Legendary Summer K-pop Songs From Different Generations

The weather is getting hotter and hotter these days, and it's time to turn up some summer beats and have fun! Every summer, many K-pop groups drop amazing summer songs.

Debuted in 1996, UP is one of Korea's earliest mixed-gender idol groups. The quartet released their second album in 1997, and one of the tracks, "Sea," received immense popularity and quickly became the national summer song in Korea. The cheerful melody, the adorable "punching" dance in the rap part, and the "wave" dance in the chorus have captured the hearts of Koreans across generations, even today. This legendary summer hit has been rearranged and covered by many singers every summer, and one of the most iconic versions is HeoGak and APINK Jeong Eun-ji's acoustic version, which gives out a refreshing and peaceful vibe that is different from the original one!

Summer is not only about bright and cheerful songs. Despite the upbeat summer-vibe melody, the lyrics of UN’s Wave are rather heartbreaking, in which the duo sings about returning to the beach where they had visited with their ex-lovers. Even though they have started a new relationship, they still cannot forget about their ex because the good old memories they had together return just as the sea wave embraces them. Like Sea, many singers and idol groups like Paul Kim and VICTON cover this legendary summer song. GFRIEND even released a remake version of this song in 2016 in collaboration with a luggage brand, but the lyrics are much happier that the girls are setting off on a beach trip on a sunny day with their lovers. Which version do you prefer?

The scalding summer heat always gets K-pop fans singing “hot summer, ah hot hot summer”! This timeless summer jam from the electro-pop queen f(x) invites everyone to leave their home and enjoy summer together under the bright sunshine and clear blue sky. The lyrics incorporate many things about summer, like “sunglass,” “ice cream,” and “water park,” which fill the song with a joyful summer vibe. The addictive and powerful EDM beat, and the iconic choreography of wiping sweat and fanning in the chorus drives the summer heat away!

When discussing summer songs, how can we remember the ultimate K-pop summer queen, SISTAR? Two years after the massive success of “Loving U,” the ladies dropped another legendary summer bop, “Touch My Body.” The members confidently showing off their beautiful tanned skin and dancing to the signature swimming choreography on the platform in the middle of the pool is the highlight of the music video. The horn and saxophone instrumentals excite the music, making this summer tune a perfect pool party companion.

3rd gen saw the rise of many cute concept girl groups, and one of the most successful groups is GFRIEND. In the second song of their school trilogy, “Me Gusta Tu,” the girls show their unique energetic, yet pure charms by bravely confessing to their crush while dancing to the powerful choreography. The members dancing on the grassland and having fun in the garden under the sunny sky in the music video double the summer feeling of the song and are so pleasing to watch. The girls singing the iconic line in the chorus, “Me gustas tu, gustas tu, stu du ru, 좋아해요 (I love you)!” with their crystal clear vocals brightens up your day!

This adorable summer piece was originally from a 1st gen girl group Papaya in 2000. Oh My Girl presented a lovely remake version of this song by having Skull and Haha feature, in which the duo’s rap matches perfectly with the Jamaican reggae sound while simultaneously creating an exciting contrast with the girls’ sweet and soft vocals. Mimi’s rap also sounds impressive, nicely bridging the two rap parts of Skull and Haha. The music video is also quite funny, in which the members make a raft together and sail it on a swimming pool without water towards the end. Fill your summer with sweetness by jamming to this lovely summer song!

While SEVENTEEN is often known for its uptempo and catchy title tracks, this mid-tempo urban R&B b-side is also a remarkable summer track that has received as much popularity as the title track Oh My. The members dancing to the punchy bass rhythm in perfect synchronization is satisfying. Adding on to that, the lyrics of this song are also very picturesque and poetic, in which the boys express the fairytale-like feeling of spending a beautiful summer night with their lovers. The “Oh summer summer summer summer oh” line in the chorus is also very addictive and always gets K-pop fans singing along. This song is like a gust of soothing midsummer night breeze that refreshes you from the burning heat during the day. So if you are searching for some relaxing summer beats, we strongly recommend you spare a listen to this song!

The scorching summer can never stop the pirate kings from continuing their journey to the wonderland. Wave is a tropical house beat that showcases the group's brighter and casual side, which is entirely different from their dark and powerful image. The members dancing on the coast and enjoying themselves at the skatepark and supermarket in the music video also match so well with the summer atmosphere of the song. Despite having a lighthearted summer beat, the lyrics of this song still demonstrate ATEEZ's signature adventure concept, in which the boys sing their desire to carry on their expedition by overcoming the rogue waves together with their loved ones. Put on this refreshing summer masterpiece to sail across the limitless horizon and discover the unknown new world with eight audacious dreamers. Bon voyage!

Have you listened to any of these legendary hits, and what are your favorite K-pop summer songs? Comment down below and share your K-pop summer playlist with us!