10 Underrated Boy Band Songs From The Last 15 Years
When it comes to boy bands, there are always a handful of songs that come to mind for any casual music listener. Maybe you’re a ’90s baby with a soft spot for “Larger Than Life” by the Backstreet Boys, or a lover of the ’80s who never gets tired of the adolescent charm of “Candy Girl” by New Edition. Whichever era you prefer, you’re likely to have an all-time favorite boy band. It doesn’t end with a favorite group; every boy band fan has their favorite member, favorite album, and favorite song.
Any true boy band fanatic also knows that some of the best songs are overlooked by others. Every artist has underrated songs that are overshadowed by the hits. For the boy bands listed below, some of their most underrated songs have come out within the last 15 years. While this list focuses specifically on the songs, it’s important to note that a few of these groups are also extremely underrated boy bands themselves. If you like what you hear, don’t hesitate to give the group a try.
1
Any Kind of Guy – Big Time Rush
Album: BTR (2011)
Much like their ’60s counterparts The Monkees, Big Time Rush is a fictional boy band created for a television show. In this case, the four-member group was introduced through Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush, a series that followed Kendall, James, Logan, and Carlos as they chased their musical dreams in Los Angeles, CA. The group saw plenty of hits both within and outside the show, including the series’ theme song “Big Time Rush,” “Worldwide,” and “Boyfriend,” a personal favorite.
“Any Kind of Guy” is a track off of their debut studio album BTR. The song appeared in the fifth episode of season 1, and was released as their second promotional single in 2010. While it’s arguably one of their most well-known songs among fans, I believe “Any Kind of Guy” has just as much charm as “Boyfriend.” It’s a wistful song that sees each member promise the girl they’re into that they can become whatever kind of lover she needs. They sing in such perfect harmony that it’s hard to imagine anyone turning them down.
2
Spine Breaker – BTS
Album: Skool Luv Affair (2014)
Early BTS music is extremely different from what they’ve released in the last few years. It’s grittier, dirtier, and more colored by the youthful energy of seven school-aged guys just trying to create something different to get their voices heard. On their third album, Skool Luv Affair, that youth is on full display in 10 high-energy tracks. “Spine Breaker” is a clever track that makes for one of the most fun BTS performances I’ve ever watched.
“The term “spine breaker” is used to describe those who force their parents to work extra hard for these superficial items.”
They dance around without a care in the world while rapping and singing about the greed that causes many teenagers in South Korea to own expensive items just to fit in with their peers. The term “spine breaker” is used to describe those who force their parents to work extra hard for these superficial items. While others metaphorically break the spines of their hard-working parents, the BTS members opt to care more about earning their own funds, with each rapper adopting a different perspective. It’s an incredibly crafted song that deserves more widespread appreciation.
3
Nobody Compares – One Direction
Album: Take Me Home (2012)
If I was forced to choose a favorite One Direction album for some reason, it would be Take Me Home. This album was a major part of my childhood, and something that my sister and I still bond over to this day. There are several well-known songs that deserve their popularity, like “Kiss You” and “Rock Me,” but, in my opinion, despite its high number of Spotify streams, “Nobody Compares” is an underrated One Direction song. The guitar strums in the beginning that lead into Niall’s verse immediately make me smile, but nothing can compare to that chorus.
Take Me Home is an album filled with explosive, catchy choruses. Looking back on One Direction 10 years after they went on hiatus, the group came into their own here after a relatively safe debut album, and tracks like “Nobody Compares” prove that. The way the beat kicks in during the chorus is enough to make even the most tired person stand up and jump around for a minute, and that’s just one of the perfect aspects of this perfect pop song.
4
Let Me In – EXO
Album: EXIST (2023)
EXO is a K-Pop boy band that has one of the most impressive discographies I’ve heard. Everything from their debut album to their latest is filled with vocal, melodic, and overall musical perfection. When the group finally reunited in 2023 for their seventh studio album, EXIST, fans rejoiced for their first release as a group in over two years. “Let Me In” was the first of two pre-release singles from EXIST, and is the most melancholic track from the album, making it an interesting choice to drop first.
Related
If you know K-Pop, then you’ve heard about KAI. Get to know EXO’s main dancer and one of K-Pop’s best performers before his new mini-album drops.
There aren’t many words to describe the talents of vocalists like Chen, Baekhyun, and D.O., but they, along with every other member, raise this song to a level of artistry that feels impossible to recreate. Chanyeol and Sehun’s masterful rap verses blend chillingly into D.O.’s chorus, and that isn’t even the part of the song that will give you goosebumps. If you’re like me, the first few seconds are enough for your stomach to drop in anticipation, but you’ll want to stick around until that final chorus to realize just how great this song is.
5
Up to You – PRETTYMUCH, NCT DREAM
Album: INTL EP (2019)
PRETTYMUCH were a boy band formed by Simon Cowell in 2016 that had a very R&B-leaning style of music. Over their seven years as an active group, PRETTYMUCH saw success with songs like “Phases,” “Summer On You,” and “Eyes Off You,” but a lot of their B-sides remain underappreciated. “Up to You” was a song from their INTL EP, a project where the group collaborated with global groups and artists to create bilingual tracks. On this particular track, they collaborated with NCT DREAM, a K-Pop group under one of the industry’s largest entertainment companies.
“Before we hit the road, if you ain’t ready to go
Just tell me that you’re sure, you’re sure
Cuz I really want you to stay, but this ain’t up to me
I just want to make sure you’re sure
Leave it up to you, baby
If you wanna spend the night
When the time is right”
What makes “Up to You” such a great song, beyond the sensational production and vocal deliveries of PRETTYMUCH’s Zion Kuwonu and NCT DREAM’s Jisung, is its message. It’s a song about consent that was released in 2019, a feat in and of itself. On the surface, the lyrics are very common sense lines of thinking, but to hear statements like that sung by young men is something that doesn’t happen often enough. It’s an underrated collaboration that deserves much more attention.
6
Alive – One Direction
Album: Midnight Memories (2014)
One Direction’s Midnight Memories was a chance for the boys next door to have a little more fun. They were growing up, so why shouldn’t their music do the same? “Alive” is one of the album’s deluxe tracks and, somehow, it’s least streamed on Spotify. As far as I was concerned, this song went triple platinum.
Related
Every One Direction Album, Ranked Worst To Best
The British boy band released five albums in just four years, and took over the world in the process. Here’s how those records stack up.
If you’re familiar with One Direction’s entire discography, “Alive” feels like the predecessor to Made in the A.M.‘s “Temporary Fix,” both songs where Niall’s verses still make my jaw drop as a 24-year-old like they did when I was 12. The boys are basking in the joys of being young and free to experience unfiltered attraction to anyone and everyone you come across, something Liam describes as a therapy-worthy ailment in the first verse. Nevertheless, I need “Alive” to collect the same attention fans give to the rest of the songs on this album.
7
Moving On – BTS
Album: The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 1 (2015)
Another one of BTS’s earlier songs is “Moving On” from their third mini-album The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt.1, one of two sequential albums that explores all the highs and lows that come with being young and growing up. This song is extremely specific to BTS, conveying the nostalgia they experienced while packing up to move out of their first shared dorm building. While reminiscing on their trainee life, the members share different memories tied to the rooms, objects, and years spent together in this shared space.
“I remember how we came here three years ago
When you and I used to fight all the time
The wallpaper, bathroom, and veranda were all blue
Back then I thought this was a big place
But my ambition grew too big
That big house became too small now
When the nine trainees shared a 17-pyung house
Seems like it was just yesterday, we grew up a lot”
“Moving On” is well-loved by fans and those familiar with BTS, but I think it deserves to be loved by an even wider audience. The lyrics within each rap verse are some of their most personal, recounting memories that fans might not even know, and the emotion felt in each chorus by the group’s vocal line is raw enough to be felt by each listener as if they’re the ones moving on.
8
Open Arms – PRETTYMUCH
Album: Open Arms (2017)
I remember where I was when I first heard “Open Arms” by PRETTYMUCH. I was sitting in my high school creative writing class with Spotify open on another tab, listening to new music. I was already invested in the group, so when I saw they released a new song, I clicked play almost immediately. The sounds that filled my wired earbuds were heavenly.
For a solid minute, the members sing a cappella. They take turns going through the verses, each of which is accompanied by backing vocals that fill out the otherwise empty track. It’s not until that chorus ends and the beat kicks in that the song reaches its complete form. For the group’s third single, it’s impressive beyond compare. There aren’t many modern boy bands who include such raw vocal delivery in their music, so I can’t help but wonder why this song isn’t more popular.
9
Why So Serious? – SHINee
Album: The Misconceptions of Me (2013)
One of the most unique, talented yet largely underrated K-Pop groups is SHINee. Having been active since 2008, it’s worth noting that they’re still going strong despite successful solo careers, internal company disagreements, and losing core member Jonghyun in 2017. On one of their earlier albums from 2013, the title track “Why So Serious?” stands out as one of the group’s most impressive collective vocal performances.
Related
10 Times K-Pop Groups Covered Other K-Pop Songs
Covers allow an artist to make a well-known song their own, attracting new fans in the process. These 10 K-Pop covers do just that and more.
Not only do the main vocalists, Jonghyun, Taemin, and Onew, elevate the song to levels I still can’t comprehend, but rappers Key and Minho don’t allow themselves to fade into the background one bit. SHINee’s most popular songs are popular for good reason, but I wish songs like “Why So Serious?” would receive some of the same attention.
10
Crazy – New Hope Club
Album: New Hope Club (Extended Version) (2020)
As far as I know, I’m one of the only people who know New Hope Club exists. The English trio was definitely on repeat through my high school years, but I had no idea how active they still were. They’ve even gone on to promote their new music in South Korea, where I assume they’ve achieved a decent amount of attention, and have collaborated with K-Pop group P1Harmony on the single “Super Chic.”
“Crazy” is a groovy track that bounces over a languid instrumental paired with the smooth vocals of Blake Richardson, Reece Bibby, and George Smith. It’s part of their 2020 self-titled album, full of tracks in a similar style that feels perfect for fans of One Direction or The Vamps, two groups that shaped the type of music fan I’d become.
