"Soda Pop" is a song performed by Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo, and SamUIL Lee as the fictional boy band the Saja Boys in the 2025 animated musicalfantasy filmKPop Demon Hunters. It was released on June 20, 2025, through Republic Records, as a promotional single and the third track from the film's soundtrack album. It was created by the writers Vince, Kush, and Chung and producers 24, Dominsuk, and Ian Eisendrath.
It received positive reviews for its "bright and bubbly" rhythm. The song entered multiple Billboard and non-Billboard charts. On the Billboard Hot 100 the song peaked at number five. It also entered the Billboard Global 200, peaking at number three.
Background and composition
"Soda Pop" was written by Vince, Kush, and Danny Chung – with production by 24, Dominsuk, and Ian Eisendrath – for the animated musical fantasy film KPop Demon Hunters.[1] In the film, "Soda Pop" acts as an introductory song to the Saja Boys, an antagonistic demon boy band, whose singing voices are performed by Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Chung, Kevin Woo, and SamUIL Lee.[1][2][3] The song was initially recorded by Vince as a guitar demo titled "Ice Cream" roughly seven years prior to the production of KPop Demon Hunters; this demo was later reworked into "Soda Pop" after being given by Vince to producer 24.[4] Chung, while discussing the song's composition, described it as a "[c]ute, bubbly, intentionally annoyingly infectious" earworm that is "meant to lure you in". He additionally noted how the song's lyrics, though superficially sounding romantic, hold more toxic meanings to them, which serves to reflect the Saja Boys' goals in the film of deceiving and consuming the souls of their listeners.[5] Eisendrath said that the goal of the song was to "create one of those super bubblegum-y K-pop boy band songs in the style of a song like 'Butter'" by BTS. Commenting further on the lyrics, Eisendrath explained that "[the Saja Boys] feed on souls. So it was like, 'How do we say that in a way that appears [like an] innocent, fun, K-pop bop, but actually it's expressing who these people really are and what they're really after?'"[1]
Critical reception
Stay Free Radio stated that the introduction was like a "neon sugar rush". The website added that the delivery was "intense", with it being "polished to perfection" with the songwriters being involved in other musical acts.[6]Tune Insights stated that the song was "playful", like a "summer day with friends". According to the website, the chorus makes you "hungry for more, never satisfied, [and] always reaching for another taste.[7] During a discussion on film for NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, both Stephen Thompson and Regina G. Barber commented that "song of the summer" is the first association you make when you hear "Soda Pop".[8] Thompson explained that "you completely understand how this song would kind of capture people's imaginations" and how suddenly "everybody would welcome this as this hot, new idol band".[8] Jae-Ha Kim opined that it is "a beautiful pop song" which is both "jubilant" and "catchy" but also the lyrics are "just a little bit dirty, which is also very K-pop".[8]
J-Hope of BTS joined the trend, posting a video with his backup dancers in the backstage of Lollapalooza.[9]
"Soda Pop" debuted at number 28 in the Billboard Philippines Hot 100 chart,[13] later peaking at number six during the week of July 19, 2025.[14] The song debuted at number 119 on the Billboard Global 200 in the week of July 5.[15] The song entered the chart's top ten at number six during the week of July 19,[16] before peaking at number three in the week of August 9, 2025.[17] By the last weeks of June, "Soda Pop" climbed the charts of Spotify.[18] The song peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the week of August 30, 2025.[19]
In the United Kingdom, "Soda Pop" reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in the week of August 22, 2025.[20] The song peaked at number five on August 4 in the ARIA Singles Chart.[21] The song peaked at number eight on August 23 at the Canadian Hot 100.[22] The song peaked at number 161 for the French Singles Chart.[23] The song entered the German Singles Chart at number 57, before rising to number 28 during the week of August 1.[24]
Track listing
7-inch vinyl, digital download and streaming[25][26]
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 33. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved August 18, 2025.
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 34. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
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