In many respects, 2021 has been a watershed moment for B-side music in the K-pop industry. Despite being underestimated in comparison to lead singles, the great majority of them went viral this year, and in some cases even outperformed the album’s title tracks in terms of popularity and chart placements.

Here’s our list of 5 K-pop B-sides that became viral after their release, in no particular sequence.


1.”Fever” is a word that may be used to describe (ENHYPEN)

Fever is a passionate R&B song that follows the septet’s title tune “Drunk-Dazed” from their EP Border: Carnival. It’s a daring and unusual decision for a rookie group in the business. The song has a push-pull lyrical structure and speaks of a forbidden, tragic connection.

2.“Shoot!” (ITZY)

“Shoot!” is a Latin trap song with an infectious, groovy instrumental that was released as a B-side to ITZY’s recent chart-topping ‘GUESS WHO?’ album. The lyrics present the adolescent pop trio in a more confident, feminine, and love-struck light.

3.“Permission To Dance” (BTS)

This upbeat track was included on the CD edition of BTS’ previous summer hit “Butter” and is the group’s third all-English single. The vocal dance-pop melody offers listeners a hopeful look at a post-pandemic society that is immensely thrilling. The lighthearted music video contains footage of BTS dancing in various situations while including substantial sign-language choreography, as well as actors of all ethnicities, gender, and age groups to convey the track’s fundamental ideals of togetherness and inclusion.

4.Weeekly: “Top Secret”

“Top Secret” by Weeekly is one of the most straightforward pop songs on the list, but boy is it catchy. Seoul’s sparkling vibrato and Monday’s quiet tone are the headliners here, but all seven members of the newly formed female group have soothing vocals.

5.ATEEZ: “Horizon”

In January, ATEEZ released their fifth EP Treasure Epilogue: Action to Answer, which included the single “Answer” as well as “Horizon,” one of the 2020s most experimental K-pop compositions. The latter has a distinctive form, consisting mostly of a combination of refrains, pre-, and post-choruses, and is filled with the type of broad passion and focused intensity that characterizes Ateez’s early career.

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