Music Recap: January - March 2019

As always here are my top songs from the first three months of the year! There were so many comebacks and new releases but I managed to pick my top 20, which are a mixture of new releases and a few that I just discovered in this time period! I usually have two sections, one for KPOP and one for non-KPOP but this recap is just KPOO because I didn’t listen to much of anything else except for what’s on the radio.

What were you favorite songs and comebacks from the last couple of months?

1. Without You - Ryeowook

The first album I listened to this year was Ryeowook's! I knew he was apart of super junior and I saw some tweets about it so I was like, "why not?" and thankfully I did because I love this song so much! It's so powerful, and the video above really shows how passionate and emotional he can project his voice, it's so amazing and must be even better live.

2. All Light - Astro (Album)

If you haven't listened to this album, or at the very least the title song, please do! It's probably one of their best album, every single song is amazing. All Night is definitely my favorite but Treasure and Merry-Go-Round come in at close second and third. The title song, All Night, also gave them their first win which is so exciting because they really deserved it because of how amazing the song is.

3. Love Dive - JBJ95

I'm pretty sure JBJ95 have been in every one of my playlists because of how much I love their songs. While I do love Home which is the title song for this comeback, there is just something about Love Dive that makes me love it just a little more. I think I had it on repeat for a good week or more, if I'm being honest.

4. Dream Launch - WayV

I don't know how to describe why I love this song. I know one reason is because of Ten, but it's just so pretty? All of their voices and the sweet melody just pair so perfectly together. I really hope they have many releases and are treated well by SM.

5. Valkyrie - Oneus

This is one of those songs that kept coming on after my playlist would finish and it was just so good and catchy that I couldn't help but love it.

6. Take 2. We Are Here - Monsta X (Album)

Of course there is going to be a Monsta X song, and or album, on this list because they are my favorites of all time. Their title song Alligator is so them, it's very very Monsta X. On this album my top three favorites are: No Reason, Party Time, and Play It Cool. If you'd like to read my whole review on this album you can click here!

7. Take Me To You - GOT7

This is such a pretty song and honestly made me remember why I loved GOT7 as much as I used to and why they were the first group I got into when I discovered KPOP. I will admit I don't listen to their newer releases that often because I find it hard to get into them, for what reason I'm not sure. This song on the other hand is just so pretty and makes me so nostalgic to how I felt when my friend introduced me to them, so it holds a very soft spot in my heart.

8. Shadow & Under My Skin - Taemin

Does Taemin ever come out with a bad song? The answer is no. Anyways Under My Skin - a Japanese release - and Shadow - from his WANT album - are separate songs but are both so, so so, good that I couldn't pick just one. Taemin's voice is so amazing, there's something about the airiness and softness of it that also makes it feel like a knife? I really don't know how to explain it because he sounds good singing any song.

9. My Way - ATEEZ

I know a few ATEEZ songs but this one is by far my favorite so far! I really want to get to know this group more so I'm hoping to that some point when I'm not drowning in school and work. My Way is what I would describe as a pop ballad, it's not a pure ballad but has those slower, vocal/rap moments with the chorus building up and going into more of an upbeat pop song.

10. You...Like The Wind - Soon Jisung ft Changbin

The Wanna One boys are starting to come out as soloists and I don't know where to begin. I never followed Wanna One closely but I knew most of their popular releases so when I first heard this song Jisung's voice sounded really familiar so I assumed he was from at least some group I knew, and when I looked it was Wanna One. His whole album Aside is actually really good but this song is my favorite, and the added rapping from Changbin of Stray Kids makes it even better.

11. Like Magic - Under Nineteen

Normally I don't watch trainee shows, I've never seen Produce 101 or any variation and the only time I've watched survival shows is after the group is made so I know the out come. Somehow I came across one of their earlier songs from the show on Spotify and I liked it so much so I wanted to see the video and that's when I feel into the Under Nineteen hole. This is a song one group of the last two groups sang and it's my favorite. I really can't wait for them to debut soon!

12. N/A - Jooyoung

When I first heard this song I was in shook because of how good it was and how fast it made me love it... and then I realised it was Jooyoung so it made sense. Again, I really don't know what it is about this song but after I first heard it I just couldn't stop listening to it, like every time I went and put music on I had to start with this song and then a couple songs later I had to play it again.

13. NANANA - Imfact

NANANA is another one of those songs that randomly came on and I had no idea who it was. At first I actually thought it was a Taemin song I didn't know with features from other people. The thing that gets me the most about this song is the rapping, if the rappers sound even a little unique or have deeper voices there is a good chance that I'm going to like or even love the song and that's the case for NANANA.

14. I Wanna Be - KEY ft Soyeon

There was no way that I was leaving KEY off of this list. Much like Taemin, he doesn't have a bad song and I love every one of his releases. I really love his collaborations with other artists as well. I Wanna Be is a really fun and upbeat song that gives me end of spring/summer vibes. It really makes you want to bounce around and dance or just have a really fun time with friends driving down the highway.

15. Our Summer - TXT

Obviously everyone was super interested in TXT because they're from Big Hit. When Crown was first released I'll admit I avoided it for the first few days but finally ended up watching the MV for it. I had mixed feelings so I decided to go ahead and listen to the album which, again, gave me mixed feelings except for Our Summer. This song has just the right amount of dreaminess, happiness, and nostalgic feelings for me. Let's just say I was in a bad mood on my way to school one day and this song came on and it brightened by day just a little because of how upbeat and happpy it is.

16. Play It Cool - Steve Aoki & Monsta X (English Version)

If there is one song that you watch the video to, please let it be this one. All of Monsta X look so good in the video and the song is not what I expected it to be in English but it's still so amazing, I'm so happy they got the chance to do this collaboration. They did cut out I.M's rap in the English version which is a little disappointing, but Play It Cool, is a really fun song that can definitely be played at any party or blasting in your car while driving.

17. Cle 1: Miroh - Stray Kids (Album)

Every Stray Kids album is amazing let's start with that. Their title song Miroh is upbeat and more hip-hoppy than previous title tracks. This whole album has a more rap-centered feeling compared to their other albums as well but they're amazing. Besides their title track Victory Song is my 2nd favorite, Felix's voice really has so much energy and charm even though it's so deep, him and Changbin really shine in that song. Also I wouldn't listen to Maze of Memories while on the highway because I always think there are cops behind me when it's just the song. The album ends with 19 which is a slow, R&B sounding song that has equal parts vocal and rapping, it's a really nice song to end the album with.

18. Your Favorite Song & White - Jeong Sewoon

I don't have much to say about these songs other than that Sewoon has always had some of my favorite more Ed Sheeran-esque, singer-songwriter sounding songs, and the two I mentioned just happen to be my favorite off of his while album. His voice is so good at conveying emotions which I think why I love his songs so much, because I'm a sap.

19. Alien & Spring Snow - Pentagon

Off of Pentagon's new album Alien and Spring Snow were really the only ones that stood out to me. Alien is a really fun sound, it's very simple but it's very fun and makes me smile, there is definitely something it reminds me of but I honestly have no idea what. Spring Snow on the other hand just gives me old school Jonas Brother and earlier 5 Seconds of Summer vibes for some reason.

20. Who I Am - JBJ95

Now this song is a little bit of a cheat on this list only because I found out they had another comeback on April 1st but since the comeback was from March I'm going to include because of how much I absolutely love it. Their title song Awake is also so nice, but Who I Am has that addicting quality that makes me put it on when I get in the car and multiple times in between.

21. Ring Ring Ring - VERIVERY

This is more of an honorary mention because I wanted to keep this list to 20 but I just couldn't find it in myself to leave this song off. I just love it so much because it's so fun, I also think it's because it kind of reminds me of freshly debuted Astro, but this group is very cute, which is fitting with their name.

So there are my favorite songs from the beginning of the year! I really didn't listen to many Western artists because I got my radio fixed so I always just have Spotify on. I can't wait for the next few months of comebacks and new releases!