Hello and welcome to the fifth edition of “The Best of the Best”: a countdown of the best in Girls’ Generation music, CFs, and related media. While this time I went over the Top 5 Non-title tracks, you guys can tell me what you want to see next by voting in the poll at the end of the article. More votes are always better, so please tell me what you want! As for this edition, read through my explanation for each choice then leave your own opinions of the best non-title tracks in the comments section! I’ll leave a link to the respective song at the start of each explanation. Let’s start shall we?
5. Etude
Following the smash hit Genie on their second mini album, “Etude” certainly brings something both different and similar to the table. Reminding us of the cuter songs that the girls were known for in the past, it mixes a happy atmosphere with an upbeat tone and catchy rhythm. While I liked it a lot when the second mini album was first released, Etude has really blended in with some of the girls’ other songs as the years have passed, not really showing its staying power. Its nostalgic value certainly makes it stand out on a mini-album which had a little bit of everything, but doesn’t make it too special on this countdown compared to the other unique tracks.
4. Destiny
“Destiny” brings a distinct electronic sound and is a track that is different from the rest of the songs on the “Gee” mini-album. The song definitely goes a step further by showing the variety and potential that the girls are capable of. While the song is fast paced, the bridge in the middle showcases the amazing vocals the group is known for, creating a perfect mix. The track has its set of advantages in terms of its sound and use of vocals, but lacks a special beat or catchy rhythm that could propel it higher on the countdown.
3. Oscar
“The Boys” was an album chock full of tracks that were more positive and very upbeat, so the few tracks that didn’t follow that trend and tried to be different stood out more for me. “Oscar” is a perfect example of a track that tried to do something unique and inevitably succeeded. The song starts off with a beat that signals it is far more darker and aggressive than many of the other happy-go-lucky songs that fill the album. The song does well in showing how the girls are growing from bubblegum pop to more mature fare. An addictive chorus which spells out the namesake of the song, coupled with a climax full of a deep electronic sound, make “Oscar” an electrifying track which surely deserves the number three place on our countdown.
2. I’m In Love With The HERO
“I’m In Love With The HERO” begins with a pulsating beat that is unlike anything you’ve ever heard; a repetitive string of words with a booming sound that blows you off your feet. The catchy beat seems to shift its tone at a breakneck pace but uses that swift rhythm to its utmost advantage by sounding crisp with each transition in the track. While electronic sounds and autotune do dominate what seems like most of the song, it doesn’t deteriorate the quality of it. The track selectively utilizes the girls’ full vocal power during key sections of the song, which creates an amazing mix with the song’s addictive beat. This song would be number one if not for the fact that the top song on this countdown does everything better, with more to boot.
1. you-aholic
Starting off with the words “psycho, sexy, super magic,” you know that this song is going to be something special. This song, at least to me, seems to implement a lot of English phrases into key parts of the track, especially into the build up of the chorus as well as the chorus itself, which goes from “I’m a you-aholic,” to “you’re the gin inside my tonic”; this gives a more modern feel to me and widens its appeal to international audiences. It has the perfect aspects of a hit song (if only it was promoted in some fashion besides their concert): it contains a beat that is nothing short of extremely catchy, a mix of phrases that are unique and easily repeatable (up to this day, “you-aholic” and the “gin inside my tonic” can be heard among SONES), and effectively showcases vocals that many of the girls’ more popular songs lack, by showing them singing at a fast pace during some parts of the track while letting them power through with their voices during the slower portions. A perfect mixture of the electronic sound that gave Girls’ Generation’s Japanese album its signature sound is present here, along with just about everything else you can ask for.
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Written by: JeremyJay22@soshified
Contributors: residentbenchwarmer@soshified, michaelroni@soshified
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The song I enjoy most is their debut song ‘Into the New World’ >.< It shows off their vocal talents.
I had never actually properly listened to 'Etude', only on youtube where they sang it on Chin Chin I think. I think Etude is now one of my favourites.
1. Into the New World
2. Girls' Generation
3. Baby Baby
4. Echo
5. Gee
'Girl' Generation'. The first time I heard the song I got the opening riff stuck in my head for 2 months. It's SOOOO catchy.
Etude :)) they were singing the song in their 1st Asia Tour and SooSica did a fanservice… ahem…. :)))
ETUDE!!
I am sorry, i don’t understand what is non title tracks. haha.. but based on other comments, I prefer let it rain as number one. At 2nd and 3rd place, I’m in love with the hero and day by day.. hehe..
I <3 you-aholic! So happy it was number 1 :D
How can TRICK not be in the list???
My personal top 5 will be
1) Trick
2) Let it rain
3) Day By Day
4) Star Star Star
5) you a holic
Good rankings!!
but for me, this is my rankings!!
5. Oscar
4. You-aholic
3. Etude
2. Merry Go round
1. Let it rain
Firstly, I just want to mention that i disagree with two of your tracks: Oscar and you-aholic. I like them both, but I feel that other tracks deserve their spots. With that being said, the other 3 are good choices (although I think that Let it Rain, I’m in Love with the Hero, and Born to be a Lady are all contenders for the number 2 spot). My top 5 are as follows:
5. Destiny
4. Born to be a Lady
3. Let it Rain
2. Mistake
1. Trick
YES! I’m so glad OSCAR is up on that list- I think it’s quite under appreciated. I love every song from the japanese album, although I can think of a couple to go in place of you-aholic though. First time hearing destiny but I think it sounds awesome. I really quite liked Wake up from the Hoot mini album too- I suppose I like the slightly darker songs with a strong beat because it contrasts the majority of songs SNSD does. :)
I kind of agree with “you-aholic” at #1 ^^
But in my top 5, I would change the 2~5 positions. For me it would be something like:
5) Show! Show! Show!
4) Girlfriend
3) The Great Escape
2) TRICK
1) you-aholic
Among the songs presented in this list, the only ones I’m well aware of were 1, 2, and 3.
I don’t think I agree with you-aholic being on the # 1 spot but I respect your opinion nonetheless.
I honestly only checked out I’m in Love with the Hero because I heard that Rino choreographed it for the girls but the moment I heard it, I immediately liked it. Beautiful Stranger was good too! Practically every song from their 1st Japanese Album, their most solid album to date, was good, japanese version or not.
I really like the song Wake Up too, from their Hoot album!
Can’t wait for the next Best of Best!
What about OSTs? Out of all of these I like Etude the most!
I love Etude! for me tho i would’ve included Echo and for nostalgia, Complete.
I’d switch Destiny for Show! Show! Show! and You-aholic for Trick. You should do a Top 5 of their ballads.^^
thumbs up to this!
Oscar just doesn’t do it for me. It sounds like a typical Britney Spears song, and I would’ve put Trick in for Oscar. That, or The Great Escape, or maybe one of the ballads, like Forever. do love the songs on this list, but as some of the others have said, it depends on what you’re into.
you a-holic,oscar and etude for me are the best!!!
the part where jessica said “you’re the gin inside my tonic” is sooooooo aghfgjhkkjnjgkgj!!!
It’s the first time I’ve heard “Destiny”, “I’m in love with the hero” and “You-aholic”.
Out of those three is “You-aholic” the only one I really like.
“Etude” has become a classic and I think “Oscar” is one of the nicer songs on “The Boys”.
Interesting choice of tracks. :) I was kinda expecting some ballads and stuff, but I guess it all depends on what you’re into. I was thinking about The Great Esacpe, Beginning, Star, Star, Star, Time Machine, Merry Go Round, Day By Day, Forever, Let it Rain, Diamond, Mistake, and Trick. But that’s just my opinion. :) I never really listened to I’m in Love with a Hero or Destiny that much, but I’ll probably start listening to tracks more based from your list. Etude and You-aholic are great too. :D SNSD makes a lot of great songs. So hard to choose….lol :)
I really had to agree on 4 & 5 being on this list. Destiny is one of the songs from Gee that really surprised me and since I first heard it in the mix of their older and newer stuff, I actually thought it was one of their newer tracks (and by newer I mean Japanese Album) so I really liked that they were already showing signs of that direction back on the same album with “Gee gee gee gee baby baby baby”
I also really like the flow and melody of Etude and felt that it should have been promoted more because it’s fun but also soft.
I don’t know if I agree with you-aholic being #1 but since I am not sure what could replace it, I can say that I do enjoy my favorite song from the Japanese Album being #1.