As far as their name goes, they’ve been deemed the ‘Monsters of K-pop’ for a reason, but one can’t deny that there are way too many underrated MONSTA X b-side tracks in their discography that are a force to be reckoned with. Their usual signature music style, as defined by many hits like their title tracks, including Shoot Out, Gambler, Hero, Alligator, Wanted, and more is as fierce as their strong stage presence. However, this third-generation K-pop music act is still going strong due to a diverse music graph that often indulges in their softer side.
Other than their hard-hitting album-fronting title songs, some musical gems often take the back seat and are sidelined. However, their fans, MONBEBEs, know better than to ignore them; they’ve accepted their favourite group’s b-side additions as their hidden charm despite their discography being ruled by bombastic EDM and hip-hop tones. On the occasion of the 8th MONSTA X debut anniversary, we’re taking it slow and reliving the magic of the group’s softer b-side tracks.
While countless songs could fit the bill, we’ve only resorted to picking gentler or more upbeat entries for this list.
Underrated MONSTA X B-side Tracks That’ll Make You Fall in Love With Them Again
1. Burning Up (feat R3HAB)
Album: Shape of Love (2022)
2. If Only
Album: The Connect : Dejavu (2018)
3. Flow
Album: Fantasia X (2020)
4. U R
Albums: Follow (2019)
5. Lost in the Dream
Album: The Connect : Dejavu (2018)
The more you appreciate this, the lesser it is. This OG queen deserves all the love in this world and MONBEBEs know it the best. Not a single day goes by when Kihyun’s high note doesn’t hit us in the feels.
6. Wildfire
Album: Shape of Love (2022)
7. Puzzle
Album: Piece (2018)
8. Underwater
Album: Take.1 Are You There? (2018)
9. Mirror
Album: Follow (2019)
Originally performed as a special unit track by Shownu and Wonho during the group’s 2019 WE ARE HERE World Tour, it eventually made it to their following Korean album’s tracklist as an OT7 track.
10. Myself
Album: Take.1 Are You There? (2018)
11. See You Again
Album: Follow (2019)
12. 5:14 (Last Page)
Album: THE CLAN Pt 2.5 Beautiful (2017)
13. In Time
Album: The Code (2017)
14. I Do Love You (Neol Hada)
Album: Take.1 Are You There? (2018)
15. From Zero
Album: The Code (2017)
16. Broken Heart
Album: Rush (2015)
You can’t not cry over your non-existent romantic partner while listening to this song and driving down a rainy path, pretending as if you’re filming a music video.
17. Gasoline
Album: Love Killa (2020)
Oh, the mystery this song concocted when it was first revealed as part of a character teaser video during the Fantasia X era, only for it not to be included in the album at all! Finally, the 2020 album Love Killa fulfilled our Gasoline dreams.
18. Blue Moon
Album: Trespass (2015)
Eerie, yet still sensual. How is that even possible? Only, MONSTA X can answer this question.
19. Sweetheart
Album: THE CLAN Pt 1 LOST (2016)
20. White Love
Album: THE CLAN Pt 2 GUILTY (2016)
21. Miss You
THE CLAN Pt 2.5 Beautiful (2017)
22. No Reason
Album: Take.2 We Are Here (2019)
23. Nobody Else
Album: Love Killa (2020)
Producer Hyungwon is extremely underrated. Can you believe that this golden R&B gem was his first self-composed song? On top of that, he included aromatic storytelling in his track on getting influenced by the characteristics of a perfume and how its strong essence starts fading gradually with time, much like love in some cases.
24. Wish on the Same Sky
Album: Flavors of Love (2021)
While this was initially released as a single track before being included on the Japanese EP, we’ve still included it as an underrated gem because of its honey-like melody that can move you to tears.
25. Beautiful Night
Album: Fantasia X (2020)
26. Night View
Album: Love Killa (2020)
27. Secrets
Album: The Dreaming (2021)
At this point, we’re just left contemplating how many Secrets this group has, and that too in several languages. We stan multilingual kings.
28. The Dreaming
Album: The Dreaming (2021)
29. Interstellar
Album: Trespass (2015)
From severely traumatic No Mercy days to their eventual debut, this song is still an iconic hit.
30. Gone Bad
Album: Rush (2015)
31. Roller Coaster
Album: THE CLAN Pt 2 GUILTY (2016)
With a song as jubilant as this, our Roller Coaster of emotions is only going up.
32. Ghost
Album: Take.2 We Are Here (2019)
The haunting aura of this song is enough to make you believe of an eerie presence beside you.
33. Beside U (feat Pitbull) – IM Rap Version
Album: All About Luv (2020)
34. Secret
Album: Flavors of Love (2021)
35. Rotate
Album: One of a Kind (2021)
36. Destroyer
Album: The Connect : Dejavu (2018)
37. Find You
Albums: Follow (2019)
Although deemed an intro track, this track brings along with it an endless load of painful memories. However, it’s video set in stone that the MONSTA X universe was actually a thing and MONBEBEs weren’t just crazily joining implausible theories and linking the Dramarama era and their whole time loop storyline saga together for no reason.
Debuting on May 14, 2015, MONSTA X was formed on the Mnet reality competition show No Mercy. Through the show, 7 members debuted as part of the boy group – Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney, IM aka Changkyun, and Wonho (former) – that was to be managed by Starship Entertainment.
Happy MONSTA X Day!
Which other MONSTA X bside track has no plans of leaving your playlist? Let us know your favourites in the comments section below. Do let us know your favourite MONSTA X albums while you’re at it as well.
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