Plus Magazine

| Written by Kim Tae Hoon (Editor for the music webzine IZM)

As winter arrives, blanketing everything with soft, heavy falls of white and beautiful snow, the song ‘The first snow’ by EXO inevitably makes its return. This track, part of their special album [Miracles in December] released in December 2013, is a heartwarming acoustic pop piece. It conveys longing for a first love and a desire to rewind time. Although it wasn't their title track, it has been steadily loved as a comfortable winter song to listen to, earning the affectionate nickname ‘The first snow Annuity’ over time.

In 2023, ‘The first snow’ experienced a miraculous December. A decade after its release, the song climbed to the top of major music charts, creating a new narrative of a remarkable comeback. Its achievement was highlighted on December 9th, where it was a contender for the top spot on . This rise was especially striking given that its best rank in 2022 was 22nd. A key contributor to this success was the viral ‘The first snow Challenge’ on TikTok, which heightened the song's popularity. The challenge, featuring a simple dance to the sped-up version of ‘The first snow,’ quickly spread, capturing the joyful essence of the holiday season. The members of EXO also joined in the challenge, reciprocating the affection and interest shown by fans. Unless there are major surprises, ‘The first snow’ is poised to retain its status as the premier winter song for the 2023-24 season.

As winter arrives, it's not just the song ‘The first snow’ that re-emerges. Many older songs, thanks to the unique character of less commercialized carols, hold a cherished place in the season to the point of feeling indispensable. A notable example is the 2006 hit ‘Must Have Love’, sung by Kim Yongjun of SG WANNABE and Gain of Brown Eyed Girls. The song, with its beautiful and easy-to-sing-along melody, combined with the sweet harmony of a mixed duo, was warmly received upon its release.

IU’s ‘Merry Christmas in Advance (Feat. Thunder of MBLAQ),’ released in 2010, occupies a distinct place in the music world. This track, acclaimed for capturing the heartwarming excitement of Christmas with IU’s unique voice, rose to fame concurrently with the ‘IU Syndrome’ era marked by her hit ‘Good Day’. It continues to be a central part of the conversation around Korean Christmas carols. Following this success, in November 2011, IU’s second full album [Last Fantasy] was released, featuring the title track ‘You and I’. This song, with its warm, fairy-tale-like aura and a lavish fantasy vibe, seamlessly fits into the winter theme, solidifying its status as another one of her beloved winter songs.

Thus, a song doesn't necessarily have to explicitly convey a seasonal feel to become a cherished winter tune. If the release timing and the song's atmosphere are a perfect match, it stands a chance to be loved as a winter song. This is true for IU’s ‘You and I,’ and similarly for Wonder Girls’ ‘Be My Baby’, both of which were released in a similar timeframe. Although their lyrics and concepts don’t seem to aim for the winter holiday market, the lively and buoyant style of ‘Be My Baby’ led to it being likened to a carol, establishing it as one of Wonder Girls’ classic winter songs.

Beyond these unique instances, most winter songs typically feature elements that vividly bring to mind winter imagery, maximizing the seasonal sentiment in their lyrics and composition. Especially, those songs that evoke feelings of warmth and happiness manage to remain enduring favorites, symbolizing the winter season for years to come.

From BTOB’s mini-album [The Winter’s Tale], the tracks ‘You Can Cry’ and ‘Don’t Cry’ offer a contrasting yet equally warm take on the carol genre, starting from their titles. ‘You Can Cry’ humorously addresses the solitude of being alone, with whimsical lines like ‘even Santa Claus is alone,’ while ‘Don’t Cry’ poetically expresses the longing for an ex-lover's happiness, intertwined with winter imagery. Both songs distinctly reflect BTOB’s unique style, blending lightheartedness with a touch of melancholy, and have become emblematic of the group’s musical identity.

In the year 2011, Infinite, standing out amongst many boy groups for their upward trajectory, ended the year on a high note with their song ‘Lately’. While retaining their signature strengths like dynamic beats and harmonious choruses, they ventured into a more straightforward and poetic style. B1A4’s release in 2015, ‘It’s Christmas Time,’ left a memorable impact with its clever and approachable lyrics, an addictive refrain, and the use of a traditional choir arrangement in its latter part, reminiscent of classic carols. Such winter songs from boy bands are enjoyable for their diversity, with each group infusing its unique style into the shared seasonal theme.

Girl groups' winter songs are often characterized by their lively and upbeat nature. For instance, Lovelyz's ‘Twinkle’ brings a swift, energetic electro-pop vibe to their classic, pure, and romantic-comic style, all wrapped in the essence of winter. LABOUM’s ‘Winter Story’ and their carol version of their iconic song ‘Journey to Atlantis’, named ‘Journey to Atlantis WINTER ++,’ have been widely acclaimed for their heartwarming and whimsical charm. Similarly, TWICE’s ‘Merry & Happy’ captured hearts with its breezy and cheerful mood, perfectly aligning with their frequent exploration of the thrilling sensations of love.

The special album [Dear Santa - X-Mas Special] by Girls' Generation-TTS was notable for its deep seasonal ambiance, despite each track featuring a different genre. The album skillfully mixes emotive ballads and lively pop, as seen in ‘Dear Santa,’ and also includes songs like ‘I Like the Way’, which follows the funky groove similar to their earlier hit ‘Twinkle’. In 2017, member TAEYEON released her solo album [This Christmas - Winter Is Coming], displaying a broad range with the vocally rich ballad ‘This Christmas’ and her unique take on the swing jazz classic ‘Let It Snow’.

In line with the enduring popularity of retro styles, there are winter songs that bring new life to classic tracks, thus narrowing the generational music gap. ‘White’ by THE BOYZ is an adaptation of a Fin.K.L song, ingeniously infused with their own upbeat essence and a retro flair. NCT DREAM, meanwhile, remade H.O.T.’s iconic ‘Candy,’ a song that was a defining moment in 1990s K-pop, achieving significant success. They added another cheerful winter song to their collection with ‘JOY,’ a well-received blend of traditional carols, and ‘Candle Light’, an acoustic pop song with an emotionally resonant touch.

What new winter-themed songs have appeared in the 2020s? In 2022, the winter album [2022 Winter SMTOWN : SMCU PLACE] by SMTOWN featured ‘Beautiful Christmas’, a collaborative track by Red Velvet and aespa, notable for its upbeat swing rhythm and a richness reminiscent of a complete carol collection. ‘Funky Glitter Christmas’ by NMIXX also drew favorable attention for its diverse and unique composition coupled with lively energy. CLASS:y released ‘Winter Bloom’ on December 20th, with member Yoon Chaewon contributing to the lyrics that poetically compare young love to flowers blooming amidst the cold, set against a background of festive, full brass instrumentation.

Winter always brings with it a sense of anticipation. It signifies not only the conclusion of the current year but also heralds the onset of a new one, inviting us to leave behind the old and envision a fresh future. The chilly air might numb our fingers and toes, yet it also makes the warmth we share with others feel all the more precious. The unique joys of winter, from the pristine beauty of snow to the excitement of Christmas, add to its charm. Perhaps it is these aspects, so beautifully encapsulated in winter songs, that make them so special and enhance the romanticism of our winter experiences.

※ Manuscripts from outside writers may not reflect the editorial direction of this magazine.