“Golden” is what a perfect pop song sounds like, but it is not the track that best captures the message of KPop Demon Hunters. This weekend, I went to a sing-along screening of KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix had put the movie back in theaters for Halloween, two months after an already historical theatrical run), which allowed me to revisit the film with an audience that knew every song by heart.
From everyone screaming “Fit check for my Napalm era” during “How It’s Done” to the entire theater moving their shoulders to the chorus of “Soda Pop,” it’s incredible how much KPop Demon Hunters has resonated with people of all ages. But while all of the songs in the film are catchy and relate to the story in clever ways, “Golden” is the undisputed champion when it comes to popularity.
After “Golden” hit number one on Billboard Global 200, it became clear that HUNTR/X were going up, up, up in our world too. The song became the poster child for KPop Demon Hunters, with the singing voices of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey even performing it live at The Tonight Show. Yet, as great and emotional as “Golden” is, there’s a different HUNTR/X song that deserves the same amount of love.
“What It Sounds Like” Is The True Heart Of KPop Demon Hunters
Rumi and Zoey hugging in KPop Demon Hunters
If “Golden” is the song that was going to seal the Honmoon, “What It Sounds Like” is the song that created the new, better version of it that Rumi was talking about. In “Golden,” Rumi sings about leaving the patterns behind and becoming the girl they all see. In the context of the story, “Golden” was never a song about acceptance.
You can hear Celine’s voice coming through the lyrics of “Golden” – Rumi, Mira, and Zoey are hunters, voices strong, and their faults and fears must never be seen. The girls had to be perfect, even if that meant never facing their own demons. It’s only in “What It Sounds Like” that we finally hear their true voices. It’s the song they couldn’t write after all.
Zoey, Rumi, and Mira at the end of KPop Demon Hunters
“What It Sounds Like” is a cathartic experience, both for the audience and for the Huntrix. Rumi spent all of her life thinking there was something wrong with her that needed to be fixed. But in “What It Sounds Like,” she finally sees the beauty in the broken glass. Mira and Zoey also come to terms with who they are, regardless of their flaws.
I’ll admit that “What It Sounds Like” is not the most commercial song, especially compared to “Golden” or “Soda Pop.” Unlike those two, “What It Sounds Like” only works in the context of the movie. The lyrics and the melodies are directly tied to what’s happening on screen, and the song loses its impact without key visual moments such as the group hug or Jinu’s sacrifice.
“Golden” Has Become Bigger Than KPop Demon Hunters
The Huntrix performing Golden in KPop Demon Hunters
While I would have loved to see “What It Sounds Like” become a bigger hit, “Golden” absolutely deserves its success. Despite the in-universe bittersweetness of the lyrics, “Golden” is a beautiful song about finding the strength to carve your own path, no matter your past or the adversities you have faced.
EJAE, who co-wrote the song and served as the singing voice of Rumi, has talked about how special and personal “Golden” is to her. With “Golden,” the former K-pop trainee turned some of her own struggles into an anthem that is now connecting with people from all over the world.
Even if Rumi, as a character, needed to grow beyond the message of “Golden” in the story, the song’s actual lyrics could not be more inspirational. “Golden” is to KPop Demon Hunters what “Let It Go” is to Frozen – a song that may not fully define the main character, but with which the movie will forever be associated.
Release Date
June 20, 2025
Runtime
96 minutes
Director
Chris Appelhans, Maggie Kang
