Wordle may be several years old, but the wildly popular word game has managed to keep players hooked on their phone screens since 2021.

• READ MORE: Why ‘Wordle’ is all over your timeline

It’s for good reason that the game’s popularity hasn’t dwindled: it’s free to play and boasts a simple concept for a fun and engaging puzzle game that doesn’t take too much time. To play, you’re given six tries to work out each day’s answer, with each try providing another hint until you solve (or guess) your way into getting the right answer.

Even if you’ve been playing daily since launch, Wordle stumps the best of us every so often. Some answers are easier than others, and some might even be words you might not have ever heard of (cough, cough… WOOER).

But we’re here to assure you that there’s no shame in needing a little hint every now and then. Don’t worry, we’ll try to give you clues without giving away too much of the answer.

Here’s the Wordle answer for today:

Wordle hint and clues for today (#923, December 29)

To start, yesterday’s Wordle answer (December 28) was LEARN. Here are your clues for today’s Wordle answer

1. This word is a noun
2. It can refer to an immature or irresponsible person
3. Begins with ‘C’

Today’s Wordle answer (December 29)

Still stumped? We’ve got you covered! Today’s Wordle answer has one vowel and no repeating letters.

Here’s the answer for today’s Wordle (puzzle 923 on December 29): CHILD

We’ll update this page each day to ensure it’s got the latest Wordle answer, but if you don’t want to make checking a habit, there are some handy tips to work out each day’s puzzle yourself. Try to open your guesses with a word that has plenty of vowels – as mathematician Jonathan Olson identifies, some great words to use first include ‘Salet’, ‘Rance’, ‘Alter’, and ‘Crate’.

Past Wordle answer archive

When guessing the Wordle answer for today, it can help to know what words have come before. Here’s some recent answers:

• DAISY
• PHONE
• EVOKE
• GRACE
• SLOPE
• TOUCH
• BUILT

Similar games to Wordle

If you find yourself struggling to land each answer every day, good news: there’s plenty of other similar games that can test your knowledge in other areas. The success of Wordle has meant that everyone has tried their hand at making similar games – even Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo chipped in to launch Weezle, which predictably tasks players with working out a lyric from the band’s songs each day.

If Weezer‘s not the band for you, there’s always Taylordle – which is the same game, except with Taylor Swift lyrics.

Beyond that, there’s also a battle royale, a dungeon crawler, and one that tests your knowledge of geography – so there’s plenty to choose from at the moment. There’s even a NSFW version for adults-only!

Wordle is available for free on PC and mobile.

The post Today’s Wordle answer and hints for #923 on December 29 appeared first on NME.

A paid for ad feature with viagogo.

It’s almost Christmas and for many, that means a last minute panic as they try and find the perfect present. Gift vouchers are fine, socks are useful but overdone and the less said about shower gel gift sets the better. Instead, why not give the present of a great night out this Christmas?

• READ MORE: The best albums of 2023

From huge stadium gigs through the bombast of live theatre to the dizzying excitement of watching your favourite new band dominate the stage of a small venue, tickets really do make the best gifts. With that in mind, we’ve created the ultimate last minute gift guide to help see you through this festive period. And hey, there’s no harm in buying an extra ticket for yourself either. It is your Christmas too.

The mosher

Rock & roll is back in the mainstream thanks to TikTok and a new generation of artists rediscovering the raw power of the electric guitar. Whether you’re buying for a lifelong rock fan, or someone who’s just discovered Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’, you can’t go wrong with a ticket to Download Festival. Taking place over three days in June, the weekender will play host to living legends (Fall Out Boy, The Offspring) alongside a new crop of greats including HotWax, Scowl and Wargasm.

Fans can buy and sell tickets for Download Festival at global marketplace, viagogo here.

If you want something more ferocious though, Slipknot have announced a 25th anniversary tour for their debut self-titled album, taking place at the end of 2024.

Fans can buy and sell tickets for Slipknot at global marketplace, viagogo here.

The hip-hop head

None of hip-hop’s big names have confirmed plans for next year yet but your favourite rapper’s favourite rapper has announced a UK tour. Fresh from releasing debut album ‘How Do You Sleep At Night?’, Teezo Touchdown is heading out on his first proper headline run. With co-signs from Drake, Tyler, The Creator and Travis Scott, Teezo creates what he calls “rock & boom” and looks set to become the next big thing in the scene.

Fans can buy and sell tickets for Teezo Touchdown at global marketplace, viagogo here.

Alternatively, Frank Ocean has just released a range of new merch alongside a repress of ‘Blonde’.

The pop lover

It’s been a huge year for pop music, with massive tours from Beyoncé, Madonna and Sam Smith. Somehow, 2024 will be even bigger. We’ve already had the return of Dua Lipa confirmed and Taylor Swift’s huge ‘Eras’ tour is finally touching down in Europe. Girls Aloud have also announced their long-awaited return, with a sprawling headline tour that just keeps getting bigger. Promising to play all the greatest hits alongside their own favourites, it’s set to be an emotional, joyful evening.

Fans can buy and sell tickets for Girls Aloud at global marketplace, viagogo here.

Alternatively, why not pick up a vinyl copy of Dua Lipa’s banging new single ‘Houdini’ on vinyl.

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The dancing queen

If you want a great night out, you can’t go wrong with the music of ABBA. Now, while the band aren’t actually touring, the impressive ABBA Voyage is the next best thing as it brings together cutting edge tech with those timeless songs. Alternatively, the musical Mamma Mia! continues to go from strength to strength in London’s West End.

Fans can buy and sell tickets for London’s West End at global marketplace, viagogo here and Abba Voyage here. 

The person who just wants a fun night out

Sometimes, you just want the adult version of a sugar-fuelled school disco. Luckily, Nile Rodgers & Chic are touring in 2024 and they’re bringing party-starting queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor with them. If you’ve seen her showstopping Glasto 2023 performance or heard about Chic’s feel-good dance blowout, you know this is going to be a night to remember.

Fans can buy and sell tickets for Nile Rodgers at global marketplace, viagogo here.

Alternatively, Moulin Rouge is currently playing on the West End, featuring tracks from the likes of Adele, Katy Perry and Rihanna.

Fans can buy and sell tickets for London’s West End at global marketplace, viagogo here

The ‘music was better in my day’ fan

Not everyone likes new music and that’s fine. There’s something comforting about going to a gig, and knowing you’re going to know all the words as you’re transported back to a time where, in your humble opinion, music was better. No gig next year is going to be as chaotically wonderful as Liam Gallagher’s 30th anniversary tour for Oasis’ classic album ‘Definitely, Maybe’. He’s even promising not to play any of his solo material.

Fans can buy and sell tickets for Liam Gallagher at global marketplace, viagogo here.

Alternatively, why not pick up a vinyl player to relive the glory days.

The hit lover

Some music lovers can’t resist a deep dive into the carefully curated world of an album. Others are just here for the hits, and next year The Killers are heading out on a massive UK headline tour in support of their second greatest hits album ‘Rebel Diamonds’, which features one song from every year they’ve been a band. As you can imagine, that setlist is going to be wall-to-wall bangers.

Fans can buy and sell tickets for The Killers at global marketplace, viagogo here.

Additionally, why not get some earplugs so they a) don’t damage their hearing and b) can’t hear how out of tune their neighbour is singing along to ‘Mr Brightside’

The humble bragger

Got a friend who can’t help but tell you that they saw an artist before they got massive? Well, why not help them out with tickets to see The Last Dinner Party on their upcoming UK and European headline tour. From the moment they released their first single ‘Nothing Matters’, the band have been known as the most exciting thing in indie and with their debut album finally coming out in February, their next headline tour is going to be a real  ‘I was there’ moment.

Fans can buy and sell tickets for The Last Dinner Party at global marketplace, viagogo here.

Alternatively, why not buy them tickets to a gig at your local grassroots venue. Not only will you be supporting a scene that can’t help but create greatness, but you could discover something wonderful.

The post Last minute gift guide for gig lovers appeared first on NME.

In partnership with Beyond the Valley

When you think about the world’s calendar for music festivals, December isn’t a month that springs to mind – but Beyond The Valley is changing that. Over a few years, the music festival has established itself as a New Year’s Eve tradition not just for Australians but increasingly for lovers of good music worldwide.

What better way to shake off the year-end blues than by soaking in a southern-hemisphere summer, taking in top-notch performances at world-class stages and indulging in all the perks that a good festival has to offer? It’s no surprise that Beyond The Valley’s eighth edition is officially sold out, with tens of thousands of fest fiends ready to party in the Barunah Plains in Victoria next week.

If you’re wondering what the fuss is all about, read on to find out why Beyond The Valley is a special festival. Of course, nothing beats actually being there, but this list is a close second…

Beyond The Valley’s stunning location is almost beyond belief

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a music festival elsewhere in the world with a more picturesque location than Beyond The Valley, which takes place on the Barunah Plains, on the lands of the Wadawurrung and Eastern Maar Peoples. BTV makes full use of a gorgeous natural amphitheatre that makes you feel like you’re doing more than just rocking up to a festival – you’ll be entering a haven with your fellow music lovers for an ecstatic celebration of community and good vibes.

This little idyll isn’t inaccessible, either – Beyond The Valley is just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne (the festival offers buses from the city’s CBD if you’re not planning on taking your own car). And BTV allows you to customise your festival experience: either use day passes and leave the fest each day, or take advantage of top-of-the-line camping facilities and enjoy your time on-site to your heart’s content.

Mix up your festival experience with all the different stages

Beyond The Valley, like any good large-scale festival, has multiple stages – but what differentiates BTV is that organisers really make them worth your while. All stages have been kitted out with unparalleled tech and production that mean wherever you go, you’ll have a NYE blowout to remember. Of course, you can’t miss the massive Valley Stage with its lights, pyro and huge soundsystems, nor the custom-built Dance Dome for the ravers and players (where you can also expect two secret sets this year – keep your eyes peeled).

But make time for the more idiosyncratic and intimate stages too. At the Dr Dans stage, which was named in loving memory of fest friend Daniel Christidis and has garnered itself a cult following from BTV diehards, you can expect to dance your arse off to incredible DJs and thrilling takeovers (such as the Poof Doof’s pinktastic Barbie Party on day 4).

Or find the hidden entrance and squeeze yourself into Schmall Klub, a concealed, limited-capacity party that will transport you to an industrial European club. This space was proposed in 2019 by RÜFÜS DU SOL, the homegrown heroes who are headlining the festival this year. Will you see them in the venue that was their brainchild? Well, you’ll have to find it first…

You-had-to-be-there performances from a world-class line-up

Beyond The Valley isn’t any ordinary music festival – you can expect to make some massive memories here. Expect performances you’ll be talking up to your mates for months – you’ll be telling them, “you simply had to be there.” Last year BTV played host to pop queen Nelly Furtado’s first-ever performance in five years, and she had a special treat for revellers: a rendition of her TikTok-viral collab with Dom Dolla, the slinky ‘Eat Your Man’.

And for 2023, the fest has secured not only stellar performers but also culture-changers who’ve made songs that have defined our year: UK rap frontrunner Central Cee spun gold with Dave on the massive single ‘Sprinter’, and Seoul’s finest Peggy Gou made our 2023 when she dropped the fresh-yet-classic banger ‘(It Goes Like) Nanana’. RÜFÜS DU SOL, the only act nominated at the 2023 Grammys, will stage the transcendent live show that has made them a name the world over.

The BTV line-up, overall, is world-class. Some of Australia’s best and most beloved artists will be here this year – from pop-rock legend, queer icon and drummer extraordinaire G Flip to beloved duo Flight Facilities, who will present their Decades Show at BTV – alongside local rising stars you’ll be bragging about seeing on the smaller stages, like Yolŋu surf rock stars King Stingray and the larger-than-life ‘slut-pop’ provocateur Big Wett. And we haven’t even mentioned the likes of Ferg, Jayda G, Mall Grab, DMA’S, Overmono… This is canny curation of the highest quality.

Eclectic experiences to keep you guessing

BTV makes it a point to go above and beyond – which means that there’s heaps of fantastic extramusical experiences to complete your time at the fest. Yearning for a bit of pool time? Head to the Better Beer Beach Club and grab a pint while you’re at it. Itching for some retail therapy? Check out the Market Village. Want some food for thought? Be a fly on the wall at the Podcast Stage, which makes a splashy return after its well-received debut last year, and attend live and interactive recordings with a line-up of podcasters curated by The Daily Aus. Talk about the footy at The Mason Cox Show, contemplate community with Yarning Up First Nations Stories with Caroline Kell and get into Scheananigans with Vanderpump Rules personality Scheana Shay.

There’s tons more fun to be had too with Poof Doof, who’ve been curating iconic queer programming for BTV since 2018. Expect games and giveaways, drag performances from Jimi The Kween, Justin Teliqure and more, and even dance classes. Memorialise your BTV experience by booking a festival tat with Dylan Davis Tattoo – and if you’ve been meaning to tie the knot or renew your vows, why not do it at BTV with its pop-up inflatable wedding chapel? Remember to bring your own dress and suit…

Rest, relax and recharge for 2024

When the final pyro fires and the last stage light powers down at Beyond The Valley, you’ll inevitably be dreading a return to the real world – and a whole new year. But you’ll be leaving only after having experienced the finest of BTV hospitality with its New Year’s Day Recovery program. For the first time, organisers will keep food, hydration and wellness activities open until 6pm on New Year’s Day so you can recover from the festivities before heading home.

Stretch or be stretched with yoga, pilates and massages – or commune with your fellow fest attendees with communal art activities or lawn games on the Main Street. If you’re in dire need of a straightforward lie-down, drop by the fruit and hydration station before commandeering a beanbag or hammock – or your corner of the pool at the Better Beer Beach Club.

And if the year has really run you ragged and you need that r’n’r before January 1, you can head to the Sanctuary throughout BTV for a plethora of fun and restorative activities. Get in touch with your body through yoga, pilates, dance classes, meditation, massages and breathwork – or exercise your mind with trivia and mindset coaching. You could even meet the love of your life at Beyond The Valley with its speed dating program. They do say ‘new year, new me’ after all…

Beyond The Valley takes place December 28, 2023 to January 1, 2024. Find out more about the line-up, stages and experiences on the official BTV website

The post Only one in the world: 5 reasons Beyond The Valley is the Australian music festival you can’t miss appeared first on NME.

In partnership with Amex Gold Unsigned

Amex Gold Unsigned hosted its 2023 showcase at north London venue The Dome last month, creating breakthrough opportunities for emerging artists and celebrating new music of every genre.

This year, Unsigned has shone a light on the crucial role grassroots music venues play in developing and promoting emerging music in the UK by partnering with The Dome and hosting two live showcases.

At those events, six of the brightest new unsigned talents in the country displayed their talents. Here, we find out a little more about them.

Abz Winter

From: Rugby
For fans of: Maggie Lindemann, Demi Lovato
My sound in one sentence: “Powerhouse vocals, thundering crescendos and youthful emotional lyrics always written with catharsis in the tone.”
Key track: ‘Are You Good?’

BABY

From: Kent/London
For fans of: Bakar, Jamie T
My sound in one sentence: “Kitchen sink storytelling over scrappy indie chords and DIY bedroom beats.”
Key track: ‘potholes’

Harleighblu

From: Nottingham
For fans of: If Amy Winehouse and Anderson .Paak had a love child, I would be it.
My sound in one sentence: “Raspy jazzy vocals over trippy electronic soulful beats.”
Key track: ‘Queeen Dem’

KIANJA

From: I grew up in Stoke Newington, I’m Jamaican in blood
For fans of: Cleo Sol, Emeli Sandé
My sound in one sentence: “Singalong songs with thought provoking lyrics, lush live arrangements and tender vocals.”
Key track: ‘Place For Me’

Riya Gadher

From: Born and raised in Leicester but now living in West London
For fans of: Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish
My sound in one sentence: “Hypnotic vocals that underpin a cinematic yet urban production style to ultimately enhance the lyrical subjects of self love, self discovery, growth, evolution and hope.”
Key track: ‘You Take Up My Songs’

simon a.

From: Walthamstow, East London
For fans of: Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar
My sound in one sentence: “The voice of a soulful crooner, the lyricism of a rapper and the concepts of a contemporary fine artist.”
Key track: ‘Find Peace Anytime’

The post Meet the artists from Amex Gold Unsigned’s live showcase appeared first on NME.

A paid for ad feature for viagogo.

Viagogo has shared a list of 2023’s most in-demand events, from huge music concerts to massive sporting events. 

• READ MORE: The seven tours we want turned into movies

Viagogo’s first annual year in review reported a 41 per cent increase in fans purchasing tickets for events abroad compared to 2022.

Punters from over 90 countries, including Bermuda, Brazil, Singapore and South Africa, bought tickets on viagogo to see Beyoncé’s record-breaking ‘Renaissance’ tour when it touched down in London in May while supporters from over 40 countries bought tickets to experience The Ashes over the summer.

Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour made Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the second most in-demand venue in the country, based on tickets purchased on viagogo, beaten only by Wembley Stadium which hosted gigs from the likes of The Weeknd, Harry Styles and Blur.

“London has always been a hotspot for great live music and competitive sport and that’s especially clear in 2023, as we’re seeing record numbers of fans travelling in to share the magic,” said viagogo Global MD, Cris Miller. 

“The UK has been experiencing a resurgence in live events. Fans globally are leveraging our platform to plan holidays to get to these gigs. The knock-on effect of these memorable moments has a positive impact on local businesses and shows the growing demand for these in-person experiences.” 

The ten most in-demand artists based on tickets sold on viagogo and StubHub for events in the UK in 2023, as of 1 December 2023, is as follows.

1. Beyoncé
2. Harry Styles
3. The Weeknd
4. Coldplay
5. Elton John
6. Bruce Springsteen
7. Chris Brown
8. Madonna
9. P!NK
10. Arctic Monkeys

Elsewhere, for the first time since the NFL started playing matches in the UK 16 years ago, a majority of the supporters at both Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium came from the UK, with just 42 per cent coming from abroad. Fans still travelled in from more than 74 countries though, helping NFL matches become some of the most popular sporting events in 2023, according to viagogo ticket sales.

The top ten most popular UK sporting events of 2023 are as follows:

1. The Championships, Wimbledon (tennis)
2. Formula 1 British Grand Prix (motorsport)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills – NFL London Games 2023 (American Football)
4. ICC World Test Championship – Australia v India (cricket)
5. Wales vs England – Guinness Six Nations 2023 (rugby union)
6. KSI vs Tommy Fury (boxing)
7. Baltimore Ravens vs Tennessee Titans – NFL London Games 2023 (American Football)
8. The Open Championship (golf)
9. England vs France – Guinness Six Nations 2023 (rugby union)
10. Atlanta Falcons vs Jacksonville Jaguars – NFL London Games 2023 (American Football)

Looking ahead to 2024, viagogo ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s upcoming UK leg of her Eras Tour are already tracking at 50 per cent more than Beyoncé achieved in all of 2023. Ticket sales for her Wembley Stadium shows have already claimed three spaces on viagogo’s list of the ten most anticipated shows in the UK for 2024, with Foo Fighters’ gigs at London Stadium and Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground also ranking in the top ten.

According to viagogo data, British performers make up 50 per cent of the most sought-after tickets in the UK in 2024, with Take That, Liam Gallagher, Depeche Mode, Bring Me The Horizon and Eric Clapton claiming five of the 10 most popular tickets for UK events. 

The UK’s Most In-Demand Artists for 2024 are as follows:

1. Taylor Swift
2. Foo Fighters
3. Take That
4. Liam Gallagher
5. Bruce Springsteen
6. P!NK
7. Depeche Mode
8. Bring Me The Horizon
9. Eric Clapton
10. Olivia Rodrigo

The post The UK’s hottest concerts and sporting events of 2023 have been revealed appeared first on NME.

For a second year in a row, the ladies are leading the charge in K-pop. It didn’t matter if their songs were vulnerable confessions of love or empowering, tongue-in-cheek anthems, whether the groups were rookies itching for their first hit or seasoned veterans showing everyone how it’s done, they were all one simple thing: inescapable.

• READ MORE: The 50 best songs of 2023

Beyond their popularity and catchiness, these girl groups also managed to capture the essence of pure joy in their songs. While music can teach important life lessons or impart sage advice – and these tunes accomplish those as well – who’s to say they can’t do all that while having us, say, twerking on the runway?

While the boys did try to put up a fight – special shout out to the likes of Key, SEVENTEEN, Kai and more – 2023 was a girl’s world, and we were all just living in it. From hypnotic Jersey club bangers to macabre love stories, here are the 25 best K-pop songs of the year.

Puah ZiWei, Commissioning Editor (K-pop)

Words by: Daniel Anderson, Tássia Assis, Sarina Bhutani, Carmen Chin, Sara Delgado, Rhian Daly, Lucy Ford, Tamar Herman, Joey Levenson, Ivana E. Morales, Puah ZiWei, Tanu I. Raj, Abby Webster, Gladys Yeo

25. RIIZE, ‘Memories’

In many ways, RIIZE’s ‘Memories’ is less one song than three – which makes sense as a boyband under SM Entertainment, whose groups have made a trademark of whiplash-speed tempo and melodic breaks in their tracks. ‘Memories’ builds on that legacy, with distinct verses, pre-choruses and rap breaks all building towards one of the most euphoric choruses of the year.

• READ MORE: RIIZE carve out a refreshing, distinct sound for themselves on ‘Get A Guitar’
  

If the start of this year was all about Y2K, we’re rounding it out with a move slightly into the future. The song’s stellar chorus screams 2010s pop euphoria, all sun-drenched key changes that sound like the promise of a never-ending summer. LF

Best bit: The joyful crash of the very first chorus. It makes way for one of the finest, bounciest, most ‘ain’t life grand’ choruses of the year that will have you punching the air.

24. IVE, ‘I AM’

The soaring sound of a jet plane doesn’t typically open up glittery dance tracks promoting self-love and discovering one’s best life, but IVE leaned into the high-flying journey towards finding one’s own way in ‘I AM’.

Built on thumping beats and shimmering synths, ‘I AM’ spends its time pushing and pulling between back-and-forth harmonising and building high notes. It’s as if the song is pacing itself with moments of melodious contemplation and bursts of dynamism, before ultimately deciding that it wants to surge forward once and for all, declaring itself a high-octane pop declaration to find out who ‘I AM’. TH

Best bit: The phrasing of lines like “Life is a beautiful galaxy” and “Be a writer, the genre is fantasy” bring a sense of wonder to the intimate journey towards self-discovery and self-love.

23. Jeon Somi, ‘Fast Forward’

Who said K-pop has left house music behind? Jeon Somi’s ‘Fast Forward’ kept the beat pumping and our heads banging. The singer quite literally cycled through aesthetics and eras in the search for true love – going from anime-core barbie to futuristic fantasia.

Ironically, it seems this search would also be an endless loop much like the progression of the song – keeping us trapped in a melodic prison of longing and loneliness. Ridiculously catchy, fast-paced – ‘Fast Forward’ was a much-welcomed throwback to the era of crying in the club. TR

Best bit: Somebody crown Somi as the queen of the catchy chorus, because it took us a while to get this one out of our heads.

22. NMIXX, ‘Roller Coaster’

NMIXX may have fallen off the radar for many K-pop fans, but not us – and so the underrated ‘Roller Coaster’ has not gone unrecognised. The song evokes the tropical house mastery of classic K-pop bangers – think SHINee’s ‘View’ and f(x)’s ‘4 Walls’ – but lends it a tinge of innocence and girlhood that makes it feel like a spritz of cool water in the hot summer.

NMIXX’s roster of gifted vocalists are given plenty of space to prove their mettle and absolutely do; Lily and Sullyoon in particular lift this song to breathtaking heights. Some may argue that ‘Roller Coaster’ doesn’t exactly fall under NMIXX’s brand of experimental music, but it’s hard to fight against a feel-good tune evoking the inherent romance of summer. CC

Best bit: The song could not have ended on a better note than the outro performed by Kyujin and Jiwoo.

21. Jungkook, ‘Standing Next to You’

Few times has a song hit the bullseye of “K-pop with a Western focus” like Jungkook’s ‘Standing Next to You’. In fact, this might be the best example that K-pop can export uniqueness without losing itself in the process – even when sung entirely in English.

• READ MORE: Jungkook – ‘Golden’ review: a new pop king prepares to take his throne
  

It envelopes the listener in brass, bass and glitter, and the BTS maknae has never sounded so confident. Although largely inspired by Michael Jackson – complete with falsettos and dance moves – it’s Jungkook’s star power that shines through, and ultimately asserts him as a global pop prince in the making. TA

Best bit: The second part of the chorus, where Jungkook is passionately proclaiming the deepness of his love (“You know it’s deeper than the rain / It’s deeper than the pain”), yet finds the time to cram in a BTS reference (“When it’s deep like DNA”) into the mix.

20. IVE, ‘Blue Blood’

Pulsating percussion forms a steely spine throughout this number, elevating the frosty anthem into a marching battle hymn. Each member’s husky voices adds delicious layers to their sibilant siren song, crescendoing with piercing strings that are as every bit as haunting as the resolute declarations of “I’m blue”.

• READ MORE: IVE: “We’re going to shine at the top, we belong at the top”
  

While ‘Blue Blood’ had the unenvious responsibility of kicking off IVE’s much-anticipated debut studio album, ‘I’VE IVE’, it delivered aloof seduction as the girls wrap South Korea’s curiosity about blood types around their manicured fingers. DA

Best bit: Each time they ask, “What’s your blood type”, but you know it’s rhetorical because they are too cool to ever be a match with you.

19. NewJeans, ‘ETA’

There’s an inherent paradox in ‘ETA’. The poppy, uplifting beat belongs right at the heart of a Brazilian baile funk, mixed with influences from Baltimore club classic ‘Samir’s Theme’ and a deconstructed ‘Think’ break sample. It’s a pocket-size dancefloor hit meant to be played on loop.

But then, the lyrics coax the listener to break up with a cheating boyfriend, all in intimate, journal-like anecdotes. “The day you couldn’t come to my birthday party / The day Hyejin got in so much trouble,” the quintet whisper in angelic voices, as if we were just there, living through these moments with them. It’s that relatability that makes ‘ETA’ another instant classic by industry-igniters NewJeans. TA

Best bit: The addictive “What’s your ETA? What’s your ETA? (Mm-mhm-mm)” chorus. Good luck not getting it stuck in your mind for months.

18. KISS OF LIFE, ‘Sugarcoat’

There have been many attempts by K-pop acts to recapture the magic of ’90s R&B, but Natty’s ‘Sugarcoat’, which served as a precursor to KISS OF LIFE’s banger debut, hit the nail right on the head. The groove of ‘Sugarcoat’ hinges almost entirely on Natty’s smooth but powerful vocal delivery, of which she offers up plenty.

She fully leans into the sound and takes control of the music, letting her voice come to the forefront. Not only does it highlight how adept Natty has become as a singer, but KISS OF LIFE’s general musicality as a four-piece that’s unafraid to steep themselves into nostalgic genres and reinvent them for new and old audiences alike. CC

Best bit: Natty hitting every single note of that beautiful rapid-fire, falsetto pre-chorus with razor sharp accuracy.

17. BIBI, ‘Hongdae R&B’

In this moody R&B number dedicated to Seoul’s famed Hongdae street, BIBI peels back the vibrant exterior of its bustling nightlife and promise-filled music scene, diving into its gritty underbelly.

The song takes us on a journey through the “toothless, needlessly pricey” neighbourhood, introducing the motley cast of characters lurking in its background: the half-hearted indie guitarist and his intoxicated girlfriend, “gangster” underground rappers and celebrity oppas notorious for seducing young women. A tragically astute exploration of youthful aspiration and where it goes to die, BIBI’s soulful, vulnerable pen and voice are the perfect instruments for bringing that image to life. GY

Best bit: The languid, seamlessly fluid sing-rap delivery in the second verse.

16. fromis_9, ‘Attitude’

Born of humble beginnings, fromis_9 have truly come into their own, and ‘Attitude’ is an emblem of their newfound carefree confidence. The song feels like a spell wrapped in a satin veil that unfolds into a risk-taking adventure for the ages – those that go into the unknown but linger forever in the memory.

• READ MORE: fromis_9 – ‘Unlock My World’ review: a treasure trove of pop gems
  

Vivid yet seductive, with an air of burning desire, fromis_9 declare their intent to take on the liberation that’s just within reach: “Don’t stop me now / Watch me / My flame that explodes silently.” IM

Best bit: The delightful pre-choruses where Jiwon and Hayoung give us the track’s most unabashed declaration: “Waiting for the show / now count to three and throw me all.”

15. ATEEZ, ‘Bouncy (K-Hot Chilli Peppers)’

What would K-pop be without a little earworm? Whether you love it or hate it (or Stockholm-syndromed yourself into liking it), there’s no denying that ATEEZ’s ‘Bouncy (K-Hot Chilli Peppers)’ will leave an impression that won’t be easy to forget after just one listen.

ATEEZ have always trafficked in extremes, with a penchant for irreverence and sonic noise, but ‘Bouncy’ takes it a step further. Undoubtedly their most playful and successful title track to date, ‘Bouncy’ revels in chaos, mixing distorted arrangements with aggressive autotune and, somehow, it pays off. SD

Best bit: The infectious trifecta of pre-chorus, Hongjoong-led chorus and post-chorus.

14. aespa, ‘Drama’

The K-pop canon has no shortage of badass anthems but, in November, aespa offered up one of 2023’s strongest, most intriguing additions to the collection. ‘Drama’ put the girl group in the driver’s seat, confidently taking the wheel as they warned the world of what to expect from them. “I bring all the drama-ma-ma-ma,” they cautioned over a metallic, ominous instrumental that was both experimental and accessible.

In case you didn’t get the message the first time, Winter made it crystal clear in the outro, with a declaration that could double as a comment on aespa’s trajectory this year delivered in deceptively sweet tones: “You know, I’m savage / Unstoppable, baddest.” RD

Best bit: The whole first verse is packed with lines that scratch your brain exactly the right way, from Karina’s “Ziggy, ziggy, zag, I’m new” to Ningning’s infectious “I li-li-like me when I roll / Li-li-like me when I’m savage”.

13. NCT Dream, ‘Broken Melodies’

Leave it to NCT Dream, the cheeriest of the NCT units, to gift us with an unexpected glam rock-leaning gem. ‘Broken Melodies’ is NCT Dream at their most anthemic, showing a sonic side of the septet we’d never quite seen before.

Soft-strummed guitar riffs lead the arrangement, intermixing with skittering drum beats and honeyed harmonies. Though the bridge might seem slightly out of place with the guitar-drum patterns upon first listen, the impossible-to-resist melody of the staccato chorus fully seals the deal. SD

Best bit: Chenle’s final high note.

12. VIVIZ, ‘Untie’

Remember when GFRIEND dropped the magnificent ‘Mago’ and (sadly) dipped? It’s taken VIVIZ a moment, but Eunha, SinB and Umji have finally picked up where their original group left off, and the result is a provocative, bewitching runway banger that feels like a natural evolution for the beloved trio.

While you’re hypnotised by the four-on-the-floor beat, VIVIZ cast a spell with their raspy, whispered vocals, compelling you to keep the song on repeat – not that we’d have refused – all while commenting on the hollowness of social media. No notes. PZW

Best bit: Try to resist the urge to go “Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta, all tied” randomly after listening to this masterpiece.

11. tripleS, ‘Speed Love’

In tripleS sub-unit LOVElution’s B-side ‘Speed Love’, crush-induced nerves verge on panic, as sparse piano chords capsize into flighty woodwinds and slick drum ‘n’ bass. Stumbling through a romantic confession, the girl group seem impatient to get it all out of their system: “I just want to rush this,” they sing, and the giddy production is all too happy to oblige.

• READ MORE: tripleS LOVELution – ‘ↀ’ review: a dizzying, enthralling kaleidoscope
  

Clocking in well under three minutes, ‘Speed Love’ extends the experimental rookies’ run of short bops with real staying power. (Even sans their usual ‘la-la-la’s, this chorus is guaranteed to race through your head for days.) The group’s breadth of releases this year have ranged from good to great – and if K-pop is an endurance sport, surely that qualifies them for both marathon and sprint. AW

Best bit: The mercurial flute that quite simply runs laps around the already impressive instrumentation.

10. Kai, ‘Rover’

‘Rover’, a remake of Bulgarian singer Dara’s song ‘Mr. Rover’, is, to put it bluntly, a song to shake ass to. Kai has an airy, husky timbre that pairs beautifully with the stripped-back nature of his previous releases, but, with ‘Rover’, the incubator of this year’s most infectious hook and dance challenge, he shows how addicting it can be while floating above something more thunderous and demanding.

• READ MORE: Kai talks NME through his ‘Firsts’
  

The song, dripping with confidence and sex appeal, is a showcase of how well his voice can meld to what’s beneath it, as it bobs and weaves between sultry R&B verses, Reggaeton-thumping choruses and a spine-tingling bridge that gives his stunning lower register a moment to shine. LF

Best bit: The final chorus and outro that is a feastful tour of what Kai can do with his voice, as it blends from a rapturous riff over the song’s main hook into some ASMR-adjacent speak-singing straight from his lower register.

9. Red Velvet, ‘Knock Knock (Who’s There?)’

One thing about Red Velvet? Every one of their songs takes you into a world of its own, whether it’s a jungle safari bursting with life or a violently kaleidoscopic theme park.

• READ MORE: Red Velvet – ‘Chill Kill’ review: deliciously dark, delightfully macabre
  

With ‘Knock Knock (Who’s There?)’, the quintet combine an eerie sample of ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ with the sophisticated harmonies often associated with their sensual “velvet” side, lulling listeners into a fantastical yet desolate supernatural realm where Halloween is forever. Musically and lyrically, ‘Knock Knock (Who’s There?)’ is an atmospheric track overflowing with artfully constructed imagery, making it one of their strongest offerings to date. GY

Best bit: The angelic harmonies towards the end of each chorus as they sing: “Got a devil, on my shoulder / A gently whispered voice.”

8. NewJeans, ‘OMG’

NewJeans’ deeply-infectious ‘OMG’ perfectly encapsulates the group’s spirit. With a touch of sass, the song’s prominent bassline and funky drumbeat do all the moving while their vocals take on a more laid-back, effortless approach.

• READ MORE: NewJeans: “We want to show the industry that music shouldn’t be divided by language”
  

Their perennial cheeky lyricism is also on full display here, as the girls pine hopelessly: “Oh my, oh my God! 예상했어 나 (I knew this would happen) / I was really hoping that he will come through.” When you inevitably catch yourself singing along, you can’t help but feel as though you’re in a back-and-forth with all five members. It’s a masterclass of immersive world-building in a simple, short-and-sweet track. JL

Best bit: The surreal, yet somewhat beautiful music video that accompanied the release of the song.

7. SEVENTEEN, ‘Super’

“Feels like I turned into Son O-gong,” SEVENTEEN shared on ‘Super’, a statement that, by the end of 2023, became something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. The mythical Chinese character is known for his colossal strength and ability to defeat the best warriors and, while the boyband might not have gone into battle, this year they dominated K-pop, racking up record-breaking sales and their first Album Of The Year award at MAMA 2023.

• READ MORE: Exhausted by the grind? ‘Second Wind’ by SEVENTEEN trio BSS is a perfect pick-me-up
  

Is it any wonder when the music was as good as this blistering single – a high octane ode to the group’s resilience and determination whose power never weakens, no matter how many times you listen to it. RD

Best bit: It’s a toss up between every gleeful “Da-rum da-rim-da” and Woozi’s ending moment full of “ener-energy”.

6. FIFTY FIFTY, ‘Cupid’

FIFTY FIFTY’s meteoric rise in the K-pop scene was marked by both triumph and adversity. Their retro-pop breakout hit, ‘Cupid’, took the entire world by storm with its infectious bubblegum vibes and disco-inspired synths. An equally catchy (if not better) English version catapulted the song to even greater success, thanks in-part to a reworked bridge and the quartet’s flawless English pronunciation.

• READ MORE: FIFTY FIFTY on joining K-pop’s new wave of powerhouse girl groups: “We wanted to show ourselves and stand out”
  

However, behind the scenes, the group faced challenges with their agency ATTRAKT, with three members – Sio, Aran and Saena – now no longer part of the group. Despite these setbacks, FIFTY FIFTY’s musical impact with ‘Cupid’ remains undeniable, proving that their talent and resilience shine through even in the face of adversity. JL

Best bit: (Former) Lead singers Sio and Aran flexing their talent with powerful vocals across the song’s bridge.

5. Key, ‘CoolAs’

From its sparkly opening notes to the a capella final seconds, ‘CoolAs’ is one of 2023’s masterpieces. It grabs you with a slinky bassline, reminiscent of Beyoncé’s ‘Virgo’s Groove’ and Moloko’s ‘Sing It Back’, and grounds the boat while Key is, well, being Key. By that, we mean to repeat his own lyrics: “I’m impeccable, I’m exceptional.”

• READ MORE: Key – ‘Good & Great’ review: exactly what it says on the tin
  

Thankfully he knows, because this B-side (that should very well have been a single) captures his versatility, sass and panache like few others. And his confidence is contagious – once it’s over, you may not be “dripping ice” or hearing a “choir full of angels”, but you’ll feel at least a little bit as cool as one of K-pop’s best soloists. TA

Best bit: The conviction with which he delivers lines like “Turning these heads like spectacle / Green with envy like vegetable”, making them iconic instead of ludicrous.

4. NCT DoJaeJung, ‘Perfume’

Though NCT’s sound is typically that of sensory overload, sub-unit DoJaeJung find their calm in the chaos with ‘Perfume’, the group’s sweet, yet sultry debut single.

The track’s top notes are the trio’s honeyed harmonies, with each member’s vocals perfectly complimenting that of the others, while the base note, the soul of the track, is its musky, R&B melody that can’t help but linger in your mind. Together, Doyoung, Jaehyun and Jungwoo create impact through surprising softness, uncovering new layers to the beloved veteran boyband. SB

Best bit: Jaehyun’s silky smooth solo during the interlude hits all the right nerves (and is even better when accompanied by its equally satisfying choreography).

3. LE SSERAFIM, ‘Eve, Psyche, and the Bluebeard’s Wife’

What’s so great about ‘Eve, Psyche, and the Bluebeard’s Wife’ is how understated it is. The Jersey club-inspired, uptempo track rests on a consistent electro progression, rarely deviating from a beat that’s nothing short of addictive. To this, LE SSERAFIM add almost laid-back vocals, weaving a story of power that fosters and simmers in silence rather than break down the door with a bang.

• READ MORE: LE SSERAFIM: “Walk your own path, even if you might become the villain”
  

The steadiness is a spell meant to keep us bound; the lyrics, our call to wake from the slumber of submission. But what’s more devastatingly beautiful are moments building up to it – the “boom, boom, boom” of your heart when you go from wishing for “what’s forbidden” to actually breaking the rules. TR

Best bit: Yunjin’s deep vocals kicking off the song with “I’m a mess, mess, mess – safe to say, we were left “mess-merised”.

2. (G)I-DLE, ‘Queencard’

After last year’s ‘Nxde’ and ‘Tomboy’, (G)I-DLE returned in May with yet-another tongue-in-cheek take on bold femininity, challenging the status quo with confidence-booster ‘Queencard’. A sassy, campy ode to loving oneself and being the queen bee of your own life, this tune masquerades as hot girl shit while letting listeners in on the joke regarding double-standards about women, especially those living in the spotlight.

• READ MORE: (G)I-DLE – ‘I Feel’ review: destined to be their most divisive release yet
  

Quirky, tempo-shifting pop-rock drives the push-and-pull of the melody, as the members drop deadpan, sassy one-liners, conversationally driving the song towards the rousing chorus that celebrates twerking on the runway. TH

Best bit: “Queencard, I’m hot / My boob and booty’s hot” – but I’m still wondering… Which boob?

1. NewJeans, ‘Super Shy’

When NewJeans arrived in 2022, it was both swift and surprising – without any lead-up, Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein entered into our lives and held us rapt with lowkey, ’90s-inspired R&B singles, a shock to the K-pop ecosystem. Their sophomore EP, ‘Get Up’, is likewise understated: NewJeans moon over boys and catch all the feels to minimal club beats. Each offering is chock full of that girlish magic, but the soft, dreamlike drum ‘n’ bass of ‘Super Shy’ has its own special way of worming into hearts (and minds).

• READ MORE: NewJeans – ‘Get Up’ review: no one can hold a candle to K-pop’s rising wonder girls
  

In their quest to court a crush, the quintet serve up schoolgirl doubts with a quiet confidence: “I’m super shy, super shy / But wait a minute while I make you mine, make you mine”. Their hushed talk-singing charms the most, and that’s part and parcel of NewJeans’ success – they’re able to make themselves heard with only a whisper because everything from the marketing to the music itself beckons you to lean in and listen. ‘Super Shy’ comes together as the perfect K-pop package, solidifying NewJeans’ status as the girl group we’re sure to be talking about for years to come. AW

Best bit: Hyein and Minji’s staccato ask-out: “Find a lil’ spot, just sit and talk.” Name the time and place.

The post The 25 best K-pop songs of 2023 appeared first on NME.

This week’s stars of The Cover on NME, NewDad, have shared a playlist exclusively to accompany the story’s launch – listen to it below.

• READ MORE: The future is NewDad’s for the taking

The Galway-raised, London-based band are on this week’s (December 18) edition of The Cover, a renewal of NME’s commitment to supporting emerging talent across the globe on a weekly basis. Every week, a rising artist will feature on The Cover – you can read NewDad’s profile here.

The band have compiled ‘Songs That Have Captured Our Imagination’, a playlist featuring artists that have inspired their upcoming debut album ‘Madra’. Pixies, Sorry, Nirvana and more all feature. Listen to the full playlist on Spotify below and on Apple Music.

In this week’s Cover, NewDad discusses their upcoming debut album, released January 26. The group told NME why they feel so confident in the new record.

“Recently, I was listening to our early discography and I was like, ‘I don’t know who that is.’ It was almost like an out of body experience,” guitarist Julie Dawson told NME. “But with ‘Madra’, I understood where I was going with the songwriting. I know her.”

Elsewhere, they discuss signing to a major label, a formative experience seeing The Cure in their home county and more.

Read the full Cover story with NewDad here.

The post Listen to NewDad’s exclusive playlist to accompany The Cover appeared first on NME.

A paid for ad feature for viagogo.

2024 is already shaping up to an absolutely bonkers year for live music. In recent weeks, the likes of The Killers, Bloc Party, Kasabian, Girls Aloud and Ethel Cain have all announced massive tours to go alongside previously confirmed runs from Blink-182, Green Day, Manic Street Preachers and Taylor Swift.

• READ MORE: The biggest team-up tours that you can’t afford to miss

But let’s not wish away the rest of 2023 just yet. The nights may be long and the weather is reliably terrible, but there are a bunch of brilliant gigs happening around the UK. To help you keep track of the spectacular must-see shows happening here are the best gigs to see this week (December 18 – December 25).

Tom Jones

Tom Jones is a living legend and after a busy summer touring the UK, he’s bringing his celebrated Ages & Stages Tour to a handful of arenas to close out the year. Featuring reworked classics, stories from his sprawling rock & roll career alongside covers of beloved tracks, it’s set to be a celebration of Jones’ impressive legacy.

Tom Jones plays:

December
19 – The OVO Hydro, Glasgow
20 – AO Arena, Manchester

Fans can buy and sell tickets for Tom Jones at global marketplace, viagogo here.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

While baby brother Liam is announcing plans to celebrate Oasis’ iconic ‘Definitely, Maybe’ with a string of UK stadium shows, Noel Gallagher has been moaning at US audiences for not appreciating his newer material. Still, his fourth album with the High Flying Birds is a bright, upbeat slice of nostalgia that sees Noel refusing to settle for past glories. That’s not to say his gigs aren’t littered with Oasis classics though.

Noel Gallagher plays:

DECEMBER
18 – First Direct Arena, Leeds
20 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
21 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

Fans can buy and sell tickets for Noel Gallagher at global marketplace, viagogo here.

The Darkness

The Darkness are currently on tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of groundbreaking debut album ‘Permission To Land’. Not only did the record spawn timeless rock anthems ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’ and ‘Love Is Only A Feeling’, but it sold so many copies, the BRITs had to add in a new category. So far on tour, the group have been joined onstage by Ed Sheeran and paid tribute to Shane MacGowan from The Pogues. Plus, there’s always modern Christmas classic ‘Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)’.

The Darkness play:

DECEMBER
18 – O2 Academy, Leeds
19 – Rock City, Nottingham
20 – Dome, Brighton
22 – Roundhouse, London

Fans can buy and sell tickets for The Darkness at global marketplace, viagogo here.

The post These are the best gigs to see this week appeared first on NME.

Intensity, that’s the underlying thread that ties together all the best Korean dramas of 2023. Whether it was an allegory of how society turns its back on those most in need or a revenge-driven journey of terrible people getting their just deserts, this year, 10 powerful K-dramas turned the mirror on ourselves and made us reflect on the dark, unspoken fringes of human nature.

• READ MORE: The 20 best TV shows of 2023
  

Yet, it’s not all doom and gloom. Even in shows with the most morally questionable protagonists – looking at you, Mask Girl – they take the time to slow things down with tender moments of respite, showing how joy and love can be found in the strangest of places. Join NME as we recap the 10 best Korean dramas of 2023, and their impact on a fantastic year of television.

Puah ZiWei, Commissioning Editor (K-pop)

Words by: Daniel Anderson, Carmen Chin, Rhian Daly, Sara Delgado, Hidzir Junaini, Tani I. Raj

10. Crash Course in Romance

Season: limited series

Crash Course in Romance does exactly what it says on the tin but with an extra twist: a fully fledged romance story with a murder-mystery sub-plot. With the acting chops of Jeon Do-yeon and Jung Kyung-ho – both of whom have the ability to imbue any character they portray with life – Crash Course in Romance is a masterfully executed romcom sure to make you giggle and kick your feet, all while interweaving the murder well enough to have you on the edge of your seat too. The series balances the warm and fuzzy with the eerie and gory with mastery – there is no doubt that this K-drama has something for everyone to enjoy. CC

Biggest fans: Huge romance buffs who are still waiting for their Y/N moment.

9. A Time Called You

Season: limited series

A remake of the Taiwanese series Someday Or One Day, K-drama A Time Called You took us on a rollercoaster journey across decades as the lives of modern-day Han Jun-hee (Jeon Yeo-been) and ’90s schoolgirl Kwon Min-ju become entangled. When we meet Jun-hee, she’s mourning her fiancé, Koo Yeon-jun (Ahn Hyo-seop), who’s been presumed dead following a plane crash a year prior.

• READ MORE: ‘A Time Called You’ review: a body swapping, time loopy romance

Soon, though, she begins to receive strange packages – a photo of two people resembling the couple, and a Walkman with a cassette of Seo Ji-won’s ‘Gather My Tears’. As Jun-hee travels back in time, things get complicated, deadly and incredibly heart-breaking, marking this out as one of 2023’s biggest tearjerkers. RD

Biggest fan: The hopeless romantic who can’t let go of past loves.

8. Celebrity

Season: limited series

While we won’t fault K-dramas for playing things up, we’re all perhaps too intimate with influencer culture to really be shocked at how certain events in the show played out. Outrageous, scandalous, scintillating and even disturbing at times, Celebrity worked because it spoke to the basic instinct in all of us – the same one that, at times, ignores all common sense for wealth and status.

• READ MORE: ‘Celebrity’ review: a scathing Instagram story about the vapidity of influencer culture

As audiences, it stretched us to emotional extremes – celebrating Seo Ah-ri’s rise to fame and thriving on schadenfreude when it came to her enemies. We were appalled, disgusted and perhaps even a little bit curious about our own selves – after all, would fame have driven us down the same path? TR

Biggest fan: People who prefer scandal for dinner with a side of shock value.

7. Doona!

Season: limited series

There’s not a shortage of romance when it comes to K-dramas, but the way Doona! tackles the tried-and-true trope is not for the faint of heart. Based on the Naver webtoon of the same name and starring Bae Suzy as former K-pop idol Doona and Yang Se-jong as her fated neighbour Lee Won-jun, the show portrays love in the most carnal sense of the word.

• READ MORE: ‘Doona!’ review: an emotionally visceral, refreshingly grounded love story

Though Bae and Yang’s fiery chemistry undeniably takes centre stage, the show also poignantly depicts the trials and tribulations idols and celebs alike face while balancing their stage personas and private relationships. SD

Biggest fan: Those who need an extra dose of steaminess and reality in their K-dramas.

6. Revenant

Season: limited series

Following the death of her father, Gu San-yeong’s (Kim Tae-ri) body becomes host to an evil spirit – something she didn’t believe at first, but is slowly convinced of by more and more supernatural, murderous occurrences. Coloured with shades of The Ring and The Host, on the surface, Revenant is just another scare-filled spooky series.

• READ MORE: ‘Revenant’ review – a thrilling, immersive horror K-drama

But, if you dare to look beneath, you’ll find critiques of wealth inequality, child abuse and more. As San-yeong assessed early on in the series, it laid bare the truth that “humans are more terrifying than ghosts”. RD

Biggest fan: The horror junkie always searching for new scares.

5. Daily Dose of Sunshine

Season: one

Daily Dose of Sunshine is director Lee Jae-kyu’s olive branch to South Korean society, which has an infamous history of its struggles with understanding and accepting the realities of mental illness. Armed with the emotive and nuanced performance of lead actress Park Bo-young, this K-drama is an informative, heartfelt and layered story set in a psychiatric ward.

• READ MORE: ‘Daily Dose of Sunshine’ review: an earnest, destigmatising portrayal of mental health

Nurse Jung Da-eun learns to adapt to the less physical treatments of the patients under her care and faces the odds as someone who has been in her patients’ shoes herself. Daily Dose of Sunshine is one of the most poignant, worthwhile K-dramas released this year – the tears you shed after each episode is proof. CC

Biggest fan: If you need a reminder that there’s good in the world after all.

4. The Good Bad Mother

Season: limited series

If there were a ranking of K-dramas that should come with a side of tissues, The Good Bad Mother would take the top spot. What starts as the story of an estranged, strict mother and her son, who’s forced to return home after a tragic accident leaves him with the mind of a child, soon turns into a more complex web of intertwined fates and ploys.

• READ MORE: ‘The Good Bad Mother’ review: authentic and unapologetically raw

The show features stellar performances by veteran actress Ra Mi-ran and breakout star Lee Do-hyun as mother-son duo Young-soon and Kang-ho that will crash and mend your heart multiple times throughout its run. SD

Biggest fan: Plot-twist lovers looking for an emotional rollercoaster.

3. Moving

Season: one

Based on Kang Full’s webtoon of the same name, Moving intricately weaves a soulful web of family drama, espionage and superpowers across three decades. The series, featuring clever flight sequences and monstrous strength, remains grounded through its impressive ensemble cast, while tenderly exploring the bountifulness of love and the sacrificial consequences that come with it.

• READ MORE: Zo In-sung on ‘Moving’: “All that drives me is that I wanted to do it”

Every performer excels, but the heartwarming love stories between the adorkable pair of Bong-seok (Lee Jung-ha) and Hui-soo (Go Youn-jung) mirroring that of the composed Mi-hyun (Han Hyo-joo) and Doo Sik (Zo In-sung) was resplendently inimitable. DA

Biggest fan: The jaded Marvel Cinematic Universe enthusiast experiencing superhero fatigue, in need of a comforting, character-driven pick-me-up.

2. Mask Girl

Season: limited series

From its opening scenes, it was obvious Mask Girl was going to give us a commentary on beauty standards, but it quickly turned into so much more. Office worker Kim Mo-mi dreamed of being on stage all her life but, cruelly, society deemed her too “ugly” for a place in the spotlight. Instead, she turned to livestreaming – with a rose pink mask covering her face – and found a legion of adoring fans.

• READ MORE: ‘Mask Girl’ review: a captivating tale of murder and vengeance

But when one became a little too obsessed, things took a dark turn and the show dove into themes of misogyny, sexual and domestic violence, and more via sharp character studies and a three-act story that was gripping – if extreme – to the last moment. RD

Biggest fan: The extremely online person who’s on top of everything, from current trends to true crime horror stories.

1. The Glory

Season: one, part two

Not since Park Chan-wook’s acclaimed Vengeance Trilogy has a South Korean revenge narrative been so satisfying, or deeply disturbing. Brutally bullied when she was in high school, Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo) has been planning her retribution for the better part of two decades. In part one, we witnessed the trauma and consequences of her psychological and physical scars, as she laid her Machiavellian groundwork. In part two, her schemes bear fruit in twisted fashion when she ruins her perpetrators’ lives in cunningly sadistic ways.

While seeing these privileged bullies finally get their just desserts did taste sweet, Dong-eun’s methods often cross the line in uncomfortable ways, forcing the audience to grapple with the moral justification of her elaborate reprisals. There’s nothing subtle about The Glory – everything from its shock-filled plotting to its irredeemable villains are heightened. But it’s that maximalism that makes this show the most gripping K-drama of 2023. HJ

Biggest fan: Anyone who thought Edmond Dantès didn’t go quite far enough in The Count of Monte Cristo.

The post The 10 best Korean dramas of 2023 appeared first on NME.

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