Latest news with #KPopDemonHunters
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Kpop Demon Hunters: Is Golden the best movie song?
What's the one song from the movies that you love more than any other? Maybe it's super catchy, really emotional, or just makes you want to dance. From Frozen's Let It Go to 'We don't talk about Bruno, no, no, no' or maybe, Steve's 'La-la-la-lava, ch-ch-ch-chicken'...Movie songs have a way of sticking in our heads – and our now, the world's new obsession is a song called Golden, from the animated action film K-Pop Demon Hunters – and it's blowing up in a big way. Since the film's release on Netflix last month, music from two fictional bands featured in the story – the girl group Huntr/x and the rebellious Saja Boys – have dominated the global music charts and social tracks from the film's soundtrack have featured on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Their songs have risen to the top of Spotify's US chart and Golden is currently in second spot is also climbing the UK Singles Chart and already in the Top film is number one in Netflix's movie chart for the UK and has been viewed more than 30 millions times across the world. The film tells the story of Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, mega-famous K-pop stars who have a big secret: they're also demon hunters!One moment they're on stage performing to screaming fans. The next, they're battling spooky creatures to save the you seen the film and is Golden now your must listened to movie song of choice? Let us know in the comments.
New York Times
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘KPop Demon Hunters' Took 7 Years to Make but a Lifetime of Experience
Ever since its release on Netflix last month, the original animated film 'KPop Demon Hunters' has burned up the internet — and the charts. The musical fantasy has topped the streamer's global rankings and inspired countless memes, dance challenges (some even by K-pop stars), themed merchandise and fan art. The film's equally blockbuster soundtrack has stormed the music charts, with eight of its songs landing in the Billboard Hot 100. 'KPop Demon Hunters' follows the members of a fictional K-pop girl group as they juggle demanding careers and fight to save the world from soul-stealing demons. The film's directors, Maggie Kang (a veteran storyboard artist on films like 'Rise of the Guardians' and 'Puss in Boots' ) and Chris Appelhans (who directed 'Wish Dragon'), spoke about the making of their movie and its unexpected rise as a global cultural phenomenon. Here are edited excerpts from the conversation. Maggie, the story behind 'KPop Demon Hunters' was your idea. What convinced you that a film that combines disparate elements like K-pop, animation, traditional Korean art and mythology, and demons could resonate with so many different audiences? MAGGIE KANG Well, nothing did. [Laughs] I was basically just trying to make something that I wanted to see: a movie that celebrated Korean culture. And for some reason, I landed on demonology. I thought the jeoseung saja [grim reapers in Korean mythology] — which is what the boys are at the end of the movie with the black hats and the black robes — was such an iconic image from my childhood that I was very scared of, so I knew that I wanted to feature that. And the thought of demons naturally led to demon hunters. I wanted to see female superheroes that were a lot more relatable, who like to eat and make silly faces. We weren't trying to make them just pretty, sexy and cool. They had very real insecurities and showed that. Demon hunting is usually done very secretly, so these girls needed a public-facing persona. I was also really wanting to do something K-pop-related. It was like, let's just see if these two things can go together. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Mint
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
The biggest name in K-Pop isn't BTS. It's Netflix.
After nearly a decade in a K-pop boy band, Kevin Woo returned home to the U.S. four years ago, looking to expand his musical career outside South Korea. His monthly Spotify listeners, until recently, stood at about 10,000. Now, it's around 20 million. The reason? Netflix's No. 1 movie globally, 'KPop Demon Hunters," an animated film with girl-group protagonists and boy-band baddies. Two of the film's tracks have sat atop the U.S. Spotify's most-streamed songs—feats never before achieved by BTS, Blackpink or any other K-pop group, real or imagined. That's delivered a harsh reality to a genre seeking reinvention: Fictional bands have gotten popular faster in the U.S. than humans ever did. The triumph comes as the broader music industry grapples with unconventional entrants, like bogus hits created by AI claiming to be authentic. Woo provides the singing voice for Mystery, one of the five members of the film's soul-stealing Saja Boys. On a recent day, he was relaxing with a friend at a hotel pool in the Los Angeles area when a Saja Boys song started playing. Kevin Woo provides the singing voice for Mystery, one of the five members of the fictional group. Some children began dancing, prompting Woo's friend to ask: 'Do you want to meet the actual Saja Boy?" They shrieked and asked for an autograph, which Woo obliged. He signed his own name next to Mystery Saja. 'It feels very surreal because I play a fictional character," said Woo, 33. 'They don't recognize me as Kevin Woo or a K-pop artist." 'KPop Demon Hunters," produced by Sony Pictures Animation, is an American production shot in English, with a creative team and cast stocked with South Koreans and Korean diaspora. The film, which debuted June 20, has inspired fan art, handmade plushie dolls and cosplays of the main characters. Real-life K-pop stars, including several members of BTS, have praised the film. The fictional K-pop idols are appealing to tribal fanbases that often lock in support for a single group and disavow others. In K-pop lingo, a 'bias" refers to one's favorite singer, while 'akgae" identifies someone who prefers one member of the group but dislikes everyone else. 'Multi-stan" is someone capable of loving more than one group—a stigmatized notion in the K-pop universe. That has made rooting for the Saja Boys and the film's girl-group trio, HUNTR/X, a relatively guilt-free endeavor, fans say. Becoming the Switzerland of K-pop wasn't luck. The film aimed to be an amalgamism of K-pop aesthetics and sounds, with hopes of honoring 'all the fans," said Ian Eisendrath, the movie's executive music producer. 'I challenge people to not love this music," Eisendrath said. Seven of the film's songs rank among Spotify's 15 most-streamed tunes on the U.S. daily charts. The two most popular hits, HUNTR/X's 'Golden" and the Saja Boys' 'Your Idol," are also roaring up the Billboard Hot 100, placing No. 6 and No. 16 respectively. The film's companion album has achieved the biggest streaming week for a movie soundtrack since 2021's 'Encanto." Vasileios Tsagkaropoulos with his daughters, says K-pop feels different now because of the movie. The catchy tunes have created many converts like Vasileios Tsagkaropoulos, a 45-year-old dad who had never listened to K-pop. On a co-worker's suggestion, he found himself on his sofa watching 'KPop Demon Hunters," his two young daughters on each arm. Near the end, Tsagkaropoulos began to tear up. His 6-year-old glanced over as he let out a quiet whimper. He's watched the movie twice more, the soundtrack blares in their car and he's a proud owner of a purple HUNTR/X T-shirt. He said K-pop previously seemed like 'a flashy product." 'It feels different now," Tsagkaropoulos said, 'because it's something I shared with my daughters." The film's chart success carries some caveats. Several individual K-pop singers—as opposed to groups—have vaulted atop the daily Spotify charts in the U.S., the world's most-lucrative music market. BTS and Blackpink, who typically sing in Korean, have hit No. 1 on Spotify globally. BTS, whose members concluded mandatory military service last month, have six chart-toppers on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite explosive growth over the years, the K-pop industry had become top-heavy and stagnated. Two years ago, the CEO of BTS's music label put it bluntly: 'K-pop is in crisis." The success of 'KPop Demon Hunters" shows it is possible for fans to connect with nonhuman idols, said Suk-Young Kim, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, who has written a book about K-pop. It will likely spawn copycats. 'This is a long-running dream for K-pop companies," Prof. Kim said. 'Here we have idols who never sleep, never get sick, never age." But don't count the humans out, said Benny Char, a K-pop producer and songwriter, who has also worked with an AI singer. 'You can't manufacture the vulnerability, chemistry and unpredictability that real artists bring to the table," he said. Benny Char, a K-pop producer and songwriter, said there are some elements of real-life groups you can't manufacture. Woo, the Saja Boy singer, said he doesn't mind if his work as Mystery overshadows his prior time with the K-pop group, U-KISS, his Broadway performances or his acting roles. 'For me, in a sense, it's like a reinvention of my artistry," he said. Sky Blaw, who supports the K-pop boy band Vanner, gives high marks to the film's authenticity, from the intense bond between the fans and stars to the glossy stage outfits. But the 27-year-old, who works at an engraving shop in Salem, Ore., was puzzled about one thing: The Saja Boys crashing HUNTR/X's meet-and-greet with fans. 'That," Blaw said, 'would never happen." Write to Timothy W. Martin at
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Incheon airport offers hands-on class in 'norigae' making
One-day workshop runs through July 31, inspired bynod to Korean tradition in 'KPop Demon Hunters' Incheon International Airport is offering travelers a unique opportunity to engage with Korean culture through a one-day norigae-making class, inspired in part by the hit animated film, KPop Demon Hunters. Norigae are traditional Korean pendant accessories worn with hanbok for beauty, good fortune and spiritual protection. Organized by the Korea Heritage Agency in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Incheon International Airport Corporation, the program will run from Monday through July 31. Participants can learn to craft their own norigae. The free class takes place at Korean Culture Street, located on the fourth floor of the general area in Terminal 1. Sessions are held four times a day at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., with each limited to 12 participants. On-site registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Norigae recently captured renewed attention after being featured in "KPop Demon Hunters," where each Huntrix character wears a modernized version of the accessory. In the film, the norigae are integrated into their stage outfits and weapons to help them fight demons. Titled 'Playing with norigae,' the program is designed to give both international travelers and domestic tourists a hands-on experience with Korea's traditional aesthetics and cultural heritage. "'KPop Demon Hunters' surge in popularity has sparked interest in traditional Korean culture, such as the gat — a traditional Korean hat that features a wide brim and a cylindrical crown, norigae and dopo — a long traditional robe. We hope this program will give travelers a closer and more personal experience with Korea's unique style and heritage," Ahn Hye-min, who heads the Airport Project Team at the KHA, said in a press release.
UPI
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Morgan Wallen's 'I'm the Problem' tops album chart for 8th week
Country singer Morgan Wallen's "I'm the Problem" tops the Billboard 200 album chart for an eighth, straight week. File Photo by James Atoa/UPI | License Photo July 19 (UPI) -- Country star Morgan Wallen's I'm the Problem is the No. 1 album in the United States for an eighth week. Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Saturday is the soundtrack to KPop Demon Hunters, followed by Wallen's One Thing at a Time at No. 3, SZA's SOS at No. 4 and Sabrina Carpenter's Short n'Sweet at No. 5. Rounding out the top tier are Wallen's Dangerous: The Double Album at No. 6, Bad Bunny's Debi Tirar Mas Fotos at No. 7, Karol G's Tropicoqueta at No. 8, Toby Keith's 35 Biggest Hits at No. 9 and PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake's $ome $exy $ongs 4 U at No. 10. Billboard Music Awards: 18 Top Artist winners Taylor Swift arrives on the red carpet at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards in Elmont, N.Y., on September 11, 2024. Swift took home Top Artist in 2023, 2015 and 2013. Photo by Derek C. French/UPI | License Photo
