“Painkiller” is the big power ballad that every other k-pop group has tried to do and failed at, and although it’s a tad too overblown vocally at the end with horrible overdubbed vocal wank, the tough but subdued instrumentation makes it work despite itself. Okay, so it’s unfortunately not Judas Priest, but Spica will probably never get another song of this quality ever again, let alone one approaching the awesomeness of the even-better “ Russian Roulette“. Here they are doing the “slinky grooves and slinky dresses” concept better than most groups before or since. It didn’t last long of course, but it was good times while it lasted. Sistar – Aloneįor a brief period in their career Sistar were not shit and actually had some good songs. I guess I should learn from my mistakes but all I learned was that I’m a dumbass and I knew that already. So that’s two fuckups that I made just because this song was awesome enough to blind me from rationality. I also went and bought The Seeya’s mini-album on the strength of this song, unfortunately to discover that everything else on there is utter shit. I liked this song so much that I originally had it in the 2013 favourites list until someone pointed out that it was actually from the year prior. However much I laugh though I can’t deny that this song has outstandingly catchy verses and choruses, and probably would have gotten into the real deal 2012 favourites list if it didn’t also possess one of the most awkward and unfortunate dubstep breakdowns in k-pop’s history. Seeing the most effeminate guys in the world ever act tough and bully each other is great entertainment, especially the blonde guy who looks like a male Boram. Also I foresaw the video’s plot twist about 30 seconds in, because I’m a gigantic. K.will – Please Don’tĭefinitely the only song in K.will’s catalogue worth bothering with, this song benefits greatly from some nice melodies and clever chord progressions with walking bass that really pushes the song forward and makes it not the boring mid-tempo ballad it could have been. Oh well, couldn’t be fucked changing it now. Gangkiz – MamaĪlthough “Honey Honey” got on my 2012 favourites list in retrospect I think this song is maybe a little better and should have gotten on there instead, just because of the dramatic Ennio Morricone-isms, gorgeous tremolo guitar and the fact that it doesn’t sound like a rejigged Lovey Dovey. This song also takes me back to the days when Hyuna looked like she was made out of flesh and bone instead of plasticine and rubber. Improves as it goes – the hideous start is saved by one of the best choruses in 4minute’s discography. EXID – I Feel GoodĮXID still haven’t topped this great song at the time of writing, but then they probably don’t really need to bother now that Hani shaking her ass on fancams is filling their pockets. That’s because people suck and should be destroyed. I played this at a DJ club night straight after “ Roly Poly” and it completely emptied the dance floor. Worthy of inclusion on the list for this reason alone, but if you really can’t stand that fucking shit you could always listen to the original which doesn’t suffer much from the dubstep’s absence. This is the extended dubstep version where the dubstep break actually does something amazing – it sits really well with the rest of the song and doesn’t feel out of place at all. The little details in the mix where the backings have been synchronised to complement the raps are very welcome and keep it interesting. Block B – NalinaĮasily Block B’s finest moment, this is just big dumb rap-rocking fun, which is all k-pop boy groups really need to aspire to in order to make me happy. Okay, the last 30 seconds or so is utter garbage, but I’ve usually turned it off by then so I can let it slide. BigBang – Fantastic BabyĪlthough back in 2012 this song got wearying from overexposure, this is actually pretty good in retrospect, certainly better than the shit they’re doing now. Plus I don’t know why having all the members with bleached blonde hair is funny but it just is. B.A.P – Warriorī.A.P were complete nugus when this video hit and made instant waves with a tough backing track by k-pop standards and also by being k-pop’s first accidental DMX concept group. Enjoy (or not)!īefore she was kidnapped by Johnny Noh and blackmailed with nude photos to sing 57 different variations of “Crazy In Love” while he jerked off in his computer chair, Ailee had some decent songs. These are listed in alphabetical order, and are feature tracks only. These were songs that I thought were either very good or very bad, but not good or bad enough to make it onto my official best or worst lists for 2012. In my continuing quest to document songs that did and did not suck from previous years in k-pop, please enjoy this list of honourable and dishonourable mentions for 2012!