Top 10 Kpop Songs of November 2022

New month, new edition. This is notably, the last month of the 2022 season for us, December counts towards the next year, so this is it for year 1 of monthly rankings. Let’s dive in.

10. Ash Island- Everything

Ash Island is basically on my radar entirely because he’s been in some great collabs as a featured artist, this was my first time looking into his music independently. It’s good stuff, this song is a nice hip hop mid speed jam, simple beat which I like, the willingness to sing on top of rapping is also always nice.

9. CSR- Loveticon

Holy bubblegum Batman! This song will make your jaw hurt with that bubble gum chew, but that’s not a bad thing, this style really lost its favor and it’s so much fun to have it back in the scene. Musical diversity is great, and CSR is really helping out. That said, this is also well executed and fun, it’s exciting and you can listen a few times without getting bored, which is typically a pretty good sign.

8. Ichillin- Draw

Not the last time I’m going to say this, but I still have no idea how I feel about this song as a whole. The childish chanting doesn’t ever work for me, but it has a bit of bite here at least. Everything after the chant, the pre-chorus and chorus work pretty well for me though. The verses are pretty neutral. I’m just all over, but leaning positive, 8th feels good. Oh, and while I only factor in the music for these rankings, they seem to be having fun in the video, so that’s always a good thing.

7. Kanto- Celebration

This has a great tone and mood, I feel the song so well even without understanding most of the words. Kanto has a really crisp tone and diction too, which is pleasant to listen to, and the beat is pretty fire, I love my hip hop with simple beats and the talent of the rapper shining through, as I believe rap is one of the most expressive ways to use a voice. This is a hip hop home run.

6. Irris- Stay With Me

This is a mid 2000s pop-punk anthem disguised as a kpop song, and I’m for it. This is so nostalgic and well executed, I’m actually pretty impressed with this rookie group’s output this year, they have a strong record of slow jams that are fun to listen to between this and Bye Bye, which is so rare in this industry. I think Irris stands as a testament to the benefit of debuting idols older too, with three of the members being 25, 25, and 23 respectively they have a feeling of maturity and refinement most rookies don’t, even with a 19 year old maknae.

5. Kara- When I Move

Kara is back, I love it, and I love instead of going nostalgic they committed to that sexy Kara feeling, and they’ve all still got it in them to be great. I love the super early 2010s kpop rap section, I love the arrangement of the instrumental with the drum and guitar. This is so authentically classic Kara, but built for a modern age. The bridge is the only real weakness here to me, but it also isn’t quite the tonality I like in my sexy kpop, it’s more powerful when I think the sultry side works a little bit better.

4. Wooah- Rollercoaster

Just a good fun song, it’s got the feeling of going to a pier to watch fireworks at the end of a summer spent hanging out with friends. The only thing holding it back is there isn’t anything that really compels me to seek it out specifically, despite always being open to listen to it.

3. Yooa- Selfish

This is the weirdest I’ve ever felt about putting a song in second. This song is a complete oddball to me, it’s kinda Gwen Stefani in a good way, especially in the post-chorus, kinda Beyonce in the chorus in an okay way, and pretty early Oh My Girl in the verses. It doesn’t necessarily work, but I still find it interesting and I do love the Gwen Stefani section. Really don’t like the random zum zum zums, but I’m so intrigued by the song as a whole that I can’t justify having it far from the top this month.

2. Alexa- Back In Vogue

Alexa is back, and she’s in vogue. This song is catchy, it’s got a great hook, and although it isn’t necessarily my style, Alexa just has so much charisma that I’m still putting it all the way at the top. If the rest of the song was as good as the catchy chorus, this song would be a total threat for my year rankings.

1. Heeo- Destiny or Challenge

One of the things I have loved about the listening parties we host for me to research for these articles, is that I learn about new artists, one of which was Heeo earlier this year. Her music is great, and she manages to be fun while having a bit of a sexy concept going on, it’s a good blend. Also, not that it has an impact on rankings, but I like tattoos, and she’s got a bunch, which is cool. So congrats Heeo, you win the month!