, but they may not be the familiar names that you expect.
2. Female singers and groups are having an exceptional year. K-pop was male-dominated for the past few years. This year, Ivy, Yang Pa, See Ya, and Wonder Girls all have dominating No. 1 songs.
3. More digital singles - the trend of releasing digital singles did not start in 2007. But this year, more well-known singers are taking this route. Because of the ever declining k-pop album sales, releasing a digital single is a lot lower in cost. If it is successful, the song will later be included in the singer's new album. I think digital singles will eventually take over as the main source of k-pop.
4. Repackaged albums - I think Shinhwa started this concept a few years back, but it is getting really popular now. Usually the repackaged version of an album will be released about 2 months after the main release, with a new cover, CD booklets, and a new title song that did not appear on the original album. Sometimes it also includes a DVD of the songs' MV. This concept is going well especially on younger singers and groups whose fans won't hesitate to spend money to buy the CDs. It is indeed giving the album sales a boost.
5. Male/female duets - When I first got into k-pop, I was wondering why there were so few duets. It all comes out this year and we do have a few duets making it into our top 20 and also in the honorable mentions below.
Before I start, here are my recommendations of last year as a reference:
http://www.soompi.com/staff.recommended.kpop.2006
In 2007, I feel that on average, there are many quality songs. However there is no really stand-out song that would be a clear No. 1 song. So when we get to the top 5 songs, any of those can be No. 1, and I ranked it just on my slight preference.
Honorable mentions:
As usual, there are some songs that just missed the cut but they are worth mentioning. This year I've selected 10 songs as honorable mentions. They are in random orders:
Hun - 그맙습니다 (from drama "Thank You") Watch: MV
Ruby - 품 (Width) Listen: full song
Ilac - 그래도 사랑합니다 (I still Love You) Watch: MV
Lee Ki Chan - 미인 (A Beauty) Watch: MV Live Performance
Lee Soo Young - 단발머리 (Bob Hair Cut) Watch: MV Live Performance
Dave & Tae Sa Bi Ae - 손바닥 (Palm of the hand) Watch: Live Performance
Fighting Daddy - Fighting Daddy Fighting Watch: MV
Lisa (feat. Lee Seung Chul) - 시작보다 끝이 아름다운 사랑 (Love with a sweet ending) Watch: MV
MINE - I Know Listen: full song
Hong Kyung Min (duet Kim Ah Sun) - 그때가좋았어 (Those good times) Watch: MV
Here are the top 20 songs:
1. Yang Pa - 사랑그게뭔데 (Love...What is that?)
Genre: Pop Ballad
This song is from: Yang Pa Vol. 5
Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live performance
Comment: Returning after 6 years of absence from k-pop, fans don't know what to expect from Yangpa as the industry went through a lot of changes over these 6 years. Instead, she proved that she belonged to the top and reached a new height on her career. This song and her album spent several weeks on top of the music charts. Her vocal skills are undoubtedly among the best, now she's more mature and controls the flow of the song with her voice even better than before, putting a lot of emotions to the song. It became one of the top hit songs in the summer. Congratulations!
2. ERU - 흰눈 (White Snow)
Genre: Pop Ballad
This song is from: ERU Vol. 2
Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live performance
Comment: Let's not forget this song because it was a hit very early in 2007, and was from an album in 2006. "Black Glasses" (ranked No. 3 on our list last year) brought ERU fame and fortune. This follow-up song, written by ERU himself, is equally good, if not better. Too bad his 3rd album did not do nearly as well this year. But this song and "Black Glasses" were probably two of the most popular songs from the same album in recent memory.
3. Zi-A - 물끄러미 (Absentmindedly)
Genre: Pop Ballad
This song is from: Zi-A 1st single album - Voice of Heaven
Purchase this album
Watch: MV
Comment: If we are ranking songs in terms of their MVs, this song is definitely No. 1. It uses the formula of mega production movie-like MV, like so many k-pop classics before. The MV of this song stars Shin Hyun Jun and Kim Ok Bin, who also appear on the album cover. Zi-A is still a mysterious singer, as only a few saw her face in a duet performance with KCM on Yoon Do Hyun Love Letter. We all can tell that she's really got the "voice of heaven". Of all the hit songs Cho Young Soo has written in 2007, I think this one is the best.
4. Tei - 같은 베개 (Same Pillow)
Genre: Pop Ballad
This song is from: Tei Vol. 4
Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live performance
Comment: Tei has hit No. 1 on the title songs of each of his first three albums. This song, unfortunately, did not accomplish that, but I think this is his best song to date. As a result, Tei appeared on our year-end top 20 list for the first time. Hope that's a nice consolation.
5. Lee Seung Chul - 사랑한다 (I Love You)
Genre: Rock Ballad
This song is from: Lee Seung Chul Vol. 9
Purchase this album
Watch: MV
Comment: Please don't retire! Lee Seung Chul had hinted that this may be his last album. If indeed that's true, it's a huge loss to k-pop. Lee Seung Chul has been one of the most consistent hit makers over many years, whether with Boo Hwal or solo. This song is a warm and sincere rock ballad. It could have been our No. 1 song this year had it been released earlier.
6. Jang Hye Jin - 가라 사랑아 (Go Away Love)
Genre: Pop Dance
This song is from: Jang Hye Jin power album - Tomboy
Purchase this album
Watch: MV
Comment: We saw quite a number of singers changing their music style in the last 2 years, mostly going from up-tempo songs to ballads. Jang Hye Jin is taking the opposite route. Already well known as a ballad singer, she switched to this dance song last summer. She pulled it off nicely as the song reached the top 10. While younger singers rely on their dance steps in up-tempo songs, Jang Hye Jin still focuses on her powerful vocals in this song. Definitely my favorite up-tempo song of 2007.
7. TY Keys - I'm Sorry
Genre: R&B Ballad
This song is from: TY Keys - TY Project No. 1
Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: It is very difficult to separate this song and 8Eight's "Forget Love and Sing", both songs are of very similar R&B styles. Even the group composition is the same: male vocalist, female vocalist, male rapper. I like this song just a little bit better. Each member from Tykeys was supposed to go solo but the record company decided to group them together. That's good for us listeners. You can compare this song with 8Eight's song to see which one you like more.
8. 8Eight - 사랑을 잃고 난 노래하네 (Forget Love and Sing)
Genre: R&B Ballad
This song is from: 8Eight Vol. 1
Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: It is quite fitting that 8Eight are No. 8 (I've put Se7en at No. 7 before, lol) but they have plenty of talent to back it up. The winners of MBC's "Show Survival" (like American Idol), their pure R&B sound earned them the nickname of "Korea's Black Eyed Peas". Definitely one of the most talented new groups in 2007.
9. Jang Yeon Joo - One Sweet Day
Genre: Soft Rock
This song is from: Jang Yeon Joo digital single 스마일 프로젝트 Vol.1
Watch: MV
Listen: full song
Comment: This song fits perfectly to the easy listening mode. Jang Yeon Joo is particularly good in singing this type of music. Her debut song "Something Special" back in 2003 also made our top 10 that year. Songwriter Park Keun Tae has written many top hit songs for female singers in 2007, but perhaps this song is one that people will overlook. The song also features a cute MV about a female astronaut.
10. J (duet with Lee Jung) - 눈물로 (with tears)
Genre: Pop Ballad
This song is from: (1) J digital single "with tears", (2) J Vol. 6
Purchase this album
Watch: MV Live Performance
Comment: This is as good a duet as it can get. Both singers are known for their vocals, and their music was mostly R&B in the past. This song is more of a pop ballad. The piano arrangement at the beginning of the song is a very nice intro and attracts listeners. In my opinion, this is the top male-female duet song of 2007.
They're both beautiful songs.
