Throwback Thursday: All About the Bass

No matter the genre of music, the bass line acts as the literal heart of a song. From classical symphonies to heavy metal, and from complex to simple, bass lines are essential to the movement of music. But what happens when the bass takes front and center? Check out some of the best bass lines in K-Pop below and find out for yourself.

“GOOD BOY” - GD X TAEYANG

In 2014, BIGBANG’s G-DRAGON and TAEYANG teamed up to release the ultimate banger, “GOOD BOY.” A staple for any club’s playlist, this track is filled with some of the best bass drops and build-ups in K-Pop. Despite its simplicity, the bass line in “GOOD BOY” pulses from start to finish in a way that leaves you feeling just a little filthy.

“ 같은 애 (A Girl Like Me)” - gugudan

gugudan’s “같은 애 (A Girl Like Me)” from 2017 is an upbeat pop track that features one of the most surprising bass lines from a girl group. Whereas the bass in “GOOD BOY” makes things a little grittier with its half-time tempo, the double-time beat in “A Girl Like Me” keeps the song fast-paced and at maximum energy. Though the bass never quite drops and there’s much less of a build, the bass line works wonders for Sally and Mina’s lead-in to the final chorus.

“Sugar Free (BigRoom Ver.)” - T-ARA

In 2014, super group T-ARA released an EDM version of their hit “Sugar Free” that quite literally begs to be played at raves. Though the original version of the song already had everything from a popping bass line to an epic drop straight out of every DJ’s dream, the girls took things even further when they released the “BigRoom” version of the track. Where the original “Sugar Free” keeps things comparatively light and poppy, the remix amps up the bass and gives the song an underground EDM feel.

“Trick or Treat” - Grace

K-Rapper Grace quite literally graced listeners with one of the most bass-heavy tracks in Korean popular music with 2016’s “Trick or Treat.” The bone-rattling pulse starts from the first beat and is undoubtedly the focus of the song. With the official music video originally released around Halloween, Grace posted a dance performance version a week later that went viral thanks to the choreography that perfectly complements the bass line.