2023 is less than a week away, and it will be January in no time!

As they happen in the first month, comebacks and debuts from January can slip one’s mind in retrospect of the entirety of a year. Luckily, if this week's lineup is any proof, releases from the start of the new year tend to be absurdly iconic and memorable. From Girls’ Generation to GFRIEND, let’s properly enter 2023 against the backdrop of some unforgettable January releases. 

“Gee”

There isn’t much that can be said about “Gee” that hasn’t already been said. At the time of its release in January 2009, the song was instantly recognized as a hit, topping charts, breaking records, and even being named the “Most popular song of the decade” by MelOn. Covered by numerous groups and widely recognized by many as The K-Pop song, “Gee” will always be famous.

BASE

Released in January 2015 with the lead single “Crazy (Guilty Pleasure),” Jonghyun made his highly-anticipated solo debut, becoming the second of the five SHINee members to do so. In his own words, this mini-album was intended to reflect the unique reality of Jonghyun’s musical stylings. Regardless of his being active for seven years by the release of this EP, this step into the solo realm was masterful for a debut, emphasizing the genius of his artistry. The album peaked on the Billboard and Gaon music charts, receiving critical acclaim throughout the industry as well.

Season Of Glass and “Glass Bead”

Even with the increase of “soft” concepts taking root around this time, GFRIEND still managed to stun with their fresh debut “Glass Bead.” This track was notable for its callbacks to iconic girl group releases like “Into the New World,” unknowingly making its own emerging legacy with the song. 

“BBoom BBoom” 

2018 started off with a “bang,” or perhaps a “boom” in this case, with the MOMOLAND lead single “BBoom BBoom.” From the moment it hit the web, it was all people could discuss due to its quirky and fresh music video, catchy sound, and addictive choreography. The track enjoyed a variety of successes thanks to its virality and popularity across streaming sources. 

WARRIOR 

B.A.P, aliens from beyond the stars, made a noisy and theatrical debut on January 26, 2012 with the single “WARRIOR.” Not many debuts are capable of showcasing each and every talent a group has to offer, but this one came close, highlighting Zelo’s speedy rap, Youngjae and Daehyun’s power vocals, Jongup’s dancing, and more. While we’ve come to witness a variety of concepts by now, B.A.P’s pretty-boy antithesis was new and welcome. Their massive success as monster rookies had us all looking forward to what they could have been if given the chance. 

Transform and “Supa Luv”

Maybe you loved them or maybe these earlier TEEN TOP releases weren’t your cup of tea. Either way, they were definitely unforgettable in their own right. Released in January 2011, “Supa Luv” in particular is charming for its complete saturation in the trends of the era. The haircuts, the autotune, the ad-libs heavy with popular English slang - what’s not to love? Fans suddenly rediscovering this track and reminiscing on its ability to evoke that true 2010s nostalgia will always be fun as well (or, maybe this was just a part of a bizarre phenomenon I was privy to). 

Who Am I and “Lonely”

B1A4 went through an incredible evolution musically, and Who Am I was the fruit of that process. The group's second full-length album released in January 2014 featured 12 tracks that journeyed through R&B, ballad, and the occasional uptempo track. The title track “Lonely” blended the qualities of a ballad with R&B and hip-hop for an emotional powerhouse of a song. From its introduction to its final chorus, the tone of intense longing and loneliness is palpable; despite this, the beautiful ending guided by the lyrics, “Baby, I just wanna spend some time with you,” absolutely knocks the air out of you. The whole album is a gem as well (“Baby,” “Oh My God,” and “Feel The Music” are some personal favorites!)

Edited by Cara Musashi