On the finish of every month, I look again at my three favourite title tracks by Okay-pop artists. I take my very own rankings into consideration, however there’s a little bit of wiggle room as sure songs are inclined to develop or fade.
October 2025 Total Ideas
October began gradual as Chuseok celebrations prompted every week or so of inactivity, however the month picked up steam after that. In actual fact, I believe I set a weblog report on the twenty third with 9 (!) separate evaluations in sooner or later. Thursdays (or Fridays relying in your time zone) have turn into one of many business’s busiest launch home windows as big-name comebacks align with the discharge schedule of Western pop tasks.
Regardless of a packed second half of October, the month didn’t fairly ship the best way I had hoped. As with a lot of 2025, there have been many strong/sturdy songs however only a few knockouts. Some comebacks I had been wanting ahead to underwhelmed and there weren’t many surprises to make up for that.
Due to this, my prime choose of the month completely cakewalked to primary. There actually wasn’t any competitors for me and I’m glad to see the track begin to acquire virality/recognition in Korea. It’s been rattling round my head for 3 weeks now and solely will get higher the extra I hear it. The opposite two spots in my prime three are crammed by very completely different artists — one but to formally debut and one other who has made an enormous breakthrough of their fourth yr. Shut runner ups would in all probability be &TEAM and Xdinary Heroes.
J-pop was fairly barren this month, at the very least when it got here to unbelievable singles. Due to this, two of my prime three slots went to a single Okay-pop artist who launched Japanese materials. I don’t know what’s happening with J-pop this yr but it surely’s gone from being one among my favourite music markets to an actual slog. Every part simply feels recycled and predictable.
We’ve bought another month earlier than eligibility for my year-end countdown closes. November has some slack to cowl and the discharge slate appears packed to this point. I’ve began excited about this yr’s prime ten in a nebulous approach, but it surely’ll be fascinating to see what occurs after I lastly sit down and give it some thought significantly in a number of weeks. One factor’s for certain: 2025 has been a yr of contrasts. In some methods, I’m extra engaged in Okay-pop than ever earlier than. In others, Okay-pop itself (ie: the music) has been largely disappointing.
Month Cumulative Score: 7.7
(compiled by averaging the scores of each Okay-pop evaluate 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. NAQT VANE – Visions
2. TXT – The place Do You Go? (evaluate)
1. TXT – Can’t Cease (evaluate)
Honorable Mentions
BABYMONSTER – We Go Up (evaluate)
Shut Your Eyes – SOB (with Imanbek) (evaluate)
Hearts2Hearts – Focus (evaluate)
HITGS – Comfortable (evaluate)
Joochan – Rise & Shine (evaluate)
Kim Lip – Can You Entertain? (evaluate)
Kino – Soiled Boy (ft. Jamie & Uwa) (evaluate)
LE SSERAFIM – Spaghetti (ft. J-Hope) (evaluate)
MEOVV – Burning Up (evaluate)
MiSO – Highlight (evaluate)
NEXZ – Beat-Boxer (evaluate)
NMIXX – Spinnin’ On It (evaluate)
Wonho – If You Wanna (evaluate)
Xdinary Heroes – ICU / Misplaced And Discovered (evaluate / evaluate)
&TEAM – Again To Life (evaluate)
This Month’s Risers and Fallers
This Week In Okay-pop: Week 1 / Week 2 / Week 3 / Week 4
This Month’s International Pop Spherical-Up
TOP THREE SONGS
3. NMIXX – Blue Valentine (evaluate)
2. AM8IC – Buzzin (evaluate)
1. TWS – Overdrive (evaluate)
Prime Three Okay-Pop Songs Of September 2025
Prime Three Okay-Pop Songs Of August 2025
Prime Three Okay-Pop Songs Of July 2025
Prime Three Okay-Pop Songs Of June 2025
Prime Three Okay-Pop Songs Of Could 2025
Prime Three Okay-Pop Songs Of April 2025
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