Throwback Thursday: Killing Parts
We all know those certain parts in songs that catch your breath, instances that make your heart stop, or lines that stay stuck in your head. This week for Throwback Thursday, we bring you some of our favorite K-Pop killing parts!
“Bad Love” - HYNN
The Korean general public loves ballads, and for good reason: few things can capture human emotion so thoroughly as a singer belting out a heartbreaking melody. Songstress HYNN delivered an awe-inspiring vocal performance with her 2019 track “Bad Love,” and while her vocals are impressive throughout the entire song, it’s the final build in the bridge that’s truly goosebump-inducing. Moments like this are usually easy to predict in songs, but HYNN’s delivery catches the listener almost entirely off guard, building with an intensity that’s almost as jaw-dropping as her high note.
SUGA’s “Bultaoreune” in BTS’s “FIRE”
In 2016, “kings of K-Pop” BTS released their aptly-named hit track, “FIRE.” The song is easily one of the band’s bangers, with great bass drops and plenty of sirens to spare. But it’s SUGA’s muted “bultaoreune” intro before exploding into sound that truly makes the song. And if live performances are anything to judge by, we know he knows it too.
Tiffany’s “DJ put it back on” in Girls’ Generation’s “Genie”
Girls’ Generation’s 2009 song “Genie” is famous for plenty of reasons, but Tiffany’s heart-stopping “DJ put it back on” line in the bridge is what K-Pop killing point dreams are made of. In a song that’s almost entirely upbeat and bubbly, the slight, almost grungy breakdown in the bridge is such a stark contrast that there’s almost no need for a build into the final chorus. As the instrumentals cut away, Tiffany ushers the end of the song in by herself with overflowing charisma.
Sana’s “Shy, shy, shy” from TWICE’s “CHEER UP”
Sana’s famed “shy, shy, shy” line from TWICE’s 2016 track “CHEER UP” was never meant to be the song’s focal point, but with unmatched levels of cuteness like hers, it’s no surprise the line blew up. With an equally adorable matching dance move, the “shy, shy, shy” phenomenon took over not only Korea, but also the rest of the world, with everyone mimicking the killing point from SEVENTEEN to BTOB to Suzy.
The bridge from EXO’s “Tempo”
EXO has had plenty of viral moments throughout their extensive career, but their 2018 song “Tempo” takes the term “killing part” to the next level, with not just one line, but the entire bridge of the song. As any K-Pop fan knows, EXO is nearly unparalleled when it comes to vocals, but the entirely acapella bridge in “Tempo” is still a shock to the system. The moment the EDM beat gets stripped away, replaced by Chanyeol’s deep bass and Suho’s sweet vocals, is simply breathtaking.