Ah… Summer the time for beaches, volleyball in the sand, and summer hits! And where are these summer hits performed? Summer festivals. So, what better way to kick off the summer than a playlist dedicated to summer vibes at a summer festival! But we decided to add a twist with first generation K-Pop tracks as the focus point. Ever wondered how long this era lasted? First-generation K-Pop is said to start from the early 90s up until the early 2000s and like all things it’s debatable how long this era actually lasts. For reference, we chose to select songs from the years 1990 to 2004 right before the mid-year of the 2000s.

And with first-generation K-Pop you’re guaranteed a front row seat to all the inspiration from the 90s and 2000s fashion. Afterall this was the beginning of unique K-Pop concepts and music videos. Crazy cool vocals and raps meshed with sick beats. Also, let’s not forget more visuals and biases to make your heart skip a beat and to fan out about (and add to your bias list).

Look no further if you’re interested in the early days of K-Pop music or need to add a little more fun to your playlist this summer… we got you covered all you have to do is keep reading!

1. Seotaiji and Boys - 'I Know'

We had to include a song from Seotaiji and Boys, the group that founded K-Pop in our playlist as they started the trend of what K-Pop would come to be. The song we would like to include in this playlist is ‘I Know’ which was released March 23^rd, 1992. And this song was written and composed by Seo TaiJi the leader of the group.

Although this song is about being stupid and not confessing your love to the one you like and missing the right timing because, you could possibly lose them. It fits the summer vibes with its upbeat track blending Pop, Hip-Hop, and Rock. And we have all been in the situation where we liked someone so much, we couldn’t speak in the moment to tell them our true feelings. So, we'd like to think of this as our song that represents that moment before summer break where it’s hard to get the courage to confess your love and this would be the perfect song for the audience to connect to it if their going through that feeling now or have in the past. Join us to watch the video as they sing about how they know they messed up their chance.

2. H.O.T - 'Full Of Happiness'

H.O.T needed to be included in this list as they are iconic and have influenced many K-Pop groups that have come after them. And one of the songs we wanted to include is ‘Candy’ a song about how the members of the group try to be cold to the person they love in order to protect their hearts but, it does not work because they love that person so much, they pledge that they will be there for them always.

The next song we want to add to the playlist is ‘Full of Happiness’ which talks about wondering if their special person forgot them because they haven’t forgotten their person. And eventually H.O.T realizes that they weren’t forgotten as they dry that special person’s tears away and they promise to give them happiness. We think these two songs are great for the playlist as they are upbeat and give off that summer feeling and the feeling, we have all had.

3. Sechs Kies - 'PomSaengPomSa'

Sechs Kies was a six-member group but, once they disbanded and reunited in 2016, they became a four-member group currently. And the song that we would like to highlight for them is 'PomSaengPomSa' and this song automatically sounds like you’re at a beach with its guitar in the beginning that resembles the surf sounds used in songs in the sixties. The unique sound of retro nineteen-sixties meshing with the upbeat atmosphere of nineties K-Pop adds to the excitement of the song making it unforgettable.

Also, the fun storyline created in ‘PomSaengPomSa’ about the members caring more about how they live to look cool even when their hurt and that they must let go of “unnecessary” feelings of love means they’re not going to be able to stay calm and look put together at all moments. Lastly, the liveliness of the members performing this song makes you want to jump and have fun along with them making it perfect for the summer festival playlist.

4. Diva - 'Why Do You Call?'

The song that we would like to talk about is Diva's 'Why Do You Call?'  which is about the members hanging out at the beach and getting called on by someone who wants to be more than friends and takes a liking to them when they see them at the beach. But the members express that they are tired of having temporary love that eventually wears away. The members want a permanent love and they try to convince the person that there is a better person out there for them other than themselves but, the person doesn’t believe so and they continue to want to date the member. Eventually, the member thanks the beach for bringing their forever love to them and the members get married to the person they met on the beach. So, we think it is only right to add this song to the playlist with its light airy sound paired with a beach love in the summer to our playlist.

5. Lee JungHyun - 'Wa'

We chose the song ‘Wa’ by Lee JungHyun because it has an upbeat techno feel to it, and it would be great to have at a summer festival to get the crowd up and moving. ‘Wa’ has this high energy throughout the whole song that makes a festival so fun to go to. Although it’s about not being able to let go of someone you love because they already have your heart always and forever and they might as well accept your love because you’re not giving them up.

Summer is about finding new love and sometimes about facing heartbreak as people take this season as the time to grow and change due to having more time because they don’t have school to go to or are taking vacations. JungHyun would get the crowd to cheer and lament along with her as she sings this up tempo hit!

6. BoA - ‘ID;Peace B’ & ‘Atlantis Princess’

What is a first-generation K-Pop playlist without BoA? As she is known as the “Queen of K-Pop”. The first song that we would like to add to the playlist is ‘ID;Peace B’ which is about BoA having her own Neverland (her own world) and her being different and that it’s okay. And that once she finds the people who are determined the way she is and who have the same ideas about life that she has they will strive together and reach their dreams.

Next, let's talk about BoA’s ‘Atlantis Princess’ which is about BoA being from another world and forgetting about the world she came from and what it would be like when she goes back to visit the world she came from. We chose these songs because they have a happy and dreamlike sound with great instruments supporting the two songs such as violins and guitars adding to the full grandiose sound of each track which would sound amazing on a festival stage and in a playlist.

7. 1TYM - 'Good Love' & '1TYM'

1TYM talks about a good love in ‘Good Love’ and how beautiful the person is that they love. And the sweet vocals mixed with the contrast of the Hip-Hop styled beat create a beautiful mix made for a summer filled with cute love. We loved the upbeat and fresh vibe in the music video. And seeing the classic nineties camera set-up as the group sang and rapped together. Also, a light fun track about love is always a staple for a summer playlist. So, we thought why not this 1TYM's track.

The last track we wanted to add from 1TYM is ‘1TYM’ because it gives a rush that makes you want to move, it’s a song you would put on as you're getting ready with your friends before a summer party and that you want to hear again once you’re at the party so, that you can get out on the dance floor and show off your dance moves with your friends. Also, at a summer festival is one big party so, ‘1TYM’ had to be added to the playlist because ‘1TYM’ is like an instant hype song perfect for the summer. All they need is “1TYM to blow your mind!”

8. JINUSEAN - ‘How Deep Is Your Love’

We wanted to add a song that you could just grove to in the playlist, so we picked ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ by JINUSEAN. And if that’s not enough, this song is about a love that started in the summer and JINUSEAN wants to know if the person they love really truly loves them too as much as they love them. It’s the perfect track to turn on while on a summer road trip that will help add that little piece of delight and calmness to your playlist and drive (as you travel to the summer festival). Also, the continuous beat that sounds like a slightly distorted guitar playing makes a perfect base for this song. As well as JINUSEAN’s calm but present voices in this song.  “How deep is your love?".

9. Shinhwa - ‘Rock & Roll Summer’

‘Rock & Roll Summer’ by Shinhwa was the perfect song for this list and is about unrequited love. And how the members met a special someone at the beach who doesn’t know who they are, but they have these memories of them. The members even cherish the moment they looked at them for the first time. The song has a fun upbeat feel as well as a guitar that gives this retro style to the song with its classic fifties rock sound. We think the retro feel is what makes this song so fun to listen to and it would be a great mood lifter in a playlist. Let’s Rock & Roll this summer!

10. Cool  - 'Destiny'

In ‘Destiny’ by Cool it has this fun beat that would be cool to hear at a festival. And all of the different ad-libs that this song is fun to hear would make it nice to hear live on stage or in a playlist. ‘Destiny’ being about one of the members finally finding his destiny with the other member and dating both of them because he doesn’t know who to choose reminds me of how crazy summer can be.

It would be the story you told all of your friends about when you went back to school of why your summer turned out to be so hectic. Overall, we love the styling of the video and the clothing too. What is your ‘Destiny’?

We hope you enjoyed the songs we picked for our “Eclectic K-Pop Summer Festival List “. And that you add them to your playlist this summer to celebrate these amazing first-generation K-Pop groups!