Throwback Thursday: Best of GOT7 Pt. 2
It’s been seven wonderful years since GOT7 debuted with their song “Girls Girls Girls.” Originally branded as a hip-hop group, the boys have tried their hands at a bit of everything over the years, but they’ve never lost that special touch that makes a GOT7 song so clearly sound like GOT7. We’ve already covered their biggest hits, but in honor of the boys, we’re taking a look at some more of the greatest hits of their career. Though it’s still a little unclear, The Kraze can’t wait to see what the future holds for the boys of GOT7—after all, it’s seven or never.
“A”
GOT LOVE, GOT7’s second mini-album, was released in 2014 and promoted by the title track “A.” The song peaked at No. 16 on the Gaon Singles Chart, likely due to how infectious the chorus is, but that’s not all the success the release brought the group. In addition to topping the Gaon Weekly Albums Chart, GOT LOVE marks the first time JB was credited as a lyricist for the group, with his work on “Bad Behavior.”
“Just Right”
If there’s one song that’s synonymous with GOT7’s career, it’s “Just Right.” Released as the lead single off of their third mini-album of the same name, “Just Right” is a song that is simply overflowing with good energy. Between its easy-going vibes, colorful music video, and message of self-love, “Just Right” brings an intimate playfulness not often found in a title song, inviting even the most casual of listeners into GOT7’s inner circle.
“Hard Carry”
In late 2016, the group released their second album Flight Log: Turbulence—the second in their Flight Log trilogy—and with it, the aptly hard-hitting single “Hard Carry.” A little rougher around the edges than their usual smooth vocal-heavy titles, the song garnered the group four Korean music show wins and helped in achieving a disc bonsang at the 2017 Golden Disc Awards.
“Never Ever”
“Never Ever” felt like a natural progression following “Hard Carry,” fitting since the track led the group’s final installment of the Flight Log series, and took the group to then-new heights. On top of another four music show wins, the album dominated charts worldwide in countries like Japan and New Zealand, including the Billboard U.S. World Albums Chart.
“Lullaby”
Released in the fall of 2018, Present: YOU is GOT7’s third full-length album, and was their most successful release to date. The title track “Lullaby” took a softer, but no less infectious, approach to music than some of their more recent comebacks, and it paid off: the song topped the K-Pop Hot 100 and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard U.S. World Digital Song Sales Chart, in addition to charting high domestically and in Japan. Add to that a whopping record of nine music show wins, and “Lullaby” is an easy highlight of the group’s career.
“You Calling My Name”
In 2019, GOT7 released their most sensuous comeback to date, “You Calling My Name,” off of their tenth mini-album Call My Name. With a slinkier, sexier sound, the group topped both the Gaon and Hanteo weekly charts, and even won their first daesang for “Performance of the Year” at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards.
Honorable Mention: “HOME RUN”
Though this song is unlikely to show up on any critic’s true ranking of GOT7’s best, it makes a special appearance on this list because it was my personal first favorite K-Pop song. I heard the playful, impossibly catchy track by chance and was so hooked, that I had to look more into the group and, ultimately, K-Pop. If it weren’t for GOT7 and this fun-loving, baseball terminology-ridden track, I wouldn’t be writing this column today. So thank you, GOT7!