B-Side Summer Bops Final: The All-Arounders
Summer is in full swing these days with nights lasting longer and days getting hotter. It’s vacation time—school is out and many of those who work are taking leisure time to rest and recuperate from the daily grind. So what better way to celebrate this time of year than with a playlist of the best bops for your summer escapades? For the last installment, I’ve chosen some of my favorite B-sides this summer that fit best for the season.
“Magic Shop” - BTS
As a BTS stan, I of course was extremely touched at the release of “Magic Shop” on the latest album. BTS has always been a source of comfort, and it’s nice to see that even with their rising fame, they maintain that same level of compassion for their fans. “Magic Shop” is not only a very emotionally moving song, but a very heartwarming one that’s perfectly fit for a comfortable summer day.
“Potion” - Eric Nam
Eric Nam’s latest mini-album Honestly captured my heart with its ode to the Hispanic culture, so it’s only natural that I fell in love with “Potion.” The song has the perfect summer vibe with its traditional Caribbean beat and overall Mexican influences in the song and aesthetic. The lyrics also portray a carefree summer night and taking advantage of the time we have now. The song felt perfect played poolside during vacation while soaking up the sun.
“Hey” - GOT7
One of my greatest memories this summer is definitely attending GOT7’s World Tour in Toronto with my best friend, who I really only get to see once a year. During this tour, the boys performed “Hey” in the middle of the show, and I have a very vivid memory of looking up from the pit and seeing the boys walking from the front of the stage to the secondary stage, interacting as much as possible with Aghases on the way. I definitely have a personal bias toward GOT7 as a whole, but “Hey” has a very warm summer vibe that’s very casual and light, a perfect fit for the season.
“Dally” - Hyolyn
Hyolyn has definitely been garnering attention since starting her own company and going solo, and I’ve found myself completely enamored with her first release “Dally.” The track is a perfect high-energy hip-hop track for a bright summer day that even your friends who aren’t into K-Pop will love. I definitely haven’t gotten tired of this song since it came out.
“Sober” - Suzy
By far my favorite track of off Suzy’s latest album release, “Sober” is a track that is both chill and upbeat simultaneously in a way that perfectly fits the essence of summer. It's hard not to get the simple yet addicting beat stuck in your head, and it is a perfect relaxing track for a bright, sunny day.