In the past decade, K-pop has exploded in ways that were previously unfathomable to early fans of the genre. With its newfound popularity, at times, its humble origins have been overlooked in favour of the sparkly new thing. Today, we remember second generation acts Girls’ Generation and 2NE1 as pioneers of K-pop, but girl group T-ARA were once considered formidable competitors until an untimely scandal stalled their momentum.
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T-ARA, however, remain one of the greatest hitmakers from that era. The eccentric girl group were famous for their diverse visual styles and vibrant sounds that questioned what K-pop could be and stretched its limits. As they celebrate their 15th anniversary, join NME as we look back on their legacy as musicians that have helped shape the K-pop we experience today.
Honourable mentions:
‘TTL (Time To Love)’ (2009)
‘Sexy Love’ (2012)
‘Little Apple’ (2014)
‘All Kill’ (2021)
‘yayaya’ (2010)
‘ORGR’ (2014)
This oft-overlooked B-side off T-ARA’s 2014 album ‘And&End’ taps into a myriad of genres – on top of their foundation of dance-pop, they try their hand at a blend of nu-disco and electropop that now, in retrospect, feels slightly ahead of its own time. The club-ready beats pair beautifully with T-ARA’s vocal range and soulful tones, becoming one of the quarter’s best B-sides to date.
‘You You You’ (2009)
The concept of all-consuming love acts as T-ARA’s muse on ‘You You You’, an understated cut from their formative 2009 album ‘First Absolute Album’. In usual T-ARA fashion, pulsating, mid-tempo electropop is the backdrop for an emotional, devastating tale of devotion that teeters on the edge of obsession for the subject of their affection.
‘Cry Cry’ (2012)
Heartbreak anthems set to additive dance-pop might be T-ARA’s go-to, but the girl group hit the jackpot with ‘Cry Cry’. The band croon of deeply cut emotional wounds as they navigate the aftermath of a tumultuous albeit passionate relationship, while the instrumentation goes from solemn and intense to dramatic yet danceable.
‘Sugar Free’ (2014)
Created at the height of the EDM craze in 2014, ‘Sugar Free’ might have seemed like a play to cash in on the day’s trend. But in retrospect, the simple yet effective song has become a staple in clubs all over Asia. Here, T-ARA sing of a life without emotional sweetener to ease the bitter taste of a failed love. Coupled with dynamic vocals and stellar rap verses, ‘Sugar Free’ is a certified T-ARA classic.
‘Number Nine’ (2013)
Think of ‘Number Nine’ as the underrated older sister of ‘Sugar Free’ – with a heavy hand of EDM (although not as heavy as on ‘Sugar Free’), this song is like the perfect fusion of both the EDM sound that defined the era and the softer dance-pop that punctuated their earlier music. ‘Number Nine’ is achingly passionate and irresistibly catchy – perhaps the best words to describe their overarching style as a band.
‘Bo Peep Bo Peep’ (2009)
‘Bo Peep Bo Peep’ is one of those songs that you don’t need to know to know. With playful Auto-Tune that could have only come from the late-2000s and a repetitive hook, the song took Asia by storm because of its playful nature and a choreography that’s easy to follow. It makes sense that this was their breakthrough hit, few others can really capture their energetic, mischievous energy like this one.
‘Like The First Time’ (2009)
There is nothing quite as exciting as first-times, and that’s what ‘Like The First Time’ is all about. It’s a feel-good (and slightly sultry) song all around, and was a very solid addition to T-ARA’s discography when they were still building up their legacy. ‘Like The First Time’ is considered by fans as one of their best works to date and for good reason: who doesn’t love an old-school club banger, especially when T-ARA’s singing it?
‘I Go Crazy Because of You (너때문에 미쳐)’ (2010)
A long-time fan favourite, think of ‘I Go Crazy Because Of You’ as a toned-down version of early-Lady Gaga crossed with G-Dragon’s ‘Heartbreaker’. It’s an immediate earworm that requires repeat listens. Needless to say, it has remained and will continue to be one of T-ARA’s best songs.
‘Roly Poly’ (2011)
‘Roly Poly’ is as inescapable today as it was when T-ARA first released it. As the lead single track from the quirkily titled ‘John Travolta Wannabe’ album, this song is essentially a distillation of ’70s disco for a new generation. In the years since its release, ‘Roly Poly’ has grown more relevant as the disco revival continues to take hold worldwide. Do not trust a K-pop fan who doesn’t give their flowers to ‘Roly Poly’.
‘Lovey-Dovey’ (2012)
‘Lovey-Dovey’ is a certified floor-filler at clubs. It stands out among T-ARA’s discography as the most infectious (pun intended if you watched the music video). The song is a little disco, a little ’90s teen pop and a little rescission-era club music, capturing the essence that made those decades of music so fun and easy to enjoy. Everything from its production down to its choreography, T-ARA truly cemented themselves as the queens of strobe-lit dance floors with this iconic smash hit.
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