As K-Pop’s third generation of talented artists began to emerge in 2013 and 2014, many of the first- and second-generation stars still dominated the top of the music charts. Many songs are still enjoyed a decade later, proving their lasting impact on K-Pop.
Check out the top K-Pop songs from each month on the 2014 Gaon Monthly Digital Chart!
1. “Something”
Girl’s Day | Dream T Entertainment
Girls’ Day started 2014 with the top song of January, “Something.” With its unforgettable choreography and catchy melody, it became an instant hit with fans.
2. “Some”
Junggigo (left) and SISTAR’s Soyou (right)
SISTAR‘s Soyou and Junggigo released their smash hit “Some” on February 7, 2014, and it became the best-performing single of the year.
3. “Come Back Home”
2NE1 | YG Entertainment
2NE1 made their long-awaited comeback in 2014 with their second and final album, Crush. Their title track, “Come Back Home,” topped the charts in March 2014, and it was the last promotional cycle featuring the group’s four-member line-up before their disbandment in 2016.
4. “200%”
AKMU | YG Entertainment
AKMU (also known as Akdong Musician) released their hit song “200%” on April 7, 2014, and the fun song had over 791,216 downloads and 21,180,840 streams in April.
5. “The Lone Duckling”
g.o.d |
g.o.d debuted in 1999 and became a legendary and pioneering K-Pop act. Although the group went on an indefinite hiatus to pursue solo activities in 2005, they reunited in 2014, and their song, “The Lone Duckling,” topped the charts in May 2014.
6. “Eyes, Nose, Lips”
BIGBANG’s Taeyang | @__youngbae__/Instagram
BIGBANG Taeyang‘s love song for his now-wife, then-girlfriend, actress Min Hyo Rin, “Eyes, Nose, Lips,” became an instant hit and a karaoke classic, topping the charts when he released it on June 3, 2014.
7. “A Midsummer Night’s Sweetness”
San E (left) and Raina (right) | OSEN
Rapper San E released “A Midsummer Night’s Sweetness” with then-After School member Raina on June 12, 2014, and topped the charts with over 421,426 total downloads in July.
8. “Beautiful”
Park Bo Ram | @ramramram2/Instagram Zico | @woozico0914/Instagram
Former Superstar K contestant and current female soloist singer Park Boram released “Beautiful” featuring Zico on August 7, 2014, and it quickly topped the charts that same month.
9. “Can’t Go to Sinchon”
Postmen | Postmen X 포스트맨 /Facebook
Postmen, a singing duo consisting of Shin Jihoo and Kim Sungtae, released the emotional song “Can’t Go To Sinchon” in 2013, but it earned renewed interest after it was performed on Superstar K6 in September 2014. The song placed first on nine music charts.
10. “How I Am”
Kim Dong Ryul
Singer-songwriter Kim Dong Ryul has been active in the entertainment industry since 1993, and two decades after his debut, he again topped the charts with his October 2014 release, “How I Am.”
11. “Miss Me Or Diss Me”
MC Mong
MC Mong made his first comeback following his military drafting controversy on November 3, 2014, with “Miss Me Or Diss Me” featuring Mad Soul Child‘s Jinsil. Though the comeback was divisive among netizens due to the military drafting controversy, it still topped the charts in November 2014.
12. “Luv”
APink | SBS
Finally, second-gen group APink released their hit song “Luv” on November 24th, 2014, and the fun song was the last one to top the charts for 2014.
