Saturday, October 25, 2025

SODA POP - SAJA BOYS (FROM KPOP DEMON HUNTERS)


VIDEO HOT TRACKS
Soda Pop - SAJA BOYS
From KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)

"Soda Pop," a bubbly standout from Netflix's animated film KPop Demon Hunters, is an effervescent K-pop track performed by the fictional boy band SAJA BOYS, voiced by Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, and others. Featured as the ninth song in the movie, it captures the high-energy world of demon-hunting idols with its catchy hooks, fizzy synths, and playful lyrics about effervescent romance and empowerment. The song's upbeat tempo and harmonious vocals blend traditional K-pop elements with a modern pop flair, making it an instant earworm that complements the film's action-packed narrative.

Released as part of the soundtrack in June 2025, "Soda Pop" embodies the movie's theme of blending music with supernatural battles, appealing to fans of animated musicals and K-pop enthusiasts alike with its vibrant production and infectious charm. On the Billboard charts, "Soda Pop" has enjoyed impressive success, peaking at No. 3 on the Hot 100 as of late September 2025, marking it as the third top 10 hit from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack. It entered the chart at Number 10 in August, rising steadily with strong streaming and sales, and has been certified platinum by the RIAA for over one million units sold in the U.S. The track also topped the Top Gabb Music Songs chart in August and climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Global 200, reflecting its global appeal in over 18 countries. While not dethroning HUNTR/X's "Golden" from the top spot, its chart performance underscores the soundtrack's dominance, rivaling other film hits like those from Encanto. The Saja Boys' performance of "Soda Pop" in KPop Demon Hunters is a dazzling highlight, showcased in a high-stakes concert scene where the group unleashes their demonic powers through electrifying choreography and vocal prowess. As antagonists to the protagonist girl group HUNTR/X, the Saja Boys—depicted as charismatic, hypnotic idols—deliver the song with synchronized dance moves and powerful harmonies that heighten the film's tension between music and mayhem. Clips from the movie, including the official music video on Netflix, capture their animated flair, with vibrant visuals and special effects that make the performance a visual feast. Fans have praised the sequence for its seamless integration of song and story, emphasizing the Boys' role in advancing the plot through their seductive, otherworldly stage presence.

Overall, "Soda Pop" exemplifies the innovative fusion of K-pop and animation in KPop Demon Hunters, its platinum status and top-charting run affirming the soundtrack's cultural impact. The Saja Boys' in-movie performance adds a layer of villainous charm, making the song a memorable antagonist anthem that stands out amid the film's star-studded tracks. With its playful energy and commercial triumph, "Soda Pop" not only elevates the movie's narrative but also cements Saja Boys as fictional icons whose real-world resonance continues to bubble up in fan discussions and playlists.




Sunday, October 19, 2025

GOLDEN - HUNTR/X FROM KPOP DEMON HUNTERS


VIDEO HOT TRACKS
Golden - EJAE / AUDREY NUNA / REI AMI
From KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)

"Golden," the breakout anthem from Netflix's animated film KPop Demon Hunters, is a vibrant K-pop powerhouse that blends infectious hooks, dynamic harmonies, and empowering lyrics about self-discovery and resilience. Performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami as the voices behind the fictional supergroup Huntr/x, the song captures the movie's high-stakes world of demon-slaying pop stars with its upbeat tempo, shimmering synths, and soaring choruses.

Co-written by EJAE en route to a dentist appointment, its themes of shining through adversity resonate deeply, drawing from Korean cultural elements that add authenticity and emotional depth. Released as part of the film's soundtrack in June 2025, "Golden" exemplifies the fusion of animation and music, appealing to global audiences with its catchy production and the trio's seamless vocal interplay, marking a fresh entry in the K-pop-inspired cinematic soundscape.

On the Billboard charts, "Golden" has been a dominant force, holding the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks as of October 2025, surpassing the record set by "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Encanto as the longest-leading movie soundtrack single of the decade. It has spent over 15 weeks on the chart, contributing to the soundtrack's multiple weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, with impressive equivalent album units exceeding 100,000 in recent tracking periods. The song's success is part of a historic run, with four tracks from the soundtrack simultaneously charting in the Hot 100's Top 10—a first for any film soundtrack—highlighting the movie's cultural impact and the trio's commercial breakthrough. Certified platinum by the RIAA for over one million units sold, "Golden" outshines many contemporaries, solidifying KPop Demon Hunters as Netflix's most-watched film with over 362 million streams worldwide. The trio's performance of "Golden" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on October 7, 2025, marked their first full live rendition, delivering an electrifying showcase of their chemistry and vocal talent. EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami commanded the stage with synchronized choreography, powerful ad-libs, and a high-energy arrangement that amplified the song's anthemic quality, earning wild applause from the audience. Preceding the performance, their interview with Fallon highlighted emotional fan stories, including Rei Ami's tearful recount of hearing a young boy belt out the song in a store, and Audrey Nuna's reflections on the film's Korean representation. The segment culminated in a surprise platinum certification announcement for the soundtrack, leaving the artists visibly moved and gifting merch to the crowd, adding a heartfelt layer to the late-night debut. Overall, "Golden" stands as a triumphant highlight of KPop Demon Hunters, its chart-dominating run and platinum status underscoring the film's innovative blend of K-pop and animation. The Tonight Show performance not only celebrated this milestone but also humanized the artists, revealing the song's real-world emotional resonance. With its infectious energy and cultural depth, "Golden" cements EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami as rising forces in global pop, proving that soundtrack singles can achieve standalone superstardom while elevating their source material to unprecedented heights.