Top 20 Twice Songs

First of all, I'm very sorry that I didn't post last week. The thing was, I had my post for last week 95% done on Saturday and was all ready to post it, but my Internet went out Saturday morning and wasn't fixed until Tuesday night. I will post what I wrote for last week at some point, but I have a schedule planned for the rest of this summer and I'd like to stick to it, thank you very much. I'll save that post for when I don't have any better ideas. That being said, today is my best friend's birthday! She's written stuff for my blog a few times; most recently, she wrote the segment on Inception for my "MOVIE TALK: Why 2010 is Such a Fascinating Year for Movies (Part One)" a few weeks ago. We have a lot of the same interests and beliefs, and we've texted each other pretty much every day this quarantine period. Our topics of conversation range from admiring the TV shows we like to airing our grievances about people who have done us wrong to expressing horror at the state of the world in 2020. One of our favored topics is the kpop girl group Twice.

Top row, left to right: Jeongyeon, Sana, Tzuyu, Dahyun, Mina
Bottom row, left to right: Nayeon, Chaeyoung, Momo, Jihyo

I've already talked about Twice more than a few times on my blog. For those who are unfamiliar, Twice are a South Korean girl group who were created on the survival show Sixteen by JYP Entertainment. There are nine members of the group, all of whom I love for various reasons, named Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu. Twice has been called “The Nation’s Girl Group” in South Korea due to their incredible success. They have sold nine million albums in South Korea and Japan, won the Mnet Asian Music Award (or MAMA, basically the Asian version of the Grammys) for Song of the Year in 2016, 2017, and 2018 (for “Cheer Up,” “Signal,” and “What is Love?” respectively), were honored as a Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism in South Korea, and have inspired a passionate fanbase, known as Once. 

The thing about Twice is that I didn’t love them right away. I knew my best friend was a fan and I had heard songs like “Dance the Night Away” and “TT” and liked them, but their cutesy style was cloying to listen to for multiple songs in a row. However, once they matured up their sound in 2019, I became a full-fledged Once. I loved the edgier style they had, and the songs they were coming out with were incredibly appealing to me. I went back and listened to some of their old songs and watched some videos, and I really liked those too. I also learned a lot more about the members’ personalities and I fell in love with their dynamic as a group. Although I like other kpop acts like Blackpink, Red Velvet, Mamamoo, and BTS, Twice are by far my favorite group. With the other groups, I love a lot of their music, but I really don’t know much about their personalities. However, it’s different with Twice. I’ve never met them in person, I probably never will, and I haven’t even seen every single video they’ve ever released. It's a testament to Twice's bond as a group and bond with their fans that I still feel like I know all nine of them like they're my friends.

I’m not gonna say that everyone in the world will like Twice. Bubblegum pop music like this has its fans, but I understand why someone would think it’s annoyingly chipper. But it works for me. And to pay tribute to a group I love so much, as well as to celebrate the friend who got me into them, I’m going to count down my top twenty favorite songs from them. I cannot emphasize the “favorite” enough: this is not based on any sort of objective criteria, like sales, YouTube views, or awards. Frankly, I think judging music objectively is stupid. Life’s too short for us to live in bubbles and act like there’s a metric of objectivity to the things we consume. This is based on the songs I like most, and there’s nothing you can do about it! And with that, I just want to state that when I talk about stuff I love or hate, I am never trying to change anyone’s opinion. This blog is just a way for me to talk about the things I like, and I like Twice. 

One last thing before we begin: I love self-promotion, so here are my two reviews of Twice's Feel Special and More & More mini-albums. A few of the songs from those two albums will be appearing on this list!

REVIEW: Feel Special EP by Twice
REVIEW: More & More by Twice

Now let's get started!

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20. “Touchdown” (Page Two)
I didn't realize it until recently, but this song is sort of like Twice's version of a High School Musical song. It reminds me of "Get'cha Head in the Game" and "I Don't Dance," specifically. I love High School Musical and literally made a list of my favorite songs from it last month (link here!), so the fact that "Touchdown" reminds me of those childhood favorites definitely makes it stand out. The song is fun and flirty lyrically, but is still a powerful dance number. The band geek in me absolutely loves the brass sections. The bridge is also really great, with Nayeon and Jihyo sounding fierce and confident. 

19. “Say You Love Me” (Yes or Yes)

With most of these songs, I can explain why I like them, but with this one, I really can't. It just has that je ne sais quoi for me. It's cute and upbeat like many of Twice's signature hits, but not tooth-rottingly sweet like some of their singles tend to be. Honestly, the song it most reminds me of is "Domino" by Jessie J, as they both have a similar-sounding guitar part. This song has a very catchy chorus, with the "you got something I want, I got something you need" part being a major earworm. In kpop, groups typically release a single (known as the title track), then release an album or EP/mini-album along with the single, and the songs that aren't the title track are called b-sides. In this case, "Yes or Yes" was the title track, and while it is more upbeat and feels more like a title track, I think "Say You Love Me" could also be a solid title track.

18. “Feel Special” (Feel Special)

The "Feel Special" era was the first I really experienced as a Once, so it's always going to have a special place in my heart. Despite the fact that Mina was missing from much of the promotional events due to her anxiety, it was still a great era for the group. The b-sides on the Feel Special album were amazing (we'll look at a few of them throughout this list) and the aesthetic of the era was so high-fashion and luxurious. But in kpop, a good era wouldn't be a good era without a killer title track, and "Feel Special" is one of their best. For most kpop girl groups, there are two kinds of concepts or themes that groups generally follow; a cute concept, like most of Twice's singles up until 2019, or a girl crush concept, which is edgier and more badass, like most of Blackpink's work. But the thing I like about "Feel Special" is that it doesn't try to do either. The song is about that special person who makes the girls feel like a million dollars, and I really like how the song can either be about a lover or a close friend. I also like how, despite the fact that none of the girls wrote on it, the lyrics still feel personal to Twice and their experiences. Mina's verse ("I just wanted to hide, didn't wanna face the world") in particular really resonates, considering that she left Twice's 2019 world tour due to extreme anxiety. Also, if you will, I'd just like to obsess over how perfect the outfits in the "Feel Special" video and promotional photos are. 

That dress Sana is wearing (third one from the right) is what I wear in my dreams. I know it's not a white, traditional dress, but if I had the opportunity, I would get married in that. 

17. “The Best Thing I Ever Did” (The Year of "Yes")

I'm not a huge fan of Christmas music. I mean, I love Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" as much as the next person, but most Christmas songs just bore me. However, I love Twice's "The Best Thing I Ever Did." Other than a few references to December in the lyrics and some jingle bells in the production, there really isn't much that makes this feel like a Christmas song, which is only a good thing. It's not an uptempo track, but it's not quite a ballad either. It's a very sweet song, with the "best thing I ever did" being that they met the one they love. Just like with "Feel Special," the lyrics can be about a guy or about their relationship as a group. The music video definitely supports the latter interpretation, as it sees the members of Twice reflecting on their past adventures as a group and playing in the snow together- while wearing some adorable preppy outfits. 

I'm very much a fan of the preppy vintage Chanel style. 

16. “Girls Like Us” (Fancy You)

It's not too terribly common for the members of kpop groups to write their own music, but the members of Twice actually write the lyrics for some of the b-sides. The group's leader and main vocalist, Jihyo, wrote the lyrics for "Girls Like Us," although British singer Charli XCX had a hand in writing the music for it. The message of this song is about how as girls, we all face our own insecurities, but we need to remember that we're beautiful, smart, and strong. I really love the rap breakdown, in which Chaeyoung reassures us that we're not alone in feeling insecure, but we'll find happiness soon enough. The production of the track features a very catchy and bouncy piano, and the "whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh" in the chorus is addictive. It has a retro style to it with the piano and some whistling in the background, but it still feels modern and fits in with the other b-sides from Fancy You.

15. "Likey" (Twicetagram)

Do you ever have a song where you can totally understand why somebody would hate it, but you still love it? That's me with "Likey." I know that if I played it for certain people in my life, they'd hate it and think it was the most annoying song ever recorded. However, it's always been one of my favorite title tracks from Twice. It's bright, bubbly, and really cute. Sana in particular sounds really cute on the chorus. The song is about trying to get noticed by your crush on Instagram as well as trying to keep a glamorous image on the site. One of the most memorable and catchy parts is when Momo sings about BB cream and lipstick. I also love the rap breakdown. The "Likey" video is one of my personal favorites they've ever done, due to a combination of their outfits being really cute, Dahyun dabbing, and Momo's amazing dance break. The thing I like about "Likey" is that it knows what it is. It’s cute, catchy bubblegum, and it doesn't need to be anything else. Also, allow me to to obsess over Twice's music video fashion once again:

All of these are perfect casual summer looks. I specifically like Jeongyeon's outfit, (second from left), as her outfit has a very "San Francisco in the 1970s" vibe to it. 

14. “Oxygen” (More & More)

Twice's most recent single, "More & More," was fine, but definitely one of their lesser title tracks for me. However, I loved a lot of the b-sides on the mini-album, including "Oxygen." When I first reviewed the mini-album, I gave this song a 9/10. I really liked it, a 9/10 is nothing to sneeze at, but when there were a few 10/10s on the album, it wasn't an absolute favorite. However, it definitely grew on me with repeated listens. While I like a few songs from the album more, "Oxygen" is definitely the one I've replayed the most. For whatever reason, the beat to this song reminds me of the music from Coconut Mall in MarioKart. It strikes a balance of being upbeat yet relaxing. I've always loved the chorus on this song, with the members singing "I really really really really want" in a rapid-fire style. Chaeyoung's bridge is the highlight of the song for me, though. I love how effortlessly she transitions from rapping to singing in her part. 

13. “Sweet Summer Day” (More & More)

Is it safe to say that I knew this song would be on my list within the first ten seconds I heard it? Due to it being the final song on the More & More mini-album, I expected this song to be a more chilled-out, slower song to end the album. But when I heard those drum hits, I was surprised in the best way possible. "Sweet Summer Day" is Twice's attempt at a new jack swing song, a style of R&B hip hop that was most popular from the mid-80s to the mid-90s. Although I haven't really heard many of the original new jack swing songs and artists (Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Madonna all released music in the style in the 80s and 90s), I love songs like "Call Me Baby" by EXO and "Finesse" by Bruno Mars and Cardi B, which try to recreate the style for a modern audience. I don't think I ever expected Twice to dip into new jack swing, but the style fits them like a glove and I would love for their next comeback to sound like this. The song was written by Jeongyeon and Chaeyoung and it sounds like a perfect summer day at the beach, complete with seagull sounds. It sucks that I couldn't go to the beach this summer, but this song is a good substitute for that. 

12. “Get Loud” (Feel Special)

Like "Girls Like Us," Jihyo wrote the lyrics to "Get Loud." When I first saw the title to this song, I thought it was going to be a shallow club song, but that's not really the case. This song is actually about overcoming struggles and being fierce. The thing that most stands out to me about "Get Loud" is the powerful percussion. It reminds me of the drums you'd hear at a Brazilian carnival. I've always thought that the songs from Feel Special have a nighttime atmosphere. I'm not really sure how to explain it. This song in particular just feels like the perfect song to listen to when hopping from party to party in a big city. Since Jihyo wrote this song, I guess it makes sense that she stood out to me most in this track, since her repetition of "it might get loud" is the catchiest part of the song for me. 

11. “One in a Million” (Twicecoaster: Lane 1)

As of March 2020, "One in a Million" is Twice's most streamed b-side, garnering over ten million streams. It's a huge fan favorite, as well as a favorite for the group, as their signature catchphrase is "One in a million! We are Twice!" This song is a dedication to their fans and a reminder to love yourself because you're beautiful and perfect just the way you are! The themes of this song could be sappy in the wrong hands, but when Twice does it, it comes off as very heartfelt and sincere. It's easily my favorite Twice ballad for its excellent blend of acoustic guitars and synthesizer production, but mostly because of the girls' vocals. Jeongyeon's high note at the end of the bridge blew me away. 

10. “Trick It” (Feel Special)

My favorite thing about the Feel Special album, other than its cohesion, is how all of the b-sides were written by the girls. This song, "Trick It," was written by Dahyun. Since Dahyun's one of the group's rappers, it makes sense that the song is more hip hop-influenced than the rest of the tracks, but it's still mostly electropop. The production on this song is some of the best I've ever heard on a Twice track. I didn't notice the triangle in the beat until very recently, but I love that. This song feels like a rollercoaster, with the epic, pounding chorus feeling like a giant drop every time. I also loved Dahyun and Chaeyoung's catchy rap flow ("I can tell you all about it!"), the "uh huh, uh huh, uh huh" hook, and Mina's soft, pretty vocals before the chorus. 

9. “Sunset” (Yes or Yes) 

I love "Girls Like Us" and "Get Loud," but as far as I'm concerned, "Sunset" is my favorite song Jihyo's written for Twice. It has a laid-back, 80s feeling to it. The synthesizers are very retro and the melody is classic. I can imagine listening to this song on a cool summer night. While a lot of these songs have an unexplainable "night drive" quality to them, this is more for cruising by the beach in a vintage Chevy Impala- with a sunset in the background, obviously. The girls' vocals are also in top form here. I especially liked Jeongyeon's voice here. Her parts were short, but she sounded amazing on this song. Barring "One in a Million" and "The Best Thing I Ever Did," most of these songs are are uptempo bops, but "Sunset" is a laid-back, relaxed song. It's a nice change of pace. 

8. “Hot” (Fancy You)

One aspect of kpop fandom that can't be overlooked is the concept of biases. Your "bias" in a group is just a fancy way of referring to your favorite member, and although a good fan of any group should love all the members to some extent, it's okay to have a bias. Oftentimes, one of the first questions kpop fans ask each other is "Who's your bias?" For Twice, my bias is the group's main dancer, Momo. Momo is my bias mainly because of her incredible dance skills (the "Crazy in Love" toxic relationship dance with Mina always gives me chills), and her cute, food-obsessed personality, but she's written some great songs to boot. She co-wrote the lyrics to "Hot," a b-side on the Fancy You album. This song is perfect for when you want to feel sexy and confident, with Tzuyu singing "Everything from my head to toes is already perfect" at one point in the song. Sonically, this song feels like driving at 80 miles an hour on a Las Vegas highway. The production in the chorus is impeccable. I also love the intro, which sounds like an acapella-style bass voice, as well as the bridge, where Mina sings "catch me if you can" and just sounds so sensual and alluring. 

7. “Chillax” (Summer Nights)

When Twice released "Dance the Night Away," JYP Entertainment chose to reissue the band's previous album, What is Love?, with a few new songs instead of releasing a new album, with the new reissue being called Summer Nights. One of the three new songs was "Chillax," and although I love "Dance the Night Away" for its summery vibes, I think "Chillax" is even better. I'm normally not a fan of artists using modern slang in their lyrics, but, despite the fact that the song uses the slang in its title, "Chillax" is cute and charming. The tropical production of this song is very youthful and the chorus is irresistible. I love a lot of the little quirky moments throughout this song, such as Chaeyoung going "yeah, boy!" before her verse and the crowd cheering in the second verse. Nayeon really dominates this song, and as much as I'd like to complain about the line distribution being unfair, she does a great job, with her high notes sounding very strong. 

6. “Make Me Go” (More & More) 

Similarly to "Sweet Summer Day," I knew "Make Me Go" would appear on my favorites list as soon as the chorus started. Nayeon wrote the lyrics to this one, and even though I really liked "Rainbow" from Feel Special, which she also wrote, I never imagined that Twice would ever make anything like this. When I reviewed More & More, I said that "Make Me Go" reminded me of Dua Lipa's recent output, specifically the song "Break My Heart." That could not be more of a compliment, as I've been obsessed with every song I've heard from Dua's recent album Future Nostalgia. The chorus is so unexpected for Twice. Most of their choruses are high- the members sing in higher ranges and the production is very treble-heavy. But "Make Me Go" sees the members rap-singing in their lowest registers with that incredible bassline anchoring the song. "Make Me Go" is the most mature, seductive, and funky song the group has ever released, and I'd kill for them to make more songs like it. 

5. “Knock Knock” (Twicecoaster: Lane 2)

In July, I made a list of songs I love by non-American artists because I was (and still am) salty at my country for...everything, pretty much. On that list, I had a whole section of kpop songs, and "Knock Knock" was the Twice song I picked. I said that I didn't really love "Knock Knock" until I watched the Avatar: The Last Airbender finale at the end of June, which is insane, I know. The entire time I watched Aang and his friends fight for the fate of the world and experience some dark, emotional events, my head was just looping "Knock Knock" over and over again for some unknown reason. From there, I realized that I loved the song. It's like I was saying with "Likey": It doesn't try to do anything weird or daring, it's just a cute, almost retro pop song. While I love songs where the artist takes risks and tries something new, there’s something I have to commend about a song that doesn’t do anything crazy and just focuses on being the best it can be. The guitar on this song is really addictive for me, and the chorus is so cute. I think Sana definitely shined the most in this song, as my favorite parts of the song are all her little quirks and moments. Her voice definitely fits Twice’s cuter concepts, and the way she says "someone else!" and the title of the song both make me smile every time. 

4. “Breakthrough” (&Twice)

It's common for kpop groups to release Japanese-language singles in order to break into the Japanese market. Sometimes, they switch the language of a previous song (for example, Twice released Japanese versions of songs like "Cheer Up" and "TT"), and sometimes they'll release a new song entirely. Most of Twice's Japanese originals are forgettable to me, but I loved "Breakthrough" after my first listen. Twice released two Japanese songs on June 12, 2019, representing a dual concept. "Happy Happy" was cute, but it was more in line with what you'd expect from Twice. "Breakthrough," on the other hand, was a fiercer, more mature side of Twice that was a natural progression from their previous Korean single "Fancy." It has razor-sharp synthesizers, a pulsing chorus, and a fierce, smooth atmosphere. The music video is a perfect accompaniment to the song, as it features bright neon lights and the girls in power suits. It's a song I play when I want to feel like a boss. 

3. “Heart Shaker” (Merry & Happy)

One of Twice’s most iconic title tracks is 2018’s “What is Love?” The song won the prestigious Song of the Year award at the 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards and its music video, which saw the members paying homage to famous movies like La La Land and Pulp Fiction, has 415 million views. While the song is iconic, it did feel like a rehash of their previous single “Heart Shaker,” which I’ve always preferred. This is my favorite “cutesy” Twice song ever. There are just so many parts to it that I love. The introduction lets you know exactly what you’re in for: a completely adorable sugar rush. I love Tzuyu’s pre-chorus, with Dahyun and Chaeyoung providing cute interjections (“Love is timing!”). I love how Jihyo’s powerful high note transitions into Momo, Tzuyu, and Chaeyoung singing with the stomp-clap breakdown. I love how every single Once has agreed that Nayeon is singing “Is Sana gay?” in the first line. (She’s actually singing “isanghage,” which is Korean for “wonderfully,” but I’m still going to sing “Is Sana gay?” every time I hear the song.) The instrumental is really good. I specifically like the electric guitar parts towards the end, which make the song stand out from Twice’s other title tracks. The chorus is similar to the one in “What is Love?” but it feels a lot more fleshed out while still being catchy. “Heart Shaker” was actually the song that got my best friend into Twice, and it’s a great first impression, as it tells you what the girls are all about. Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how absolutely adorable the fashion is in this video! While videos like “Feel Special” and “Fancy” feature more extravagant fashion, the outfits in “Heart Shaker” can be recreated by anyone for a cute, casual look. 

Seriously, anyone can pull these off or put their own spin on it. White sweater, denim bottoms, sneakers, you're good to go!

2. “Fancy” (Fancy You)

Although I love all of Twice's title tracks in some way, "Fancy" is without a doubt my favorite. There's just so much about this song that I love that I don't know where to start. This song was very significant to Twice's career, as it signified a new sound for the group. Twice had their signature cutesy bubblegum songs, but many felt it was starting to get old and the songs were blending together. "Fancy" showed a more mature side of them with a darker and sexier production style, while still maintaining the catchy hooks that made Twice so famous. It's still Twice, just a more sophisticated version of them. "Fancy" is packed with so many little moments that delight me every time. I particularly love the way Sana sweetly sings about chocolate ice cream in the prechorus, the way Chaeyoung says "bang bang" in her verse, Jihyo's epic high note before the final chorus, and especially the way Chaeyoung goes "fancy, ooh" at the end of the chorus. (I think that more than any other era, Chaeyoung really got a chance to shine in "Fancy.") The beat is infectious, bright electropop, and the music video is another personal favorite from the group. Let’s geek out over Twice’s music video fashion one last time:

Sorry this isn't a great picture, but it's the best I could find of all of them together. I think Jeongyeon's outfit (farthest right) would probably be the one I'd most want to wear, but Chaeyoung's outfit (fourth from left) was probably my favorite. That green houndstooth set would look terrible on most everyone else, but I couldn't take my eyes off of her in the video. 

The choreography, especially with the signature hand-gesture, is something I often attempt when I'm home alone. They actually put this song on Just Dance, and I (and many other Onces, just read the comments on this video of the dance) were horrified to see that they completely changed the choreography. Anyways, "Fancy" has been the first song on my playlist for a year, so I've heard it hundreds of times, but I still haven't gotten sick of it. What could be better? 

1. “Love Foolish” (Feel Special)

I just need to preface this by saying that I texted my best friend the following in June: "I'm at a grad party for some cousins in (town I will not share). One of my relatives doesn't seem to know what 'Six Feet Apart' means so if I die, just know that I want 'Love Foolish' to be played as they bury my body in the ground." I was joking, obviously, but the fact that I said that at all should really say something about how much I love this damn song. When I read the track listing for Feel Special, I had the highest expectations for "Love Foolish," since it was written by my bias, Momo. I heard part of it in the car when driving with my friend, and it kind of blew my mind. Then I heard the whole song and it blew my mind even more. Production-wise, "Love Foolish" is so experimental and different for Twice. It does use chipmunk vocals, which I normally don't care for, but the way the beat warps the chipmunk vocals is inventive and fun. The song just feels like you could either vogue or strut down the runway while listening to it. Outside of the production, this song is like "Fancy" in how it has so many irresistible moments. Momo's rap is a highlight, especially when she says "naega mani ani," which actually means "Do I know a lot?" but I always sing it as "they got money, unnie." I love the chorus, which is actually kind of similar to the one in "Make Me Go" due to the way they're sung. The way Chaeyoung says "I hate you" especially makes me smile- never have I been so delighted to hear somebody say they hated me. Nayeon’s high note before the final chorus is awesome too. Really, as much as I’m tempted to say “oh, this girl did the best job here,” I can’t. All nine girls sound fantastic on this track. I have eighteen hours and forty-nine minutes of music on my current Spotify playlist, which is a lot of songs, and naturally, I’ve skipped most of them at one point or another, because sometimes, I’m just not in the mood for a certain song. But I’ve had “Love Foolish” on my playlist for close to a year, and I have never skipped it. My favorite pieces of any media are always the ones I can experience over and over again. My favorite movie is Tangled because I’ve seen it hundreds of times and it still holds up. My favorite book is The Outsiders because I enjoy it every time I read it. And my favorite Twice song is “Love Foolish” because it’s the one I am always in the mood to listen to. With a lot of these songs, like “Sweet Summer Day” and “Make Me Go,” I say that I want Twice to make more songs in those styles. However, I don’t want them to make another song like “Love Foolish.” That sounds like a bad thing, I couldn’t mean that as more of a compliment. No matter how hard they could try to recreate the magic, they would never be able to top the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of “Love Foolish” for me.

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That's all I have for this week! Next Sunday, August 23, is the three-year anniversary of when I made this blog, so I will be posting something to celebrate either Saturday or Sunday. See you then!

Stellar