A week away until I decide my favorite songs of the year so far. And these five tracks from Jung Dae Hyun, PLAVE, ONE OR EIGHT, Stray Kids, and Double 0ne are making a last minute case to be added to my list!
“Stay” by Jung Dae Hyun
Jung Dae Hyun releases his first single in a couple of years and it is a stunning and emotional track. “Stay” is a personal song Daehyun has written for his late father. It is a raw, emotional, and honest track where Daehyun pours his heart out. And its warm, bittersweet feelings are effortlessly conveyed through Daehyun’s performance. A beautiful tribute.
“Hide and Seek” by PLAVE
PLAVE make their Japanese debut with probably the perfect track in “Hide and Seek”. The rock-infused pop track is reminiscent of the best Japanese youth film and series soundtracks. The lyrics and melody are easily relatable and appealing with its nostalgic and youthful vibes. And it’s a great song to showcase the group’s versatility.
“365” by ONE OR EIGHT
I’ve really enjoyed ONE OR EIGHT’s music since finally checking them out a few months ago. And now a year after their debut, they embark on a new chapter after signing with Atlantic Music Group for North America. Their first single for Atlantic Music is the English-language “365”, a pop-dance love song that is also a special thanks for their fans who have supported them so far. It’s a great, catchy song. And very much follows in the footsteps of their excellent titles so far.
“Hollow” by Stray Kids
Something about Japanese releases! The title track of Stray Kids’ latest Japanese album, “Hollow” is great. This synth and electric guitar-powered pop dance track is a bit less intense than Stray Kids’ Korean title tracks and that makes it actually very refreshing. Definitely a song perfectly suited for a Japanese release and I like it a lot.
“On the Rocks with Kiss” by Double 0ne
Double 0ne is a project group featuring the members of BAE173 and Fantasy Boys. Their title track “On the Rocks with Kiss” is a great Latin-infused pop track. A great rhythm that allows the group to showcase a confident and charismatic performance. The other tracks on the album are very good as well. I particularly like “Toxic Lips” and “To You”. The latter has three versions, one from each of the original groups and one together.