On the finish of every month, I look again at my three favourite title tracks by Ok-pop artists. I take my very own scores into consideration, however there’s a little bit of wiggle room as sure songs are likely to develop or fade.
June 2025 Total Ideas
We’re now on the midpoint of 2025, which suggests I’ll be publishing my mid-year countdowns this week and may have extra to say concerning the yr general. For June particularly, the month kicked off in a really underwhelming style however grew a lot stronger because it went on.
Refreshingly, this was the primary month in a very long time the place woman teams launched a few of my favourite songs. I actually loved songs by fromis_9, Hearts2Hearts, H1-KEY, ILLIT, ITZY and Primrose. That’s extra woman group tracks than I’ve loved all yr, all condensed into the area of 1 month! I like how these songs every sound totally different from each other. A sure subdued power has plagued so many latest releases and it’s good to lastly hear extra various genres. We even had a brief string of summer-themed tracks through the second half of June. You understand how a lot I like summer time music!
With that stated, June 2025 nonetheless pales compared to June 2024, which single-handedly delivered 4 of my prime ten songs of 2024… together with primary! That undoubtedly wasn’t the case this yr. As a substitute, these previous few weeks resulted in lots of songs rated within the 8.5 – 8.75 vary, making my prime three fairly aggressive. It’s nice to have a wholesome assortment of 8’s they usually are likely to get a number of play from me, nevertheless it’s the 9+ rated tracks that really get me excited. We simply haven’t had a lot of these this yr and most have been lacking the “+” — simply barely edging into that prime tier score quite than surging as much as legendary standing. Sigh. I actually desire a music to completely knock my socks off… and never simply because it jogs my memory of one thing else I’ve loved up to now.
I actually struggled choosing my prime music of this month. The highest two are basically a tie. I’ve switched their locations forwards and backwards time and again and my favourite adjustments a number of occasions a day. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see which finally ranks greater on the year-end chart, as that is typically a extra correct reflection of a music’s longevity. For now, I’m simply pleased to have each in my library (together with my improbable third place alternative!).
J-pop was nice this month. It’s been “nice” all yr, which has prompted me to disconnect from the business in a method I haven’t in a very long time. Only a few songs have caught out to me in any significant method, even from artists I usually love. I’m not fairly certain what’s happening, however I’ve hardly ever been this apathetic about J-pop’s standing earlier than. In the meantime, international pop was on fireplace… a lot in order that I needed to publish three separate round-ups to incorporate all of the highlights.
Wanting ahead, this July already appears extra stuffed than final yr’s. I suppose we are able to thank the absence of the Olympics, which prompted a particular slowdown of releases on the midpoint of 2024. I’m pleased to see so many full albums scheduled (Twice, TXT, Tremendous Junior, D.O, VIVIZ, NCT Dream, Chanhyuk, EPEX) and there are a number of debuts (AHOF, 1VERSE) and first comebacks (Shut Your Eyes, ifeye) I’ve obtained my eye on. Then there’s that mysterious little bit of funk guitar ATEEZ teased on the finish of their Lemon Drop music video and The Boyz’ observe as much as their finest ever single. Between all these scheduled releases and those which have but to be introduced, there must be not less than a number of standouts, proper? Hope springs everlasting.
Month Cumulative Ranking: 7.7
(compiled by averaging the scores of each Ok-pop evaluation from this month)
J-Pop Highlights
New & Noteworthy J-pop: Week One
New & Noteworthy J-pop: Week Two
New & Noteworthy J-pop: Week Three
New & Noteworthy J-pop: Week 4
TOP J-POP SONGS OF THE MONTH
3. TWS – Hajimemashite (Good To See You Once more) (evaluation)
2. Fujii Kaze – Hachiko (evaluation)
![Fujii Kaze - Hachikō [Official video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OodEsjZ88TQ/hqdefault.jpg)
1. Ado x Jax Jones – Keep Gold
Honorable Mentions
ALLDAY PROJECT – Well-known (evaluation)
ATEEZ – Lemon Drop (evaluation)
Catch The Younger – Splendid Sort (evaluation)
H1-KEY – Summer season Was You (evaluation)
ILLIT – Do The Dance (evaluation)
ITZY – Women Will Be Women (evaluation)
J-Hope – Killin’ It Lady (ft. GloRilla) (evaluation)
JAESSBEE – My Summer season Handbook (evaluation)
NouerA – N (Quantity Of Circumstances) (evaluation)
NOWZ – Fly To The Youth (ft. Yuqi) (evaluation)
n.SSign – Itty Bitty (evaluation)
ONEUS – X (evaluation)
OX:N – You (evaluation)
Primrose – Cinema (evaluation)
QWER – Expensive (evaluation)
XLOV – 1&Solely (evaluation)
This Month’s Risers and Fallers
This Week In Ok-pop: Week 1 / Week 2 / Week 3 / Week 4
This Month’s International Pop Spherical-Up: Pt.1 / Pt.2 / Pt.3
TOP THREE SONGS
3. CRAVITY – SET NET G0?! (evaluation)
2. Hearts2Hearts – Type (evaluation)
1. fromis_9 – Like You Higher (evaluation)
High Three Ok-Pop Songs Of Might 2025
High Three Ok-Pop Songs Of April 2025
High Three Ok-Pop Songs Of March 2025
High Three Ok-Pop Songs Of February 2025
High Three Ok-Pop Songs Of January 2025
High Three Ok-Pop Songs Of December 2024
2010-2024 Archive Right here