Honestly, if you haven't sat in a room and felt the floor shake when Insooni hits a high note, you're missing out on a fundamental pillar of Korean music. She’s not just a singer; she’s a force of nature.
Born Kim In-soon, she’s been at this since 1978. That’s nearly five decades of staying relevant in an industry that usually throws people away after five minutes. When you look at an Insooni list of songs, you aren't just looking at a discography. You're looking at the history of a woman who was told she didn't belong because of her mixed-race heritage and then decided to sing so loud they couldn't possibly ignore her.
The Anthems Everyone Knows (And Why)
If we’re talking about the essentials, we have to start with "Goose's Dream" (거위의 꿈). Originally a track by the duo Carnival, Insooni’s 2007 remake turned it into the unofficial national anthem for anyone who’s ever felt like an underdog. It's a song about a goose that wants to fly—a bit on the nose, sure—but when she sings it, you actually believe the bird is going to clear the stratosphere.
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It’s the song that gets played at every graduation, every "I’m-about-to-give-up" montage, and it’s a staple in her live sets even now in 2026.
Then there’s "Father" (아버지). Released in 2009, this track is basically a trap. You think you’re just listening to a pretty ballad, and then suddenly you’re calling your parents and sobbing. It’s deeply personal, reflecting her own complex relationship with her father, an African-American soldier she didn't really know.
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Modern Staples and Collabs
- "Dear Friend" (친구여): This 2004 collab with Cho PD is legendary. It’s got that early 2000s R&B-hip-hop vibe that just doesn't age. It’s the kind of track that proves she can hang with rappers and still be the coolest person in the room.
- "A Night Like This": A more recent favorite for many, showing off her jazzier, more sophisticated side.
- "Every Night" (밤이면 밤마다): This is the party starter. If a Korean wedding or company dinner doesn't feature this song, was it even a party? It’s high-energy, disco-infused, and impossible not to dance to.
Breaking Down the 2025-2026 Resurgence
You might have noticed she’s everywhere again lately. Her 2025 singles "DREAM" and "FOOL" showed a woman in her late 60s who still has better vocal control than most rookies half her age. "DREAM" in particular feels like a spiritual successor to her earlier work—hopeful, powerful, and impeccably produced.
What’s kinda wild is how "Beetle on a Vinyl" (1987) went viral on social media recently. People found the old 80s groove and realized it was actually a biting commentary on her experience as a mixed-race woman in a monolithic society. It's funky, but it's heavy.
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The Golden Girls Era
We can’t talk about her current "Insooni list of songs" without mentioning the Golden Girls project. Seeing her team up with other legends like Park Mi-kyung and Lee Eun-mi was a massive cultural moment. Their live covers—including their take on "Touch My Body"—basically broke the Korean internet. It proved that "diva" isn't a dirty word; it's a title earned through decades of sweat and perfect pitch.
Key Discography Highlights
- 1978: Debuted with the Hee Sisters (The start of it all).
- 1982: "A Joo Ma" (The breakthrough hit that redefined what a female artist could sing about).
- 2004: 16th A to Z (The album that gave us "Dear Friend").
- 2024-2025: Singles like "VIVID" (feat. JUSTHIS) and "DREAM" showed her range across hip-hop and soul.
Why Insooni Matters Right Now
In 2025, Insooni was awarded the Woman of Influence Award from Pearl S. Buck International. She was the first Korean to get it since 2000. Why? Because she used the money from those songs to build Haemil School, a tuition-free school for multicultural kids.
When you listen to her music, you're listening to her survival. She didn't just sing about "Goose's Dream"; she lived it. She was the kid who was sponsored by the Pearl Buck Foundation, and now she's the one running the board. That's the nuance people miss when they just look for a "best hits" list. Every song is a brick in the house she built for herself and others.
If you’re looking to dive into her world, don't just stick to the top five on streaming apps. Hunt down the 1987 album Woman Called Elena. It’s raw, it’s experimental, and it tells the story of someone who knew exactly who she was even when the world tried to tell her otherwise.
Next Steps for Your Playlist
- Start with "Goose's Dream" to understand the power of her voice.
- Queue "Dear Friend" to hear how she blends soul with rap.
- Check out the "VIVID" collaboration with JUSTHIS to see how she’s still pushing boundaries with younger artists in 2026.
- Look up her live performance of "Father"—just make sure you have tissues nearby.