“Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released in June 2018, in conjunction with the release of the group’s first Korean-language extended play, Square Up. Described as a hip-pop song infused with trap beats and bubblegum pop sounds, the track was written by YG collaborator Teddy Park, whilst production and composition were handled by Park, 24, Bekuh Boom and R. Tee. The single was a commercial success in South Korea, peaking atop the Gaon for three consecutive weeks, marking their second number-one single in the country. “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” also topped the national charts in Singapore and Malaysia, in addition to peaking atop the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 charts. the song peaked at number 78 on the UK Singles Chart. Its accompanying music video was uploaded to the group’s official YouTube channel on the same day and soon became the most viewed online video, and second most-watched music video of all time within 24 hours, at the time of its release. It has since become the first and fastest music video by a K-pop group to reach 1 billion views, and it is currently the most-viewed music video by a K-pop group.
“Chicken Noodle Soup” is a song by South Korean rapper J-Hope of boy band BTS featuring American singer Beck G. It was released in September 2019. The song samples DJ Webstar and rapper Young B’s song of the same name, featuring the Voice of Harlem from Webstar’s 2006 album. The music video incorporates dance moves from the original “Chicken Noodle Soup” dance, as well as new choreography that includes flapping elbows with bent legs to mimic a chicken. The video ends with an informal clip of the dance crew singing and dancing. This addition was requested by J-Hope with the intention of capturing the positive energy on the day of the film shoot. The song reached No.81 on the Billboard and No.82 in the UK.
“Jerusalema” is a song by South African DJ and record producer Master KG featuring South African vocalist Nomcebo. The upbeat gospel-influenced house song was initially released in November 2019 after it garnered positive response online, with a music video following in December. The music video of the song has generated half a billion views on YouTube. It was later included on Master KG’s second album of the same title, released in January 2020. A remix featuring Nigerian singer Burna Boy was released in June 2020. It reached number one in Belgium, Netherlands, Romania and Switzerland, while peaking in the top ten of multiple other European countries. In the UK it only reached No. 55.
“Loco Contigo” (“Crazy for You”) is a song by French DJ and record producer DJ Snake, Colombian singer J Balvin and American rapper Tyga. It was released in June 2019 by DJ Snake Music Productions and Geffen Records as the sixth single from DJ Snake’s second studio album Carte Blanche. “Loco Contigo” was written by J Balvin, Tyga, Justin Quiles, and DJ Snake who also produced the song. The official remix with DJ Snake and J Balvin features new guests Ozuna, Nicky Jam, Natti Natasha, Sech and Darell. It was a very minor hit in the UK reaching No. 87 on the chart.
“Film Out” (stylized as “Film out“) is a song recorded by South Korean boy band BTS for their Japanese-language compilation album, BTS, the Best (2021). It was released in April 2021, through Universal Music, as the lead single from the compilation album. “Film Out” debuted at number one on Oricon’s Daily Digital Singles chart in April 2021. Film Out” became the group’s first Japanese-language song to chart on the Billboard at number 81, it fared similarly in the UK reaching No. 73. The music video opens to show the band inside a white-themed house, suspended in the sky. In it, the members reflect on memories that they shared with one another. Jin notices an hour-glass counting down the time they have spent together. The hour-glass appears several times throughout the clip and leads up to a “dramatic” explosion that leaves the house in complete chaos.
“Zitti e Buoni” (Shut Up and Behave’) is a song by Italian rock band Maneskin. It was produced by the band and Fabrizio Ferraguzzo, and won the Sanremo Music Festival and Eurovision Song Contest 2021. It was the first time since Eurovision 2006 that a group had won the contest with an atypical contesting music genre, and it was Italy’s first victory since Eurovision 1990.The song was the band’s commercial breakthrough in global music charts and topped the singles chart in several European countries. It peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart; becoming the first Italian-language song in 30 years to enter the UK Top 20. It also reached top 10 of the Billboard Global Excl. UK chart.
“Stefania” is a 2022 song by Ukrainian folk-rap group Kalush Orchestra. The song represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, which it won. “Stefania” is the third song sung entirely in Ukranian to represent the country at Eurovision, but the second to actually compete at the contest due to the cancelled Eurovision 2020. It won the contest with 631 points, making it the first song sung entirely in Ukrainian and the first rap song to win. The song is an ode to a mother, with the narrator speaking of good memories of his own mother. The song initially talks about how much his mother has aged, invoking a nostalgic past. The song later addresses the hardships of a mother, with the narrator realizing how much the mother has done for him. Subsequently it reached No. 38 on the the UK chart.
