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(continued) The Best K-Pop Girl Groups of 2021

#41 through #80


⬅️ Return to Reading #1 through #40 ⬅️
 

CL

Lee Chae-rin continues to deliver exciting, hard-hitting K-pop in a post-2NE1 world. With her most ambitious year to date, CL dropped ALPHA and with it a plethora of music videos showcasing why she's still one of K-pop's most exciting idols.


Essential Songs

SPICY

Lover Like Me


 

Red Velvet

As a group, the renowned Red Velvet only issued one release in 2021, but QUEENDOM further established the royal status of Irene, Wendy, Seulgi, Joy, and Yeri among the K-pop community.


Essential Songs

Queendom

Pose


 

MAMAMOO

While Solar, Moonbyul, Wheein, and Hwasa were all individually busy promoting solo careers this year, MAMAMOO still found time to release more than a handful of high-caliber brand new songs together as group in 2021. The quartet also reworked, remade, remixed, and reissued a collection of their very best songs in a massive package appropriately titled I SAY MAMAMOO : THE BEST.


Essential Songs

mumumumuch

Strange Day


 

LUNARSOLAR

Eseo, Jian, Taeryeong, and Yuuri had remained relatively quiet since their 2020 debut, but LUNARSOLAR did finally release their first mini-album this year, packing three exciting songs into SOLAR : rise.


Essential Songs

DADADA

BOM BI DI BOM


 

Bling Bling

No longer rookies, Cha Juhyun, Ayamy, Choi Jieun, Marin, Narin, and Yubin hit harder than ever on their first comeback, CONTRAST.


Essential Songs

Oh MAMA

Milkshake


 

BerryGood

Despite promoting as BerryGood for more than a half of a decade, the group received little to no mainstream recognition and issued a final mini-album in 2021. As a farewell release, it's bittersweet to hear such great songs on UNDYING LOVE knowing there's nothing else coming from the under-appreciated group.


Essential Songs

Time for me

Accio


 

BIBI

Kim Hyung-seo issued a solid min-album in 2021, but it was her collaborations and one-off releases that truly defined BIBI as one of the year's best K-pop artists.


Essential Songs

The Weekend

PADO


 

AleXa

AleXa continues to deliver her unique brand of solo K-pop in 2021 with a few collaborations and the exciting single album, ReviveR.


Essential Songs

Xtra

Is It On


 

BEAUTY BOX

Gahyun, Rina, Anh, Sori, Sara, and Jerin introduced the world to BEAUTY BOX in 2021 with the playful single album Beyond of BB.


Essential Songs

RAT A TAT

Take My Heart?!


 

fromis_9

Roh Ji-sun, Song Ha-young, Lee Sae-rom, Lee Chae-young, Lee Na-gyung, Park Ji-won, Lee Seo-yeon, Baek Ji-heon, and Jang Gyu-ri continued to impress in 2021 with 9 WAY TICKET, a tidy collection of three well-executed tracks that feel right at home alongside the very good fromis_9 discography.


Essential Songs

WE GO

Airplane Mode


 

ICHILLIN'

E.Ji, Jackie, Joonie, Chaerin, Sohee, Yeju, and Chowon debuted as ICHILLIN' this year and wasted little time dropping two super-catchy singles.


Essential Songs

GOT'YA

FRESH


 

LIGHTSUM

Sangah, Chowon, Nayoung, Hina, Juhyeon, Yujeong, Huiyeon, and Jian debuted in summer 2021 with the catchy "Vanilla" single, quickly following up with the even-better Light a Wish.


Essential Songs

VIVACE

Vanilla


 

MAJORS

Ida, Vita, Aki, Bian, Suzy, and Shinye marked a successful rookie year by releasing seven tightly-produced, well-executed songs as MAJORS.


Essential Songs

Rain on me

Spit it out


 

LABOUM

Veterans LABOUM returned in late 2021 as a quartet to deliver their latest mini-album, BLOSSOM. Soyeon, Jinyea, Haein, and Solbin quickly followed up with the powerful, infectious winter single, "White Love", a must-have for any Christmas playlist.


Essential Songs

White Love

Kiss Kiss


 

SKYLE

Fly Up High marks a fantastic debut from SKYLE with top-notch production laying the foundation for great performances from Ginny, Chaehyeon, Erin, and Ujeong.


Essential Songs

FLY UP HIGH

DA DA DA


 

MAKA` MAKA

Hee Su, Di A, Chae Won, Da Seul, and Eun B returned this year with an unlikely title track: "Hey U", a remake of a song written and recorded in the 1990s! Needless to say, a good song is timeless, and MAKA`MAKA bring the Chakra cut to life in 2021 with tight production and bubbly pep.


Essential Songs

Hey U

Polaroid


 

SECRET NUMBER

After a year of being dormant, SECRET NUMBER returned with Fire Saturday featuring Jinny, Denise, Soodam, Dita, Léa, Zuu, and Minji. Though the lineup has changed, the group's charisma and penchant for hooks remains the same and fun as ever!


Essential Songs

Fire Saturday

Dangerous In Love


 

SATURDAY

Juyeon, Haneul, Ayeon, Yuki, and Minseo continue the SATURDAY brand of light, cute K-pop in 2021 with their latest comeback, Only You.


Essential Songs

Only You

In Your Eyes


 

REDMINT

Perhaps the most unknown group on this list, REDMINT hasn't let their complete lack of recognition stop them from releasing a handful of thirsty K-pop songs in 2021. HyeE and Luney are fierce performers with sharp tongues; it will be interesting to see what the duo does next.


Essential Songs

M.I.N.T. (Money is Never a Thing)

Drip


 

PoshGirls

Although PoshGirls debuted just this summer, the group has already undergone various lineup changes leaving their future potentially uncertain. Still, S.O.G:Songs Of Goddess is a great first single and leaves us hoping for comeback in 2022.


Essential Songs

Got Chu

Fly With You


 

T-ARA

As a celebration of their twelfth anniversary, T-ARA returned with Re:T-ARA featuring Qri, Eunjung, Hyomin, and Jiyeon. Far from a lifeless nostalgic trip, "ALL KILL" finds T-ARA as fierce as ever.


Essential Songs

ALL KILL

TIKI TAKA


 

YUQI

Song Yuqi made her solo debut this year with A Page, two English-language songs that showcase the (G)I-DLE singer's wide range of talents.


Essential Songs

Bonnie & Clyde

Giant


 

Jessi

American-born rapper Jessica Ho added two more hard-hitting tracks to her growing discography this year, continuing to pave her own unconventional way through the K-pop world in 2021.


Essential Songs

Cold Blooded

What Type of X

 

HEIZE

The ever-prolific songwriter and performer Jang Da-hye spent much of 2021 on singles and collaborations, but she also found time to focus on yet another mini-album, HAPPEN; its emotional title track finds HEIZE at the top of her storytelling game.


Essential Songs

HAPPEN

Like the first time


 

Hwa Sa

While Ahn Hye-jin remains busy with MAMAMOO, the group's maknae still found time in 2021 to push her ever-growing solo career forward with several great tracks of her own this year.


Essential Songs

I'm a B

FOMO


 

Moon Byul

Moon Byul-yi continues to grow her solo brand in 2021, recording a handful of great tracks on top of her full-time contributions to MAMAMOO.


Essential Songs

G999

Shutdown


 

JOY

For her long-awaited debut mini-album, Red Velvet's Park Soo-young remade six songs released in the last few decades and offered remarkable reinterpretations in the process.


Essential Songs

Hello

J'Taime


 

KWON EUN BI

IZ*ONE leader Kwon Eun-bi debuted as a solo artist this summer with Open, a mix of pounding, rhythmic dance numbers and introspective ballads.


Essential Songs

Door

Amigo


 

Lexie Liu

Chinese singer, songwriter, composer, rapper, multi-talent Liu Yuyu explores the impact of modern technology on GONE GOLD, one of the year's most interesting mini-albums.


Essential Songs

ALGTR

SHADOW


 

Whee In

Jung Whee-in released a great six-song mini-album, Redd, in 2021 as well as a handful of other solid solo tracks while also keeping quite busy with her full-time MAMAMOO responsibilities.


Essential Songs

water color

TRASH


 

JO YURI

Former IZ*ONE singer Jo Yu-ri debuted with GLASSY, a single album showcasing her silky vocals. Equally impressive was her OST contribution, "STORY OF US".


Essential Songs

GLASSY

STORY OF US


 

KIMSEJEONG

The former I.O.I and Gugudan singer Kim Se-jeong continues to push her solo career forward in 2021 with I'm, an exciting collection of excellently-produced songs.


Essential Songs

Warning

Teddy bear


 

KangHyeWon

Former IZ*ONE singer Kang Hye-won invites you to cozy up next to her on W, a wam winter record made for sitting next to a fireplace and watching the snow lightly fall.


Essential Songs

Winter Poem

Snowy Day


 

WENDY

Shon Seung-wan made her long-awaited solo debut this year with Like Water, a collection of songs that showase the Red Velvet singer's incredible vocal prowess,


Essential Songs

Airport Goodbyes

Like Water


 

Solar

MAMAMOO leader Kim Yong-sun continued to push her own solo career forward with a handful of great songs in 2021.


Essential Songs

Promise U

Adrenaline

 

Mirani

Kim Yoon-jin comes alive in front of the microphone as Mirani, a fierce rapper and all-around standout performer who worked with a plethora of guests in 2021 to release a handful of exciting songs anchored around the UPTOWN GIRL mini-album.


Essential Songs

Tikita

UPTOWN GIRL


 

Hoody

Kim Hyun-jung offers moody, rhythmic vibes on her 2021 mini-album D-DAY.


Essential Songs

Lights

When the Rain Stops

 

3YE

Yuji, Yurim, and Haeun return with another dose of their hard-hitting blend of K-pop in the form STALKER.


Essential Songs

STALKER

Intro (The Next Chapter.)

 

Lim Nayoung

The former I.O.I and Pristin singer spent 2021 lending her beautiful voice to several soundtracks.


Essential Songs

Not just friends

So So


 

ARIAZ

Yunji, Dawon, Sihyeon, Yeori, Hyogyeong, and Jueun didn't do much in 2021, but they did manage to sneak out two very good Jewelry remakes with little budget or fanfare.


Essential Songs

Hot & Cold (2021)

I LIKE U



⬅️ Return to Reading #1 through #40 ⬅️


 

Did you miss the Spotify and YouTube playlists?


Spotify Playlist of Best K-Pop Songs of 2021

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/22rPpsLtkraXBiRnDHVWoA


YouTube Playlist of Best K-Pop Music Videos of 2021

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrgT746Ww5PvrYTyxSKzazUUdD-qA198W

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