"Golden" received acclaim from critics for its lyrics and catchy composition. In addition to the overall success of the film's soundtrack,the song reached number one on the Billboard Global 200,and also topped the charts in nineteen countries,including South Korea,the United Kingdom,and the United States. The song additionally peaked within the top ten of charts in more than twenty other countries.
Background and release
The animated musical fantasy film KPop Demon Hunters was released on Netflix on June 20,2025. The film follows the fictional K-pop girl group Huntr/x,consisting of members Rumi,Mira,and Zoey,whose singing voices are performed by Ejae,Audrey Nuna,and Rei Ami,respectively.[3] The film's accompanying soundtrack album was released on the same day,with "Golden" as the fourth track.[4]
Following the song's success,Republic Records officially released it as a single on July 4,2025,along with instrumental and a cappella versions. It was also announced that "Golden" would be submitted for awards consideration.[5]Billboard noted that "following the soundtrack's second-week streaming explosion,Republic hustled to have 'Golden' impact top 40 radio stations" on July 8.[6] Republic Records Chairman Jim Roppo stated that they were also in discussions on "potential remixes of" the song "with some 'A-list remixers' in play".[6] A remix of "Golden" by David Guetta was later released on July 25.[7][8]
Lyrics and composition
Ian Eisendrath,executive producer for the soundtrack album,described "Golden" as an "I Want" song in traditional musical film structure,as it explores the characters' purpose while also dwelling on Rumi's inner thoughts,resulting in the change during the song's bridge of an "inspirational pop" to a slightly darker "sotto voce".[9] Eisendrath explained that they initially "had five to six songs written for that slot" but kept developing "until it was the right energy. The directors are tough customers,in the best possible way,and they had a real vision for what this needed to be".[10] The song was co-written by Ejae and Mark Sonnenblick "under the guidance" of Eisendrath.[11]The Chosun Daily highlighted that "while over 90% of the lyrics are in English,key moments feature Korean words such as 'eoduwajin' ('darkened') and 'yeongwonhi ggaejil su eomneun' ('unbreakable forever'),preserving its K-pop identity".[12]
The Chosun Daily also noted music critic Lim Hee-yoon's observation that "the powerful high note reaching up to a high A in the third octave is rarely used in idol songs" which adds "freshness".[12]Ars Technica commented that the song "spans an impressive three-octave range,eventually hitting an A-5 on the chorus–a high note usually reserved for classically trained operatic sopranos".[13] Speaking with Korea JoongAng Daily,Ejae explained that she "intentionally wrote a challenging vocal line" in order to "reflect both Rumi's vocal prowess and her fierce determination",and commented further that she "just followed where the melody took me,and suddenly I was hitting an A5 note".[14] Co-director Maggie Kang stated that they "had Ejae sing the highest notes that she could possibly sing in a lot of the songs" which included "Golden".[15]The Washington Post reported "it was important to Kang that the song embody 'the feeling that you get when you hear an artist,like,just put all of her talent and effort and that physical struggle into hitting a note'".[15]
After the release of the film,its co-director Chris Appelhans commented that with "Golden" as an "I Want" song,they were following "the conventions of a traditional musical" while also "making it a legitimately great pop song" which "is probably why it's [in the Top 10] on the worldwide Spotify charts",noting that "a good pop song also tells a story" which is what "Golden" is doing.[16] In a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" interview,Appelhans further commented that songs such as Biggie's "Juicy" and "Forever" by Drake,Kanye West,Lil Wayne,and Eminem served as sources of inspiration for "Golden",as these songs "helped [them] understand how a pop song could be a biography about starting as a nobody and finding yourself".[17]
Critical reception
The song received critical acclaim. Debashree Dutta of Rolling Stone India called the song "an infectious electropop track",noting how it focuses on the purpose of the characters "while also reflecting Rumi's thoughts and the complexity of their role. Thematically,'Golden' portrays their growth as guardians of humanity".[1] Similarly,Angela Garcia of SLUG Magazine noted the song,along with "Your Idol",as energetic tracks with "infectious melodies".[18] Sarah Carey of That Hashtag Show described it as a passionately emotional song that listeners "play when [they] need to remind [themselves] who [they] are."[19] Anne Branigin of The Washington Post commented that "Golden"'s "popularity can be measured not just in its streaming numbers but also in the scores of covers (dance,vocal and instrumental) and passionate lip-synching videos that it has inspired on TikTok and Instagram",noting that "even real-life K-pop idols are fans,sharing their own interpretations of the dances and songs".[15] Branigin also highlighted that the song has accomplished "a rare feat for a K-pop song" by "even being played on American radio";during August 1–7,its radio airplay audience impressions "surged more than 70 percent".[15][20]
In a Billboard discussion on the success of "Golden" compared to other songs on the soundtrack,Jason Lipshutz felt that the song's trajectory as the "standout hit from the soundtrack" was "understandable",since it is the "unifying anthem for Huntr/x with soaring melodies and chest-thumping inspiration".[21] Lipshutz further explained that it "has become a single-song representation of the KPop Demon Hunters phenomenon,as a highly positive,musically undeniable piece of pop songwriting;it was designed as a smash in the fictional world of the movie,but was strong enough to become one in the real world,too".[21] Abby Webster commented that as the film's "I Want" song,"Golden" is the clear "centerpiece of the soundtrack,but it also does a great job threading the needle between pop and narrative songwriting". She stated that the song is "a really emotionally satisfying song" regardless of having seeing the associated film,though it is "heightened if you have".[21]
Chris Molanphy of Slate called the song "well-crafted inspirational pop" and felt that while "soaring" was a "cliché" description,"soaring is quite literally what 'Golden' is about,in its musical structure as well as in the lyrics of its chorus".[22] Molanphy also described "Golden" as "an American Idol coronation song or a Disney 'I want …' song run through the K-pop machine,an empowerment anthem tailored for fans to relate to it both individually and parasocially—a big theme running through [KPop Demon Hunters],the movie,wherein pop stars' fans are their most precious asset".[22] He opined that "Golden" and the rest of the film's soundtrack saved us "from the summer of our discontent" by injecting a pop surprise into an otherwise stagnant 2025 musical landscape "clogged with aging holdovers from 2024" and the chart reign of "Alex Warren's snoozy,churchy ballad 'Ordinary'".[22] Mackenzie Schmidt of People similarly commented that "Golden" has been "ticking every box required of a 'song of the summer'",noting the song "sparks that rare giddy,new music feeling,where you know you're going to put it on repeat and the first notes in your headphones are an instant hit of serotonin".[23] Schmidt also highlighted that it has "captivated a massive and incredibly diverse fandom".[23]
In addition to the film's successful soundtrack, "Golden" attained individual commercial success worldwide, charting on various national record charts and garnering millions of streams. It reached number one on both the Billboard Global 200 and the Billboard Global Excl. US charts during the week of July 19;[28] the song was displaced in the following week by Blackpink's "Jump" before returning to the top position in the week of August 2,[29] holding at number one for the subsequent six weeks.[30]
North America
According to Billboard, "Golden" garnered seven million U.S. streams from June 27 to June 30, a 272% increase from the same period during the previous week.[31] In the first week of July 2025, the song debuted at number 81 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 63 on the Canadian Hot 100.[32][33] Two weeks later, the song entered the top ten of both charts.[34][35] The song later rose to number one in both countries.[36][20][37]Billboard noted that this was a milestone in multiple categories, as Huntr/x is the first in the U.S. to reach number one "for all-women collectives of three or more members" since Destiny's Child with "Bootylicious" in 2001, the first fictional act to reach number one since "We Don't Talk About Bruno" in 2022, and "'Golden' is the ninth song associated with Korean pop to conquer the Hot 100" as well as "the first by female lead vocalists";[20]Vulture highlighted that those eight other K-pop songs had either been BTS songs or solos by BTS members.[38] In its fifth non-consecutive week at number one on the Hot 100, the song surpassed The Chipmunks' "The Chipmunk Song" and The Archies' "Sugar, Sugar" (both of which spent four weeks atop in 1958 and 1969 respectively) to become the longest-leading hit by an animated act.[39]
On July 3, the song reached number two on the US Spotify daily chart, with the BBC highlighting how it "surpass[ed] Blackpink as the highest-charting female K-pop group".[40][41] Five days later, on July 8, "Golden" topped the US Spotify daily chart, causing Huntr/x to become the first female K-pop group to have a song do so.[42][43][44] The song debuted at number 7 on the US Streaming Songs chart – "Golden" is the first song "credited to a fictional act (Huntr/x) to reach the top 10 in the Streaming Songs tally's 12-year history" and "also the first song from an animated film to reach the Streaming Songs top 10 since tracks from Encanto" (2021) were on the list.[45]
In Germany, "Golden" debuted at number 27 on the GfK's Top 100 Singles chart. The following week, it entered the top ten at number nine, and later topped the chart in the week of August 8.[54] In Austria, the song debuted at number 30 on the Ö3 Austria Top 40. It later held the runner-up spot for five consecutive weeks before then peaking at number one for five weeks.[55] In Switzerland, the song debuted at number 39 on the Swiss Hitparade. It later reached number two for seven consecutive weeks before dethroning Alex Warren's "Ordinary", ending its 25-week run at number one.[56] In Ireland, the song peaked at number two on the Irish Singles Chart.[57] It also appeared on the IFPI chart in Norway, reaching number one.[58] In the United Kingdom, the song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the second K-pop song in history to achieve this feat after Psy's "Gangnam Style", as well as the first song by a fictional band since "The Official BBC Children in Need Medley" in 2009 to reach number one.[59] The song additionally topped Sweden's Sverigetopplistan[60] and the Single Top 100 in the Netherlands.[61]
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 35. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
↑ "מדיה פורסט – המצעד הבינלאומי השבועי – Week 35 – 24/08 – 30/08/2025"[Media Forest – International Weekly Chart – Week 35 – 24/08 – 30/08/2025] (Select the year 2025 and the option "35 24-08-25 30-08-25" from the stretched lists, then click "שירים מובילים - רדיו - בינלאומי" to see the chart.) (in Hebrew). Media Forest. August 31, 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 35. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
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