The emotions felt on screen are expressed through voices. As K-Pop singers continue to visit, there are many songs that are too precious to just listen to.
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ (hereafter ‘KDeHun’) is a Netflix original American animated film produced by Sony Pictures Animation, released on June 20. The film has been a box office success both domestically and internationally, receiving much love. It has ranked first in Netflix's global movie section for five consecutive weeks since its release, with a total viewing time of about 44 million hours, showcasing immense popularity.
Additionally, it has reached the top 10 in 93 countries worldwide and ranked first in over 30 countries, showing no signs of slowing down even a month after its release. The soundtrack, completed as a musical animation, has been praised for enhancing the fun of ‘watching and listening’. The mix of English and Korean lyrics has also been a significant attraction, maintaining the charm of K-Pop.
Riding on this wave, the activities of K-Pop singers are drawing attention. This is particularly due to the girl group ‘HuntRix’ from KDeHun covering the song ‘Golden’. ‘Golden’ is currently ranked 4th on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It rose two spots from 6th place last week and has been on the chart for four consecutive weeks. It made its entry into Billboard immediately after its release, garnering global reactions.
In South Korea, it is also showcasing its unique influence by ranking first on major music sites like Melon, Genie, and Bugs. This has sparked a cover craze among K-Pop singers, leading to what is being called a ‘high note battle’.
Well-known vocalists such as Bada (S.E.S.), Kwon Jin-ah, Solar (Mamamoo), Kwon Soon-il (Urban Zakapa), and Ahn Yu-jin (IVE) have participated in the covers. Among them, the participation of Bada and Ahn Yu-jin holds special significance.
Bada, known as the inspiration for the previous hunter group that raised HuntRix in the story, has drawn cheers from fans by participating as a real singer. Netizens who watched the video reacted with comments like “The ancestor has come to discipline us,” “The real previous hunter has arrived,” “If you strain your voice on this, will you live as a hunter?” and “It’s an official ancestor,” expressing great enthusiasm for her cover.
When ‘Golden’ was first released, viewers noted that it reminded them of IVE's ‘I Am’. In response, Ahn Yu-jin delivered the song in its original key, eliciting a passionate response from fans.
What’s surprising is that not only K-Pop idol singers but also artists with completely different musical styles have joined in. Kwon Jin-ah, for instance, arranged the original song in her own calm ballad style, pursuing a completely new feel. The emergence of a ‘K-Pop singer-songwriter’ in a work depicting idols has been refreshing among international fans. One overseas fan commented, “It’s astonishing how smoothly she expressed the original song. Truly excellent and deserving of more global popularity.”
Furthermore, some domestic and international fans have even requested Kwon Jin-ah to cover the duet song ‘Free’ between Lumi and Jin-woo in the story, showing interest in her musicality.
While Kwon Jin-ah is showcasing her charm as a female singer-songwriter, Kwon Soon-il's performance is also noteworthy. Being the only male singer to cover the song, his ability to handle the original key was nothing short of shocking. Comments like “Let this voice be widely known, this is the voice of Korea,” and “This song wasn’t meant for a man to sing,” have been pouring in with surprise.
This is not just a simple cover; it is creating a synergy that draws interest and curiosity towards both the singers and the work itself.
Cultural critic Shim Jae-geol stated, “As the frequency of covers by stars increases, they may not create a wind on their own, but they certainly have the effect of amplifying an already ignited spark,” adding, “Especially unique covers provide a different and fresh charm to the original content. This cover will be a representative example of a virtuous cycle that generates synergy for both the movie and the artists.”
Cultural critic Kim Heon-sik also remarked, “I believe ‘KDeHun’ is popular because of the K-Pop songs. If the song quality had been poor, it wouldn’t have been popular,” and stated, “When K-Pop singers cover, it will not only increase immersion in those singers but also enhance the enjoyment of K-Pop itself. It is a way to elevate the brand value of both the work and the artists themselves.”
He further emphasized, “We are currently in an era where music is consumed through storytelling. Active participation of K-Pop singers in OST covers using animation is important.”
The overall musical style of ‘Golden’ is based on K-Pop. Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans reportedly brought in producers from The Black Label, such as Teddy, to properly capture the K-Pop sentiment.
With a high-quality song completed, it seems to be creating a warm breeze throughout the K-Pop industry, including ‘KDeHun’, music, and artists.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
