“Kpop Demon Hunters” was the No.1 movie in the world for 65 days and has scored 3 billion global streamers.
The movie is about a three-member girl K-pop group called Huntrix, who are demon hunters. Their end goal is to turn the honmoon gold so the demons won’t be able to come into their world anymore, but they need to defeat a demon boy band called the Saja Boys. What makes this movie a hit is the killer music.
When I first heard about this movie coming out, I was a little nervous of how this movie was going to be perceived. As a K-pop lover, I was excited that there was going to be a movie about the music I listen to on the daily.
But, no worry needed, because this movie gave me everything I wanted with the music, storyline and even the animation. It gave the world a chance to actually hear what K-pop sounds like instead of placing it in a stereotype.
This ranking will include spoilers if you have not watched the movie.
As a member of a K-pop dance group called Her’d and the president of the K-pop dance club here at Utah Tech University, I have a lot of experience in listening to songs that are catchy. Plus, I know what makes a good K-pop song. So, without further ado, here is my ranking of the songs from worst to best according to the likability of the song.
7. “Free”
“Free” is the song the characters Jinu and Rumi sing together as their love song. This is my least favorite song because I am not the biggest fan of slow songs, and it really isn’t giving what I need it to give. In this song, I wanted more passion in their voice. It is very slow and keeps the same beat throughout the song.
6. “What It Sounds Like“
“What It Sounds Like” is the last song in the movie, and Huntrix sings it all together as they are trying to defeat Gwi-Ma, who is the main villain in the movie. I love a good girl power song, and the lyrics in this song are very powerful. “Why did I cover up the colors stuck inside my head? I should’ve let the jagged edges meet the light instead.”
They are telling people all around the world to be themselves and not to hide who they truly are. I do love the message and the power behind the sound, but it repeats a lot. The lyrics are the same throughout the whole song, and it gets boring to listen to after a while.
5. “Takedown“
“Takedown” is the song Huntrix writes to try and offend the Saja Boys at the International Idol Awards. This song is a diss track, and that is exactly what this movie needed. The rhyming in the lyrics is excellent, and the intonation in their voices makes the song even more powerful. “So sweet, so easy on the eyes, but hideous on the inside. Whole life spreading lies, but you can’t hide, baby, nice try.”
I relate to this song because there have been multiple times when I could have written a diss track about someone. The reason it is ranked lower for me is that the other songs have more depth to them. Also, I love singing, but I can’t rap. Also, this song is a little harder to get into, so that lowers it.
4. “Soda Pop“
“Soda Pop” is the Saja Boys’ debut song that got them all of their fans in the movie. This song is everywhere on social media. Everyone is learning the dance and posting about it all over TikTok. It reminds me a lot of 2018 K-pop, and that is the good stuff. When people talk about K-pop, they always talk about 2018 being the prime. It was when the songs were the best and actually sounded like K-pop.
K-pop has gotten very mainstream over the past couple of years, and that’s why it is so nostalgic to a lot of K-pop listeners. The dance is also very addicting to do. Also, come on. Jinu makes his entrance in the song and he is so hot and sexy. Jinu looks exactly like Jungkook from BTS, who is a very attractive man. That is what I like to see on my TV screen, although the song can become a little annoying to listen to. It is the most overplayed song and heard every single time I open TikTok.
3. “How It’s Done“
“How It’s Done” is the first song of the movie sung by Huntrix. This was the perfect song to open the movie with. The instrument in the beginning is very interesting and grabs your attention. They use that same instrumental chord throughout the song, just set at different pitches. The creativity they had with this song is unmatched.
During this song, they are battling the demons and jumping off a plane to land at their concert to start the show. It is very action-packed and it tells a story through the lyrics. There is also singing and rapping throughout the entire song, which is very impressive and keeps your interest. The harmonies in the song are insane, and it’s music to my ears.
2. “Your Idol“
“Your Idol” is sung by the Saja Boys as they are trying to get the people of Korea into to Gwi-Ma’s hands. This song is so cool in the movie. The song starts off by saying, “Pray for me now,” which is then chanting throughout the rest of the beginning. The animation of the demons and how they look is so thrilling and makes the song even more engaging. The song is wanting the fans to follow them no matter what. And “Feel the way my voice gets underneath your skin” is such a good use of lyricism.
When I listen to this song, I truly feel like they are trying to pull me to them. Jinu’s voice throughout this whole song is amazing. You can just tell how sexy he is through his voice. He sings the song so flawlessly, and it makes you wonder how he can sing like that. I also love Baby’s rap in the middle, and that is what makes the song even more interesting. Also, who doesn’t want to listen to hot men sing? I sure do.
1. “Golden“
“Golden” is the new song released by Huntrix in the film. It is one of the best songs I have heard in a while. The vocals in this song are unmatched. The high notes being belted throughout the whole song is music to my ears. As a singer myself, that is really hard to do and is really impressive. This song also feels very K-pop to me, so that earns more points in my book. I feel like this song encompasses the movie as a whole.
Go watch “KPop Demon Hunters” on Netflix and understand the craze behind this movie. Once you listen to the music, you won’t be able to go back.
