There are so many iconic K-pop songs that people always seem to forget about, since there's so much new music in 4th and 5th gen. From Girls Generation to Super Junior to SHINee, there's a plethora of music from the 2nd (and even 3rd) generation that will bring a wave of nostalgia to those who are familiar with the old K-pop sound.

The 2nd generation of K-pop across the years 2003-2012 influenced the global expansion of K-pop as a genre, and the music that came with the Hallyu movement. This era saw the emergence of 'idol groups' with concepts, collectable photo cards, lightsticks, and is fondly remembered as the 'Golden Age' of K-pop.

So, with all this being said, here are the top 10 old K-pop songs which are worth revisiting.

1. Girls' Generation "Genie"

Girls' Generation are one of the girl groups of the second generation. "Genie" was an impactful song for the gtoup, and marked a turning point in their career, and contributed to the rise of Kpop as a global phenomenon.

The song topped charts in South Korea and Japan, and achieved significant commercial success. The music video is highly memorable for any K-pop fan; their costumes, group image, and visual will leave anyone amazed. "Genie" is often cited as a key moment in Girls' Generation's career, showcasing a sophisticated sound compared to their earlier works, which focused more on a child-like, overly 'girly' concept.

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2. SHINee "Replay"

It would be wrong to talk about 2nd gen K-pop without mentioning the giants that were SHINee. "Replay", also known as "Noona is so pretty", achieved gigantic popularity in Korea, particularly among older female listeners who the song is dedicated to ("Noona" refers to "older female", as a term of endearment, particularly to a close female friend, or perhaps sister). The song is an upbeat dance track with such a catchy chorus that is so memorable for any K-pop stan, and the song's success was mainly due to SHINee's storng performance and appeal.

The youthfulness of the group caught the hearts of fans across the country and even reached the global scene. SHINee's ages ranged from 14 to 18, so they were the nugu group that everyone wanted to support and stay behind.

The affectionate lyrics and repetitive hook make "Replay" a classic. The fact that it is SHINee's debut song makes it even more so a great song, and makes it an incredibly timeless song, especially because SHINee as a group are still going in the 5th gen.

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3. Super Junior "Sorry, Sorry"

"Sorry, Sorry" by Super Junior can be a song that defines second-gen K-pop. It was the group's most successful single on the music charts, winning 10 recognitions during the song's promotional period. The music video surpassed 100 million views on YouTube in December 2018, and views only increased since then.

The song is an earworm; you just have to sing along to it once it plays. The techno beat is captivating, and its seductive appeal really caught the attention of a wide range of fans. Unfortunately, Super Junior's popularity slowed down after this release, but their contribution to 2nd gen K-pop must be acknowledged and praised, and listening to "Sorry, Sorry" will take you right back to the late 2000s.

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4. f(x) "Electric Shock"

"Electric Shock" deserves as the title track for f(x)'s second album. The song has the quintessential K-pop beat that you would think of when it comes to older 2nd-gen music. The EDM style to this song can be seen as the prototype to many of songs from the 2nd generation, and helped K-pop become more experimental and unique in the next generations. The quirky, energetic choreography set a standard for girl group concepts, and the song embraces a more genre-bending approach, therefore deserves to be in this list (as well as the song being extremely fun, and the video is very aesthetically striking!).

5. Big Bang "BANG BANG BANG"

"Bang Bang Bang" is one of the all-time favourites from K-pop as a whole, greater than many of the 2nd gen songs, and one's from the generations that were to come. Its energetic and catchy sound will make anyone dance, and the fusion of Korean traditional pop and mainstream global music contributed to its great success. It's your typical hip-hop dance track, but the dance, the rap, and the crazy ending of the song, which could play at a club and have everyone on the dance floor.

The chorus of Bang Bang Bang is a nod to the famous Korean folk song 'Arirang', giving it a close interpersonal cultural touch. This blend with popular music adds to Big Bang's genius work, and their artistry shouldn't be ignored. They are truly the Kings of K-pop, paving the way for all the popular groups that were to come, and defining K-pop as the genre that it is known to be today.

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6. 2NE1 "I Am The Best"

2NE1 was, and still is, a highly influential K-pop group. They were known for their strong fashion sense and stage presence, achieving success in Korea and around the world. I'd say they are certainly in the top three most influential groups of the second generation when it comes to cultural expression and musical diversity.

"I Am The Best" stands as their most popular and memorable song, and is one of the most internationally known K-pop songs. The "naega jeil jal naga" can be understood and heard from international fans around the world, who are familiar with CL's captivating rap, which in itself stands as a commentary for 2NE1's cultural expansion. Rolling Stone even ranked it as the eighth greatest K-pop song and considered it a song that established a new industry standard.

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7. Wonder Girls - "Tell Me"

For me, this song is the song of 2nd gen. It is loved by fans and idols across the world, and the "tell me, tell me, t-t-t-t-t tell me" chorus created a craze that helped play a part in the song's success.

The Wonder Girls thought the song was too different and would not be successful, which ironically, the song would become the group's most famous and popular track. Written and produced by Park Jin-young (JYP), the song captivates K-pop in such a way that propels many to the genre because of its fun, energetic, catchy melody.

The song's choreography was one of the first K-pop songs to go viral online, with many, including idols, imitating the choreo, and many following this trend because of the simple but fun dance. The song, therefore, gained significant attention throughout South Korea and around the world as it contributed to the "hook song" trend in K-pop.

8. 2PM - "I'll Be Back"

2PM as a group were monumental back in the early to late 2000s, and stand as a testament to the greatness of 2nd generation K-pop. They earned their nickname as "beast idols" because of their masculinity and strong images, which can be said for many 3rd and 4th gen groups like Monsta X, EXO, and NCT.

These groups were most definitely inspired by 2PM and their dynamic choreos, charisma, and strong stage presence. The song "I'll Be Back", released in 2010, emphasises the versatility of 2PM, and showcases the Korean Dance genre with their athletic moves and high-energy arrangement in their choreography.

9. BIGBANG - "LIES"

It feels wrong to add only one BIGBANG song, because they were really the epitome of 2nd-gen K-pop. LIES, written and composed by G-Dragon, can be seen as one of BIGBANG's most popular tracks, continuing the EDM sound of the group's music. This song could be seen as one of the tracks which made them as popular as they are.

The "I'm so sorry, but I love you" lyric is one of the most famous among K-pop songs, and one can immediately spot the song just based on this line. This song can be loved by even 4th/5th generation K-pop stans, and will immediately transport 2nd gen fans right back to the first time they listened to it.

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10. Girls' Generation - "Gee"

Arguably seen as one of the most famous K-pop songs, "Gee" by Girls' Generation helped K-pop expand into the multi-diverse genre it is known as today. The upbeat sound of the song is likely to take a K-pop stan back in time, with its fun, sweet, catchy lyrics. It is certainly one of those "one of a kind" songs which one could listen to over and over without getting bored.

2nd gen K-pop groups experimented with different genres, blending pop with hip-hop, R&B, electro beats, dance music, and other styles of music. Concepts became more diverse, each group was uniquely different, and groups developed innovative strategies to change K-pop as we know it today.

The generation played a role in the global spread of Korean culture, with groups, most noticeably Big Bang, Girls Generation, and SHINee, achieving international recognition and success.