Music
Plus One
The 11 best Stray Kids songs
Stray Kids are headed to London in July 2027. Set the countdown with their best tracks, ranked
Since debuting in 2018 as the ever-so polished product of a popular Korean talent show, Stray Kids have built a prolific if eclectic catalogue. From the thumping reggaeton of ‘Chk Chk Boom’ and the traditional Korean instrumentation woven into ‘Thunderous’ to hip-hop, EDM and full-throttle rock, their sound refuses to be confined to any one genre. Insert a proclivity for rousing lyrics that champion self-expression and resilience (you’ll find that SKZ ‘love songs’ are sparse), and an almost uncanny knack for intricate group choreography, and it’s easy to see how they’ve earned such a fervent global following.
After headlining BST Hyde Park in 2024 and playing two nights at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2025, Stray Kids are set for an eagerly anticipated return to UK soil and there’s no shortage of arena-worthy anthems for the setlist.
DOMINO
(NOEASY, 2021)
A highly-revered B-side in the eyes of many Stray Kids fans (or STAY, as the fandom is known), DOMINO is a propulsive track based around the idea of setting off a chain reaction. For those new to Stray Kids, it’s a crash course in their signature rhythmic switches and ability to turn off-kilter hooks into unexpectedly irresistible earworms. Consider it the first ‘domino’ that might just leave you tumbling down the Stray Kids rabbit hole.
10. Thunderous
(NOEASY, 2021)
‘Thunderous’ packs rapid-fire rap, pounding trap drumbeats and brash electronic flourishes, with traditional Korean sounds adding a novel edge. Speaking with Rolling Stone India, Changbin says, “We wanted to express how grand our traditional musical sounds can be, as well as the possibilities of combining these sounds with K-pop.” These references carry through to the song’s accompanying music video which pairs Korean-inspired styling with mischievous dokkaebi (goblin) imagery.
9. Back Door
(IN LIFE, 2020)
If ‘God’s Menu’ was the dish that enticed you in, ‘Back Door’ was sure to have you coming back for seconds. Released in September 2020 as the lead single from IN LIFE, this groove-led follow-up traded culinary themes for a mischievous invitation to an exclusive SKZ party. Replete with funk-fuelled basslines and irresistible ‘Hey, you wanna come in?’ refrain, it marked another triumphant ‘comeback’ for Stray Kids (AKA, slightly grandiose K-pop parlance for a new release).
8. MIROH
(Clé 1 : MIROH, 2019)
A fan-favourite from Stray Kids’ formative years, ‘MIROH’ remains one of their most exhilarating rallying cries thanks to its festival-ready EDM production, animal roars and chant-along chorus. Its title, meaning ‘maze’ in Korean, captures the song’s central message of navigating a corrupt world without losing faith in yourself. In its cinematic accompanying music video, Stray Kids are seen to take on an army of evil bankers through the medium of haka-inspired choreography and ferocious battle-cries. A bizarre but fantastic watch.
7. MANIAC
(ODDINARY, 2022)
The title track of 2022’s ODDINARY (a portmanteau of “odd” and “ordinary”), ‘MANIAC’ is an anthem for anyone who’s ever felt a little out of place. Extending Stray Kids’ recurring theme of rejecting societal expectations, it encourages listeners to stop pretending to be normal and embrace their quirks instead. “Relax everyone, stop pretending to be normal, all of your smiles look weird,” Bang Chan sings over the opening, before the track erupts into wonky beats and synths.
6. Scars
(The Sound, 2023)
A rather welcome change of pace, ‘Scars’ showcases a more vulnerable side to Stray Kids. Their second original Japanese single, it trades bombastic beats for soaring melodies, pared-back instrumentals and an emotionally charged chorus about persevering through hardship and following your dreams. Its takeaway message, that the scars left by life’s struggles are something to wear with pride rather than hide, makes it one of their most affecting releases.
5. Charmer
(ODDINARY, 2022)
On this brilliant B-side, ‘Charmer’ sees Stray Kids channel their inner ‘Pied Piper’, luring listeners in with hypnotic flute hooks, slinky trap-inspired production and a healthy dose of unabashed self-assuredness. Despite fans’ chagrin at its atypical lack of music video, the track clearly had plenty of potential with Changbin revealing that it was actually considered for the title-track spot on ODDINARY before ‘MANIAC’ ultimately got the nod.
4. Do It
(Do It, 2025)
Opting for a more nonchalant kind of swagger, ‘Do It’ sees Stray Kids trade their usual frenetic production for a slick, reggaeton-imbued groove, underpinned by an undeniably catchy main riff and deep refrains of ‘do it, do it, do it, do it…’. The track is essentially a motivational talk set to music, urging listeners to trust their instincts rather than overthink things. Tempted to see them live yet? We have two words…
3. LALALALA
(ROCK-STAR, 2023)
Opening with an almost video-game-like electronic beat before giving way to Changbin’s staccato rap verse, ‘LALALALA’ draws on ‘drift phonk’, a hip-hop and trap subgenre popularised on TikTok, known for its clanging cowbells, abrasive basslines and breakneck tempos. Stray Kids give the sound their own maximalist twist, folding in a collision of rock guitars, pounding percussion and an infectious, chant-along chorus. A milestone for Stray Kids, ‘LALALALA’ became their first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100.
2. Chk Chk Boom
(ATE, 2024)
If you need further proof that K-pop has world domination firmly in its sights, look no further than fan-favourite ‘Chk Chk Boom’. The swaggering 2024 single from ATE fuses Latin-infused hip-hop with reggaeton rhythms, razor-sharp rap verses and a ridiculously catchy, gunshot-inspired hook. Its music video ups the ante with cameos from Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as Deadpool and Wolverine (a crossover that preceded Stray Kids’ contribution to the Marvel film’s soundtrack), while Spanish flourishes add extra bombast. Vamos!
1. God’s Menu
(GO LIVE, 2020)
Using their first Korean-language studio album to debut a signature sound that would become known as mala taste, music as punchy and addictive as its namesake Sichuan seasoning, ‘God’s Menu’ serves up aggressive hip-hop, thunderous percussion and unpredictable switches. Its food-themed concept tracks from the industrial kitchen setting of its music video, to the culinary metaphors of the lyrics. Providing an endearing glimpse beneath the bravado, Felix’s iconic “Cookin’ like a chef, I’m a five-star Michelin” rap is made all the more lovable by his bashful admission that he thought Michelin stars went up to five…
