As a spin-off to my Battle of the B-sides feature, I'm pleased to announce the arrive of "Battle of the Title Tracks!" In this feature, I'll be pitting three K-pop title tracks/singles against each other and choosing a winner. These songs will mostly be from pre-2016 since I'll try to focus on music I haven't yet written about on the blog.
As always, the competition is all in good fun. Most importantly, I hope you discover (or re-discover) some great songs!
Battle of the Title Tracks: Round Three
Henry – Trap (ft. Kyuhyun & Taemin) (2013)
They really gave Henry all the firepower he needed for his solo debut, huh? Both Super Junior's Kyuhyun and SHINee's Taemin join him for Trap, yet somehow he's not overshadowed. The brilliance of this song rests in its insistent, ultra-catchy piano riff – an instant nod to Henry's prowess as a classical musician.
It's rare that a mid-tempo track like this hits me so hard, but I remember being smitten on the very first listen. The melodies are simple but unforgettable and the production delivers a satisfying stomp that keeps the energy surprisingly high.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 9 |
Lee Jung Hyun – Peace (2000)
This is such a goodie from way back when. Most readers know that I'm a Janet and Michael Jackson stan, so Peace's jagged, percussive beats are right up my alley. I'm absolutely obsessed with the production on this. It's so forceful and dynamic, especially when the guitar comes in and absolutely shreds. This pre-dates many of SM Entertainment's "SMP" style tracks but informs much of what Yoo Young-Jin ended up doing with groups like TVXQ.
Peace's hooks are no slouch either. Though the song isn't super melodic, its aggressive structure allows for an equally combative performance. It's all just so cool.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 10 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 10 |
| RATING | 9.5 |
SHINee – Everybody (2013)
What the heck is my randomizer doing to me today? Three 9+ rated songs in one battle? I feel sorry for Henry and Lee Jung Hyun because you just don't beat SHINee in this era. Everybody is a beast of a song and I can't believe I haven't rated it until now. It's probably the best example of K-pop's early-2010's dubstep trend, punctuating its soaring melodies with swipes of rugged electronics.
But what I love most about Everybody is how its intensity never lags. When I say I want idol groups to perform as if they're putting their lives on the line, this is what I mean. No moment of the song lacks energy, which means the climaxes must go even bigger and bolder. There are multiple points when Everybody practically explodes. Its extended instrumental bridge is the stuff of K-pop legends, yanking us into a go-for-broke finale that pulls no punches. Just brilliant.
| Hooks | 10 |
| Production | 10 |
| Longevity | 10 |
| Bias | 10 |
| RATING | 10 |
My Verdict:
The winning track of this edition is SHINEE's Everybody!
Readers, what do you think? Leave your own ranking in the comments!
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