Tzuyu, Nayeon, Momo, Jihyo of TWICE pose with models on the runway during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
2025 Invision
As October 2025 comes to a close, it’s once again clear that K-pop didn’t just participate in the month’s global music conversation but were one of the drivers.
Across pop, R&B, electronic and rock, Korean artists deepened their international footprint through collaborations, English-language releases, and inventive reinterpretations that blur cultural and genre boundaries. These weren’t isolated crossover moments, but yet another step in the ongoing, coordinated wave proving K-pop’s fluency in the language of global pop.
What unites this month’s releases is an unmistakable confidence when it comes to collaboration and experimentation that all prove why K-pop continues to be part of the larger pop conversation while simultaneously reshaping the global pop landscape in real time.
Below are the standout crossovers from K-pop artists in October 2025.
1. JISOO & ZAYN, “EYES CLOSED”
The BLACKPINK superstar’s duet with Zayn leans into late-night R&B, pairing her crystalline tone with Zayn’s smoky register to create a cinematic single that feels tailored for both K-pop playlists and Top 40 pop radio.
The blending of boy band and girl group members proved to be a major chart win as well with Jisoo earning her first-ever entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart while this marked the former One Direction star’s first entry in over five years.
2. PinkPantheress & SEVENTEEN, “Illegal + SEVENTEEN”
For PinkPantheress’ Fancy Some More? mixtape, the U.K. breakout delivered several of her hits with new collaborators including SEVENTEEN members Mingyu, Vernon and The8 on her viral, dance-pop smash “Illegal.” The new hybrid opens with a new house-infused opening with the trio adding deeper harmonies and new verses to answer Pink’s playful comehithers.
3. TWICE, “ME+YOU”
A Top 40 radio-ready pop confection that sees TWICE fully embracing their status a global stars and delivering the single for their special 10th anniversary album in English. The track is an emotional pledge for friendship and togetherness that doubles as anthem for the group itself and their fans.
4. Wonho, “If You Wanna”
With a strong 2000s throwback sound that recalls early Justin Timberlake records, Wonho once again proves how he is pop star fully ready for the global stage with the lead single off his first full-length album Syndrome.
5. NMIXX, “Blue Valentine (English Ver.)”
“Blue Valentine” is proving to be NMIXX’s breakout hit with a career high on the Korean charts as “Blue Valentine” currently sitting atop the real-time rankings. While the group has always worked with a global mindset — recently collaborating with Brazil’s most famous drag queen-pop star Pabllo Vittar — “Blue Valentine” boasts an emotional tone that resonates no matter what language.
6. BamBam, “Angel in Disguise (Prod. Pharell Williams)”
For his first-ever album recorded in Thai, his mother language, BamBam brought on a series of top collaborators that included Pharrell Williams producing the track “Angel in Disguise.” A blend of Thai and English, the GOT7 member first premiered the powerful ballad live at the ‘Grace for the World’ Concert at Vatican City that was broadcast around the world.
7. LE SSERAFIM & J-Hope, “SPAGHETTI (English ver.)”
The K-pop girl group’s quirky single gets an assist from BTS’ ball of sunshine in what is sure to be a surefire chart hit.
Making the song have even more crossover appeal, LE SSERAFIM collaborated with Carbone for a special version of the celebrated Italian restaurant’s tomato basil sauce packaged with the branding and name of the group’s new single.
8. KINO, Jamie & Uwa, “DIRTY BOY”
KINO fully broke out of the typical K-pop idol box with a bold single that brings intense visuals and choreography for something completely fresh for the industry. Bringing in Jamie’s vocal grit and Uwa’s edgy lines adds to the sensuality and maturity of the track for a total refresh of whatever one might think K-pop is today.
9. NEXZ, “Beat-Boxer (English Version)”
Reworking a rhythm-forward showcase into English makes NEXZ’s vocal-percussion focus more accessible to global listeners while the track’s technical bravado becomes all the more clearer when you hear the boys nail the fast-paced track in another language.
10. Yerin Baek, “(They Long To Be) Close to You”
The singer-songwriter-producer turns the Carpenters’ 1970 classic sentiment into a hushed, intimate reading with sparse arrangements and Yerin Baek’s honeyed phrasing. It reads like a private listening with undeniable warmth and emotional nuance felt no matter your native tongue.
11. AtHeart, “Plot Twist (English Ver.)”
The English cut of AtHeart’s debut single tightens narrative delivery and leans into dynamic shifts, delivering a twist without losing the track’s original personality.
12. Xdinary Heroes, “FiRE (My Sweet Mistery)”
Guitar-driven and anthemic, Xdinary Heroes channel heavy, alt-rock energy into a K-pop framework that stands up on rock and pop playlists alike. It’s proof that heavier textures still have crossover currency when paired with hook-first songwriting.
13. BM, “Ooh”
The KARD star’s second EP PO:INT is filled with crossover-ready tracks, but the Latin-flavored “Ooh” not only brings in more global sounds to the mix but sounds right at home as a millenium throwback track.
13. NAYEON of TWICE, “MEEEEEE”
Nayeon’s solo single is anchored by an addictive, singalong chorus that acts as the perfect pairing to the playful, clever lyrics like “Don’t cook but I got good taste, don’t drive but I love the chase / Soft touch when I use my teeth, don’t play with a girl like me.”
Just like her previous solo records, a song like “MEEEEEE” positions her as a solo-level pop personality with broad market pull.
14. W24, “I gotta feeling”
A buoyant, stadium-aimed rocker, W24 craft a crowd-friendly chorus built for call-and-response moments and festival singalongs. The song’s rootsy energy gives it crossover life on both K-pop and global rock fronts.
15. Olivia Marsh, “Too Good to Be Bad”
Polished alt-pop songwriting meets candid lyricism on this cut, which uses vulnerability as a universal access point for listeners across languages and scenes. The production smartly keeps the haunting hooks front-and-center making this a perfect release for Halloween week.
16. A2O MAY, “Papparazzi Arrive”
Produced by SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo Man, the track showcases where the K-pop legend sees pop music moving with his new Chinese-American group and the title track off their first album. With maximalism production, “Paparazzi Arrive” leans into spectacle while threading a story of remaining confident no matter what you face.
17. PinkPantheress & Yves, “Stars + Yves”
Moody and atmospheric, this pairing marks the second time PinkPantheress and Yves have teamed up with the pop pairing favoring an even more ambitious take on Pink’s “Stars” that will grow on listeners as they listen out for all the different sounds and styles inside the track.
18. Wonho, “Good Liar”
As the first taste of the soloist’s Syndrome album, the introspective and taut track puts playful and emotional delivery into the spotlight ahead of maximal production, showcasing Wonho’s range across tempo and mood for a track that could easily fit into Top 40 radio playlists.
19. Xdinary Heroes, “Spoiler!!!”
The K-rock band marries tongue-in-cheek lyricism with high-energy instrumentation on this English B-side track to their LXVE to DEATH album — an apt reminder that playing with genres and languages beyond main singles can be a smart tool for global attention.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbenjamin/2025/10/31/20-crossover-songs-from-october-2025-expanding-k-pops-global-reach/
