WBW: 15 Old School Fall Classics (Part 2)

H.O.T, Sechskies, Fin.K.L, S.E.S, Psy, Shin Seung Hoon, Lena Park, Sung Si Kyung, Park Jung Hyun (Lena Park)

Last year I wrote a Way Back Wednesday featuring some of the great old school songs that were popular during the Fall season. There was no way that list could cover all of the great music so I thought I'd extend that theme into this year with a Part 2. Today's article will take a look back at 15 more songs that were at the top of the charts during the Autumn back in the day.

You may notice a slight lean to slower ballads and that was, to an extent, on purpose. Summer is about fun, high energy music whereas the Fall is more about relaxing and coming to terms with the fact that in 2 months, we'll be frozen solid. Maybe you'll find a few new tunes to add to your playlist before it gets too cold.

Young Turks Club - "Affection"

It's been quite a while since I mentioned one of the true "OG" groups. Young Turks was the brainchild of former Seo Taiji and Boys member Lee Juno and was one of the very early idol groups in K-pop. "Affection" was their first big hit and still might be the group's most famous song.

Sechskies - "Chivalry"

"Chivalry" was the title single from the group's second album released in November of 1997. This was the album that saw the guys change from upstarts into legit superstars and allowed them to challenge H.O.T.'s dominance in the boy band world.

Park Jung Hyun - "P.S. I Love You"

"P.S. I Love You" actually wasn't the title single from Park Jung Hyun's debut album released in 1998 but became her breakout song. �I think most people know her story as the singer with the great voice who didn't quite get the attention she deserved until her appearance on the 2011 show 'I Am a Singer' when her career really took off into another level.

H.O.T - "I Ya!"

This song was written in response to a devastating fire that killed 23 children in Hwasung, South Korea in 1999. The song discusses Korea's treatment of children, specifically referring to their safety and well-being. It's also the song when member Moon Hee Jun pulled out the Freddy Krueger claws which make no sense with the song but maybe he did it because Halloween was just around the corner... at least they're cool looking.

Fin.K.L - "Ruby"

Fin.K.L's debut song "Blue Rain" actually didn't do so great but the group saved themselves after the release of their follow up "To My Boyfriend" and then this ballad hit that became the most popular song from the group's first album.

Jo Sung Mo �- "Do You Know"

The man with the golden voice, "Do You Know" is the single from his third album, 'Let Me Love' and was just another in his many string of hits. Jo Sung Mo's debut was also known to have started a trend towards pouring money into music videos and creating what amounted to mini-movies. The video for this song was no different featuring actors like Jung Joon Ho and a young Shin Min Ah (she would have been about 16 here).

S.E.S - "Love"

True story: I had a friend in college who loved this song so much we would play the video on repeat in his dorm room for hours. One of his roommates who knows very little about K-pop still remembers the song ten years later and describes it as the video "where the 3 pretty girls are on a roof wailing some melancholy tune in the beginning of the video". Even with his limited Korean skills, he can still sing most of it by memory if given enough adult beverages. The power of K-pop.

Jo Jang Hyuk - "Love"

Two "Loves" in a row and this one from a very underrated K-pop singer, Jo Jang Hyuk. He's back in the spotlight after his recent run on the show 'Immortal Classics 2' which is helping fans remember how good of a singer he is. This was the first song I remember from him which was on his third album back in 2000 and is considered a classic in the boy-trying-to-impress-girl genre.

Shin Seung Hoon - "I Believe"

Maybe the best song from a Korean movie ever, 'I Believe' is still the quintessential movie soundtrack theme. 'My Sassy Girl' had a lot of things going for it and Shin Seung Hoon's amazing voice and songwriter Kim Hyung Suk's amazing music & lyrics were certainly among them.

Brown Eyes - "With Coffee"

Another video with Shin Min Ah! Totally coincidental but a nice surprise. Plus, this song is great and there aren't enough K-pop fans who recognize the greatness that was the duo of Yoon Gun and Naul.

Jang Nara - "Sweet Dream"

Another True story: Back in 2002 when this album was released, I was driving up to New York from Virginia and I had installed an aftermarket, JVC CD player in the car. During the trip, I don't know what happened, but I couldn't stop or eject the CD and it just kept repeating one song over and over again: Jang Nara's "Sweet Dream". I literally listened to this song 48 times (I counted) before I couldn't take it anymore and just drove the rest of the way with the sound of silence. I like the song but I will NEVER listen to it in a car ever again.

Park Hyo Shin - "Good Person"

I don't give Park Hyo Shin enough love in this column and I should because the man has one of the most unique voices in K-pop, or anywhere for that matter. I got into his music late but I'm definitely a fan and will be waiting for a new album now that he's out of the military.

Boo Hwal - "Never Ending Story"

Known for their ever changing line-up of singers, Boo Hwal is one of Korea's most recognized and respected rock bands led by the eccentric genius of guitarist Kim Tae Won. "Never Ending Story" is one of the group's most popular songs and was recorded with a returning Lee Seung Chul as the main vocalist. The song has been covered every which way possible and is probably recognizable to most K-pop fans.

Sung Si Kyung - "You Touched My Heart"

For such a big guy (he's about 6'1"), Sung Si Kyung has an incredibly soft voice and this song from his 2nd album 'Melodie D'Amour' is a classic example. These days you'll find him taking trips across Korea on the show '1 Night 2 Days' and as a DJ on Korean radio with his trademark "sleep well" farewell.

Psy - "Champion"

Before he was Gangnam styling and mother-father gentlemaning his way around the world, "Champion" was Psy's best known and most popular song. It was released back in 2002 and even though it's been over ten years, it's definitely held up well and is still a fan favorite. I've never been to a Psy concert in person but from what I've seen on TV, when this song comes one, no one should be standing still.