Today's song is another new song to appear on my countdown. This song for me sounds Christmassy while still sounding like a song you could listen to all year round.
For me 2022 was a busy year of K-pop comebacks, every month was full with new releases, as well as debuts which, I've decided will have it's very own post. There were a few sad disbandments in 2022, with TRCNG finally announcing their disbandment, along with CLC and NU'EST, but I'm glad that members of TRCNG are re-debuting.
Today I want to share with you my favourite 15 albums of 2022, this took me a while to finalise as I had so many albums that were contenders, some albums were easy and I knew they would place within my top 15, but some took some deciding.
I would like you to please remember that this list is my own personal opinion and I know it won't reflect everyone else's, so please no hate and respect my decisions and opinion.
NO.15
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Coming in at No.15 we have ENHYPEN and their 3rd mini album Manifesto: Day 1.
For me this was definitely my favourite album of theirs in 2022, it really shows how they continue to grow and improve since competing on I-LAND
Coming in at No.14 we have AESPA with their 2nd mini album GIRLS.
I've been a fan of all their title tracks and I definitely prefer their 2nd mini album against their 1st, for me this mini album is full of amazing tracks and concluding it with their previous digital tracks was the icing on the cake for me.
Coming in at No.13 we have MIRAE and their 3rd mini album MARVELOUS, last year MIRAE appeared as one of my honourable mentions, this time they get to appear in my final line up. All their albums are really good and they've definitely been part of my favourite rookies. This album though was my favourite of theirs this year.
Coming in at No.12 we have Astro's Moonbin and Sanha with their 2nd mini album Refuge.
This album had to be included in my top 15 list as I couldn't stop listening to it, the title track WHO even appeared as my 5th most listened to track on my Spotify wrapped. Each track is catchy and memorable and definitely my favourite release of theirs so far.
Coming in at No.11 we have WEi with their 5th mini album Love Pt.2: Passion.
There's something for me with WEi doing dark and grungy style title tracks, Spray is definitely one of my favourite title tracks of theirs and of their 2 mini albums released in 2022, this one is definitely my favourite, I was hooked from the start of each track.
Coming in at No.10 we have Golden Child with their 6th mini album Aura.
Golden Child have never appeared in yearly album charts, and this time it's all thanks to seeing them live at MIK in London. I knew they were gearing up for a comeback when I went to see them live, so decided to check it out and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this album, I'll definitely be following them more from now on.
Coming in at No.9 we have Kim Yohan with his 1st solo mini album Illusion.
I absolutely love this album, and had it on repeat quite a few times, each track is amazing, it's one of those albums that when it finishes, you restart it.
Coming in at No.8 we have Chungha with her 2nd full album Bare & Rare Part 1.
I've known of Chungha since her solo debut, and I only really listened to her title tracks but because I was going to be seeing her live at the MIK Festival in London, I checked out this album as it was released just before and I loved it. Each track is amazing, I was obsessed with Sparkling and seeing it live put it on a whole new level. Whenever I hear Sparkling and California Dream, I get goosebumps and it takes me right back to MIK.
So far Minisode 2: Thursday's Child is one of my favourite TXT albums, for me it's right up there with The Dream Chapter: ETERNITY. For me TXT are one of the most versatile K-pop groups out there, for me there's nothing they can't do.
Coming in at Noo.6 with have TVXQ's Max Changmin with his 2nd mini album Devil.
I decided on a whim to watch Changmin's Devil M/V and I was hooked, so I took the plunge and listened to the album and for me it's a musical masterpiece. It's something I'd not heard before as a K-pop fan. From the first listen, I knew this album would be making and appearance in my top 15.
Coming in at No.5 we have Stray Kids with their 7th mini album MAXIDENT.
One of these days, Stray Kids will rank higher than No.5, and one think is for sure, is that Stray Kids are always consistent, they never fail to bring something new and push the boundaries of what is deemed acceptable in K-pop. This is why they're one of my favourite groups to watch and listen to.
This album from start to finish is aesthetically pleasing and is my favourite album from KINGDOM, they still remain to be one of my favourite rookie groups, and while I was gutted by Chiwoo's departure, I can't wait to see how much Hwon grows within the group.
Coming in at No.3 we have BTS with their anthology album PROOF.
I fought with myself on whether to include this album as part of top 15 because it's not necessarily a whole new album, but the choices of songs included as well as the Cd only of demo tracks meant I couldn't keep it out of my countdown. Each track takes you back in time and allows you to see their growth as a group.
Coming in at No.2 and just missing out on the top spot we have PENTAGON with their 12th mini album In:vite U.
This album is definitely one of my favourite albums released in 2022. and if you saw my top 15 for 2021, you'll know it's a big jump up my chart from that year. The more I listen to PENTAGON the more I fall in love with their music and they're amazing live too. I'm so glad my friend Mary kept pushing me to pay attention to them.
Coming in at No.1 we have Girls' Generation and their 7th full length album Forever 1.
I may be being bias with this one but for me this album was worth the 5 year wait and was the perfect way to celebrate their 15th anniversary, that being said 2023 is my very own 10 year anniversary for listening to both Girls' Generation and K-pop.
This album is just stunning and harbours all things Girls' Generation, showing that you can release new music while still keeping that original sound.
I hope we don't have to wait another 5 years to see them get back together again.
So there it is My Top 15 K-pop Albums of 2022, as always I'm super excited to see what music 2023 will bring.
I hope in 2023 we finally get to see APR Project officially debut and I hope we get to see more of the TRCNG members join them.
My January is already full of comebacks with VIXX releasing a new song, Moonbin & Sanha releasing a new mini album, as well as MONSTA X, NCT 127 and Tomorrow X together all having comebacks.
I also hope I get to go to more K-pop concerts this year with Mary, I just know I'm in for another K-pop filled year, especially with SuperM making a return as well as EXO coming back too.
Daehyun, Yongha and Yohan co-wrote on the lyrics for Ocean and title track Bye Bye Bye.
Daehyeon and Seokhwa co-wrote on the lyrics for RUi (16번째 별).
IDENTITY: Action peaked at No.3 on the Gaon Albums Chart and No.20 on the Oricon Albums Chart.
Gaon Sales = 89,890+
Oricon Sales = 3,027=
Giving the album a total of 92,917+ in physical sales.
*YouTube views correct at time of writing post*
The M/V for Bye Bye Bye has so far gained 17,894,390 million views, with the views still continuing to increase.
IDENTITY: Action was released in 3 versions: Wave, Roller and Ocean.
All 3 versions are set out in a card slipcase and comes with the Cd, random member cover photo book, random passport, random ticket photo card, random polaroid and 2 random message photo cards.
All 3 versions have a different album cover as well as different photo books.
Track List:
Bye Bye Bye
White Light
Waitin'
Ocean
RUi (16번째 별)
I love the continuation of the layout for these album, the IDENTITY series all have the same thing with a slipcase and a random member cover for the photo book, it makes me intrigued to see if their next albums will be the same or if they'll change it up.
I have the Roller Version of the album and this was the first time I struggled to pick which version I really wanted as all the teasers were amazing, making it difficult to decide, but I'm glad I got this version as my copies of First Sight and Challenge both have a darker colour concept. The photo book for this version is stunning, I think the black backdrops allows them to really stand out and it really makes the eyes really focus on them, especially Donghan, Daehyeon and Seokhwa as it really makes their hair colour pop.
The album itself is amazing, there is a good mixture of songs, each having their own sound and story, and each sounding different from the previous track, allowing the group to show another new side to them, and allowing to showcase their talents.
I have to say that Bye Bye Bye is my favourite WEi title track, I love the melody and I can't help but find the chorus really catchy. No matter what I'm doing, whenever this track plays, it pulls me in and I sing along. I love that each of their title tracks have been different for me it shows how versatile they are. Each member really gets their moment to shine and stand out, not one member stands out above the rest.
Songs like White Light really show that all the members of WEi are all-rounders, I especially love the difference in Yongha and Yohan's voices when they sing and rap, when they sing they have such a sweetness, but when they rap there is a deepness too. But for me no matter how many times I listen to this song, their vocals, especially in the chorus, just makes me feel like I'm hearing them again for the first time.
As soon as Waitin' starts you know it's going to be catchy, I love the melody, this is one of those tracks that gets you wanting to dance from the start. Sometimes with songs like these, I think it's hard for the vocals to overpower the melody, but not for WEi. I personally think these types of tracks are their speciality, especially Donghan and Yohan.
I love the upbeat melody for Ocean, it's another one of those tracks where each member stands out perfectly, and we get to hear the versatility of each of them members.
I think RUi (16번째 별) is such a stunning song to conclude the album with, I love when groups and singers do a song with their fans in mind, personally for me, even though I will never come face to face with them, never be able to personally say congratulations, or you're doing well, when they're struggling, this song makes me feel like they know how much I adore and support them and I'm sure it's the same for other RUi's. I could listen to this song on repeat as for me it's just perfection, it's just breathtaking and you can really hear the sincerity in their voices.
WEi are one of those groups that no matter what they do, they always stop me in my tracks and get my full attention. There have been times when I'm busying doing something and I just find myself completely still listening and taking it all in.
They're about to have another comeback and I can't wait to see what they bring us this time.
Were you a fan of IDENTITY: Action?
Do you have a physical copy?
Which version(s) did you choose?
What were your thoughts on Bye Bye Bye as the title track?
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