Continuing my look at this year’s Songs of the Summer, I’ll skip over numbers five and six (Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s ‘luther’ and Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ ‘Die With a Smile,’ respectively) because they’ve shown up on the blog already.
At #7 on the Billboard summer chart is ‘Golden’ by the fictional K-pop band HUNTR/X, a song featured in the hit movie KPop Demon Hunters. The animated Netflix film follows the K-pop girl group, who are secretly (you guessed it) demon hunters, as they face off against a boy band who are secretly (again, you guessed it) demons.
The movie has been a huge hit both on Netflix and (in a rarity for the platform) in movie theaters, and the soundtrack has followed suit. Second single ‘Golden’ reached #1 in 17 countries, including the United States.
The song was written and performed by K-pop star EJAE and features two other K-pop artists, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI. The three provide the singing voices (but not speaking voices) of the titular heroines.
This is the first song on the chart that feels like a legitimate Song of the Summer contender, at least sonically. And if there was a worldwide Song of the Summer title, ‘Golden’ would have it in the bag.
I was a ghost, I was alone (Hah)
어두워진 (Hah) 앞길속에 (Hah)
Given the throne, I didn’t know how to believe (Hah)
I was the queen that I’m meant to be (Ah)
I lived two lives, tried to play both sides
But I couldn’t find my own place (Oh, oh)
Called a problem child ’cause I got too wild
But now that’s how I’m getting paid, 끝없이 on stage
[Pre-Chorus]
I’m done hidin’, now I’m shinin’
Like I’m born to be
We dreamin’ hard, we came so far
Now I believe
[Chorus]
We’re goin’ up, up, up
It’s our moment
You know together we’re glowin’
Gonna be, gonna be golden
Oh, up, up, up
With our voices
영원히 깨질 수 없는
Gonna be, gonna be golden
[Post-Chorus]
Oh, I’m done hidin’, now I’m shinin’
Like I’m born to be
Oh, our time, no fears, no lies
That’s who we’re born to be
[Verse 2]
Waited so long to break these walls down
To wake up and feel like me
Put these patterns all in the past now
And finally live like the girl they all see
[Pre-Chorus]
No more hiding, I’ll be shining
Like I’m born to be
‘Cause we are hunters, voices strong
And I know I believe
[Chorus]
We’re goin’ up, up, up
It’s our moment
You know together we’re glowing
Gonna be, gonna be golden
Oh, up, up, up
With our voices
영원히 깨질 수 없는
Gonna be, gonna be golden
[Post-Chorus]
Oh, I’m done hidin’, now I’m shining
Like I’m born to be
Oh, our time, no fears, no lies
That’s who we’re born to be
[Outro]
You know we’re gonna be, gonna be golden (Oh)
We’re gonna be, gonna be (Oh)
Born to be, born to be glowin’ (Oh)
밝게 빛나는 우리
You know that it’s our time, no fears, no lies (Oh, oh)
That’s who we’re born to be
Meet Me In Montauk 
Both the movie and song are completely off my radar, though I am not the target audience for either.