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'Golden' Songwriters Reveal Secrets Behind KPop Demon Hunters' Global Hit

The song "Golden" from the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" has achieved 5x platinum status, cementing its global success. Songwriters detailed a meticulous creative process, starting with a specific drum loop and traditional KPop structure. A standout element was the intentional inclusion of an A5 high note, performed by EJAE, which left the production team in awe. The music team also crafted distinct sonic identities for the film's heroic and villainous groups, blending KPop with cinematic storytelling for an international audience.

Key Points: 'Golden' Songwriters on KPop Demon Hunters' Global Success

  • Song achieved 5x platinum status
  • Drum loop and BPM were foundational
  • A5 high note was a crucial component
  • Music crafted for heroic and villainous groups
  • Lyrics reflect character's inner growth
2 min read

'Golden' Songwriters reflect on 'KPop Demon Hunters' global success

The songwriters behind 'Golden' from 'KPop Demon Hunters' discuss the creative process, the iconic high note, and the film's global musical impact.

"To see people singing along to these Korean lyrics is a very moving moment for me. - Nam and Zhun"

Seoul, February 21

The song Golden from the hit animated film 'KPop Demon Hunters' continues to make waves globally, achieving 5x platinum status just seven months after the movie's release. It took a mighty group of songwriters to deliver "Golden." That group included EJAE, who also provides the singing voice of Rumi, Mark Sonnenblick and South Korean hit factory The Black Label - IDO, according to Variety.

Speaking about the creative process, Zhun, via translator, explained to Variety, "The production team wanted us to work on the drum loop. They wanted it to be a very specific BPM between 100 and 120, so we developed the drum loop first and went from there." Nam added that the song followed a traditional KPop structure, "We had two voices, two verses and a bridge."

Filmmakers Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans requested a high note as a key element for the track, which EJAE performed. "This was a very important component to the song itself," Zhun said. "That note was A5 and written in intentionally by EJAE. When IDO first heard it, our reaction was one of awe. There's a limit to how high a note can be, so we weren't expecting to include a note so high. It's really incredible to see her hit that note," according to Variety.

In addition to Golden, IDO also composed music for the film's all-female group Huntr/x and the Saja Boys. Zhun credited film music producer Ian Eisendrath for helping create two distinct musical identities: "Saja Boys are a group that's actually evil, pretending to be kind, whereas Huntr/x is a group expressing frustration, and they are the heroines of the story itself. His guidance helped us mesh the music into the visual image, because it feels completely different than standalone music."

When asked about lyrics that resonated most, Lee highlighted the line, "I'm done hiding, now I'm shining," as a reflection of Rumi's inner growth. Nam and Zhun expressed pride that Korean lyrics reached a global audience, saying, "To see people singing along to these Korean lyrics is a very moving moment for me," according to Variety.

Golden continues to cement the impact of KPop in international music and demonstrates the skill of The Black Label team in blending traditional KPop elements with cinematic storytelling.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
As a music producer myself, the technical details are fascinating. Developing the drum loop first at a specific BPM range is such a professional approach. The Black Label's work is always top-notch. Would love to see more such collaborations with Indian composers!
S
Sarah B
My daughter is obsessed with this song! She's been trying to hit that A5 note for weeks 😂 It's wonderful how this film blends animation with such catchy music. The creative process behind differentiating the hero and villain groups' music is brilliant storytelling.
V
Vikram M
Respectfully, while the song is good, I feel the article focuses too much on technicalities. For the average listener, it's the emotion that matters. The success shows the power of K-pop's production system, but I hope Indian music industries also get this level of global recognition soon.
K
Kavya N
The part about creating two distinct musical identities for Huntr/x and Saja Boys is genius! Music that complements the visual narrative elevates the entire experience. This is where Bollywood can learn - our background scores are great, but this level of thematic integration is next level.
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Michael C
5x platinum in seven months is insane! The global music market has truly embraced K-pop. The collaboration between Korean and international songwriters like Mark Sonnenblick shows how cultural fusion creates magic. More power to such artistic partnerships!

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