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My top 15 kpop songs of 2024

My countdowns of the year are overdue. So here's my first list with my favorite kpop songs of the year.

H.M. ROSÉ- APT. This earworm- because that's what it is- would easily make my top 3 of the year but apart from the intro the song it's in english so I do consider it a pop song but I just had to mention it.

15. TAEYEON-Letter to myself. The thing I love the most about Taeyeon's ballads is that she always picks interesting melodies to sing. And this one is no different. So no matter how many times she sings about heartbreak I keep loving it.

14. BOYNEXTDOOR-OUR. This song is so fresh and fun. This group has really become one of my favorites of the fifth gen and this song was my favorite this year even if Earth, Wind and Fire is also great, and the actual title of their mini album.

13. DOYOUNG-Little Light. When I heard NCT's Doyoung was releasing his solo album I was convinced he would release a ballad album and I was wrong. He went the pop rock route and I really enjoyed his whole album but I kept listening the title that in korean translates to firefly. It's a bright fun song to listen to.

12. New Jeans-How sweet. I have to confess I'm not a fan of New Jeans overall look but I love the songs they come up with and this one in special was as the title says a sweet song to listen to.

11. RIIZE-Impossible. RIIZE is such a fun group. I've enjoyed all the songs they've released and this one was really stuck in my head the first half of the year. It's about feeling everything that is impossible it's somehow possible when you're with that special somebody.

10. BABY MONSTER-SHEESH. Another song that stayed in my head for ours on end. It definitely has that YG feel and a great hook. I haven't really paid as much attention to them but this song makes me feel I'm really missing out.

9. NCT Dream-Unknown. I think this is kind of like their cheerleader song. It's about going after your dreams. Definitely feating for my favorite NCT subunit.

8. SEVENTEEN-MAESTRO. To be honest, I don't know why I either love or hate Seventeen songs. This one I absolutely love it. The choreo is everything and the beat is bright.

7. Taemin-Horizon. So, fun fact: my most listened kpop artist of the year was Taemin. This year he released his first album after singning with BPM and it really meant the confirmation that it wasn't SM that drove his career... it's all him. Sexy in the air was good but it was this song that really got me. It's Taemin so you know the choreo had to be crazy and on top of that he got some of the best dancers in the industry and yet his star quality shines through.

6. Baekhyun-Pinneaple Slice. Baekhyun was another artist that showed that he could deliver without the SM machinary behind him. This fun, sexy song is catchy. The MV has a vampire theme that is fresh. The vocals are EXO quality, of course.

5. Chanyeol-Hasta la vista. My favorite song from EXO Chanyeol's first album. I mean finally. Why is this the first one? Anyway... This song might be just a bside from his album but it was one of my most listened songs of the year. It has the band aspects Chanyeol has always loved, the vocals are so sweet even if the lyrics are heartbreaking.

4. AESPA-Supernova. Another earworm. When they released Supernova I was like "nope, next" and I actually like Amargeddon too but it's been seven months since it was released and still sometimes I wake up and the first thing out of my mouth is "Su-su-su-su-supernova".

3. GD ft Taeyang and Daesung-HOME SWEET HOME. Power was such a great comeback for GD but when Home Sweet Home was released to the world it was just legendary. It just screams BIGBANG. Exactly what I've been hoping for the last few years and to this day it sits on top of the korean charts.

2. ZICO ft. JENNIE- Spot. Zico has been kind of dragging his feet when it comes to releasing albums because he has been so focused on producing but him releasing this song was like him saying I can top the charts if and when I want to. The lyrics are about having a night out. It has a cool beat, Zico's signature rap, a great hook and Jennie's fun vocals.

1. Lee Young Ji ft Do Kyungsoo-Small girl. This song is mostly in english but I think D.O.'s parts in korean qualifies it as kpop. The lyrics really hit me hard the first time I watched the MV because it took me back to me being fourteen and feeling so much bigger than all of my friends. It really talks about self esteem but it's also a cute duo with Kyungsoo's beautiful vocals. It also happens to be my most listened kpop song of the year.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

Is Tumblr still alive? It has been a full year since I actually clicked on this app... but I think I'm still going to post my favorite kpop and kdrama of 2024. Actually I never did countdown my favorite dramas of 2023. I made the list but never got around posting it. So I might as well post it now even if I won't go into detail for this list just some keywords for people that have no clue about them.

My top 10 korean dramas 2023 were...

10. See you in my 19th life. Sweet. Funny. Rebirth. Based on a webtoon.

9. Destined with you. Reincarnation. Fate. Infurating male lead but yet you root for him. Also really funny.

8. My Demon. Supernatural. Kdrama land was really into reincarnation last year and I sure enjoyed it.

7.  Doona! Crazy. Bittersweet. Idol.

5. D.P. Season 2. Action. Drama. Military. The first season might be better but this one holds up.

4. The good bad mother. Emotionally draining at times but great acting and script.

3. Moving. A bit slow-paced for my liking but really good..

2. Celebrity. Suspence. Romance. Scandal. Influencers.

1. The Glory. This revenge story had great acting and and an amazing script.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

My top 15 kpop songs of 2023

This year, my love-hate relationship with SM continued, and so more than half of the songs in my list come from artists under SM. I do want to say I try to listen to other stuff, but this year, I found it especially hard to get into a lot of the chart-topping songs. Anyway, these are my favorite kpop songs of the year.

H.M. SHINee-Juice. SHINee released their 8th album and sadly only promoted with three members (Minho, Key, and Taemin). Their title HARD was catchy, but honestly, it's just not for me. The bside Juice tho has an amazing performance video that is worth watching. The song is also catchy, and it feels so grand.

15. Akmu-Love Lee. This song stayed on top of the korean charts for a while, and it's no surprise when it's so infectious. A fun song to listen to for sure.

14. Taeyeon- To. X. This simple mid tempo song has a fun beat with acoustic guitar and an r&b flair. Talks about getting out of a toxic relationship.

13. BOBBY-f. This song is just two minutes long but I feel is like Bobby's celebration to be out of YG and finally be able to curse. And yeah he says the f word a lot. Love the electric guitar.

12. New Jeans-Super Shy. This year makes 10 years since I entered the kpop world so maybe I'm just too old but I feel I'm having a lot of issues with the 4th and 5th generation music. New Jeans is one of the outliers. I may not love their fashion but I love their catchy pop songs and Super shy was stuck on my head this year. I could have easily picked OMG to add to this list too.

11. JENNIE-You&Me. For the life of me, I don't understand why this year there was so much negativity towards Blackpink. To be perfectly honest, I'm not a fan of kpop artists doing songs only in english. I always feel there's something missing, but this song is an exception. I really loved it. Just a fun dance song, but it's really well done.

10. NCT DREAM-Broken Melodies. I was not a fan of ISTJ, I tried, but it was Broken Melodies I could not stop listening to. The lyrics talk about yearning for someone when they are on the road. I love Heachan's beautiful vocals on this one.

9. Chanyeol-Good Enough. Chanyeol released this single, and he is my bias, so I was probably gonna love whatever he released. But Good enough was unexpectedly emotional after the uncertainty that brought the let's call it "misscomunications" between EXO and SM. The song is a reminder than even in the dark times you need to remember there's a light at the end of the tunnel even if you feel stuck. A chill song with Chanyeol's soothing vocals.

8. (G)I-DLE-I want that. I think (G)IDLE is one of the girl groups that I look forward to when they make a comeback these days. The chorus of this song is so fun and there's some adlibs that I really love.

7. Be'O-MAD. This song was released a month ago and since then I've listened to it a lot. I just think Be'O's voice is so interesting, and his melodies really appeal to me, so it's no surprise I loved it.

6. Aespa-Better things. I loved everything Aespa released since debut, but this year, I struggled liking their sound except for this song that which funny enough is in english. The lyrics are about stop wasting your time on a failed relationship. Loved the melody and the word play.

5. Kai-Rover. Kai, our sweet dual personality dance king, has now gone for the military, but he left us this song to obsess about. It really became a huge trend between idols. The chorus is such an earworm. The choreo as expected is great.

4. Red Velvet-Chill Kill. Red Velvet has always been my reluctant favorite girlgroup. I say this because I love their Velvet r&b side, but even if I'm not such a fan of their Red pop side their songs always win me over. They came back with their third full album, which was one of my favorites of the year. This eary song with a surprisingly sweet chorus has a strong beat on an otherwise midtempo song. The MV is creepy as only a Red Velvet MV can be. Love Joy's vocals on this.

3. Taeyang ft. JIMIN-VIBE. Finally, after all the wait, a Big Bang member came back to kpop to make a splash. Taeyang's vocals are undisputed, and he managed to make a song that is groovy, trendy with the help of BTS's Jimin. A song about feeling an instant connection with someone. His whole album is also great.

2. Taemin-Guilty. Seeing Taemin back with Shinee was great, but ever since he was released from the military, all I could think about was "I cannot wait to see what he comes up with for his solo comeback". So my expectations were high-very high-, but he delievered and then some. The MV's concept is Hermann Hesse's Demian, which is genius for a song called Guilty. I don't think we will ever know for sure, but it does feel Taemin put a little bit of his not so pleasant experiences from the military into the imagery. The song is captivating from the strong beat to the high notes and the whispery raps. Unexpected yet familiar side to Taemin. Just art.

1. EXO-Cream Soda. EXO finally came back. It should have been an eight member comeback but he had to enlist earlier than expected and sadly Kai was not present in the promotion of this song, which was meager but I won't go down that rabbit hole... Still, they really were like "hey! I know you missed us and you want your r&b and for us to go all vocal kings on you so here you go!". To this day I don't love the MV but who cares? Cream Soda is amazing. Chen's high note, Suho's chorus part and Sehun and Chanyeol's rap. They just gave me everything I wanted. So I can't help, from my very biased point of view, to claim this was the best song of the year.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

My top 10 korean OSTs of 2023

It's time to countdown my favorite music from korean dramas. As per usual I only chose one per dramas from dramas that started in 2023.

H.M. New Jeans-Beautiful Restriction. I actually didn't watch A time called you. I just never got around to it but I found this song and it reminded me of those typical OSTs from like ten years ago so this song felt nostalgic somehow.

10. WINTER- With you. My demon is my favorite drama right now. I've always been a sucker for rom coms with a supernatural twist. It feels like every OST from this drama is gonna be great. New Jean's Our Night is more beautiful than your day is probably the most played in the drama but it's Winter's beautiful vocals that won me over. No surprise there since she is my favorite Aespa vocalist. Still Whenever Wherever by Roy Kim and Dawn's Even if we disappear are so good.

9. Melomance-The secret between us. Melomance are one of my favorite interpeters of OSTs and this song is sweet with a playful chorus, which goes perfectly with the fun romcom A good day to be a dog. Sunday Latte by Junggigo and Jea is also worth a listen.

8. Kim Sejeong-Once Again. Kim Sejeong sang two OSTs for the second season of The Uncanny Counter and they're both a really good listen. However the way Sejeong's voice soars in Once Again just gives it a bit of an edge. By the way if you haven't watched the Uncanny Counter it's a fun fantasy drama to binge. Cravity's Ready Set Go and Dvwn's No problem are also really good.

7. Lee Chang Sub- Love from a real heart. Honestly I felt too old to watch Beginning is from the first kiss but the OSTs are power ballads that are definitely worth listening. From Lee A Young's Even Silently Cry to Heaven by Lim Jae Hyun they all get you in the feels. BTOB's Changsub however just has that extra something in his voice that makes you pay attention.

6. Noel-That's you. Lyn made some beautiful soundtracks for Destined with you (I'll always be with you and We love each other) that you should check out but the chorus of That's you by Noel is so catchy that I had no choice but to choose this song in my list. The vocals are full of emotion.

5. Jeon Seowoon-Fall in love. Having SNSD's Yoona and 2PM's Junho as the leads of this drama was somehow exactly what I didn't know I wanted. I love Jeon Seowoon's tone for OSTs and he released a few this year but for me this was the best one. It's just painfully sweet. This drama had other pretty songs but Punch's Keep me busy, and Minseo's Perhaps love are also standouts.

4. Solar-EXIT. This song for the drama The Escape of the Seven sounds so epic. It has a lot of verses in English. And Solar's power vocals shine through.

3. Doyoung-Here with me. NCT's Doyoung keeps delivering beautiful OSTs. And my favorite this year is the one he did for See you in my 19th life which happens to be one of my favorite romcoms of the year. Colde's Star is also a stand out song for this drama.

2. Baekhyun-Hello. The third season of Dr. Romantic was my least favorite of the series but it had great OSTs. EXO's Baekhyun sang the first one and it has such a beautiful melody. The vocals are of course on point. Gummy's I will stay with you, Doyoung's Beautiful Day, Seukwang's Still you and Lia's One Hundred Love are worth listening too.

1. Kang Seung Yoon-Half&Half. The drama True to love was crazy funny. This song by WINNER's Kang Seung Yoon is so great and definitely my most played OST of the year. iKON's JU-NE also sang a beautiful song for this drama called Accidental love.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

My top 15 kpop albums of 2023

It's been a year since I posted something. At this point, I feel I'm only writting to keep a record for myself of my favorites of the year. Still, if anyone cares to read this, know I've posted my favorite korean music and dramas of the year every year since 2016. First up, my favorite albums of 2023.

15. Heize-Last winter. I've honestly been in a Heize break for almost two years because I felt her songs started to sound too much alike but this album got me excited for her music once again. It has bearly been a week since it came out so I did hesitate including it but I think it portrays my favorite style of hers so at the end I was like "yeah, it deserves a spot". Forget me not feauturing BIG NAUGHTY's beautiful vocals is my favorite song of the album. However her title, a collab with 10 cm, is a close second. Picnic of the Night gives us a more uptempo beat and Chan's sweet vocals are so relaxing. I think I will be listening this album a lot in the next few months.

14. PENOMECO-Rorschach (Part 1). Ever since Penomeco entered my radar I have loved pretty much everything he has released. I do prefer his more chill music but this year he brought us more of his hip hop side and released two mini albums called Rorschach, both could have easily made my list but I think at the end of the day I like the album he released in april a bit more, and he does have two songs with Zico in this one, which did tip the balance for me. As I said, I do like his more layback music so my favorite song is Margiela feauturing Paul Blanco. The album starts with strong beats with Boy Pablo (2019) and stays on track with his title song Rindaman feauturing Zico. His other collab with Zico: Pew! is also a fiery song. As is Bubble. He slows down for his other three songs and they all are such a great listen.

13. TREASURE-Reboot. I think TREASURE has had really bad luck, from their delayed debut to the ups and downs lately. The thing is I've always prefered those groups I actually feel excited to listen to their whole albums and TREASURE has really delivered in all of them as far as I'm concerned. People keep saying YG is holding them back by making them have the typical YG songs like BONA BONA or STUPID on this album but since I'm a fan of those kind of songs so I really look forward to it. However it was the songs by their subunits I actually liked the most MOVE is just such an exciting song and THE WAY TO by the vocal unit is just my kind of ballad. To be fair listening to Jungwoo and Jihoon sing is such highlight for me on all of their songs. I just love their tones.

12. Taeyeon-To. X. 2023 was a year where I really got into Taeyeon's discography. So I was really excited for this comeback. The title To. X is a fun midtempo break up song. I would have liked Melt Away more as the title but I did love both songs. This is also a recent release so I moved it up and down in my list a lot. I'm also having a hard time picking a favorite song. I also enjoy listening to Fabolous with the quorky beat and witty lyrics but I think I actually liked all the tracks equally.

11. VIXX-CONTINUUM. VIXX has changed a lot over the last few years but somehow this album with only Leo, Ken and Hyuk sounds very much like VIXX used to sound in 2015. They really stand on their own and all of their voices are amazing. However I've always had a soft spot for Leo and his vocals in Lilac are just heavenly. Probably why I love that ballad so much. I was actually surprised with Hyuk's low vocals that give a needed twist to Leo and Ken's power vocals. All five songs in this mini album are so good. The title is Amnesia and the MV aesthetic is obviously inspired by the movie Dune.

10. NCT DOJAEJUNG-Perfume. This release kind of blind sighted me. I never thought Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo would come together in a subunit so in that sense they reminded me of the time I heard EXO CBX was debuting. I really love the title Perfume. It's one of those rare times the title is actually my favorite song of the album. I thought they would do a ballad for their title but the fact it was an upbeat sexy song was unexpectedly right. Doyoung is my favorite NCT vocalist so listening to him this whole album was such a joy. Jaehyun's vocals can be a bit overlooked in NCT127 just because Douyoung and Taeil are so amazing. Listening to him have more time in this album to shine was exactly what I wanted. I love Jungwoo's personality and honestly I was afraid he would get a bit lost in this album but my worries were unnecessary. Often I found his low notes were that little bit of spice the songs needed in this album. I loved all the bsides but Dive and Strawberry Sunday were specially a fun listen. And of course they had to do a traditional SM ballad (Ordinary) which is just beautiful.

9. D.O.- Expectation. I'll never stop wishing for EXO's Kyungsoo to do an r&b album but his heart is in easy listening heartfelt songs so I can't complain. I'm just happy to get anything from him as a solo artist. This mini album has so many pretty songs. I do is my favorite hands down and one of my most played songs of the year but Lost (both the acoustic and the regular version) is such a fun song to listen to and could have easily become the title. The vocals and the melody are so powerful. Ordinary days and The view also have a fun melody. The title Somebody is really catchy and the MV is so sweet.

8. TXT- The name chapter: Freefall. I have to confess I haven't gotten into TXT's content. I just came to like them gradually in the last couple of years and there was so much to catch up on that I haven't really get to know the members at all but the albums are a different story. Deep down is my favorite of the album but Happily Ever After is also a highlight. The title Chasing the Feeling gave us a fun retro beat and the chorus was really addicting. I also found Skipping Stones to be an interesting song. Love the guitar and bass on that one and the vocals by Beomgyu, Taehyun and Huaningkai are just heavenly. And of course the collab with The Jonas Brothers was a bit unexpected yet exactly what I didn't know I wanted.

7. Zion.T-Zip. This was almost out of my list because I just listened to it a week ago, but I had to add it. Zion. T is just so unique and entertaining to listen to. His collab with AKMU called V is my favorite. But as expected, this is a no skip songs with great use of instruments, beats, vocals and occasional rapping. He even released three MVs for this comeback (Stranger, V and Unlove). The album is 10 tracks long yet only sums up 26 minutes. Thank u featuring Yun Seokcheol is also a highlight.

6. V-Layover. To be honest, I was not excited for V's solo stuff. I was expecting a lot from Jungkook and Jimin but not from him. I don't know why. So it was so surprising when I actually wasn't excited with the songs they released but I really loved V's album. It's my fault really because I do tend to overlook Taehyun's vocals when listening to BTS. The sound he went for it's exactly my kind of music. Layover just feels sophisticated. Blue is definitely my go to song with its fancy r&b sound and Love me again has my favorite beat of the album. Slow Dancing is so sweet and For us takes you in a journey. The album is only 5 songs but from the first listen I knew it would make my top 10 of the year.

5. NCT 127-Fact Check. For me, this is the first NCT127 no skip album. I liked LIMITLESS a lot but even that one has a couple of songs that are just not for me. NCT 127's titles are either a huge hit with me or they rub me off, this time around I found Fact Check so addicting. I love Space's melody but Misty is my favorite overall. Everyone's vocals are on point but Taeil is such a wonder to listen to on that one. Love is a beauty is also a great ballad. Parade might be a hiphop heavy song but Doyoung's beautiful vocals really stand out to me. And Angel Eyes gave me a bit of NCT U's With you vibes. I love Mark's parts in Je ne sais quoi then again everyone sounds so good in that song.

4. Taeyang-Down to Earth. Taeyang came back with a bang. Every song on the album feels so big. I wasn't a fan of the title VIBE featuring BTS's Jimin on the first listen, but it really grew on me. The chorus just pops in my head from time to time out of nowhere. Shoong featuring Blackpink's Lisa is amazing, and the performance video is crazy good. Seed is the power ballad of the album. Nightfall featuring Bryan Chase is also a highlight with its retro pop beat and beautiful vocals.

3. Taemin-Guilty. The void Taemin left while he was in the military could not really be fulled by anyone else. He's just different. And yes, a lot of it is the performance but the music always comes first. This album is only six songs but they all are so good. Not gonna lie, the first time I heard The Rizzness I was confused because the strong beat and rapping surprised me. I didn't know if I liked it but it really grew on me after hearing it a couple of times. I'm obsessed with She loves me she loves me not and its playful melody plus it's definitely my most played track of the album. Not over you and Blue takes us in a dreamlike journey.

2. Red Velvet-Chill Kill. I was surprised to realize this is the only album from a girlgroup I liked this year. I even forced myself to listen to some albums of the most popular girlgroups right now but it's just not my kind of music. However this album is straight up my alley. A Velvet R&B album. I hadn't enjoyed a Red Velvet album so much since The Perfect Red Velvet. My favorite Red Velvet comebacks are always the one with a creepy twist so Chill Kill was on point with that strong beat paired with a sweet chorus. Knock knock (who's there) is a seemless follow up to Chill Kill. Underwater is one of my favorites for sure but these days I keep going back to Nightmare. Iced coffee and One Kiss have catchy chorus while Wings is uplifting with beautiful vocals.

1. EXO-EXIST. My Spotify Wrapped top 5 songs belong all to this album. It's actually the first time it happens. Despite me being an EXO-L, some pop or indie songs are usually in the mix, but I guess I missed EXO. They just did all the things I love in an EXO album: r&b, beautiful harmonies, and fun beats. I keep changing my favorite song of the album. At first, it was Regret it just because the production is so great. Then I was like, actually, all the falsetto and runs in Cinderella makes it my favorite. Yet I kept feeling No makeup was the perfect r&b EXO song, so I thought: that one for sure! But of course, the title Cream Soda is so catchy, and the chorus is expectacular, so obviously, that's the one. Nevertheless, Love fool is so much fun to listen to, and I do love Sehun and Chanyeol's verses in Another Day. Then why is my most played song of the year Let me In? And what about Hear me out that makes me happy every time I listen to it? Don't even get me started on Private Party's lyrics! Anyway, you get the idea, so just do yourself a favor and check out this album.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

My top 10 korean OSTs of 2022.

Hope you had a great time celebrating the new year! I was supposed to post this last week but last year I really was the worst at keeping up with my tumblr. I guess the whole working adult thing is draining me already of my hobbies. Anyway, hopefully I'll do a better job this year. Here's my favorite OSTs of last year.

10. Suzy- Inevitable. Extraordinary Attorney Woo Young Woo was one of the most popular dramas last year and this soft cute ballad by Suzy was such a joy to listen to.

9. MINO ft Gaeko- City+++. So I usually only include OSTs from korean dramas but I really loved the korean movie Seoul vibe. I don't know why I wasn't expecting much of Mino's debut as an actor and he really delievered as the courky nemesis of Yoo Ah In's character in the movie. He also co-wrote this OST and the song is so much fun.

8. Sole- La vie. This is such a cool song in english with crazy vocals and was my favorite Little Women OST.

7. Minhyun-Tree. So technically this song is from Alchemy of the Souls Part 1 and 2 but since it was released as the soundtrack of Part 2 I'll give myself and pass and add it as my favorite song of Part 2. I loved Part 1 and I am enjoying Part 2 of this epic drama. The OSTs are all so great but this one is one of my faves for sure. Minhyun's sweet vocals are just so beautiful. Ailee's I'm sorry was recently released and it's a great listen.

6. Melomance-Love Maybe. Business Proposal was a hilarious drama to watch. I've always loved Melomance's vocals so it was great to listen to this song over and over in the drama (Kim Sejong's acoustic version is also great). Bam bam's Melting is also a fun listen.

5. TAEYEON- By my side. The drama Our Blues was not really for me. It's well done though. The lyrics and Taeyeon's voice hits you right in the feels. By the way there were several songs from this drama that are amazing including Jimin's and Ha Sung Won's With you, Heize's The Last, NINGNING and Winter's Once Again, 10 cm's For Love, Punch's Bye bye and Davichi's Remember me.

4. SOHYANG-Luminous. I have to confess I only watched the first two episodes of Poong, the Joseon psychiatrist however the OSTs were so good. Sohyang has such an outstanding voice and it's so well suited for a historical drama so it was no surprised I loved this ballad. Make sure to check out Solji's By Your Side and Standing Egg's She.

3. CHEN-An unfamiliar day. Chen came back from the military on april of 2022 and by june he had already released an OST he's such an OST king! He also released another in november but it was this one from the drama Doctor Lawyer that I really loved. The drama was intense for sure and so were the OSTs. Make sure to listen to Freedom by Lee Changsub.

2. DOYOUNG-Unable to love. I was watching the web drama Dear X Who Doesn't Love Me, a slow burn friend to lovers drama with a supernatural spin to it, and I was really into Doyoung's portrayal of the unrequited love he has for main character and I was really emotional envolved so when I went and listen to the full live song I was overwhelmed by his delievery of this song and it really became one of my most listned OSTs of the year.

1. JEONG SEOWOON-Just watching you. This was the most iconic OST of Alchemy of the Souls and I think we have stablished by now just how much I loved the drama so this became my favorite OST of the year for sure. The epic feel of the drama was perfectly portrayed by Seowoon's vocals and the beat. Please check out the rest of the songs for this drama because there's so many great ones like Scars leave beautiful trace by Car, the garden, Aching by Kassy, Raindops by Gummy and Breath by Kim Na Young.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

My top 10 korean dramas of 2022

It's time! This is my favorite dramas of the year. Honestly I'm sure I missed watching a lot but picking just ten was still a struggle for sure.

Honorable Mention. Soundtrack # 1. This drama is a friends to lovers story. The angst is real on this one. It's only four episodes long but it's really worth a watch. Han So Hee plays a girl trying to make it as lyricist she leans on her long time friend, a photographer played by Park Hyun Sik. She ends up living with him for a couple of weeks and somehow things change between them. It's available at Disney+ or Star+.

10. Business Proposal. I actually read the webtoon first so when I heard this was being made I was really excited. It's just a fun silly rom-com about an office worker that ends up acting crazy to get rid of her friend's blind date. However the guy proposes marriage to her and turns out to be the CEO of the company she works for. You can watch it on Netflix.

9. Anna. Suzy stars in this drama based on a novel. It has six episodes and tells the story of a woman that is struggling but after telling a lie she ends up living a whole different life. There was some controversy since the director was unhappy with the editing released on Coupang Play, the company ended up releasing an extended version of the drama. You can watch it on Prime Video.

8. My liberation notes. I usually don't like slow burning dramas but I'm glad I had the patience to watch this one. Kim Ji Won stars in this drama set in a small town where three siblings deal with the boredom of their lives. A misterious guy moves to town and her relationship with the youngest of the siblings sets off a series of events that force her brothers to reflect on their lives. It's on Netflix.

7. Reborn rich. This was a hugely popular JTBC drama in Korea with a massive 26.9% rating. Starred by Song Joon Ki, this revenge story reminds me of another popular drama of his: Innocent Man. I actually binge watched it in just two days and it was addicting for sure. It's not quite perfect I would have liked the story to go a bit different. The drama tells the story of a secretary that works for a major conglomerate, heavily inspired by SAMSUNG, that after being wronged by the owners ends up reincarnating as the youngest grandson of the chairman. You can watch it on Viki.

6. Little women. It was announced as the korean adaptation of the novel Little women. In reality it's just the story of three sisters of a struggling family that seek to have a better life and end up having to fight against the richest family in the country. Starred by Kim Go Eun, Nam Ji Hyun, Park Ji Hu and Wi Ha Joon, it's got a little of everything: political corruption, social injustice and romance. It's on Netflix.

5. Narco Saints. This Netflix drama is based on a true story, a story I don't think I would have ever heard of if it wasn't for this drama. It's an interesting script, the acting is great and it's only six episodes. It tells the story of a businessman that works with Korea's National Intelligence Service to bring to justice a drug lord based in Surinam. Directed by Yoon Jong Bin known for his crime movies and starred by Ha Jung Woo, Hwang Jung Min, Park Hae Soo and Yoo Yeon Seok.

4. Big Mouth. My love for Lee Jong Suk is well known for those of you that have followed this blog so when it was announced he was making a come back to dramaland after his military service I knew it was gonna be good and he did not disappoint. This thriller MBC drama is about a struggling attorney that takes on a case that changes his life after he is mistaken with a swindler named Big Mouse and is incarcerated. His wife played by Im Yoon Ah is sure about his husband's innocence and takes on the challenge of proving it. Set in a fictional city, they will need to solve the murder case and find out the true identity of Big Mouse but troubles will keep finding them both. It's available in Disney+ or Star+.

3. Extraordinary attorney Woo Young Woo. This drama took me by surprise. It tells the story of an attorney with autism. It does reminds you of The Good Doctor at times but it's really well done from the witty script, the acting and even the animation. It really introduces you to the world of Woo Young Woo (Park Eun Bin) and it's a great one. The cases are interesting and the romance it's just too sweet. I also loved all the side characters. It was renewed for a second season. You can watch it on Netflix.

2. Pachinko. This Apple original is based on a novel by Min Jin Lee. Starred by the Oscar winning actress Youn Yuh Jung, Lee Min Ho, Kim Min Ha and Jin Ha. It's only eight episodes long and it's set when Korea was under Japanese rule in the 1920s as well as in the 1980's. The drama follows a girl that fights for a better life and falls in love with a man that is not what he seems. She will have to endure a lot of struggles in an incredibly difficult period to be a korean. The cinematography and story telling of this drama are the highlight for me. A season 2 has been announced.

1. Alchemy of souls (Part 1). Every time the Hong sisters write a drama you know it's gonna be epic, it will have some kind of supernatural spin, there will be romance and fun but most of all it will be different from anything else that year. This time was no exception. The first part had the perfect pace, it was full of action and ended with a major cliffhanger for Part 2. The story is about a girl (Go Yoon Jung) that is looking for revenge but after loosing a battle she has no other choice but to shift her soul into another body (Jung So Min) and thus looses her magic. In order to get her abilities back she decides to train a guy from a noble family played by Lee Jae Wook whose abilities have been restrained since birth. There's been six episodes released for the second part and even if it lost a bit of that electricity the first part had. It's still really good so far. It's on Netflix.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

My top 20 kpop songs of 2022

Long time no see!!! It's been a while since I wrote in this blog but I thought I would come back to give you my favorite things of kpop and korean dramas of 2022. First off my favorite songs of the year!

H.M. IVE- Love Dive. Fun song. Honestly I didn't like it the first time I listened to it but it's just so catchy.

20. Mamamoo-ILLELLA. Mamamoo always brings the vocals and this is a feel good song for me.

19. Got the beat-step back. This was released in January and the lyrics left a lot to be desired but the vocals are just insane. I mean BOA, Winter, Seulgi and Wendy, is there more to say? Of course Hyo and Karina killed it too!!

18. Red Velvet-Feel my rythm. This song grew on me. At first I thought it was fun yet weird but as most Red Velvet songs I ended up loving it.

17. Crush ft. J-hope- Rush hour. Crush came back with a bang this year and you know you can count on him delivering vocals but I wasn't expecting to see him do this style of song and has a bit of a Pharrell Williams vibe. J-HOPE rap style went very well with it.

16. ENHYPEN-Polaroid love. Catchy and sweet pop song. This song brightens up my day when I listen to it.

15. AESPA-GIRLS. The fourth episode in their saga against the villain Black Mamba comes to an end with this song. And it brings everything we've come to love from Aespa: great vocals, crazy beat changes and a fun storyline.

14. JAY PARK-Bite. I've always loved Jay Park's vocals more than his rap but in this song both of them shine.

13. TREASURE-JIKJIN. I didn't know how I felt about the beat on the chorus the first few times I listened to this but once again I got hooked and became addicted to it.

12. NCT DREAM-GLITCH MODE. In some ways NCT DREAM has become my favorite NCT sub unit. They just have a great energy and this song has the right amount of witty lyrics, harmonies and a catchy chorus.

11. KEY-GASOLINE. I was about to post this entry when I realized I had left this song out of my list! I don't know why it slipped my mind when this was just EPIC and I'm not talking just about the MV. KEY has really made it this past couple of years when it comes to variety shows so without much to prove he really went all out for this year's comeback. It was almost like he saw the gap TAEMIN left and was like I'm gonna give you everything that is missing in the industry right now: bold styling choices, with a beat full of charisma and a crazy choreo. Why? Because he can.

10. SEULGI- 28 Reasons. Seulgi made her solo debut and it was amazing. For me she is a female Taemin. Not only can she execute complex choreos but she proved she is full of charisma. The lyrics of this song are dark about a toxic relationship but the beat and Seulgi's vocals make it a song you won't get tired of.

9. CHEN-LAST SCENE. If you have a beating heart this song will hit you right in the feels. The first time I listened to it I cried and I'm not a crier. He can convey so much with his voice. Our talented Kim Jongdae is back from the military so all we can do is enjoy his music.

8. WINNER-I LOVE U. I can't get enough of this silly love song. Kang Seungyoon's high notes, Jinwoo's sweet vocals and the rappers witty lyrics make this such a pleasant listen. Definitely one of my most played songs of the year.

7. TAEYEON-INVU. This dance song with off the charts vocals made Taeyeon look different to me. We all know she can sing it all but this song was such a trend and it was no surprise she made it to the top of the korean charts.

6. Zico-Freak. Zico does it all. Singing, producing, rapping and dancing. Such a fun song about being a freak in a apocalyptic world.

5. TXT-Good boy gone bad. Not gonna lie. When TXT debuted I wasn't a fan but this year they really stood out for me. And my favorite song of them is this one. I love the chorus, the attitude an the vocals.

4. KANG SEUNG YOON-Born to love you. According to Spotify this was my most listened kpop song of the year. Honestly I was surprised because the first time I listened to it I was like cute song but I wish Seungyoon had chosen more of a belter because I love his head voice high notes. But it's so addictive. Bang Yedam is a great producer and I hope he does more of it now that he left TREASURE.

3. BIG BANG-Still life. This song is bittersweet. We all expected a grand comeback from BIG BANG after their military service. Scandals and the pandemic pushed it until this year. Sadly we only got one song and as of today only GDRAGON and TAEYANG remain with YG so we don't know how long it will take to get another comeback. However the song itself is another BIGBANG master piece. The lyrics that talk about the past. My favorite part: Taeyang's vocals.

2. BLACKPINK- Pink Venom. It seems I just keep repeating myself but when I listened to this song I was put off by the chorus. Then again fast forward a month and I found myself obsessed with this song. The old school rap beats with the trendy dance beat is just crazy good and also so YG.

1. Be'O-Love me. I said this last year but I fell just like half of Korea for BE'O in Show Me The Money. And sometimes in reality shows they do great and then when they release their stuff afterwards I don't necessary love it but BE'O can do no wrong in my eyes these days. His songs tend to be straight forward and have uncomplicated beats and this feel good song just made my 2022 happier.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

My top 10 korean dramas of 2021

I've been so bad at keeping up with this blog this year but I have been watching dramas, as usual. I have missed a few popular ones so I don't know how representative my list is this year but here goes nothing!

10. Navillera. Song Kang had a great 2021 in dramaland appearing in Love Alarm's second season, Nevertheless and Navillera. He is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. In this drama, he plays a genius ballet dancer that because of personal issues hasn't debuted. When he's struggling he is suddenly charged with the task of teaching a 70 year old man (Park In Hwan) how to dance. Their relationship is the main focus of this heartwarming drama. You can watch it on Netflix!

9. Doom at your service. I'm a sucker for rom-com dramas and I especially love the silly funny ones but that are well executed. This one is a prime example of that. Starred by Park Bo Young and Seo In Guk, it tells the story of a girl that has struggled and suddenly is told she has a terminal disease. In her desperation she damns everyone and that's how she meets the person in charge of Doom, and ends up striking a deal with him. It's available at Viki.

8. Youth of may. This KBS production is a melodrama set in 1980 when a important historical event happened in South Korea: the Gwangju Uprising. The citizens took arms to ask for the democratization of the government. The story focus on a girl that is studying to be a nurse (Go Min Si) who meets a medical student (Lee Sang Yi) in a blind date and how their relationship is affected by the times they live in. You can watch this on Viki.

7. Nevertheless. If you liked Cheese in the trap (the good half), you're probably gonna like this one. Also a webtoon adaptation, Nevertheless, can be slow at times and you don't know if you want the female lead to end up with the male lead for most of it but it has a mysterious vibe that compels you to keep watching all the way until the end. Song Kang was outstanding on this one and Han So Hee was also really good. You can watch this JTBC drama on Netflix.

6. Beyond evil. Also a JTBC drama, this thriller about a serial a killer and the relationship between two cops: a mysterious old timer (Shin Ha Kyung) and an elite young detective (Yeo Jin Goo) put their heads together to catch the culprit. However not all is what it seems because both hold secrets that create deep tensions in their relationship. Honestly I started watching this drama and stopped half way because I felt the pace was too slow for me but I gave it a second chance a couple of months later and I ended up really enjoying the mistery of it all. It's available on Netflix.

5. Now, we are breaking up. On one hand, you have Song Hye Kyo who is great at epic love dramas, and on the other, you have Jang Ki Young who I love since Search: WWW, so I knew this drama wouldn't dissapoint. There's a couple of plot holes if you get picky but overall it's an enjoyable romantic drama that is set on the korean fashion industry. For my kpop fans you can watch EXO's Sehun and Girl's Day Yura. The story is about a fashion designer that is a realist both in her personal life and in her work life. That all changes when he meets a famous photographer and they connect before finding out there's secrets in their past that connects them and will make their relationship struggle especially on the eyes of the conservative environment they live in. The secondary couple is very fun to watch. This drama is on VIU and Viki if you want to watch it.

4. Mad for each other. I massively enjoyed this rom-com. The reason? The script for sure but, most of all, the hilarious and just brilliant performances by Jungwoo and Oh Yeon Seo. The story is messy but with a purpose. It talks about mental health and especifically the story of a detective that after a traumatic event he develops anger issues. While working on himself, he meets a infurating woman that scares him and ends up being his neighbour. Lee Ming Kyung has been a victim of a crime and she becomes a shut in but somehow she keeps running to a man and ends up forming an attachment to him. It's on Netflix.

3. Hellbound. This supernatural drama is only six episodes long but it's really well done. Most of it is filmed in a way that feels more like a movie than a series. It also has a very bloody but impressive first scene that definitely sets the tone for the drama. By the way, Yoo Ah In is scary on this one. Based on a webtoon, the story is about the sudden appearances of beings that come to Earth to carry out a death sentence. While the police is investigating the issue, they run into a cult-like organization that claims these events are carried out by the enforcers God has sent to punish sinners. I was hoping for a second season but seems we'll be getting an animation series instead as an epilogue to the story. This is a Netflix production.

2. Hospital Playlist 2. I have to confess I didn't finish the first season of Hospital Playlist last year. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood to watch it but when the second season was announced I made sure to watch the rest of the first season and the second season and I really enjoyed wacthing both, but somehow I ended up loving the second one. I liked that they depicted mature romantic relationships. So now I get what all fuss was about last year. If you haven't watched the first season I will only say it's about a group of friends that work in the same hospital and it really is about friendship at its core-with a little of music involved.

1. Squid Game. I was hesitant to make this psychological action drama the first one on my list just because it felt like the obvious choice. If you've been living under a rock, Squid Game became a world phenomenom as soon as it was released on Netflix. Greed and social inequality are the main focus of the drama, a bit like Parasite was, presented in a way that reminds you of La Casa de Papel. Hype aside, it is a very well acted and visually astounding drama. And what a cast it is! You have Lee Jung Jae, Park Hee Soo, O Yeong Soo, Heo Sung Tae, and even Gong Yoo and Lee Byung Hun make appearances. The story is about a brutal survival game that is held for people with unpayable debts.

Happy holidays and I'll be back in 2022!

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

My top 15 kpop songs of 2021

My taste hasn't changed much for a while now and that's why I go back to the same artists over and over but this year I did listen a bit more of the 4th gen idols even if some didn't make made my favorite list.

15. SOMI-DUMB DUMB. To be honest I wasn't a fan of SOMI on Produce 101 but this year she released her first solo album XOXO and I love how fresh her sound is and this song in particular is just so catchy.

14. Kang Daniel-Antidote. Kang Daniel's music is almost always a hit for me and I actually liked all the titles he released this year but there was something about Antidote's melody that made it interesting. The bittersweet lyrics that are a cry for help are such a mood.

13. LISA-LALISA. LISA made a splash with her double title debut. I loved how Blackpink this song was and even if MONEY was more popular I loved the vibe of LALISA and I also thought it was so clever to make a statement by making a song about her name.

12. TXT-Anti-romantic. I'm a sucker for mid tempo ballads and even if this song wasn't the title for TXT's album I just loved it so much I had to add it to my top 15.

11. IU-Celebrity. I either love or hate IU's songs. I don't know why but that's the way it has been since I got into kpop. I love how catchy Celebrity is, the lyrics are definitely about her difficult relationship with being a celebrity even when it's a love song. Her soft vocals and the unexpected powerful beat makes for a great listen.

10. KEY ft. TAEYEON-Hate that... KEY's first mini album had a bit of everything and this ballad was a pre-release song that not only anyone has gone through a break up can identify with but also KEY saying he hates things just seems right. On top of that, Key and Taeyeon's voices go so well together.

9. EXO-Don't fight the feeling. This is such a feel good, bright song with a fun beat. It's no secret I am an EXO fangirl so having them together before Chanyeol and Baekhyun enlisted was a must happen for me even if Suho and Chen couldn't be a part of it.

8. SHINee- Don't call me. This marked SHINee's grand comeback after Key, Minho and Onew finished their military service. And what a comeback it was! Not only did this song made a strong statement but it also was the most savage rejection song I've heard in a while. Although we won't be able to see another SHINee comeback in the next couple of years, I'm sure shawols are satisfied with this one.

7. Bobby- U mad. This song is not even 3 minutes long but it takes you into a ride. On paper, it's the typical hip hop song about haters, but Bobby's dirty beat and crazy delivery really sets it apart. Also the MV is filmed like an action film and it's a must watch.

6. aespa‐Next Level. The first time I listened to this song I was confused. The second time, I hated it but when I woke up the next day I kept singing the chorus. After a few more listens I was obsessed. Seems like aespa can do no wrong and you need to remind yourself they've only been around for a year.

5. Baekhyun-Bambi. EXO's D.O. said Baekhyun found his style in this year's comeback and I would dare say he's right. EXO has always been influenced by R&B and even if Baekhyun's debut UN village was R&B it seems that with Bambi he truly embraced the genre. Bambi is a sexy song with a film-like MV that is play on words between the character from Disney, Bambi, and the korean word for night rain. The vocals are the highlight of this song.

4. Be'O ft. Mino-Limousine. Be'O is break through artist from Mnet's Show Me the Money. He has nice vocals that he pairs with his rapping skills. The song he debut at the show, Counting Stars is currently number one on the Melon chart, but it's this collab he did, also on the show, with WINNER's MINO (also high on the charts) that I can't get enough of. The beat is by GRAY and the lyrics are all about the difficult path to success both MINO and Be'O had to go through. The highlight is when MINO and Be'O rap together.

3. EPIK HIGH ft. CL & Zico- Rosario. Another typical hip hop song about boasting your achievments done in a way only Zico, CL and Epik High could do. The MV is such good fun that match the witty lyrics. It has a nice beat that made this, one of the best collabs of the year.

2. TAEMIN- Advice. I've been loving everything Taemin releases for a while now and this song is no different. It was a surprise to see Taemin do a rap even if it was a singing rap but it fitted. The melodic piano paired with a crazy beat was amazing. The fashion on the MV and of course the choreo were on point as usual. The song talks about the harships he has faced in his career and how he will comeback stronger no matter what people say by taking his own advice.

1. ColdplayXBTS- My Universe. I am aware it's debatable whether this song is kpop or not. For me, it is because it's partially written in korean and it's BTS. Out of the kpop world Coldplay is my favorite artist so listening to this love song the first time really was like two of my worlds colliding and working to perfection. As usual with BTS, Jungkook's and Jimin's voices really standed out and gave this song a unique sound. It's also fun seeing Chris Martin making the effort to sing in korean. The chorus is so addictive and the concept for the MV was exactly right for today's era.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

My top 10 korean dramas OSTs of 2021

As usual, I chose songs from dramas that began in 2021 and only one per drama. Unlike other years, most of the songs I liked were sang by idols.

Honorable Mention. Super Junior KRY- Shadow of you. This year I wasn't a fan of historical dramas and I haven't been able to get into The King's Affection. However the OSTs of this drama are really good. As usual, with Super Junior's main vocalists sub group, they are able to convey so much emotion making this OST a great listen. Check out Baek Ji Young's If I and Rowoon's No Goodbye in Love.

10. Taemin- My Day. When I started watching Navillera and heard this song I knew who was singing it, and I loved it. Just like the drama, this song is such a joy to listen to. Taemin's soft vocals and his beautiful falsetto leave you with sweet taste in your mouth.

9. Onew- Dear my spring. You are my spring was such a fun drama and it had beautiful songs by the likes of Yang Da Il, Kim Minseok and Raiden. However it was this powerful ballad by SHINee's Onew that I kept going back to. It's just full of emotion and it does have that typical korean OST feel and I've always been a sucker for those.

8. Doyoung- Night Air. Cafe Midnight started airing in 2020 and since then there has had three seasons of only one episode. This is the only song I added on this list of a drama I haven't watched. When I heard NCT's Doyoung had released an OST for a drama he himself starred in I had to listen to it and I was hooked. This acoustic ballad has a beautiful melody with Doyoung's colorful vocals.

7. J.UNA-Butterfly. Nevertheless is such a rollercoaster of emotions and this song by J.UNA had lyrics that reflected the journey of this drama. It has a great beat and J. UNA's vocals makes this song a great vibe despite the bittersweet lyrics. Whisper by ParkJiwoo, Sam Kim's Love me like that and Night Off's Nevertheless are also a good listen.

6. JIN- Yours. Jirisan (or Cliffhanger) is a drama I'm currently watching about the life of the employees of a National Park in Korea. The OSTs of this drama are all amazing. I especially like Taeyeon's Little Garden, Kim Jong Hwan's Falling, O3ohn's Stay and Paul Kim's Always with you. Nevertheless the chorus of JIN's Yours is so catchy that you can't help loving it.

5. Melomance- Our story. Yumi's cells first season was interesting and had great OSTs. I have a weakness for Melomance so I was instantly hooked with this song. I also loved Wendy's If I could read your mind, Dvwn's I'm in Paris, Doyoung's Like a star and John Park's Nightfalling.

4. Kang Seung Yoon- Your Voice. For the fourth season of the crime drama Voice, Kang Seung Yoon was casted as a supporting actor and wrote this song for the drama. It's a rock ballad that has a lot of character, great lyrics and of course Seungyoon's outstanding vocals.

3. Lee Mujin-Rain and you. Just like the first season of Hospital Playlist, the second season was full of great music and this OST was my favorite of the bunch. Lee Mujin's unique vocals really are special on this track. Check out Seventeen's Is it beautiful.

2. SEUNGMIN- Here Always. Love is like Cha Cha Cha is such an entertaining drama and I was really impressed by this ballad. To be honest what I've heard from Stray Kids is just not my thing but Seungmin really stood out for me after listening to this song. Cheeze's My Romance will put a smile on your face so make sure you listen to it.

1. BAEKHYUN- U. Hands down the OST I listened to the most this year. Baekhyun's falsetto is so amazing on this song. Again, the melody is what made imposible not to play it over and over. Side note: how did Baekhyun had time to record two OSTs this year (Is it me? from Lovers of the Red Sky and this one) with an EXO comeback, collabs, his korean album and his japanese album all while preparing to enlist? Anyway, Doom at your service is the kind of romantic drama I enjoy the most so the fact that it was accompanied by great music was the cherry on top. By the way I almost broke my rule of one song per drama for TXT's Love Sight because it is really something.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

My top 15 kpop albums of 2021

This year I´ve been so bad at keeping up with this blog but I want to wrap up the year on a good note so I'll be counting down my favorite korean music and dramas of 2021. I'll begin with my must listen albums of the year!

15. 10 cm- The 3rd EP. 10 cm is a k-indie duo. I first discovered them when they sang an OST for Goblin, since then I listen to their songs regularly. This year they released a five song album that is sentimental and just a great listen. Kwon Jung Yeol's vocals are exceptional as usual. My favorite song is I will do my best.

14. KAI- Peaches. After Mmmh I had great expectations for Kai's second album. However I wasn't a fan of the title song although it has grown a little on me since. I did love the rest of the album tho. I love how weird Vanilla is. My favorite is To be honest, a bright r&b song with a fun beat.

13. Penomeco-Dry Flower. Penomeco is such a joy to listen to and his first full album was no exception. The title JAJA has an interesting beat with Penomeco sing-rapping style. The album features collabs with Verbal Jint, sogumm, Kid Milli and Hoody. Actually Pt. 2 is probably my favorite song but it really is a great no skip album.

12. TXT- The Chaos Chapter: FIGHT OR ESCAPE. Honestly the first couple TXT albums were not my thing but this one I really enjoyed. Anti-romantic is hands down the best one for me but I also enjoyed the title LO$ER=LO❤ER. 0X1=LOVESONG (I know I love you) featuring Seori and Magic are also highlights. It's just full of great dance pop.

11. EXO- Don't fight the feeling. It pains me to say it but even if I loved every single song in this album I wasn't obsessed with them which is why, in good conscience I couldn't rank it higher. As usual with EXO, even if I miss Suho and Chen, the vocals are crazy good. I especially enjoyed listening to D.O. and Lay again on an EXO album. Just like the title song, the album is such a feel good vibe that really brightens up your day. Paradise is my favorite but Just as usual is so sweet.

10. Aespa-Savage. Aespa's first mini album is definitely the stamp of an SM album: great vocals and impressive bsides. Savage is such a strong song and so catchy. It's a journey in itself. However I'll make you cry has an amazing beat and high notes that will impress you. YEPPI YEPPI is just fun and Lucid dream is my favorite.

9. HEIZE- HAPPEN. If you haven't checked out the MV for Happen you really should because it's filmed like a drama and it stars Song Joon Ki. Ever since Heize appeared in the korean music scene seems like she can do no wrong. This album is another hit for me. Its eight songs are on point and has features by Gary, Changmo, Kim Feel and Ahn Ye Eun. It's almost never the case but the title is my favorite song of the album however Flu and Destiny, it's just a tiny dot are stand outs.

8. Kang Seung Yoon-Page. Saying this album was a long time coming is an understatement. Ever since I got into WINNER I started to wait -not so patiently- for Seung Yoon's album. He has an extraordinary voice and he's actually a great songwriter so I knew it would be great. I do wish he had picked another title, not because IYAH isn't amazing because it is, but because I think his album would have done better on the charts with another title but I get he needed to show his story through IYAH. Sweet love songs, sad ballads and bright fun songs, there's nothing this album is missing. And obviously it's full of great vocals! WE NEED LOVE and BETTER featuring MINO are my favorite of the album.

7. Mino- To infinity. Just like with Seungyoon, I wish Mino would have chosen another title for this album because even if I like how playful TANG!♡ is, I would have liked to see other songs as the title. You definitely won't be skipping a song if you listen to it! Mino as always shows us witty lyrics with quirky beats. My favorite is LANGUAGE featuring Bobby. Every time these two collab is definitely fire. LOVE IN DA CAR and LOSING U are also highlights.

6. D.O.-Empathy. EXO's Kyungsoo finally made his formal debut with his first mini album. Sadly he didn't promote it but it's full of great easy listening songs. It's difficult to pick a favorite vocalist in EXO but Kyungsoo is mine. I love his voice the most in r&b tracks but his voice is so full of character that anything he sings ends up being outstanding. On top of that, he recorded a song in spanish and since I'm Mexican that's a big deal. Si fueras mía is definitely great but I have to say I was obsessed with I'm gonna love you featuring Wonstain and My Love. Rose the title is so bright and cute with an acoustic vibe that'll remind you of Jason Mraz. The MV is really funny.

5. Taemin-Advice. For me, 2020 was the year I got obsessed with Taemin and a huge part of that was both albums he released. This year, just before enlisting, he released a 5 song mini album. And there's just something about Taemin's songs. Last year he was all about dance pop and this year his album is more eclectic. You have r&b ballad, pop, and even a bit of hip hop vibes with his title song. Advice really was a strong way to go with a crazy beat and a really interesting way of delievering vocals. I think the fact Advice is so powerful is why having the rest of the songs (maybe not Light) being more subdued was the right way to go. His falsetto on Strings and If I could tell you featuring Taeyeon is just outstanding.

4. Bobby-Lucky man. Bobby is such a fun artist. I would say his second album is what I was expecting of his first album. Whimsical at times and strong other times. All 13 songs are on point and he added four skits. We do get a few of the cool beats he did for his first album: my favorites are LiLaC and RaiNingG (featuring JUNE). However is his hiphop heavy songs like the title U MAD, NO TIME and Devil that I was mesmerized with.

3. B.I. -WATERFALL. The moment I heard YG had said goodbye to B.I., I knew it was a major mistake. I was sure they probably wouldn't have if the circumstances were different but his drug scandal came at the worst time for YG. This year B. I. proved how big that mistake was by releasing two albums plus a donation project making over twenty songs in just a few months. He's just crazy talented. If I'm being honest I wasn't sure I wanted a solo from him. Obviously he's a great producer but I didn't know what a full album from him would sound like and now I can see a solo album from him was overdue. Both of the albums he made are amazing but I think his first one WATERFALL is just a revelation. I don't think I even have a favorite song because I love all 12 songs.

2. Baekhyun-Bambi. According to Spotify, I listened to Privacy the most so it's safe to say it was my favorite one of the album. However Bambi is so catchy and filled with great vocals. The whole album is of course, and then there's All I Got or how I like to call it: Baekhyun's Mariah song, really the high notes are crazy on that one. This makes Baekhyun's third mini album and the last one before he enlisted and I have to say it really is one of the albums I listened to the most this year. If you like R&B this is the album for you. It kind of broke my heart he didn't have time to promote it but he really left with a bang and it made me excited for his comeback whenever that is.

1. Epik High-Epik High is here (Part 1). It's no secret Tablo, the leader of hip hop group Epik High, is an off the charts producer. This album has 10 songs even if it's under 30 minutes. Every song is a statement. When I listened to Rosario, the title featuring CL and Zico, I knew it would be on my favorite list of the year even if it was released on January. Based on a true story with Heize is also crazy good. The instrumentals, the musicality of its raps and the grand collabs of the album really makes it a must listen.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

Chanyeol's THE BOX (Original Sountrack) is out now!!!

EXO's Chanyeol is the main actor in the new korean movie The Box. The most watched korean movie in South Korea this week. Today they released the full OST album and it is great. Sadly we, international fans, won't be able to watch this movie in a while. So it's such a relief we at least got the OST. Chanyeol will be enlisting in April 29th so this will probably the last thing we'll get from him in two years. Just writing that really hurt.

The album has 16 songs by Chanyeol and other seven artists including Aancond and Kim Ji Hyun. Chanyeol sings nine. Most of them are english covers of well known songs such as Billie Eilish's Bad Guy, Pharrell Williams' Happy and Mariah Carey's Without you. However is his korean songs that I appreciated the most. My favorites were Raining and Every day with you but the title Break your box is a fun song as well (you can check out the official MV in YouTube).

As I write this I have Chanyeol's cover of Coldplay's A Sky Full of Stars on repeat. My favorite english cover of the album. And knowing how much Chanyeol loves Coldplay, and myself being a Coldplay fan, listening to his version I can tell just how much he has listened to this song. The arrangement is also interesting because they gave it a jazzy and acoustic sound.

Anyway if you can please support Chanyeol by streaming/buying the album. It really is a nice listen.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

Bobby's 2nd full album 'Lucky man' is something special

Bobby's second album is a nice mix of his hardcore rap style in songs like U MAD and RocKstaR, and his softer side, the one he showcased in his first full album, with songs like In THE DaRk, LiLaC, and GOrGeOuS. He collaborated with iKON's DK in Ur SOUL Ur Body and with Junhoe in RaiNinG (one of my favorite songs of the album). LiAr and Let iT Go are also stand outs for me.

All 13 songs and four skits are such a good listen. I can already tell this is gonna be one of my favorite albums of 2021 and we're only 25 days in.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

My top 10 korean dramas of 2020

Today is the last day of the year so I think it's time to share which dramas were my favorite in 2020. I wish you all the best for 2021!!

10.5. The King: Eternal Monarch. So here's the thing: this drama was not great. I absolutely hated the ending and the editing however I do appreciate what they tried to do. It had great potential and Lee Minho and Kim Go Eun were nice as a couple. The story is about two dimensions: one that is like the real world and another where Korea still has a king. The worlds start to mix and the King crosses, meets a detective, someone he has been looking for since he was a kid.

10. Find me in your memory. This drama was so much fun especially in the first half. I had a couple of issues with the last two episodes but nothing major. Moon Ga Yeon plays an actress that lost some of her memories and is trying to live in the moment. She meets a newscaster (Kim Dong Wook) and falls for him. However he has a disease that makes him unable to forget each and all details he has lived through. They both are unaware they share a bond that will link them but also puts them in danger.

9. Start up. This drama was silly at times but I really enjoyed it. Suzy stars in this drama as a sales employee that has gone through a lot because she chose to stay with her father after they parents got divorced who was an unsuccessful entrepreneur. She wants to show her sister and her mother she can be successful on her own so she applies to receive a grant (korean survival style). There she meets her childhood crush, a guy who she exchanged letters with or so she thinks. Nam Do San (Nam Joo Hyuk) is a guy that is trying to start up a company but has failed so far to get investors. When a famous CEO shows up at his door asking him to pretend to have written some letters he ends up getting dragged into a ruse to cheer up this girl except she shows up in what was his last chance to make it.

8. Kairos. I started watching this drama just because WINNER's Kang Seung Yoon had a role in it. At the beginning I thought I wasn't gonna love it because of the time travel aspect to it. The plot though changed my mind. This mistery drama starred by Lee Se Young and Shin Sung Rok really surprised me. The story is about a girl that is struggling to get by but things change when she loses her phone and when she calls back a man picks it up in the future. By the way when I made my OSTs list it totally slipped my mind just how good Kang Seungyoon's rock ballad Can you hear me? is.

7. Itaewon class. Park Seung Joon plays a man that did time in jail because of an injustice. He comes out with a plan to bring down the people responsible for his father's death. To do that, he assembles a team of misfits and opens up a restaurant in Itaewon. The injustices in korean society and his past will get in the way of his love life and his goal to achieve his dreams. I wasn't a huge fan of the last few episodes of the drama but I did liked it overall.

6. Strangers. Season 2. If you watched the first season you'll definitely like the second. A web of corruption and deceit is drawn from episode one so it really was satisfying when it all came together. If you haven't watched the first season, I'll just say this is well made crime drama and that now would be a good time to binge watch both seasons.

5. Sweet Home. I don't really watch horror movies because I think I'm too logical to be scared with monsters or ghosts so most times I just don't watch any. However I really enjoyed this apocalyptic horror 10 episode drama. Based on a webtooon, it tells the story of the inhabitants of a building after Seoul is run down by monsters.

4. Kingdom Season 2. I actually didn't watch Kingdom last year. I watched the teaser and I was like "Joseon and Zombies? I don't know about that". The pandemic has led me to stay home for so long that I think I watched all of Netflix korean dramas I hadn't checked out which finally led me to watch Kingdom. I liked the first season but it was the second season I enjoyed the most. If you haven't checked it out, I'll just say it's based on the Land of the Gods webtoon and it's the story of the Crown Prince who finds out that, because of greed, his stepmother has revived his father and a plague spreads through Joseon.

3. Hyena. This intense legal drama tells the story of a prideful attorney that lives for his job and meets his ideal woman in a laundromat. However she humiliates him when she shows up as the opposite counselor in a high profile divorce case. This was such a funny drama and the cases were interesting. It had a double digit ratings in Korea.

2. Do you like Brahms? This drama is slow. Like really slow paced. So it's not for everyone but I was just so obsessed with this drama while it was airing. It's a sweet romantic drama about a pianist (Kim Min Jae) who has no passion for what he does and a violinist (Park Eun Bin) who has all the passion but lacks talent. They are both kind and just really bad a communicating their feelings so when they end up getting to know each other they somehow connect. They have another thing in common: they both are in a similar position when it comes to love they're in love with the girlfriend/boyfriend of their best friends.

1. It's okay not to be okay. This was my favorite drama by a long shot. It's just another romantic comedy. However it is so well done. From the cinematography to the plot and even the animation everything was on point for me. Honestly it felt like this really was Kim Soo Hyun's grand comeback to dramas. Seo Yeo Ji's excelled in portraying a strong but lonely woman whose upbringing was different from anyone else's so she grew up to be a rude and unapologetic children story writer. She meets Moon Gang Tae and realizes it's not the first time she has met him. On another hand, Moon Gang Tae puts on a strong face whose sole goal in life is care for his autistic older brother. When he goes back to his hometown he ends up finding out the truth behind his mother's death. I also loved that the story is narrated at times as a fairy tale.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

My top 15 kpop albums of 2020

15. Taeyeon-What do I call you? Taeyeon's 4th mini album was barely released two weeks ago but there's something about the vibe of the songs that just really suit my tastes with quirky melodies and beautiful instrumentals.

14. Kang Daniel-CYAN. His album Magenta is actually really good too but I think CYAN is more my kind of music. A pop album with fun beats. The title 2U is actually my favorite of the album.

13. BTOB 4U- INSIDE. BTOB 4U made a strong debut with this mini album that includes great vocals, interesting beats and r&b. However, it was Alone, a beautiful ballad, that was my favorite.

12. Suho-Self portrait. Suho released his first mini album before enlisting as it's just full of beautiful mid tempo ballads. The fact he wrote a song with a title (Let's love) just like EXO's catchphrase is too sweet. Made in you has an amazing melody and For You Now featuring Younha is also a stand out.

11. KAI- KAI. As expected of an EXO member, Kai made a huge splash with his debut mini album. Just as any EXO album, for me the brilliance of these one is on the bsides. I enjoyed his title Mmmh and it's soo catchy but Reason, Nothing on me and Stranger are the songs that for me made this album a great one.

10. BTS-BE. Even though BTS released their MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 this year, it was BE that I really loved. Just every song is so great. Apart from the titles Dynamite and Life goes on, Fly to the room is my favorite.

9. Zico-Random Box. Zico is just one of those different artists that is in his own laine. And every time he releases an album I can't help but obsess about it. Also he wrote about hating heat and summer so I totally identified with the lyrics of the title. However Cartooon is so much fun and his delivery in No you can't is amazing.

8. SUPERM- Super One. Honestly I could have ranked this one higher but unlike the rest of the albums I actually didn't love every song. However there are some bsides that I am absolutely crazy about. One of my most listened songs of the year is Better days, a ballad sung in english, that basically anyone who lived through this 2020 can identify with. Taemin's vocals on that song are just so sweet. Wish you were here, Together at home and Dangerous Woman are also stand outs.

7. MINO-TAKE. With the exception of Love and a boy I loved every single song of this album. MOBB's song is crazy good. Wa featuring Zion T. is also great. I think however is I want to featuring meenoi, an artist I hadn't checked out, the collab I keep playing over and over. The ballad Sunrise is so pretty and honestly more the style one expects of WINNER more than MINO's. The title Runaway is definitely fun as expected of Mino even if it's about a break up.

6. BAEKHYUN-Delight. Baekhyun's second mini album got him the title of first solo million seller in 19 years. The album is full of pretty melodies, interesting beats and of course loads of r&b. Apart from the title Candy, check out R U riding? And my favorite: Love Again.

5. EXO SC- 1 billion views. I'm so proud of the growth EXO SC had in just a year. They released their first full album and, song after song, you can tell how much effort they put in it. Just like in their first mini album it's obvious they were so involved in the songwriting and producing along with Gaeko. Both 1 billion views and Telephone are fun trendy songs. Nevertheless, what I loved about the other bsides is how personal they felt especially the lyrics including their solo songs. Rodeo Station and Jet lag are stand outs, Fly way featuring Gaeko my favorite and Chanyeol's solo song Nothin' was everything to a Chanyeol biased like me. On me, Sehun's solo, is so strong and stunning.

4. WINNER-Remember. If you've followed me for a while you might know of my love for WINNER. So watching Jinwoo and Seunghoon enlisting was such a blow and of course if you're a kpop fan you know it's coming but it's never easy. This album, WINNER's last for a while, has it all: fun songs like Hold and Just dance; beautiful ballads like Remember, My bad and Dduk (Jinwoo's solo and my favorite of the album, written by Kang Seungyoon); and, the version with four members of their first hits.

3. Taemin- Never gonna dance again. Act 2. For me, Taemin does dance pop like no other and this year he really exceeded my expectations releasing two amazing albums. I don't think I can choose one song of this album as my favorite. I just loved each track equally. Taemin participated in writing the lyrics of a few of the songs. Taemin's voice in Heaven reminds me so much of DBSK's Changmin. Impressionable's beat is just dirty and the angelic voice in the second part is just unfair. The duet with Wendy Be your enemy is so beautiful. Pansy almost made me cry without reading the lyrics and I could go on and on.

2. BLACKPINK-THE ALBUM. Saying this album was long awaited is an understatement. YG is known for being too selective with the music they let their artists release. On top of that, YG was filled with scandals last year so they kept postponing the album but they did not mess around with it and the wait was soooo worth it. Each track could be the title because they are that good so even if How you like that remains my favorite the rest are amazing as well.

1. Taemin-Never gonna dance again. Act 1. Black rose, Waiting for and Clockwork were my favorite bsides. However it is the title Criminal that made me go crazy. I love everything about it: the lyrics, dance, beat and melody. For me, Taemin really was the best he has ever been this year. That's why I'll remember 2020 as the year I went from a casual Taemin listener to a full fleshed Taemin fan.

[randomobsessionsofa30something]

My top 10 korean drama OSTs of 2020

There were so many good OSTs this year!! As always I limited my choices to one per drama otherwise half of the list would be from Do you like Brahms? And the other half from The King.

10. Joy-Introduce me a good person. Hospital Playlist was one of the most popular dramas of the year. The second OST they released was this one from Red Velvet's Joy and it lasted months in the charts. An easy listening, mid tempo ballad with Joy's sweet vocals. Check out Cho Jung Seok's Aloha, Kyuhyun's Confession is not flashy and Urban Zakapa's Beautiful my love.

9. Luna-Take me now. This song from Forest has an interest beat and of course Luna hits some really pretty notes.

8. Kyuhyun-All day long. Honestly the drama When the weather is fine was just not my kind of thing but I really loved this song. Kyuhyun's falsetto is just too sweet on this one. This is really the typical kdrama ballad.

7. BAEKHYUN-Every second. In 2020, Baekhyun sang four OSTs all of which could've made my list. This is my favorite from Record of youth, a drama that for me had its ups and downs but released some great OSTs from Chung Ha, iKON's BOBBY, Lee Hi and SEVENTEEN's Seung Kwang. However the melody of Every second is just so good.

6. Crush-No words. Itaewon Class had some really interesting OSTs and I know Gaho's Start was more popular but it was Crush's No words I really obsessed about. The lyrics are something special.

5. CHEN-Your moonlight. Honestly I'm not sure if I chose this one because I'm biased or not because there were so many good OSTs from Do you like Brahms? I loved. TAEYEON's Kiss me is so beautiful. Baekhyun's Happy and Punch's Love Me were also stand outs. Midnight by Heize featuring Punch though was the one I would choose if I wasn't obsessed with this amazing ballad by Chen.

4. Jooyoung-Here we are. This was the first OST that was released for the drama Find me in your memory and it was used so much that the moment when the guitar starts I immediately think of this drama. A memory in my heart by Yangpa is also worth a listen.

3. BAEKHYUN-On the road. For me this is the best OST Baekhyun released this year and it was for the drama Hyena. An intense song for an intense drama. The chorus is strong and yet it's Baekhyun's falsetto that I enjoy the most.

2. Zion.T- I just want to stay with you. The King had so many good OSTs and it was so hard to choose between this one and Davichi's Please don't cry but at the end of the day this song by Zion.T is just too good. The melody of the chorus is just so epic. If you have time check out the rest of the OSTs especially Hwa Sa's Orbit, Ha Sung Woon's I fall in love, Gaeko ft Kim Na Young's Heart Break and Gravity by Kim Jon Wan.

1. Heize-You're cold. This song from It's okay not to be okay is just great. It's not your typical kdrama ballad, the beat is so good and Heize's rapping/singing is just on point. From this drama, check out Got you by Ga Eun, Suhyun's In your time and Janeth Suh's I'm your psycho.