B-Sides So Good They Could’ve Been Title Tracks
Imagine this: your favorite group has just released their newest album and the title track is amazing. As you listen to the album, you hear a B-side that you really vibe with. For whatever reason, this B-side track is just so good you find yourself wishing it were the title track or that it had been saved for another album. This week, we’ll be looking at B-side tracks so good they could’ve been title tracks.
“Good to Me” by SEVENTEEN
While promoted singles “Getting Closer” and “Home” from SEVENTEEN’s mini-album YOU MADE MY DAWN are incredible in their own right, there’s just something so good about B-side track “Good to Me.” From the xylophone-esque opening beat to the line, “Cause you, you’re my everything,” in the chorus, it’s easy to think that “Good to Me” would have performed as a title track. And in typical SEVENTEEN fashion, the choreography is equally if not more impressive than the track itself, making the music video easy to imagine.
“OUT” by GOT7
“Never Ever” was incredible as the title track for FLIGHT LOG: ARRIVAL, but B-side track “OUT” saw GOT7 blend their EDM-leaning stylings that had appeared in previously released title track “Hard Carry” with their debut hip-hop roots in “Girls Girls Girls” in what would’ve been absolutely amazing as a title track. “OUT” is easy to sing along to and catchy, with the electro beats in the chorus and tempo changes making the track stick out. Youngjae’s voice shines in this track and Jackson’s influence can be heard throughout.
“Break The Wall” by Dreamcatcher
2020 was a breakthrough year for Dreamcatcher due in part to their first full-length album, and the girl group capitalized on that with their second 2020 release, Dystopia: Lose Myself. While title track “BOCA” saw them experiment with a different style of rock that came into play during the chorus, B-side track “Break The Wall” saw them truly master a style of rock and make it their own. The use of vocal effects during the verses was different for them, but it worked in their favor and made their vocals in the chorus soar. Even though we got a special clip video from them, we know that a full music video would be incredible.
“UTOPIA” by ATEEZ
As exciting as voting for the title track to ATEEZ’s third mini-album TREASURE EP.3: One To All was, we can’t help but think that maybe “UTOPIA” should’ve been in the running as well. “WAVE” and “ILLUSION” are incredible songs in their own right, but there’s just something about “UTOPIA” that sets it apart. While “WAVE” and “ILLUSION” were different genres for ATEEZ to explore and ultimately master, “UTOPIA” is perfect. Their vocals all work together, you can almost feel the excitement once the chorus kicks in, and the ending leaves you longing for more. Luckily the group did use “UTOPIA” as a title track for their first Japanese release, proving that any number of ATEEZ B-sides have the power to be title tracks in their own right.
“HURT” by EXO
EXO’s “Call Me Baby” is the perfect title track. It’s catchy and upbeat, the choreo is fun, and it’s hard not to put the track on repeat. However, “HURT” is another track off of EXODUS that leaves a lasting impression for entirely different reasons. The track opens with a creepy carnival vibe and keeps that darkness throughout, even when the tempo quickens. The line “You hurt me” is repeated in the chorus, something everybody has been through, and if this had been the title track for EXODUS or any other EXO release, we believe it could’ve left a lasting impression in the K-Pop world.