Sofia’s Top 10 of 2022

2022 is almost over and wow, it’s been quite a year in K-Pop — especially for girl groups. I’d like to think that 2022 was the year girl groups dominated with banger after banger. As an avid girl group multi-stan and with so many songs to choose from, it’s always hard to make a solid list. For my final article for Ladies Corner, I wrote about my 10 favorite girl group songs of 2022. Despite my personal rankings, I hope everyone enjoyed 2022 in K-Pop.

“ANTIFRAGILE” by LE SSERAFIM

The fact that one of my favorite songs this year has a reggaetón-inspired soundscape fits well with my Latina side. “ANTIFRAGILE” is a rechargeable energy boost, bringing out a dance party to your dull day. It’s impossible to listen to this song and not dance along to the fun choreography — it’s a necessity. Rest assured, LE SSERAFIM’s “ANTIFRAGILE” is the No.1 choice for me with its lyrics that encourage listeners to gain strength during difficult times. We’ve made it through the year, so don’t forget to say, “Anti-ti-ti-ti-fragile, fragile,” today.

“TOMBOY” by (G)I-DLE

Any song that takes me back to my former scene kid era will always gain my immediate interest. (G)I-DLE’s “TOMBOY” has the pop-rock spark that stays with you all year long with its edgy and bold aura. With such direct lyrics that reflect their independence and passion, (G)I-DLE did NOT miss at all. I’ll never forget when this song first dropped, it increased my confidence and made me feel like a badass — that’s why I placed it at No. 2. Shout out to “TOMBOY” for making an anthem that goes against the stereotypes and prejudices the world puts on the quartet.

“Talk That Talk” by TWICE

Of course, as an honorary ONCE, how could I forget “Talk That Talk”? With a Y2K-influenced music video and infectious chorus, I claim this as my No. 3 choice. Listening to the song reminds me of the two times I watched them in concert at The Forum and Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles. “Talk That Talk” is such a guilty pleasure for me — I always start and end my day playing this sparkling track. As one of my top songs from Spotify Wrapped, I’ll never forget this gem of a title track. TWICE will be returning in 2023 with an English single in January so, let’s see what the new year has in store for them!

“Last Sequence” by WJSN

I kept up-to-date with the entirety of Queendom 2 to the very end, happily seeing WJSN take the victory! After their win, I was looking forward to their next comeback, and “Last Sequence” fits so perfectly with their discography. Though it strayed from their signature cosmic aesthetics, the soundscape still holds true to their essence. Placed at No. 4, this song was always in my back pocket, ready to be played whenever I wanted to lay peacefully and transport to another universe.

“Yummy Yummy Love” by MOMOLAND

With a collaboration featuring Latina popstar Natti Natasha, MOMOLAND’s “Yummy Yummy Love” never left my mind in 2022. Despite being an English single, this is still a proper K-Pop hit that could not be left out. The music video gives bestie vibes as the group and Natti Natasha are hanging out side by side. Natti Natasha even participated in the entire production of this collaboration track, adapting to MOMOLAND’s musical stylings. What’s there not to love about a track that describes the early feelings of a romance? I place it at No. 5 because from January to December, it’s one of the most memorable tracks of 2022.

“Ditto” by NewJeans

With a surprise debut that caught us off guard, I knew NewJeans had extreme potential. Yes, “Attention” and “Hype Boy” certainly took the top spots for everyone’s choices, but the one that definitively takes the No. 6 spot is “Ditto.” The Baltimore club dance genre in their December comeback altered my brain chemistry (in a good way). I think because it's delicate and evocative, it’s one of the best songs to end the year with.

“MAISON” by Dreamcatcher

I’ve been following Dreamcatcher since their debut, and believe me, I know they’re going to succeed in 2023. But in 2022, they nailed it with “MAISON,” telling listeners to save the world while we still can. There’s no secret that the world is facing environmental and ecological disasters, but seeing Dreamcatcher use their platform to call attention to it is admirable. Anyone that can call out such a devastating world issue will make a difference in this world. At No. 7, I’m always impressed with everything Dreamcatcher releases. While “VISION” also gave us a similar call to action, I think “MAISON” was the anthem we needed to hear all over the globe in 2022. We need to save this world and fight for us.

“O.O” by NMIXX

Yes, I remember when we all were conflicted on how to feel about NMIXX’s debut song “O.O,” but I can admit that everyone was right, it does grow on you. Sure enough, it became a hit on social media, with the world enjoying the quirky and eccentric changes throughout the song. Unfortunately, Jinni left the group not too long ago, so it may feel like “O.O” feels different without her vocals. But no matter what, I think NMIXX succeeded in grabbing the world’s attention with their “MIXX Pop” sound. By putting it at No. 8, I feel that its presence online is what created a fandom around them. No matter what, NMIXX will always be 7.

“FOREVER1” by Girls’ Generation

With second generation girl groups reuniting in 2022, I’ll never forget Girls’ Generation dropping the eponymous album and title track “FOREVER1.” It’s beautiful to see all eight members return with a new album for the fifteenth anniversary of their debut. As someone that fell in love with K-Pop thanks to Girls’ Generation, “FOREVER1” completed my year. It allowed me to look back at the years I’ve been listening to their impactful songs that paved the way for girl groups today. Even though I put it at No. 9, that doesn’t take away how beautiful and nostalgic this song was.

“RUN2U” by STAYC

The STAYC girls never make a bad song, and I stand by it. “RUN2U” held us in a tight grip all throughout 2022, even if the song couldn’t fit, “STAYC girls, it’s goin’ down,” into the lyrics. It has always been the song I use whenever I want to run at the gym, allowing me to run freely with all my might. At No. 10, STAYC continues to blossom with every new song release, continuing to remain consistent with their teen-fresh spirit and image. Between this and “Beautiful Monster,” I feel that “RUN2U” just gave us a bit more energy. But no matter what, they will always be one of the fourth generation groups to keep your eye on!