Throwback Thursday: K-Pop And K-Hip-Hop From A To Z (Letter “L” Edition)
Photo: JYP Entertainment
“A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L–” we are now on the letter “L.” After going through many playlists, finding songs that start with “L” was easy. So many songs start with “L,” so let’s take it back and talk about those tracks.
SUNMI - “LALALAY”
On August 27, 2019, quirky, accomplished solo artist SUNMI released her striking single “LALALAY.” An upbeat track with an electrifying instrumental, “LALALAY” is a theatrical pop song driven by playful vocal shifts and sudden dynamic changes. Throughout the song, listeners can hear the excitement in SUNMI’s vocals in each verse. The track is bass-heavy, with a synth-driven, danceable beat. The track has unforgettable moments, like the hard-hitting arm movements in the choreography and the lyrics. After one listen, listeners can’t help but sing along. The song is undeniably fun, with a hook that lodges itself in the listener's memory.
GOT7 - “Lullaby”
On September 17, 2018, former JYP Entertainment mega boy group GOT7 released their jam-packed album Present: YOU. The 16-track album delivered a wide range of material. The album not only has striking group tracks, but it also showcases the members' solo talents. The title track, “Lullaby,” is bright, with excited energy and strong vocals. Singing along to this track is a given. Once it begins and listeners hear that magical intro, listeners are ready to sing along. The great thing about “Lullaby” is that you can sing it in many languages. The album includes five versions: the Korean version, “Lullaby,” “Lullaby (English Version),” “Lullaby (Chinese Version),” “Lullaby (Spanish Version),” and, if listeners just want to dance to the instrumental, “Lullaby (Instrumental).” It’s a fun track to sing in all the languages provided.
NMIXX - “Love Me Like This”
On March 20, 2023, JYP Entertainment’s well-known girl group NMIXX released their super fun EP, expérgo. Packed with tracks like “Young, Dumb, Stupid,” “PAXXWORD,” and “My Gosh,” this energetic comeback showcases not only the members' strong vocal abilities but also their dynamic stage presence. One track that captured that quality most effectively was the title track, “Love Me Like This.” A high-energy track with a memorable hook and propulsive choreography, “Love Me Like This” is one of NMIXX’s most well-known tracks. The hook is immediately singable, with a melody designed to linger. Listeners can’t help but sing along to the catchy lyrics. “Love me like this, love like that–” are lyrics that will replay in every listener's head. The track has an electrifying beat with a heavy bass instrumental. The members' pop vocals blend with the track's retro sound, creating a groove-driven listen with broad appeal.