In The K M.E.A.L we love checking out old bops that deserve recognition, and we started a new series that will go through the last 10 years of K-POP and recommend 10 of our favourites songs by year.
We are starting this wild journey with the year 2012, a time where crazy concepts were seen from every angle and heavy black eyeliner was a must. Let’s start.
Teen Top – Crazy
You gotta go dancing when you get heartbroken and Teen Top knows it. ‘Crazy’ is a total party banger with plenty of drama and the 2000s fashion including the fun and unmissable hairstyles.
Orange Caramel – Lipstick
Orange Caramel will forever be missed. Their songs are total bops and their MVs never disappointed. They were out there being colourful, creative and fun, ‘Lipstick’ is one of the songs that proves that.
MBLAQ – This is War
Betrayal, drama, action and CGI are the main topics in MBLAQ’s music video for ‘This is War’. The music video is a full movie on its own, and we just loved how extra this song is and the music video even proved physics wrong while the members killed the heavy black eyeliner. Legends!
Miss A – Touch
Miss A has a lengthy list of hits, but their 2012 song ‘Touch’ was definitely something else. We just love its angst, classic style and unique choreography.
BIGBANG – BAD BOY
‘BAD BOY’ is a K-pop classic that we just had to add to the list. This song was IT, and back then the heavy bleached or interesting styled hair were really in fashion. They indeed looked like Bad Boys (especially T.O.P’s skull chain).
SHINee – Sherlock
K-pop fans were blessed in 2012 with one of the most iconic songs in K-pop. ‘Sherlock’ was and still is a masterpiece that only SHINee’s power could pull off. While we are at it, check their latest comeback here.
Girl’s Day- Oh! My God
With some major sass, an insanely catchy chorus, an intense dance battle and some quirky sound effects ‘Oh! My God’ feels quintessentially 2012. It couldn’t not be in the list.
F(x) – Electric Shock
This song was a revolution in the music industry, you might even say it was quite the shock to the system (sorry not sorry).
INFINITE – The Chaser
With K-drama like cinematography and actual car crashes, this one is super dramatic and so very much the spirit of the early 2010s.
Gain – Bloom
This one is still so much fun to listen to. Also Gain really rocked that turtleneck and the whole track is sexy and cheerful. It’s a one of a kind track that only Gain could pull off.
Special mentions:
Worldwide hit ‘Gangnam Style’, and party banger ‘Fantastic Baby’ could not be left behind, they are our honourable mentions for being absolutely iconic.
PSY – Gangnam Style
BIGBANG – Fantastic Babe
Tell us which are your favorite 2012 K-pop bops!