Many girl groups have flawlessly undertaken the magical girl concept in both sound and aesthetic, delivering some memorable concepts for us to look back on. With so many tracks to choose from, let’s look at some of the best “magical girl” songs from past years.

“Puzzle Moon” - GWSN

GWSN’s debut track offered us the first look into their dreamy and mysterious conceptual world.

The deep house, EDM-influenced track explained, through its lyrics, secrets about the magnificent “puzzle moon” that would come together and realize all the girls’ dreams. The video features some fun and curious scenes, with the girls performing magic as they seek the truth about themselves. This, tied in with the creative choreography and visual effects, makes this track such a refreshing moment to return to — especially as a debut.

“Hi High” - LOONA

LOONA and their complex, magical universe (or, the LOONAverse) could be discussed for hours. The entirety of their ongoing concept has been stretched across the singular, then sub-unit debuts for each member. For this track in particular—spoiler warning for those of us new to LOONA lore—the girls embark on a journey to unite as 12 and break their respective loops. This is reflected in the various scenes and callbacks to previous LOONA videos as they journey to find one another.

Although the LOONAverse had its dark moments, their official debut track casts that energy away through its refreshing high-speed electronic sound and sweet, magical girl energy.

“I’m Jelly BABY” - AOA CREAM

This debut track from AOA sub-unit, AOA CREAM, fully embraced the themes of the quintessential magical girl. The video opens with an ultra-cute transformation, reminiscent of most anime sequences where the protagonist evolves into their alter-ego; one might think of Sailor Moon in this case. Equipped with their newfound power and magical weapons, AOA CREAM puts their abilities to work in mischievous ways to confront their no-good boyfriend.

This song, produced by genius duo Black Eyed Pilseung, features their usual expert touch that has resulted in numerous K-Pop hits. The repetition of “Baby baby, I am Jelly” makes this song so catchy and memorable.

“Magic Girl” - Orange Caramel

“Magic Girl” truly lives up to its name with a sound worthy of being the background music to a Cardcaptor Sakura or Sailor Moon transformation. This track is a mixture of retro themes and a consistent orchestral foundation that is spotlighted during the dance break.

In a style that would become a staple of all Orange Caramel comebacks to follow, they adorn the scenes of the video in an assortment of identical outfits made up of large and playful accessories.

“Destiny” - Lovelyz

Lovelyz released many memorable tracks throughout their career, and “Destiny” is absolutely one of them. The entirety of the A New Trilogy album delivered incredibly soft, dream-like tracks that make for a refreshing listen for anyone seeking a light-hearted sound. “Destiny,” in particular, received renewed interest after it was covered by Oh My Girl on Queendom.

“Destiny” shares the heart-wrenching and unrequited story of a moon that follows the earth, never to have that love reciprocated. The video, full of soft pastels and warm lighting, drives home this story through the use of a marble motif. Although subdued in its magical elements, it is made up by the mysterious beauty of both the song and the video.

“Fly High” - Dreamcatcher

“Fly High” offers a different take on the “magical girl” theme. Dreamcatcher remains deeply immersed in their concepts, weaving together a rich storyline with every comeback. “Fly High” expands on just one arc of their many storylines, with lyrics that refer to dreams and nightmares similar to the previous track, “GOOD NIGHT.” The beauty of this comeback exists in the misleading brightness of the video, with dancing scenes shot in bright sunlight juxtaposed with dark forests, winding staircases, and dark magic.

Edited by Omani

Throwback Thursday: Magical Girl Soundtrack