MEAWW.COM / ENTERTAINMENT / K-POP NEWS

MelOn's 100 best K-pop songs sparks controversy over missing 4th generation idols

Many netizens also felt that judges for MelOn's 100 best K-pop songs were fans of SM as its artists made up one-fourth of the list with 27 songs

MelOn happens to be one of the biggest and popular music streaming platforms in South Korea. It also collects music release data like sales and streams and has several reputable charts like MelOn Top 100. Other than entering international music charts, K-pop artists and agencies consider it an achievement if their releases enter or top MelOn’s charts. And now MelOn has released a list of 100 best K-pop songs ever.

Last week, MelOn gathered 35 veterans in the K-pop industry and music critics. They each made their list of 100 best K-pop songs and then MelOn used their lists to create one final main list of top 100 K-pop songs. It was revealed that the 35 judges followed four criteria: the domestic and global influence of the song; domestic and global success and popularity of the song; the quality and creativity of the song; and the song’s music video along with choreography and stage performance.

READ MORE
'Gangnam Style' Psy picks 6 trainees for 1st ever K-pop boy band to debut under his music label

BTS x Megan Thee Stallion drop 'Butter' remix, ARMY and Hotties dub it 'biggest mood'

MelOn’s 100 best K-pop songs

The song at the top of the list was BoA’s ‘No. 1’. It was followed by EXO’s ‘Growl’, PSY’s ‘Gangnam Style’, BTS’ ‘Dynamite’ and Girls’ Generation’s ‘Gee’. The list had several popular first-gen and second-gen songs like S.E.S’ ‘I’m Your Girl’ and 2NE1’s ‘I’m The Best’. It also saw some leading third-gen and fourth-gen acts that are currently ruling the K-pop scene like Blackpink with ‘Ddu-du Ddu-du’ and (G)I-DLE with ‘Lion’.

After going through the whole list, fans of those acts that are mentioned had some mixed opinions. Many netizens felt that the judges were fans of SM as its artists made up one-fourth of the list with 27 songs. Others felt that while all the artists selected deserve to be on the list, the songs that were chosen were not really their best works and the judges could have picked better songs to represent these artists. As for those fans who stan relatively new K-pop groups of the fourth generation felt that these judges had not given them a chance and had played it safe by picking publicly loved songs by veteran artists. However, everyone unanimously agreed that BoA should be on the top as she was one of the leading pioneers of K-pop and the first 'gateway artist' to the West.

‘National anthem indeed’

Those who agreed with the list went on to hype their favorites, “Melon Top 100 kpop masterpieces in 2020 are dynamite fiesta and any song. Remember how these 3 songs competed with each other on music shows and even got award nominations? Proud.” An EXO-L added, “EXO’S GROWL BEING ON TOP FOR BOY GROUP SONGS ON MELON’S TOP 100 KPOP MASTERPIECES NATIONAL ANTHEM INDEED!!” An ARMY commented, “Bts has the most songs in melon top 100 kpop masterpieces, as expected hitmakers.”

“The no. 1 song on melon's top 100 kpop masterpieces is boa's no. 1 JDSKDJSDKJ QUEEN THINGS,” said a BoA fan. A Shawol posted, “I'm proud that #SHINee was included on the list and not just one song but four from the group and one from #TAEMIN. These boys have been consistent since debut and we know that they are always raising their own standard. Saranghae.”

'Questionable'

But some felt like the list did not do justice as a Blink pointed out, “Honestly that melon top 100 kpop masterpieces missed a lot of bp songs, they said just put the most famous one and that's it.” A fourth-gen fan asked, “I really don't agree to their taste. Where is TXT -crown/ run away, lTZY- wannabe, aespa - black mamba, Twice - Fancy/Cheer up, Seventeen - Don't wanna cry, stray kids- God's menu ????” A Starlight felt that the list mostly had acts from the big 3 K-pop companies, “VIXX ain't here!! Hence, the experts' expertise is questionable also CNBLUE & B1A4 are not here, the disrespect! 98% are from the BIG 3 so we get the bias.” One commented, “The more I look at the list, the weirder it becomes For me personally, Spring Day should be in place of Dynamite. EXO should have more than one song here. Shinee's Replay and RDD, as well as Zico's Any Song should be way higher. Anyway, congrats to these groups. Also happy to see Shinee (if we're counting Taemins solo) and BTS with five songs each.” 

“I'm kind of disappointed that this ended up being more of a popularity contest than real criticism of the music. For example, I wanted less emphasis on sales & impact (although those two are important) and more emphasis on originality & creativity. Almost everyone on this list has much better songs than the ones that were named. For example, Infinite has better songs than Be Mine, BTS has better songs than Dynamite, EXO has better songs than Growl, SNSD has better songs than Gee, 2NE1 has better songs than I AM THE BEST, BIGBANG has better songs than Fantastic Baby, BEG has better songs than Abracadabra, BoA has better songs than No. 1, BlackPink has better songs than DDU-DU DDU-DU, etc. I could go on & on. . Yet again, the impact of these songs are obviously important, but for a list deemed "Top 100 Best K-Pop Songs", I expected more authenticity on 'Best'. This is more of a list, in my opinion, on songs that have solidified themselves in K-Pop history,” said another user.