B-Sides Special: Hwaiting!
I don’t know about everyone else, but the month of August was an absolute struggle to get through. Waking up every day without the base desire to even try to get out of bed for weeks on end isn’t only inconvenient, but it can also be downright devastating if not addressed properly. I’ve compiled a few of my favorite songs K-Pop has to offer that help restore my fighting spirit, and can help you on a hard day too!
“Anck Su Namum” - Yezi
Whenever I need a dose of that intense fighting spirit, I know I can always turn to my girl Yezi for inspiration. “Anck Su Namum” is a song that reminds you that the opinions of others are irrelevant when you know what you’re capable of and who you are, and that those judgements don’t define you. You know who you are and what you’ve accomplished regardless of others’ opinions. And maybe, sometimes, being the superhero in the story isn’t what you need in order to be a success.
“Agust D” - Agust D
Sometimes, the only thing that gets me through the day is the inspiration from my main man Suga, or better known as Agust D in his solo career. The absolute raw power and emotion that he portrays in his rap never fails to give me energy, not to mention the constant cursing really helps fuel the fire within. When things are difficult, it’s always best to turn to those who inspire you the most to reignite the fire to succeed right back into you.
“Now or Never” - MONSTA X
Without fail, you can always count on MONSTA X to release a heavy-hitting banger that ignites a fire within. But what I really love about “Now or Never” on top of that intense beat is the message behind it. It’s easy to forget in the mundane routine of life that we have to dedicate time to the things we dream of, or else we get stuck in this infinite loop of mediocrity. “Now or Never” is a reminder to not put things off one more day and get going, as there’s no more excuse to hold back.
“Mad City” - NCT 127
Sometimes releasing anger is better than feeling a giant cloud of apathy hanging over. No track goes as hard as NCT 127’s “Mad City,” which is a rap-focused track that is delivered almost solely by Taeyong and Mark (with some vocal additions from Jaehyun). I’ve found in my time that nothing quite fires me up like letting my anger out while blasting this track as loudly as I can. At times, the root of that lack of energy is a deep-seated and unresolved anger, and nothing gets it out as well as this track.
“Broken Compass” - 3RACHA
I covered Stray Kids in the last B-Sides weekly post, but even that wasn’t enough to express my love for the members of pre-debut trio, 3RACHA. The young boys have a lot to teach us older and jaded fans, and “Broken Compass” is a reminder to chase those dreams in your heart despite any logic arguing against it. The lyrics “As long as I stay with my heart, I can rely on a broken compass” really drive home the importance of driving forward with your dreams.