Wow, what a change a year can make! At this point in 2023, I was only able to pick a small handful of tracks to feature in my mid-year countdown, but 2024 has me spoiled for choice. My list is unusually long this time and probably won’t be all that surprising (barring one or two tracks, maybe).
You’ll notice a few MVP acts pop up more than once. But really, there’s nice variety here representing every month of the year so far. As usual, tracks are presented in alphabetical order. Ranking will come at the end of the year. The great news is, I’ve already got at least three “song of the year” contenders. I won’t be revealing which three they are (of course), but you’re welcome to guess!
Next up will be mid-year features on K-pop albums, J-pop songs/albums and global pop songs/albums.
What were your favorite singles during the first half of 2024?
TOP SINGLES
aespa – Supernova
aespa’s biggest chart hit yet and a welcome nod to both SM’s electro past and the roots of hip-hop courtesy of its well-used Planet Rock sample. (full review)
BOYNEXTDOOR – Earth, Wind & Fire
BOYNEXTDOOR’s music has fully, finally clicked with me over the past few months, and Earth, Wind & Fire‘s madcap energy makes it the biggest riser on this countdown. (full review)
Hello Gloom – Mamacita
The guys of WAYBETTER love their house music, and Hello Gloom’s Mamacita is an irresistible burst of upbeat energy built around a shout-from-the-rafters chorus. (full review)
Kep1er – Shooting Star
Kep1er finally embrace their full potential with this ethereal, sentimental dance track. They’ve never sounded better, especially as that layered chorus unfurls. (full review)
Nayeon – ABCD
Twice’s Nayeon delivers the full pop superstar experience, lacing every powerful segment of ABCD with undeniable charisma. The song absolutely slays. (full review)
OnlyOneOf – dOpamine
OnlyOneOf injected their sensual sound with trendy drum and bass for dOpamine, but it’s the song’s megawatt chorus that earns it a place on this list. (full review)
RIIZE – Boom Boom Bass
Pairing again with their Get A Guitar collaborators, RIIZE bring the funk with Boom Boom Bass‘s taut, groovy frame. It’s an all-killer, no-filler spike of excitement. (full review)
RIIZE – Impossible
Impossible echoes the summer house energy of SHINee’s View but paints it with RIIZE’s colors. The bridge and outro are still among 2024’s most thrilling musical moments. (full review)
SF9 – Bibora
Releasing your strongest single eight years into promotions is quite unusual, but SF9 may have pulled it off with the brisk, thrilling Bibora. (full review)
TAN – Hypertonic
While it looks like Hypertonic may become TAN’s swan song, they went out on an undeniable high. The track’s electro crunch will definitely appeal to fans of K-pop’s second-gen talents. (full review)
TRENDZ – Go Up
Never doubt the power of a veteran producer. Brave Brothers reinvented TRENDZ’s sound with this driving, anthemic burst of rock-tinged tropical pop. It’s pretty much everything I want in a K-pop single. (full review)
TWS – hey! hey!
Hey! hey! streamlines TWS’s youthful sound into a turbo-charged power pop anthem aiming for stadium sing-alongs. It’s this summer’s perfect burst of optimism. (full review)
TWS – If I’m S, Can You Be My N?
A confetti cannon of sugary pop hooks, If I’m S grows more addicting with each listen. The rollicking rap verses are a highlight, punctuated by an effusive chorus. (full review)
TWS – Plot Twist
Plot Twist took over Korean charts this year, its quirky-cute charms instantly crystallizing TWS’s musical worldview. The chant-along climax is great payoff, but the iconic chorus is the main calling card. (full review)
The Wind – H! Teen
Fans of bright boy group fare have been spoiled for choice this year, but to those who haven’t fully embraced The Wind I’d urge you to check them out. This fizzy, buoyant title track would be a great start. (full review)