Bright lights, catchy vocals, animated dance moves, incredible aesthetics, addicting music videos [1], and screaming fans. Anyone is capable of falling in love with the world of K-pop. In 2019, K-pop idols have dominated pop culture, breaking multiple records on YouTube and receiving an unprecedented number of awards across the world. The rise of bands like BTS [2] and Blackpink have introduced millions of fans to the incredible world of K-pop and brought this Korean music right into the mainstream. There's an infinite number of extraordinary K-pop idols in the industry, though, who astound us with their stunning visuals and breathtaking artistry. Here are 11 amazing K-pop bands who have captured our hearts, as well as a playlist with their best hits. Just remember to download the free Spotify app [3] to listen.
BTS
BTS's latest hit, "Boy in Luv," a collaboration with Halsey, will have you screaming "Oh, my, my, my" [4] at your computer screen. As they continue to dominate pop culture, they keep citing their fans — or Army — as their main inspiration and preach their message about always loving yourself.
Blackpink
Blackpink, which feature four multinational, badass women, have taken the world by storm since their debut in 2016. Their video "Kill This Love" has accumulated over 333 million views from their dedicated fans, the Blinks. In addition to becoming respected artists in the music community, their members have also become fashion icons, collaborating with luxury brands such as Chanel.
EXO
EXO have been consistently producing incredibly catchy songs since their debut in 2012. The nine members who are currently still active in the group are extremely talented dancers, singers, and actors. They've paved the way for K-pop representation in mainstream Western media, and Korean media channels have named them the "King of K-pop" for their contribution to the genre.
Twice
Twice, a K-pop group consisting of nine members, arose from the reality show Sixteen. These girls have explored themes from cute schoolgirls to stunning princesses to sexy models. Their songs, which have been released in Japanese and Korean, have topped international charts multiple times.
GOT7
GOT7 have captured the hearts of fans across the world for their heart-throbbing looks and diverse concepts. In the past, GOT7 have acted as angelic boys and tortured artists, but their music stays consistently amazing as they show off their distinctive rap style, trained dance moves, and honey-like vocals.
Red Velvet
Red Velvet's fun, unique concepts and stunning visuals have amassed them millions of fans across the world. They are widely considered one of the top five K-pop girl groups of all time because of their versatile musicality and diverse styles. These five women continue to gain followers and show off their quirkiness through their artistry.
NCT
NCT consists of four units — NCT U, NCT 127, NCT Dream, and Wayv — that come together to form the NCT fans know and love. Each group has different members and separate concepts, depending on the style of the artists. With 21 members total, NCT appeals to everybody. It certainly doesn't hurt that they're known for the synchronicity in their dances and their incredibly handsome visuals.
Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation, also known as SNSD, have been deemed "The Nation's Girl Group" in Korea for their incredibly popular songs. Their song styles, which range from bubblegum pop to EDM, earned them Billboard's title of the Best K-Pop Girl Group of the Past Decade [5] in 2017.
ITZY
ITZY shook the world with their debut in February. Their first song, "Dalla Dalla," has been praised for its unique style and distinct melody. It's only the beginning of their domination of the K-pop world, and we can't wait to see what they achieve in the future.
Big Bang
Big Bang is widely considered one of the top bands in K-pop. Their song "Bang Bang" exploded across the international community and exposed the genre of K-pop to millions of fans across the world. The four members of Big Bang take a very hands-on approach with music, producing their own songs and creating electrifying stage performances.
Seventeen
Seventeen, which consists of 13 members, is separated into three units — a hip-hop unit, vocal unit, and performance unit. The members pride themselves on being active in the songwriting process, and their dedication to artistry shows through their explosive songs.