Best of Seventeen: Our Top 10 Songs by the Band

While Seventeen’s presence as an imperative player in K-pop is not unfamiliar, their standing as “self-producing idols” is precisely what makes me gravitate more toward them. They are S. Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino. The band, as I find them, is constantly evolving, perpetually altering patterns, embracing novelty, and dedicated to being the finest artists they can be. Amid an extensive oeuvre of solid hits to their credit, the following 10 are those I dig more. Read on.

“Very Nice” – Love & Letter (2016)

Love & Letter, the act’s first studio album, re-released that same year with the lead single “Very Nice,” evinced their flair for performing. Its enormity: staggering music, sexy choreography, and singing—I’m forever fascinated by their singular sounds, notably DK and Seungkwan—their vocal traits, evocative genius, and those potent saccharine falsettos—they won’t ever go amiss—gave out this groovy love song abuzz with the sensations the feeling brings to the boys. The refrain is the cherry on top of an entire piece that is rife with superb pop sounds—a brief musical burst that underscored Seventeen’s effectiveness.

“Don’t Wanna Cry” – Al1 (2017)

This was my first taste of Seventeen’s rhythmic pulse of electronic dance music, tapping and throbbing with emotional depth, filling me in promptly. Its synths and mighty beats, in tandem with lyrical conscience, encapsulate the heartache of losing love but refusing to let go or lose it. “Don’t wanna cry/Don’t wanna cry/Because I love you, because the words I love you/Isn’t enough, no matter what I say/I loved you so much, where’d you go?/Did you leave because you don’t like me anymore?”

I feel “Don’t Wanna Cry” gives off a sense of pleasure notwithstanding the pensiveness; perhaps for how it’s arranged—the gloom gets gentler—that feels really good.

“Left & Right” – Heng:garæ (2020)

Chock-full of cheer, “Left & Right,” best bits of the band’s infectious spirit—a synthesis of their discernible rhythm, passion, and unfailing nonchalance, but optimism before anything. The song fosters fortitude, moving forward past fear—taking the hip-hop tune to a more meaningful listen; its vivacity, inclusive of bright vocals, frisky rap, and insights inherent, all mesh into candid fun, full of the joys of spring.

“Anyone” – Your Choice (2021)

Fundamentally a love song, “Anyone” is intimate and impassioned, featuring a strong guitar line that plays its part in manifestation. I love the super-stylized video, the car race theme, and the members each being as sharp as a whip as they do their maneuvers, driving the infectious track to also be a visual delight. The escalation of emotion is best conveyed in how the camera pans and moves persistently, adding momentum. The music opens subdued, gradually builds up, then dips, then picks up again as it unfolds; the ebb and flow are beautifully in sync. It rapidly kicks off your mood. It’s intoxicating; the vibe is contagious, and Seventeen’s swag is off the charts.

As part of the band’s “Power of ‘Love” initiative, Your Choice, which was meant to present distinct expressions of love, “Anyone” feels like an ideal extension of the message.

“Rock with You” – Attacca (2021)

Among a plethora of their hits in the fray, is “Rock with You.” Attacca was a resounding smash and the group’s maiden double-million-selling album, courtesy of the Gaon Music Chart report as of January 26, 2017. “Rock with You,” the lead single, is very upbeat yet very dulcet in spots—a melange bop of cinematic splendor. It is an expanding exuberance through the intro, verse, refrain, pre-chorus, and chorus to the bridge and concluding part, as is the gorgeous MV. I won’t dwell on aesthetics, the dynamism of how exquisitely these Korean men play or appear in their flawless collaboration, or how precisely everything about Seventeen is in rhythm. We know what they promise, and this number serves to reaffirm it.

By the way, the 007 edition of “Rock with You” is also cool; the men in black and their antics in the song are pretty dope.

“Darl+ing” – Face the Sun (2022)

The band’s fourth studio album, Face of the Sun, allegedly peaked at number seven on the US Billboard 200, selling a ton of copies, making it their highest-charting and first top-ten record. Its songs were depictions of a more mature Seventeen juxtaposed to their previous releases, with “Darl+ing” being the first full-on English track, addressing love for their international fans and a sense of belonging: “You know without you, I’m so lonely / When you’re not here, 911 calling,” a winning music ensemble relying on guitar and synth sounds alive with fuzzy feelings.

“Hot” – Face the Sun (2022)

“Hot” leaked a different face of the K-pop idols, an even more rugged, desirable side of each in the setting, through their gestures, their dancing, and even the color palette employed in the music video that amps up their sexiness. The song boasts a solid rhythm. It works adequately with chaotic energy peppered with Westernized orchestral, brash sounds, and voice modulations. Seventeen comes across as on fire, with lethal glances and killer attitudes, and yes, with those savage body rolls dripping sensuality, the song is “burnin’ like hot, hot, hot, hot,” for sure.

“Don Quixote” – Face the Sun (2022)

“I just wanna feel the vibes/A night where I burned my everything/I don’t care if I’m crazy/Feeling like Don Quixote,” The song on the B-side is a unique portrayal of Seventeen’s freewheeling spirit and resolve to make it big with no regard for the way others might imagine them. Thanks to Woozi and team for writing such a song with smart parallels to the eponymous Don Quixote, the protagonist from Miguel de Cervantes’ Spanish epic novel—an icon of the quixotic quest for ambitious objectives.

The song is one of the album’s top B-sides—harmonious in its acoustic tone. It has gotten mixed reviews, with criticisms for being somewhat generic and lacking in diversity. Albeit, I’ve been its fan; “Don Quixote,” I feel, is one of the underdogs from Seventeen’s discography in its depth and appealing lyrical moments.

“_WORLD” – Sector 17 (2022)

A pleasing rhythm and an uplifting tune. Its playful delicacy of the music, singing, and kaleidoscopic atmosphere that characterizes this music-driven dance track quite works for me; it effortlessly urges you to sing along and sweeps you into its bubblegum-pop-like music.

“Super” – FML (2023)

“Super,” or “손오공” (Korean for Sun Wukong), is a booming celebration that adopts an ecstatic tone. “‘Super provides our answer by talking about how Seventeen has fought our way through, for whom and with whose support, all of which also continue to propel us forward,” noted Woozi regarding the song’s theme on Billboard, which makes references to the legendary Monkey King, Sun Wukong.

The connections are unmistakable: “I looked at the ground and kept going to the top/Faced everything like I’m so proud, I always win/It’s key that you’ve got a strong will/The future’s not going anywhere, not until I let go…” in addition to words like “Don’t break till we make it/ Feels like I turned into Sun Wukong…” stress their ascent and drive. With its superb choreography, racy groove, ingenious rhyme, rap, and massive beat patterns, the song is a magnet in line with the theme. “Super” is a grabbing banger! What hits extra—the “DARUMDARIMDA” from Mingyu and Joshua—and the delectable drop relatively a smidge more.