Winter songs for Christmas playlists to hit streaming charts
SG Wannabe's Kim Yong-joon, left, and INFINITE's Sungkyu / Courtesy of Double H Ent.
By Dong Sun-hwa
A cold snap has gripped the nation and Christmas Day is just around the corner ― a perfect setting for festive winter songs. As of Monday, the fresh releases by female duo Davichi and soloist Lee Mu-jin ― “Everyday Christmas” and “When It Snows” ― have taken the top spots on multiple music streaming charts, and there is more to come in the next two weeks.
Sungkyu of K-pop boy band INFINITE and Kim Yong-joon of vocal group SG Wannabe are poised to drop their collaborative single, “When It Snows,” Monday. According to the pair's management company, Double H Ent., “When It Snows” is an energetic rock song with a Christmas vibe.
“It will be a heartwarming and feel-good song about a man who wishes to go on a trip with his loved one on a snowy day,” the company said in a statement. “As part of INFINITE, Sungkyu released the winter banger Lately in 2011, and Yong-joon put out Must Have Love with Gain of Brown Eyed Girls in 2006, which is known as one of the most popular winter songs in Korea. Their collaboration is expected to create great synergy.”
On the same day, a new tune by Eunkwang of K-pop act BTOB will also arrive. Eunkwang is set to release “December 32” ― a remake of the 2002 hit by singer Byul. Composed by Park Jin-young, founder of K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment, the ballad follows a woman waiting endlessly for her ex-boyfriend. A day later, rookie girl group Billlie is slated to drop “Snowy Night,” a jazzy tune peppered with trendy melodies.
K-pop girl group Purple Kiss / Courtesy of RBW
The teaser for Hyolyn's upcoming release, “A-Ha” / Courtesy of Bridge
K-pop rookie band Purple Kiss is also gearing up for its first winter song, “My My.” The seven-piece act's agency, RBW, hinted that the upcoming digital single, which is scheduled to come out on Dec. 18, will highlight the members' “loveliness.”
“My My is a sentimental and easy-listening song that will boost the Christmas spirit,” RBW said in a statement. “Through the track, Purple Kiss will display its musical maturity.”
Also joining the December lineup are K-pop boy group ONEUS and boy band ONEWE, which will unleash their collaborative single “Stay” on Dec. 21. The two previously unveiled the song on their reality show, “I shall Debut” (2018). ONEUS and ONEWE are called “brother groups,” as both of them are represented by RBW.
Then, K-pop diva Hyolyn will pick up the baton on Dec. 22, releasing her first winter song, “A-Ha.” Her record label has not yet disclosed much information about the release, but it floated on Monday a teaser featuring the singer sporting a dazzling purple dress and holding a bell in her hand.