2021 has come and gone in the blink of an eye! Throughout the year, we’ve had the pleasure of enjoying the countless K-Pop releases that have captured our hearts and souls. From the variety of female artists and girl groups in the music industry that made their mark in 2021, there’s no denying that the women in K-Pop took the power in the charts. Whether these songs became your anthem, emotionally healed you, changed your personality, or made you cry, there’s no doubt that these songs will be unforgettable and leave a memory of what this past year has been. 

For the final Ladies Corner article of the year, The Kraze staff discussed their favorite songs of 2021 by the women in K-Pop. Check out which songs we chose below, and you can also check out this exclusive Spotify playlist of our picks here! 

Khannie - CEO and Founder

Sunmi - “You can't sit with us”

I love that this song is channeling the ‘80s vibe and the entire music video is very, very staged for that era. I honestly thought that the title was a nod to Mean Girls, but I think it's a fantastic coincidence. The production of the music video was what really won me over with the song because adding a zombie shootout scene brought a great creative spin to Sunmi’s spectacular performance. The song itself is catchy and really got me living the ‘80 vibes! 

STAYC - “STEREOTYPE”

STAYC is one of those up-and-coming female groups that is beginning to snatch lots of wigs. Their first two title tracks, “SO BAD'' and “ASAP,” are great songs that showcase their new, young style to the K-Pop world. With “STEREOTYPE,” it has that quirky, cute sound that is both carefree and chill at the same time. It's not overly cutesy and it has just the right amount of spunk with a really catchy tune that I catch myself singing a lot lately!

SOMI - “DUMB DUMB”

I must say that ever since her debut with “BIRTHDAY,” SOMI takes cute and an extra kick of sass in a whole new way. “DUMB DUMB” has that colorful melody that makes you step into her shoes as a high school teenager. The music video is cleverly put together to tell that story. Then the whistling chorus pulls you into that dark, secretive mood that ties the whole song in a perfect bow! 

Jay - Outreach Director

Rosé - “Gone”

It’s a perfect moody acoustic break-up song that somehow finds its way into being repeated. It's part of Rosé’s solo debut and showcased more of her vocals. It may be emotional, but it can deeply move a person when listening to it! 

CL - “Lover Like Me”

This song is a complete opposite to my other choice, but I'm just so happy that CL made her return with the music that she wants and this song is my favorite style she's done. It's the definition of “boy, bye” in a song. It's also my most repeated song from CL as well.

Rashelle - Editor

GWSN - "Like It Hot"

This song is my choice for a standout girl group track of 2021 for a lot of reasons! The subtle yet hypnotic sound for this track is addicting and has me loving it every playthrough. Even more, GWSN always makes quality comebacks, and I'd love to take this opportunity to highlight them! They're amazing and I am looking forward to their future endeavors! 

LEE HI - “ONLY”

For female artists, I choose "ONLY" as a standout track for 2021. For LEE HI’s first comeback under a new label, not a single track on this album disappoints. "ONLY" is a sentimental ballad that pulls at all your heartstrings, drawing up deep feelings of longing and affection. As a long-time fan of LEE HI, it has been great to watch her develop as an artist; this track feels like both an evolution and a graceful return to her roots.

Sofia - Writer

Brave Girls - “Chi Mat Ba Ram”

One of the most memorable moments in 2021 was Brave Girls’s return to the stage performing their legendary single “Rollin’.” With that popularity soaring, Brave Girls made their first comeback in several years with the summer single “Chi Mat Ba Ram.” The song truly became my confidence anthem as the energy and summer vibes helped me get through a difficult summer. This song makes me tear up knowing that Brave Girls were able to achieve their dreams as a group, especially after everything they’ve overcome. Out of all the songs in 2021, “Chi Mat Ba Ram” takes the number one spot for my personal list because I got to see their perseverance, confidence, and love put into a song that gives them the “Queens of Summer” title. 

Hyolyn and Dasom - “Summer or Summer”

Just when I thought summer couldn’t possibly get any better, Hyolyn and Dasom, former members of the reigning summer girl group SISTAR, made a legendary return! As a second generation fan, I literally screamed when this song came out because it’s been a while since we got to hear these ladies performing together. Everytime I hear “Summer or Summer,” I think of going to the beach and dancing the killing part from their TikTok challenge. Hyolyn’s powerful and strong vocals will definitely leave you blown away by her obvious vocal talent, but adding Dasom’s soft and delicate vocals gives it a smooth blend. Maybe it’s just me, but this song always makes me feel super confident when it comes on shuffle. 

STAYC - "ASAP”

I still remember when “ASAP” came out; as dramatic as this sounds, it changed me. Every second of the day, I wanted to dance the choreography while singing along to the chorus. STAYC was already on the path to success when “SO BAD” came out, but “ASAP” solidified their addictive sound and wholesome lyrics. Their popularity grew on TikTok with “ASAP,” trending with many using it for comedic purposes or to take on the dance challenge. Besides their high notes and adorable visuals, hearing this song makes me swoon because of the sweet meaning of looking for love. Being an early stan of STAYC at the time of their debut, it’s so beautiful to see more incoming fans joining SWITHs and giving love to these girls. 

Vivian - Editor

aespa - “Savage”

“Savage'' by aespa has been on rotation in my playlist this year. The song quickly grew on me — from the impeccable vocals to the catchy melody switch-ups, I found the song to be very addictive. The transitional breakdown from the chorus to bridge has you rapping one moment, then belting out Winter’s high notes and Ningning’s ad-libs in the next verse. In true SM Entertainment fashion, the range of harmonization, interchanging lines, and appealing trap beats leaves room for a fun dance bop!

ITZY - “마.피.아. In the morning”

Not only are the choreography and visual performances phenomenal, but ITZY’s “마.피.아. In the morning” is also an addictive, upbeat song that will have you dancing and shooting finger guns all over. Definitely played this song repeatedly since its release and will continue to do so. The energetic tune and lyrics pertaining to the mafia game like the “I’m the mafia” verse will have you feeling like a boss!

Bettina - Writer

LISA - “MONEY”

I think “MONEY” by LISA is one of the top hits of 2021, although it was the B-side and not the title track of her solo debut album LALISA. Besides its usual commercial success like music charts, it also trended on TikTok and Instagram Reels. It’s a very boastful, sassy, and empowering hip-hop song that always makes me feel like a boss. It’s also amazing to see the YouTube views this song got even without an official music video. Its performance video reached 100 million views in just 15 days (currently almost at 360 million views, only about 20 million less than the title track’s official music video), and its dance practice video also reached 10 million in just one day (currently over 54 million views).

aespa - “Next Level”

“Next Level” is an upbeat dance hip-hop song. It initially received mixed reactions as it’s pretty distinctive and comes off strong at first (SM Entertainment tends to think out of the box with title tracks). But whatever our first reactions were, “Next Level” grew on all of us, and months later we still can’t get bored of it. Not to mention that there is almost no one in the K-Pop industry or fandom who doesn’t recognize the choreography by just one pose. I was actually very surprised to hear that Lee Sooman himself directed the performance video from choreography, stage movements, composition, camera work, outfits, etc.

Jean - Photographer

IU - “Celebrity”

“Celebrity” started 2021 as a certified all-kill on Korean charts and ended the year as the third most-viewed K-Pop video on YouTube. The reasons why are clear. The return of the much loved IU combined with a song whose upbeat melodic pop became a needed lift through the darkness of COVID last winter. Inspired by an unnamed friend who was ridiculed by their eclectic nature, the song was a gift to remind us that we are all beautiful in our own uniqueness. That our uniqueness, the light from the “left-hand” drawn star glowing above us, makes us shine. It's a song asking us to look away at our own darkness to find and embrace our own inner “Celebrity.” It's a hug from IU, one that I find I need now and then, reminding me to smile.

Roxy - CMO

PinkFantasy - “Poison”

As a former goth kid and victim of the emo to K-Pop pipeline, I'm always a fan of the darker girl group releases, but that was ramped up to 10 with PinkFantasy's "Poison." A lot of people compared it to Japanese metal more than anything else, but I felt that the song brought a fresh perspective on the darker concepts in K-Pop by adding in even just a tinge of screamo into the melody, which has been unheard of until now. It's a shame more people haven't paid attention to this group; they're very talented and have a unique concept going on.

Sara L. - Writer

IZ*ONE - “D-D-DANCE”

I chose “D-D-DANCE” by IZ*ONE because it's so catchy! The past two years have been very difficult and something about the song lifts my spirits and makes me want to dance or walk around outside and sing along.

Rachel - Writer and Editor

TWICE - “Alcohol-Free”

It wouldn’t be another year of great music from K-Pop without a banger (or two) from TWICE. “Alcohol-Free” has so many aspects of it that make us love this song. From the tropical instrumentation, the outfits for the music video and comeback stages, and not to mention the choreography that the members made look easy, it wasn’t hard to become a fan of the lead single from their mini-album Taste of Love. “Alcohol-Free” became one of those tracks that you played on a bad day to lift your spirits, and in 2021, a song like that was greatly needed. 

TWICE - “The Feels”

Debuting into the Billboard Hot 100 Chart at No. 83, “The Feels” has very quickly become a hit, to say the least. It’s a monumental song for the group, as it is their first all-English single. With its retro pop sound, TWICE successfully delivered yet another track that had the K-Pop world on hold and everyone doing the choreography any chance they got.

Kelly - Managing Editor

Weeekly - “After School”

The release of Weeekly’s “After School” in March not only cemented the girl group as one of the acts to watch in the fourth generation, but even now, nine months later, the song is still stuck in listeners’ heads. Between one of the catchiest beats in 2021 and one of the most memorable melodies as well, “After School” was not only an instant favorite of mine but also a track I used to successfully introduce some of my real-life friends to K-Pop. I don’t think it’s too far of a stretch to call it a perfect song, and it’s one I will definitely still have on repeat going into 2022.

Omani - Writer and Editor

WJSN - “UNNATURAL”

I’m not familiar with WJSN, so they might pop off like this all the time for all I know, but I usually watch whatever new music videos cross my path which is how “UNNATURAL” appeared to me. The video models them with a glossy elegance, and most of the visuals are slow/still shots of the girls posing, and that kind of thing generally doesn’t ensnare my gaze, so I wasn’t really watching until that chorus hit me like a truck. The buildup is quick and the chorus is loud and it’s catchy and it ended up being the looped anthem of my solo summer road trip, so now it has a little nostalgic significance on top of its undeniable power to pump me up.

PURPLE K!SS - “Zombie”

“Zombie” got points just for being a Halloween-themed release at the appropriate time. The music video has a blessed mix of cute girls in cute outfits doing cute choreography with that ‘80s horror drip, but I was floored by their sound. I hadn’t heard of PURPLE K!SS before, and their vocals are so strong, it felt like I’d just uncovered a precious little secret. Needless to say, that whole album bangs, PURPLE KISS just swept me off my feet, and, frankly, I love them.