
BTS's "Spring Day" was ranked 37th in Rolling Stone's "The 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century So Far." It is notable that among BTS's many hit songs, it was "Spring Day," rather than "Butter" or "Dynamite," that was selected.
"Spring Day," released in 2017, is characterized by its melancholic melody and the lyrics of RM and Suga, which convey various feelings of longing. Since its release, the song has remained in the top 100 on the Melon chart for seven years, receiving great love domestically. The music video sparked various interpretations among fans and gained popularity, surpassing 500 million views on YouTube. Rolling Stone described "Spring Day" as conveying a transcendent resonance of recovery and hope blossoming amid loss, which led to BTS's global breakthrough. They also added that it shows the strong cohesion inherent in BTS's music.
BLACKPINK's "DDU-DU DDU-DU" ranked 142nd. Released in 2018, the song is regarded as symbolizing the explosive growth of K-pop. Rolling Stone explained that "DDU-DU DDU-DU" is a song combining swirling trap snares and glitch synths, powerfully showcasing the charms of the four members. Its music video was the first in K-pop group history to surpass 2 billion views on YouTube.
Girls' Generation's "Gee" placed 170th, proving the stature of a second-generation representative girl group. Released in 2009, "Gee" elevated Girls' Generation to the top girl group of the era with its overwhelming addictiveness and skinny jeans fashion.
Fourth-generation girl group NewJeans' "Hype Boy" ranked 206th. This track, from their first EP released in 2022, was loved as a triple title track along with "Attention" and "Cookie." Rolling Stone mentioned that "Hype Boy" gained great popularity on the short-form platform TikTok, describing it as creating a fresh and modern sound combined with a lo-fi retro vibe.
Among the teams on this list, except for BTS, all are girl groups. Rolling Stone defined 21st-century music as "constant change," noting ongoing changes in how music is consumed, cross-genre exchanges, and musical experimentation. They emphasized that this list aims to capture the chaotic charm of 21st-century music.
The number one song on this chart was Missy Elliott's "Get Ur Freak On." Following it were Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Maps," Beyoncé's "Crazy In Love," The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army," and Taylor Swift's "All Too Well."
These results reaffirm the status of K-pop artists in the global music market. Korean artists such as BTS, BLACKPINK, Girls' Generation, and NewJeans have formed global fanbases with their unique musical colors, and their music goes beyond mere trends to exert cultural influence.