The 2026 Lunar New Year holiday is here! What songs should you listen to on your way home or back to the city this year? Here are five songs perfect for a drive, selected from artists born in the Year of the Horse (Byeongo-nyeon) across different generations.
◆ 1966 Year of the Horse Artist Lee Seung Chul – ‘Today I Also’

Lee Seung Chul has released mostly breakup songs like ‘Mali Flower’, ‘Hee Ya’, ‘Story of Rain and You’, ‘Don’t Say Goodbye’, ‘Never Ending Story’, and ‘Fate’. Therefore, most of his songs are ballads, but ‘Today I Also’ is a rare dance track despite being about a breakup. ‘Today I Also’ is the title track from Lee Seung Chul’s 1996 5th album ‘The Bridge Of Sonic Heaven’. The reggae-style narration at the beginning and the stage with foreign dancers give it an exotic feel.

Don’t bother trying to know me when even I don’t know myself
I can only be frustrated that I can’t show you my heart
There were many women accustomed to this habit of mine
But gradually, they started regretting as they looked around me
No matter how much I search all day, I only see the same molded faces
Memories of my appearance become damp
Today again, I’ll fall asleep forgetting that I’m alone
Today again, I’ll spend my day regretting you meaninglessly in my memories
Don’t say you’ll always pretend to be alone
The empty space after you left is always left open
I always prepare for the chance to meet you again
Hoping to be held in your arms again
No matter how much I search all day, I only see the same molded faces
Memories of my appearance become damp
Today again, I’ll fall asleep forgetting that I’m alone
Today again, I’ll spend my day regretting you meaninglessly in my memories
Today again, I’ll fall asleep forgetting that I’m alone
Today again, I’ll spend my day regretting you meaninglessly in my memories
◆ 1990 Year of the Horse Artists Girls’ Generation’s Yoona & Sooyoung – ‘Express 999’

‘Express 999′ is a track from Girls’ Generation’s fourth full album ‘I GOT A BOY’ released in 2013. Although not widely known to the public, it is considered a ‘hidden gem’ by fans. The song showcases the unique refreshing, mix-pop sensibility of Kenzie, the composer behind Girls’ Generation’s ‘Into the New World’, BoA’s ‘Garden in the Air’, EXO’s ‘Addiction’, ‘Monster’, and aespa’s ‘Supernova’. It uniquely compares the feeling of excitement and going straight for someone to riding an express train.

It’s strange, my heart is complicated (All night long)
I need a stronger coffee (Black and strong)
Actually, strangely, I keep thinking of you (Why?)
You’re not that special
Why, why are you spacing out?
Could it be that I like you?
Da Da Da Da, don’t you know me?
Don’t make fun of me for changing when I’m so proud
I’m running like an Express, this is dangerous
I’m curious about you, the person in front of me
I’ll run while embracing this feeling, no excuse!
Oh Oh Ah, taking the express!
It’s strange, my heart is complicated (All night long)
I need a stronger coffee (Black and strong)
When I see someone similar, I think of you (Why?)
You’re not that special
If it’s fate, it’s a bit funny
I acknowledge the excitement
Da Da Da Da, don’t you know me?
Don’t make fun of me for changing when I’m so proud
I’m running like an Express, this is dangerous
I’m curious about you, the person in front of me
I’ll run while embracing this feeling, no excuse!
My heart is getting impatient, the world is changing oh
Everything is because of you
The miracle rang, let’s go, I want to go faster
Don’t make fun of me for changing when I’m so proud
I’m running like an Express, this is dangerous
I’m curious about you, the person in front of me
I’ll run while embracing this feeling, no excuse!
Oh Oh Ah, taking the express!
◆ 2002 Year of the Horse Artist IVE’s Gaeul – ‘Accendio’

‘Accendio’ is a double title track from IVE’s second EP ‘IVE SWITCH’ released in 2024. Unlike the hip-hop genre of the other title track ‘HEYA’, it is a dance song with a mysterious atmosphere. In this song, IVE shows a transformed appearance through a spell. In the music video, member Gaeul appears with a magic wand, and IVE transforms into another dark self, drawing attention. ‘Accendio’ captures the deadly emotions of facing love in an energetic melody.

Yeah
Dear priest, I have something to confess
A drop of blood and tears, just a play
This is a secret monologue, beautiful but born bad
Don’t predict, no way, you just talk too much
Oh, it’s beautiful but chilling
A strong first impression is good
Oh, it’s kind but like ice
Gonna make you crazy
Ooh, the heart that was at peace
When I see you, yeah, I like that, it might stop
Now, I’m changing, can’t you see?
(Five, six, seven, eight)
Watch me, don’t touch me
Love me, don’t hurt me
Watch me, don’t touch me
Cast a spell, accendio
Watch me, don’t touch me
Love me, don’t hurt me
Watch me, don’t touch me
Cast a spell, accendio
Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, with fingertips, accendio
Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, with fingertips, accendio
Oh, turn at the cliff
The pupils are dyed with colors I’ve never seen before
The feeling is pure, the look is love
It won’t be easy, out of control
A maze filled with fragrance, push you into the smoke
Six drops, magic syrup and we pop into the mirror
Pearls all over the body, swirl with two fingers
Show me a sweet curse, let them B-U-R-N, yeah
Ooh, the heart that was at peace
When I see you, yeah, I like that, it might stop
Now I’m changing, can’t you see?
(Five, six, seven, eight)
Watch me, don’t touch me
Lovе me, don’t hurt me
Watch me, don’t touch mе
Cast a spell, accendio
Watch me, don’t touch me
Love me, don’t hurt me
Watch me, don’t touch me
Cast a spell, accendio
Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, with fingertips, accendio
Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, with fingertips, accendio
Watch me, don’t touch me
Love me, don’t hurt me
Watch me, don’t touch me
Cast a spell, accendio
Watch me, don’t touch me
Love me, don’t hurt me
Watch me, don’t touch me
Cast a spell, accendio
Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, with fingertips, accendio
Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, with fingertips, accendio
◆ 2002 Year of the Horse Artists ENHYPEN’s Jay, Jake, & Sunghoon – ‘Drunk-Dazed’

‘Drunk-Dazed’, the title track of ENHYPEN’s second mini-album ‘BORDER : CARNIVAL’ released in 2021, expresses the emotions of the members facing a world like a dazzling carnival. ENHYPEN is bewildered and confused by the unfamiliar environment where up and down are reversed and boundaries are blurred in the world they encountered after their debut. The members sing about becoming intoxicated by the festive atmosphere and gradually moving towards the center of the carnival, drawn by the gazes and cheers of the people. The rock and hip-hop-based beat and the dreamy and mysterious melody are heterogeneous but strangely harmonious.

Beautiful and mesmerizing
My sparkling cornea is a diamond
The world without rules
Is all turned upside down, standing upside down
Turning up the party, now
My feet are in the sky, wow
People are ha ha, high
In my ears, la la, loud
Dazzling, Baby
This lighting, Shining
We’re in love with this carnival
Actually, I’m scared
In the swaying glass, this drunk world
At the end, my heart is burning
But I just wanna stay
I feel it, my head is Daze Daze Daze
Addicted, Replay Play Play
As you want, as you want
Go as far as you can, Go
The Carnival that locked me in, wow wow
Again, my heart is Daze Daze Daze
Can’t control my body dance dance dance
This sweet scent
And the red fangs
Enjoy it, this Carnival wow wow
Mmm, crossing the boundary, call me, call me
Everything changes, everything collapses
Reaching out beyond the locked door
Pain welcomes me, a feast of thirst
Actually, I’m afraid
The me in the mirror is just unfamiliar
The shabby truth behind this mask
But I never escape
I feel it, my head is Daze Daze Daze
Addicted, Replay Play Play
As you want, as you want
Go as far as you can, Go
The Carnival that locked me in, wow wow
Again, my heart is Daze Daze Daze
Can’t control my body dance dance dance
This sweet scent
And the red fangs
Enjoy it, this Carnival wow wow
The light given to me
The flames of the sacred fire, Ah
Until I become the owner, Imma ride
I feel it, my head is Daze Daze Daze
Addicted, Replay Play Play
As you want, as you want
Go as far as you can, Go
The Carnival that locked me in, wow wow
Again, my heart is Daze Daze Daze
Can’t control my body dance dance dance
This sweet scent
And the red fangs
Enjoy it, this Carnival wow wow
I wake myself up
Burning my heart
Filling my dreams
I wake myself up
Burning my heart
Filling my dreams
◆ 2002 Year of the Horse Artist NCT WISH’s Sion – ‘Silly Dance’

‘Silly Dance’ is one of the songs that best reflects the identity of NCT WISH, a representative of ‘refreshing pop’. It is a track from NCT WISH’s second mini-album ‘poppop’ released last year. It wittily depicts the awkwardness of acting like a fool dancing when standing in front of someone you like. The synths and guitar sounds on the fast-paced drum beat create a cheerful feeling, and the addictive chorus makes you want to move your body. The melody gives a fairy-tale-like and mysterious feeling.

Oh baby dance yeah
I wanna dance oh
Yeah silly dance I just
My heart is beating so fast
My steps keep getting tangled
Like a dance that missed the beat
I keep Ayo ayo
