Puth on Repeat

Written by:

Hahyeon(Summer) Kim

He’s charming, he’s emotional, he’s coming to Korea this August, yes, I’m talking about Charlie Puth. Whether you first heard him on the radio or through a TikTok remix, there’s a good chance at least one of his songs is already living rent-free in your head. With One Universe Festival just around the corner, I thought it’d be fun to make a short playlist featuring five Charlie Puth songs I’ll be blasting on repeat until the big day.     

First song: “Attention” (2017) 

There’s something instantly addictive about the bassline in this one; it practically struts. “Attention” is Charlie at his sassiest, singing about a toxic relationship where someone keeps pulling him back just for the thrill of it. The lyrics are sharp, the beat is dangerously catchy, and the energy is pure pop perfection. It’s that kind of song where you find yourself dancing even as you mutter, “Ugh, I’ve been there.”

Link: https://youtu.be/nfs8NYg7yQM?si=1J-zFSV2KYG6jC5X 

Second song: “Left and Right” Feat. Jungkook of BTS (2022)

If you’ve ever replayed a memory so many times it starts to echo in your brain, this song gets it. “Left and Right” is a clever sonic experience literally bouncing the vocals between your ears to mimic obsessive thoughts. Featuring Jungkook’s smooth voice alongside Charlie’s signature falsetto, it’s playful, flirty, and tailor-made for K-pop and Western pop fans alike. It’s also one of the rare collabs that feels genuinely balanced—like a duet, not a feature.

Link: https://youtu.be/a7GITgqwDVg?si=jjEk23_eGkFJdROY 

Third song: “We Don’t Talk Anymore” Feat. Selena Gomez (2016)

Bittersweet and haunting, this track paints a picture of a post-breakup situationship that’s all too real. Charlie and Selena’s voices blend beautifully like two people reminiscing about a connection that’s fizzled out but hasn’t fully gone away. It’s soft, wistful, and wrapped in tropical house vibes that somehow make heartbreak feel… oddly calming? It’s a quiet scream into the void, but make it melodic.

Link: https://youtu.be/3AtDnEC4zak?si=B5F_f2ciUkYv4Gmp 

Fourth song: “Loser” (2022)

Sometimes, you need a breakup song that lets you own the fact that you messed up. “Loser” is self-deprecating in the most catchy way like an emotional confession set to a beat you can’t stop nodding to. The chorus is tongue-in-cheek, but there’s vulnerability tucked beneath the humor. It’s a bop, sure, but also a reminder that admitting fault can be weirdly cathartic. (Bonus points if you sing it dramatically in front of a mirror.)

Link: https://youtu.be/Sp6BS-rSr98?si=QJ9Y7v_Yh7zwRGRv 

Fifth song: “See You Again” Feat. Wiz Khalifa (2015)

Yes, this one still makes me tear up. Written as a tribute to Paul Walker, “See You Again” became one of the defining songs of the 2010s. Charlie’s chorus is gentle and filled with longing; it’s about friendship, grief, and the kind of love that doesn’t end, even when someone’s gone. It’s more than just a movie soundtrack; it’s a healing anthem. And when thousands of fans sing along live in unison? Goosebumps.

Link: https://youtu.be/RgKAFK5djSk?si=4QRN6YuGK2ThI8wV 

     Whether you’re getting hyped for the concert or just revisiting his discography, Charlie Puth’s music always brings something extra a clever hook, a twist of emotion, or that one lyric that hits a little too hard.

Let me know your favorite Puth song and if you’re heading to the festival, I’ll see you there (probably crying during “See You Again”).