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Manishka Daryanani

While most K-pop stars have stayed within the realm of singing in Korean, some artists have expanded their horizons and sung in English.
We are not talking about cover versions of other artists’ works here: these songs are all original English songs.
How BTS have risen to stardom in the US and Britain
And they feature more than simply an occasional line here and there in English – they are sung entirely in English.
Here are some original English songs performed by your favourite K-pop artists.
Now, finally you can listen to them and understand what they are singing about!
BIG BANG – ‘Number 1’


The song Number 1, from boy band BIG BANG’s first Japanese album of the same title, was released in 2008.
The tracks on the album are predominantly in English, including English versions of their previously released Korean songs.
K-pop giant BTS ready to wow Billboard Music Awards with world premier of new single
Some of the songs were written and composed by members of the band, including G Dragon.
Wonder Girls – ‘The DJ Is Mine’


Wonder Girls collaborated with the American girl group School Gyrls on the song The DJ Is Mine.
The track was released to promote the K-pop girl band’s television film, The Wonder Girls, which was made to attract an American audience.
K-pop diva Tiffany out to follow BTS’ US success with solo album
The film premiered on the US pay-television channel TeenNick in February 2012, which featured other then-unreleased English songs such as Like Money.
Amber – ‘Borders’


Amber released her single Borders in March 2016.
The lyrics of the song reflect her personal experiences and those of people close to her.
Upon release, SM Town – the umbrella name for artists signed to the South Korean entertainment company, SM Entertainment – included a message for Amber’s fans, which said: “When you guys listen to Borders, there is just one thing I wish everyone could take from it: NEVER give up on yourself.
K-pop’s global success sparks surge in Asian ‘copycat’ groups
“There is always hope in the midst of this dark, demanding world.
“In the end, live for those that did not get the chance to, and just keep fighting.”
CL – ‘Lifted’


CL released her first English single, Lifted, in August 2016. Within three hours of its release, the song peaked at No 21 on the Top 30 of iTunes Hip hop/Rap chart.
In November that year, the singer-rapper was described as the “future of K-pop in America” by Time magazine.
Girls’ Generation – ‘The Boys’


Girls’ Generation released an English version of its song The Boys in the US in December 2011.
The song reached No 5 on the Billboard Hot Dance Single Sales after selling more than 21,000 copies in the first week of its release.
The album of the same name, featured a few remixes of the song, one of which is a collaboration with American rapper Snoop Dogg.
Henry – ‘Monster’


Henry Lau, known simply as Henry, the former member of boy band Super Junior-M, released his English-language single Monster in February 2018 soon before leaving SM Town.
The song was also released in Korean and Chinese.
The track is soulful, and depicts the feelings that someone expresses at the end of a relationship.
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