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Billboard highlights BTS, Red Velvet among best K-pop of year
Wrapping up 2018, Billboard released two lists, one ranking the 20 best K-pop albums and the other for songs. BTS, Red Velvet and Shinee’s Jonghyun were especially recognized atop the lists.
Billboard picked BTS’ “Love Yourself: Answer” as the best K-pop album of the year.
BTS (Big Hit Entertainment) |
Following a thorough analysis of the album, Billboard praised it, saying “Though some may feel it’s a lot to ask of pop music to have substance as well as style, BTS’ ‘Love Yourself: Answer’ lacks in neither regard.”
Jonghyun’s posthumous “Poet/Artist” album followed on the best albums list in the No. 2 spot. The lead vocalist of SHINee died in December last year. Billboard described Jonghyun as a “beloved singer, songwriter and producer” with incredible talents.
“While it may be a tough listen for fans, the album is a beautiful, telling snapshot of the artist and poet Jonghyun was, and will continue to be for so many around the world,” it said.
Sunmi’s “Warming,” Heize’s “Wish & Wind” and EXO’s “Don’t Mess Up My Tempo” rounded out the top five albums.
Red Velvet’s “Bad Boy” topped the list as best K-pop song.
Red Velvet (S.M. Entertainment) |
It described the song as one of the year’s “most pristine production to date.”
Pentagon’s “Shine,” BTS’ “Fake Love” and IU’s “BBI BBI” followed on the list.
By Im Eun-byel (silverstar@heraldcorp.com)