On Oct. 20, Korean pop girl group TWICE will celebrate their 10th anniversary. This milestone is a rare feat in K-pop — especially for a group who has kept their original nine-member lineup intact. 

Since their 2015 debut on JYP Entertainment’s survival show "Sixteen," TWICE have grown into one of the most influential acts in the industry. During their early years, members  Jihyo, Nayeon, Momo, Sana, Mina, Jeongyeon, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu captivated audiences around the world with their sweet songs and bubbly charisma (see "Cheer Up," "TT"). They topped charts with each new release, earned coveted awards, and set the blueprint for younger generations.

They boast achievements like becoming the first K-pop girl group to sell out L.A.’s SoFi Stadium in 2024, and becoming the first K-pop girl group to headline Lollapalooza festival in Chicago last summer.

TWICE's music has matured as they have; the group began to experiment with deeper concepts, different genres ("Feel Special," "I Can’t Stop Me"), and most members started to contribute lyrics and compositions to their albums. Their music reflects a compelling coming-of-age, where young girls turn into confident women, all while soundtracked by songs that bring joy, comfort, reflection, and, sometimes, tears.

As the nine members prepare for their 2026 This Is For world tour, which will kick off in January, GRAMMY.com looks back on their prolific, prodigious body of work. Excluding their hefty Japanese discography, below are 11 essential TWICE songs that define their artistry, resilience, and peerless charisma.

"Like Ooh-Ahh" (2015)

"Like Ooh-Ahh" was TWICE's introduction to the world, and one that immediately stood out for its quirky blend of rock, pop, and hip-hop. In press materials, the track was described as "color pop," a unique genre that only TWICE would be able to portray. Produced by the duo Black Eyed Pilseung, "Like Ooh-Ahh" was more of a sleeper hit than an overnight success, slowly climbing the charts in the months following its release.

The song hinted at traits that would resurface much later in TWICE's career, such as a cheeky demeanor and edgier visuals. All of that was on display in a playful music video, where the nine members attempt to escape a zombie apocalypse.

"Cheer Up" (2016)

"Cheer Up" was only TWICE’s second single, but it catapulted them into K-pop stardom. Its buzzing, optimistic sugary energy resonated with audiences in need of a cute pick-me-up. The now-emblematic music video, featuring TWICE dressed as famous movie characters (like Nayeon as Scream’s Sidney Prescott and Tzuyu as Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's), sealed the deal, making it easy and fun to recognize each member and their individual charms.

As more people caught on to JYP's newest girl group, "Cheer Up" topped the prestigious Circle Digital Chart (formerly Gaon) and became their most-streamed song of 2016 in South Korea. It also earned TWICE their first music show win and was awarded Song of the Year at both the Melon Music Awards and the Mnet Asian Music Awards. Sana’s viral "shy shy shy" line has become one of K-pop’s most known memes.

"TT" (2016)

Six months after "Cheer Up," TWICE doubled down on their success with the synth-laden "TT," off their third EP, Twicecoaster: Lane 1. Half cute, half haunting, the single incorporated the "TT" emoticon for crying/being sad in its lyrics and choreography, making it instantly memorable.

Released just one week before Halloween, the "TT" music video also contributed to a rise in the song’s popularity. Employing the same structure of "Cheer Up," each member dressed as a different fictional character, with Jeongyeon as Pinocchio, Momo becoming Tinker Bell, and Dahyun playing a comical White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. Overall, "TT" showed new depths to what would become TWICE’s signature cute pop sound, and solidified their image as the girl group to watch in the following decade.

"Likey" (2017)

In the lead single for their first studio album, Twicetagram, TWICE questioned how the pervasive social media "like" affects our lives. Underlined by one of their most addictive electropop melodies, they share vulnerabilities: "Inside the small screen, I wanna be the prettiest," sings Jihyo, while Jeongyeon reflects, "It takes so much effort to get the perfect look / But it is something I can never give up."

The song was an instant hit, with its cute choreography spawning endless covers by fellow K-pop artists and fans. At this point, it was clear that TWICE’s bubbly façade hid more beneath the surface, and that those nuances would make them stand out even more throughout the years.

"What Is Love?" (2018)

Considered by many a quintessential TWICE track, "What Is Love?" took inspiration from Hollywood films and musicals to translate their curiosity about the titular feeling. Cushioned by twinkling beats and a vintage charm, they wonder when and how they will experience a relationship that is "as sweet as candy" and "like flying in the sky."

The single’s catchy melody might've caught the attention of new listeners, but the music video pulled them deep into TWICE’s world. In it, they reenact iconic movie scenes (including the dance in Pulp Fiction and the pottery scene in Ghost) to hilarious, relatable results. After "Cheer Up" and "Signal," "What Is Love?" became TWICE’s third consecutive Song of the Year win at the 2018 MAMA Awards, tying them up with BTS as the acts with most wins in the history of the category.

"Fancy" (2019)

Three and a half years into their careers, TWICE we’re no longer the innocent, shy girls from "Cheer Up." In 2019’s "Fancy," they knew exactly what (and who) they wanted, and weren’t afraid to get it. The single is a synth-frenzy ride, exploring the members’ rich vocals and slightly sultry delivery as they acknowledge: "It's dangerous / it pricks, you are like a rose / It's okay, I am not afraid at all."

The plotless music video also marked a departure from previous TWICE hits, with neon CGI backgrounds and a darker, more dramatic color palette for their outfits. Through all these conceptual and visual changes, the group gracefully showed how much they had grown. While they still held plenty of their natural quirks, their path was shaping up to be an intriguing one.

"Feel Special" (2019)

If "Fancy" was TWICE’s first foray into a mature concept, "Feel Special" plunged into this new chapter. While they were still singing about love, "Feel Special" focused on the love they hold for each other as friends, and how they find support in one another. Park Jin-young, who wrote the lyrics, said in an interview that he was inspired after seeing Sana go through a difficult time and watching how the other members supported her.

"You make me feel special / No matter how the world brings me down / Even when hurtful words stab me / I smile again because you’re there / That’s what you do," they sing in the chorus. "Feel Special" is both sad and happy, serious and celebratory, wearing  life’s highs and lows on its sleeve. With sparkling synths and a hopeful atmosphere, it is one of TWICE’s most emotionally honest and resonant tracks to date.

"I Can’t Stop Me" (2020)

Hopping on 2020’s revival of 80s’ music, "I Can’t Stop Me" is one of the most striking in TWICE's catalog: deep bass lines, bright arpeggios, and a sleek, disco-synthwave beat that converges into pure bliss. As the members grapple with the tension between desire and self-control ("I can't escape it / You're my weakness and you're my vice," they sing), the frantic production signals there’s no time to lose, and keeps its breathtaking speed until the end.

"I Can’t Stop Me" was a definite step in TWICE’s evolution, portraying them as confident women and daring artists. Unafraid to push beyond their comfort zone, TWICE set aside their sweet sound for a while, and prove they can handle any other genre with the same mastery.

"The Feels" (2021)

Much is said about K-pop acts aiming to cross over into the U.S. market. One of the biggest concerns among fans is that their favorite group might lose its identity in order to appeal to Western audiences, but that’s not something ONCE (TWICE's fandom) need to worry about. With 2021’s "The Feels," TWICE made the transition look effortless.

Although they had recorded songs in English before, "The Feels" was TWICE’s first original single in the language. Charging forward with glistening disco vibes and impossibly catchy hooks ("Boy, I, boy, I, boy, I know / I know I got the feels," anyone?), it encapsulates both the group’s bubbly beginnings and their newfound confidence. The mix was tailored for global ears, but "The Feels" is an unmistakable, unforgettable TWICE song.

"Strategy" feat. Megan Thee Stallion (2024)

The apex of TWICE’s international baddie era arrived with "Strategy," the title track of their 2024 EP. Featuring resident hot girl Megan Thee Stallion and fully sung in English, the single is filled with a retro R&B flow and some of the group’s most straightforward, sassy lines. "You're feeling things now, and you're confused / Watching my body getting loose / You don't know what you're gonna do / You're mine," Jihyo dares.

Of course, it’s much more tame than Megan’s "Do you like that? (Huh?) / When I smack it and you watch it bounce it right back?" for example. But just the fact that these lines coexist in a song from the same group who released "Cheer Up" is a fascinating testament to their growth.

"Me+You" (2025)

To celebrate their 10th anniversary, TWICE released the soft R&B single "Me+You." As the title suggests, the song is a gift to each other, one that cherishes their friendship and the memories made as a group.

"Me+You" flows like a peaceful river, always in movement but never in a rush. It’s a reflection of the safe haven they created, and while not the most exciting song in their discography, it offers a sense of comfort that only years of familiarity can bring. What makes this release truly essential, though, is its music video. Full of references to their early hits such as "Like Ooh-Ahh" and "What Is Love," along with nods to memes and other fan-favorite content from their archives, it plays like a nostalgic, visual documentary of how far they have come.

"All I need is you / Just you / For everything that we’ve been through / I’m grateful that you’re my best friends / Until the end, I’ll stick by your side like glue," they sing, reinforcing their bond. Hopefully, these lyrics offer a glimpse of the future.