Best Kpop Songs of All Time: SNSD, BTS, Blackpink Voted

SNSD, IU, HOT, Big Bang, BTS, Blackpink, Super Junior, 2NE1, TWICE, NewJeans... are the artists whose songs were voted by Rolling Stone in the Top 20 best Kpop music products of all time.

SNSD, IU, BTS, Blackpink, PSY have songs voted the best in Kpop history. Photo: Rolling Stone

Recently, the famous American magazine specializing in music and popular culture, Rolling Stone, voted for the Top 100 best Korean Pop (Kpop) songs of all time. The list was selected through the opinions of a group of journalists and music critics in both Korea and the US.

According to Rolling Stone's ranking, "Gee" performed by 2nd generation girl group SNSD is the best song in Kpop history.

The title track of the mini album of the same name released in 2009 was the turning point that brought the 9 girls from SM to be widely known in the world . This super hit was even called "song of the decade" by Melon, proving its strong influence on the Korean music industry.

“Gee” is SNSD’s most famous song globally. Photo: SM

When “Gee” was initially presented to the record label, the production duo E-Tribe didn’t take it seriously, considering the lyrics too childish and the melody weak. But eventually, the song’s use of aegyo (a Korean term for cute behavior and speech) became a hit.

The “Gee” MV also became the most viewed K-pop music video at the time, until PSY’s “Gangnam Style” took the throne in 2012.

In addition, in the Top 100 voted by Rolling Stone, SNSD's song "Into the New World" was ranked 33rd.

The two most popular K-pop groups right now, BTS and Blackpink, also have songs in the Top 10.

BTS has 2 songs voted. Photo: HYBE

BTS’s 2017 ballad “Spring Day” is at No. 4. Rolling Stone also ranked BTS’s I Need U at No. 53. Meanwhile, Blackpink’s iconic 2018 EDM track “DDU-DU DDU-DU” is at No. 6.

Notably, while most of the songs in the Top 30 are from artists/groups from the first 3 generations of Kpop such as BoA, HOT, Seo Taiji and Boys, SNSD, Big Bang, Wonder Girls, Super Junior, f(X), BTS, Blackpink, Red Velvet, TWICE... surprisingly, a song from a Gen 4 group was ranked at number 19, which is "Ditto" by NewJeans.

Rolling Stone noted that NewJeans made an almost immediate cultural impact when they released their debut album in August 2022.

NewJeans' music is fresh and unique. Photo: ADOR

“Ditto" (released December 2022) is worthy of being NewJeans' best single with its youthful pop sound, but at the same time also has a nostalgic color combination of black American girl groups during the Y2K era.

That's why NewJeans is in the Top 20, the highest among the songs by Gen 4 artists to be ranked.

Several other Gen 4 groups such as LE SSERAFIM, (G)I-DLE, Stray Kids, aespa, TXT also made the list from 79th to 97th place.

Top 30 best Kpop songs of all time voted by Rolling Stone:

1. Girls' Generation (SNSD) - “Gee” (2009)

2. HOT - “Candy” (1996)

3. IU - “Good Day” (2010)

4. BTS - “Spring Day” (2017)

5. Cho Yong Pil - “Short Hair” (1980)

6. Blackpink - “DDU-DU DDU-DU” (2018)

7. Big Bang - “Haru Haru” (2008)

8. 2NE1 - “I Am The Best” (2011)

9. Seo Taiji and Boys - “I Know” (1992)

10. Wonder Girls - “Nobody (English Ver.)” (2007)

11. Lee Jung Hyun - “Wa” (1999)

12. Super Junior - “Sorry, Sorry” (2009)

13. Red Velvet - “Red Flavor” (2017)

14. Shin Joong Hyun and Yup Juns - “Beautiful Woman” (1974)

15. TWICE - “TT” (2016)

16. SHINee - “Lucifer” (2010)

17. f(x) - “4 Walls” (2015)

18. BoA - “No.1” (2001)

19. NewJeans - “Ditto” (2022)

20. Lee Nan Young - “Tears of Mokpo" (1935)

21. Brown Eyed Girls - “Abracadabra” (2009)

22. Deli Spice - “Chau Chau” (1995)

23. PSY - “Gangnam Style” (2012)

24. Lee Hyori - “10 Minutes” (2003)

25. TVXQ - “Mirotic” (2008)

26. Hyuna - “Bubble Pop” (2011)

27. SES - “(Cause) I'm Your Girl” (1997)

28. Patti Kim - “Farewell” (1973)

29. KARA - “Mr.” (2009)

30. Kim Jung Mi - “Haenim” (1973)

Laodong.vn

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