There’s only two weeks left until we ring in the new year, which means it’s Gayo season in South Korea. The end of December is always packed with holiday-themed festivals from the three major broadcasting stations: KBS, SBS, and MBC. KBS Gayo Daechukje was up first, taking place on December 16 and is followed closely by SBS Gayo Daejeon on December 24 and MBC Gayo Daejejeon on December 31. Naturally, many groups end up performing at all three festivals, making Christmas an extremely busy time of year for all of our favorite idol groups. Let’s celebrate the end of 2022 by checking out some of their best B-side tracks from the year!

“New World” - ATEEZ

ATEEZ is currently slated for both KBS and SBS Gayo, with MBC’s lineup still up in the air. 2022 was a busy year for the group, and they show no signs of slowing down as their second world tour continues into the beginning of 2023. ATEEZ also released two Japanese albums this year and one Korean album, with one more comeback scheduled for December 30. The upcoming year is sure to be record-breaking for the fourth-gen group as their ninth mini-album, THE WORLD EP.1: MOVEMENT, garnered over one million pre-orders before its release on July 29. The album is cohesive and full of catchy tracks, ending on a strong note with “New World.” It starts off soft and hypnotizing, a stark contrast to the members’ commanding vocals. ATEEZ prompts listeners to follow them into a whole new world, stating they’re, “unstoppable like a storm.” Mingi’s powerful rap verses and Jongho’s consistent high notes make “New World” a stand-out track and an exemplary album closer. “Feel the storm” with ATEEZ and follow them into 2023 by checking out “New World” linked below!

“Snowy” - ITZY

JYP Entertainment knows how to keep their idol groups busy. From world tours to major awards and prime slots at every year-end show, it’s no surprise to see so many of their groups on the lineup for the 2022 song festivals. ITZY debuted in 2019 and were finally able to set out on their first world tour, which extends into the new year. The girl-group also released two albums this year—CHECKMATE and CHESHIRE—alongside four singles, which included a collaboration with Bebe Rexha. CHESHIRE is the group’s most recent release and sixth extended play, consisting of just four tracks. “Snowy” is one of two B-sides. The song leads in with the chorus and mesmerizing sound of a wind-up music box before melting into a fun dance track. The lyrics charm listeners to follow ITZY into a dreamlike fantasy. With alluring vocals and a dreamy beat, this B-side will put you in a trance. One listen to “Snowy” is guaranteed to leave you feeling like the star of ITZY’s show.

“Tangerine Love (Favorite)” - NCT Dream

It’s nearly impossible to attend an award show or K-Pop festival in Korea without seeing at least one sub-unit of NCT. Even amidst schedule overlaps and solo releases, NCT manages to put on a dynamic performance every single time, and the crowd is sure to be full of NCTzens singing along in a sea of neon green. Both NCT Dream and NCT 127 are making appearances at this year’s song festivals. NCT Dream is sure to impress with never-before-seen performances of their newly released mini-album Candy. It’s the group’s fifth EP and first-ever holiday album, consisting of six tracks. Most of the B-sides are soft and laidback, but the tempo picks up in “Tangerine Love (Favorite).” It’s refreshing, with seamless harmonies and tasteful ad-libs. NCT Dream sings of love that’s colorful and sweet, just like a tangerine. One listen is sure to brighten up even the darkest of winters. Cozy up by the fireplace and get into the holiday spirit with NCT Dream by checking out their new song “Tangerine Love (Favorite)” linked below!

Edited by Aleena Faisal