Still from the Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” (courtesy of Netflix)
The virtual K-pop girl group HUNTR/X has finally risen to the top of the Billboard charts, solidifying Korean music’s competitiveness on the global stage. The song “Golden,” from the soundtrack for “KPop Demon Hunters,” an animated film on Netflix, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Hot 100 charts. In an article published on Aug. 11, Billboard said, “Notably, ‘Golden’ is the ninth song associated with Korean pop to conquer the Hot 100 — and the first by female lead vocalists.” The only other K-pop artists who have attained the same position are BTS and its individual members Jung Kook and Jimin. “Golden” also made No. 1 across the pond, hitting the top spot on the UK’s “Top 100” chart for singles. As a song in the dance pop genre, “Golden” features straight melodies that are easy to sing along to and designed for group choreography. The catchy melodies and refreshing high notes arm the tune with an unrivaled presence. The lyrics tell a story of growing up and contain a positive message likely to resonate with audiences across the world, irrespective of nation or generation. “The song has a high level of musical execution, but its hopeful and cheerful message draws the listener in and extracts a level of empathy,” commented cultural critic Kim Heon-sik.“The song also breaks the stereotype of K-pop being centered around boy bands, which is significant.”
