“K-pop Demon Hunters’ ‘Golden’ Reaches No. 2 on Billboard Hot”
The OST from the popular Netflix animation ‘K-pop Demon Hunters’ has made quite an impression on the music scene lately. The track ‘Golden,’ performed by the girl group Huntrix within the show ‘Kedeheon,’ has climbed the ranks and secured the second spot on the prestigious Billboard Hot 100 chart, as reported by Billboard on the 28th. This remarkable feat marks a significant jump from its previous fourth-place ranking and showcases the song’s incredible success since its debut on the chart at 81st place earlier this month. ‘Golden’ has been steadily rising in the ranks week after week, moving from 81st to 23rd, 6th, 4th, and finally landing at the highly coveted second position.
The Billboard Hot 100 ranking system takes into account a combination of streaming data, airplay, and sales figures to determine a song’s position on the chart. ‘Golden’ managed to top the streaming songs chart for the first time with an impressive 25.7 million streams, showing a 12% increase from the previous week. Additionally, its radio broadcast score soared by 109% to reach 3.7 million, earning it a notable debut at 35th place on the pop airplay chart. Moreover, ‘Golden’ also reclaimed the top positions on the ‘Global 200’ and ‘Global (excluding the United States)’ charts. The OST album featuring ‘Golden’ also saw success, reaching third place on the Billboard main album chart ‘Billboards 200,’ climbing two spots from the previous week’s fifth-place ranking. The weekly album sales hit the mark of 89,000 copies, setting a new record for the album’s performance.
The impact of ‘Golden’s’ success is further magnified by the fact that all the singers who lent their voices to the song are Korean-Americans. Notably, Lee Jae, known for his role as Rumi, is a former trainee from SM Entertainment and is recognized in Korea for his composition of Red Velvet’s hit track “Psycho.” Audrey, who portrays Mira, is slated to appear at the ‘2025 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival’ in August, while Ray Ami, who delivers Joy’s part in the song, has carved out a niche for herself as a rapper and singer-songwriter.
The narrative of ‘Kedeheon’ revolves around Huntrix, a K-pop girl group exorcist, battling against the nefarious Lion Boys, an evil spirit embodied by a K-pop boy band. This groundbreaking overseas animation, centered on K-pop idols, has garnered praise for its deep understanding and representation of Korean culture and K-pop. Notably, the involvement of several prominent K-pop producers in the creation of the OST has ensured an authentic and engaging musical experience for the audience. Voices for the Lion Boyz characters were provided by accomplished artists such as Andrew Choi, Danny Jung, Kevin Woo, Neckwave, and Seventeen Rise, with the title track ‘Take Down’ performed by TWICE members Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung.
In conclusion, ‘Golden’ from ‘K-pop Demon Hunters’ continues to make waves in the music industry, earning critical acclaim and capturing the hearts of fans worldwide. Its success not only highlights the talent and creativity of Korean-American artists but also underscores the global appeal and influence of K-pop on a broader scale.