The 15 best K-pop summer songs of all time
When temperatures begin to soar and the sun’s rays kiss your skin, there is arguably no better way to embrace the otherworldly essence of summer than by immersing yourself in the infectious earworms and breezy melodies of K-pop’s best summer anthems.
From upbeat dance tracks to carefree, feel-good mellow tunes to pair with gorgeous sunsets, these songs transcend borders and generations, serving as the ultimate soundtrack to sun-soaked days and balmy nights.
Whether you’re lounging by the pool, cruising with the windows down or simply seeking refuge from the sweltering heat, these 15 K-pop summer songs are guaranteed to transport you to an alternate universe of endless fun and romance.
Honourable mentions:
‘Magic Shop’ by BTS
‘Stay This Way’ by fromis_9
‘Heart Attack’ by AOA
‘Love U’ by Chung Ha
‘Boogie Up’ by WJSN
‘After School’ by Weeekly
Weeekly’s viral hit ‘After School’ revels in the youthful thrill of finally going on summer break, with the promise of endless new core memories set against the sweltering heat and warm breeze of the season. The girl group beckon you to join them as they embark on carefree escapades, dance with reckless abandon and embrace the pure joy of it all – an affecting teenage nostalgia anthem to relive the ecstasy of youth just once more.
‘Alcohol-Free’ by TWICE
A sun-drenched day by the beach, a gentle breeze carrying the faint smell of salt, the sun’s heat resting on your skin – that’s pure tropical bliss of ‘Alcohol-Free’. The TWICE summer anthem (to be fair, they’ve put out many summer classics) is especially fitting for the season with hip-hop and bossa nova influences to form the perfect sonic cocktail. ‘Alcohol-Free’ is best listened to when sunbathing out in perfect clear-skied weather, preferably with an ice cold beverage in hand.
‘ETA’ by NewJeans
Mellow and infectious, the melody of ‘ETA’ glides effortlessly over funky Baltimore club beats as the five-piece beckon you to come along for a good time as fast as you can. The way its choppy air horns and scurried drum beats are layered feel like a subliminal message to get you up on your feet and let loose – after all, isn’t that what summer is for? The season is as much about basking in the warmth of good company as it is about its weather, and NewJeans prove they understand that magic all too well.
‘Hot Summer’ by f(x)
‘Hot Summer’ is a seasonal classic for any long-time K-pop listener. Released at the peak of summer 2011, f(x) topped charts with their sizzling answer to the unrelenting heat. This 2010s electro-pop gem envelops you in a pulsating groove and a throbbing bassline that mimic the unabating rhythm of summer. As the years have passed, ‘Hot Summer’ has only come to cement its status as a seasonal cult classic, ageing like fine wine as it resurfaces year after year to soundtrack the hottest of summer spells.
‘Kokobop’ by EXO
EXO’s 2017 reggae-tinged single ‘Kokobop’ is a musical molotov cocktail with a fierce blend of tropical rhythms and electric beats. It’s a genre-defying hit that fuses sultry guitar riffs and vibrant synths that evoke the carefree spirit of the season: endless nights chasing cheap thrills, indulging in guilty pleasures and surrendering yourself to the intoxicating allure of the unbridled freedom only summers seem to offer. With playful, tongue-in-cheek lyrics and catchy choreography, EXO extend the invitation to let loose and embrace spontaneity.
‘Our dawn is hotter than day’ by SEVENTEEN
This understated B-side off SEVENTEEN’s 2018 mini-album ‘You Make My Day’ slows things down with a drowsier tempo that captures the languid ambience of a humid summer evening, with pockets of energy captured by its punchy melody. ‘Our dawn is hotter than day’ incorporates R&B over a clean bassline, with a chanted pre-chorus that evokes a forgotten memory of time spent with friends by a crackling bonfire, snacking on toasted marshmallows and playing silly drinking games.
‘Loving U’ by SISTAR
Despite having gone their separate ways in 2017, SISTAR remain the inimitable K-pop queens of summer. Lifted from the quartet’s 2012 summer special album of the same name, ‘Loving U’ is a lighthearted bubblegum pop anthem that encapsulates the feel-good, sugary experience of a passionate summer fling. With a music video set against the picturesque backdrop of Hawaii’s beaches, SISTAR’s ‘Loving U’ has become the essential listen among their extensive catalogue of summer releases.
‘Navillera’ by GFRIEND
Taking cues from ‘90s-era J-pop and retro synthpop, GFRIEND’s ‘Navillera’ – its title being a Korean portmanteau that means “butterfly-like” – is jam-packed with a propelling blend of electric guitar riffs, synths and breakneck beats. ‘Navillera’ is a great song that showcases and expands on GFRIEND’s distinct, high-octane sound while injecting the inherent euphoria of summer. As the six-piece prove, there is no better time of the year than now to strap on your quad skates and hit the roller rink with the girls.
‘Roller Coaster’ by NMIXX
NMIXX took a bold crack at house for their contribution to K-pop’s ever-evolving collection of summer songs, and hit it out of the park. Surprisingly soulful and delightfully funky, everything about ‘Roller Coaster’ – especially NMIXX’s rich vocal delivery – is smooth and refreshing, easily cementing itself as a future-classic youthful summer banger. NMIXX’s music may often be more divisive than not, but ‘Roller Coaster’ speaks perfectly to their inherent ability to adapt to various genres and their nuances.
‘Rollin’’ – Brave Girls
When ‘Rollin’’ was originally released in 2017, it failed to garner much fanfare, but would (rightfully) go viral four years later. Many fell in love with ‘Rollin’’ for its sentimentality, as its straightforward, upbeat vibe harkened back to a time where sexy summer bangers were all the rage in K-pop (see SISTAR). It’s also the song that catapulted a once-overlooked band to overnight stardom, saving Brave Girls (now BBGirls) from the brink of disbandment. ‘Rollin’’ is a good song in more ways than one.
‘Red Flavor’ by Red Velvet
‘Red Flavor’ may not be the most serious song out there – we don’t really get many music videos where singers become therapists for anthropomorphic fruit – but it might just be one of the catchiest and wittiest, filled with cheeky metaphors about the fruity, sugary nature of summer’s indulgent spirit. One of the best things about Red Velvet, of which there are admittedly many, is their ability to have fun and let loose when they need to.
‘SEESEA’ by Hyolyn
Leave it to Hyolyn, SISTAR’s main vocalist, to pick up where the girl group left off. Strong yet silk, her gorgeous vocals beckon you to spend the day soaking in the sun’s rays on the beach or by the pool. The song is playful and flirtatious, acting as a personification of the lightheartedness and adventurous essence of summer escapism. As one YouTube comment very aptly put it: “Summer works hard, but Hyolyn works harder.”
‘Touch My Body’ – SISTAR
‘Touch My Body’ may be turning 10-years-old this July, but its longevity and timelessness is exactly the reason why SISTAR are still the queens of summer. This song is a textbook summer hit with an awfully catchy hook that fully leans into its own suggestiveness, and has lots of fun in the process. With iconic choreography and booty shorts to boot, there isn’t much else to say about SISTAR’s lasting star power and their everlasting summer anthems that hasn’t already been said. They really don’t make them like this anymore.
‘Up!’ by Kep1er
‘Up!’ might be a more recent release compared to others on this list, but this Kep1er masterpiece has the makings of a summer classic. Vibrant and infectious, this single is a fun detour from Kep1er’s usual releases while retaining the quirky, chaotic persona the girl group are best known for. It’s refreshing, bubbly and evokes the inherent nostalgia of making summer memories in your youth.
‘View’ – SHINee
If anyone were to do deep house for summer justice, it would be SHINee. The minimal nature of ‘View’ is especially compelling, given that many of the other songs on our list are richly layered, but it never threatens to detract from the song’s saccharinely summer spirit. Paired with hazy visuals, smooth choreography and buttery smooth adlibs and falsettos, ‘View’ captures the dream-like quality of unexpected summer adventures and the thrill of such spontaneous escapades and reckless abandon.
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Carmen Chin
NME
