Golden

Album

KPop Demon Hunters (soundtrack)

Label

Republic Records

Genre

Stage & Screen

Media Type

AC

Duration

3:14

Composer(s)

Eun Jae Phoebe Kim;Hee Dong Nam;Hong Jun Park;Jeong Hun Seo;Joong Gyu Kwak;Mark Sonnenblick;oo Han Lee

Entered Chart

Jul 5, 2025

Peak Date

Aug 16, 2025

Released

July 4, 2025

"Golden" is a 2025 single performed by the fictional K-pop girl group Huntr/x in the animated musical fantasy film KPop Demon Hunters. In the film, Huntr/x is comprised of the characters Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, voiced by K-Pop singer-songwriter EJAE, American R&B singer Audrey Nuna, and Korean-American singer REI AMI. In the film, Huntr/x lead double lives as demon hunters. They square off against their sparkly yet sinister rivals, the Saja Boys, a boy band whose members are secretly demons that are using their popularity to steal souls. "Golden" marks a turning point in the film's story arc; it introduces the mystical concept of the Golden Honmoon, which is a magical seal that keeps the demonic realm at bay. As the characters face escalating stakes, the song becomes their "I Want" moment - a musical-theatre staple where characters reveal their desires, doubts, and emotional fuel in the form of a catchy hook. Think "Part of Your World" (The Little Mermaid), "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?" (My Fair Lady) and "Over The Rainbow" (The Wizard of Oz). Executive producer Ian Eisendrath told The Hollywood Reporter that crafting "Golden" was no easy task: "We had five to six songs written for that slot, and we just kept going until it was the right energy... it had to be not an approximation of, but a legit K-pop hit single." That meant the song had to juggle plot exposition, character motivation and genre credibility all while still slapping hard. The result is a glossy, high-energy empowerment jam. "Golden" was co-written by EJAE (real name Kim Eun-jae) and lyricist Mark Sonnenblick. EJAE has serious K-pop credentials, having written for Red Velvet, Aespa, Le Sserafim, and Twice, among others. Sonnenblick, for his part, brings Broadway flair to the table - his previous credits include co-writing the lyrics for The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical. EJAE spent nearly a decade as a K-pop trainee, so when she voices the half-demon Rumi in KPop Demon Hunters, she's drawing from deep, personal experience, especially when it comes to hiding your insecurities. "'Golden' is the song I wish I had when I was training," she told Billboard. "The industry's tough - competitive to the core. Perfection is everything when you're a trainee, and I felt broken inside trying to meet that standard." EJAE channeled the heartbreak of being dropped by SM Entertainment into the lyrics and performance, turning her past struggles into something powerful and healing. David Guetta dropped his remix of "Golden" on July 25, 2025. Dubbed the "David Guetta REM/X," the new version pumps the original full of the DJ's trademark EDM energy, giving the song a high-voltage boost. "Golden" climbed to the top of the UK Singles Chart, becoming the first K-pop #1 since 2012, when PSY's "Gangnam Style" reached the summit. "Golden" was the ninth K-pop track to top the Hot 100, and the first led by female vocalists. It was also the first song by an all-women collective of three or more members to reach #1 since Destiny's Child's "Bootylicious" reached the summit in August 2001. When "Golden" clocked its fifth week at the Hot 100 summit, it became the longest-leading #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 by an animated act, surpassing The Chipmunks' "The Chipmunk Song" (1958), and The Archies' "Sugar, Sugar" (1969), both of which spent four weeks at #1. EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami debuted "Golden" live as a full performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on October 7, 2025. Dressed head-to-toe in black, the trio were introduced by a short animated video before launching into the song. The appearance marked EJAE's first live performance in over a decade, after spending the past 12 years focused on songwriting rather than the stage.

Nasa dilim, nag-iisa (hah)
Pagdurusa, in my heart (hah)
'Di ko alam kung ako nga (ang)
Reyna daw na hinihirang na ng iba (pinataw'n)

Dal'wang buhay, ang pinagsabay
At parang lalong naligaw (oh, oh)
Isang pasaway, hilig sumuway
Sa akin na'ng bumubuhay (bu-bu-buhay)
See me on that stage

W'la nang takot sa tadhanang dapat angkinin
Walang duda, ang pinangarap, naatim (maatim)

Aming maaabot ang pinangarap
Talang liwanag sa amin
Gonna be, gonna be golden
Lilipad ang aming boses
You know we'll never be broken
Gonna be, gonna be golden

Oh, w'la nang takot sa tadhanang dapat angkinin
Oh, 'wag magtago, w'la nang lihim, dapat angkinin


Pinangarap na makalaya
Ang tunay na sarili
Ang bakas ng aking sikretong
Anino ng hinangaang bituin

W'la nang takot sa tadhanang dapat angkinin
Kami ay Hunters, tinig namin
Dapat manaig

Aming maaabot ang pinangarap
Talang liwanag sa amin
Gonna be, gonna be golden
Lilipad ang aming boses
You know we'll never be broken
Gonna be, gonna be golden

Oh, w'la nang takot sa tadhanang dapat angkinin
Oh, 'wag magtago, w'la nang lihim
Dapat angkinin

You know we're gonna be, gonna be golden (oh)
'Wag nating itatanggi (oh)

Inadya para sa atin (oh)
The way that we're meant to be

Kaya 'wag ng maggtago, la nang lihim (wlang itatago)
Dapat angkinin