Throwback Thursday: The Year is 2020
Photo: JYP Entertainment
The year is 2020–the year that had everyone in the house, but we were also given something that lightened our moods. This year, many groups released tracks we all had on repeat. This was also the year of many group debuts. So, let’s take a look back at the music released during the year 2020.
aespa - “Black Mamba”
On November 17, 2020, SM Entertainment hit girl group aespa debuted with their striking track “Black Mamba.” A track that many love to this day, “Black Mamba” was the hard-hitting beginning to the girls we know and love now in 2026. With a captivating EDM beat, “Black Mamba” is an upbeat track that showcases the rap skills and vocal skills of the girls. Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning created this futuristic concept, which they will continue to use in future releases, that caught the eye of many first-time listeners. Even now in 2026, this dance is constantly being recreated/covered, and when the girls do perform this iconic debut, the crowd is on their feet. It’s a memorable release that had us all singing along in 2020.
ATEEZ - “Answer”
On January 6, 2020, KQ Entertainment's iconic boy group ATEEZ gave us an EP to start off our year. Their release, TREASURE EPILOGUE: Action To Answer - EP, is a beautiful five-song release that had all of us screaming our hearts out. On that EP are songs that to this day hold a special place in our hearts. For example, songs like “Horizon,” “Precious,” “Star 1117,” and their masterpiece of a title track, “Answer.” “Answer” is a beautiful ballad with a hard-hitting bass and a groovy beat. Throughout the song, you can hear the members singing with so much passion that it could bring tears to your eyes. The falsettos, belts, and harmonies are powerful, and the raps are impactful. For me, this is one of my favorite ATEEZ tracks, and for many, that is the same. “Answer” is a beautiful piece and will forever be a memorable track from ATEEZ.
GOT7 - “NOT BY THE MOON”
On April 20, 2020, the iconic boy group GOT7 released their stunning EP, DYE. A gorgeous six-song EP, DYE is a masterpiece to many iGOT7/Ahgase, including me. On that EP is their very well-known title track “NOT BY THE MOON.” This was really a “you had to be there” moment in time, and I say that because of the whole promotional aspect of the release. “NOT BY THE MOON” is a hard-hitting track with beautiful vocals and a captivating concept. The members sound fantastic in the song, and at the end, when they do that dance break into member Youngjae’s high note, it was a sight to see. The prince concept was elegant, and the boys looked majestic. During the promotional period, the members would have these “dates” on live for all the fans to tune in and watch. For example, Jackson had us in the studio with him as he played music, and Yugyeom had us at a garden making chocolates. It was a very interactive promotion period, and on release day, we were able to watch it with the members. It was a fun time for such an unforgettable release.