The fictitious K-pop band breaking records and topping charts
Songs by Huntr/x and the Saja Boys are rising on the charts above well-known artists like ROSE, Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber.
Fictitious bands from a trending Netflix film are topping charts in New Zealand and around the world, beating mainstream Western artists and major K-pop idols.
K-Pop Demon Hunters is a musical animation about a girl group, called Huntr/x, using their superpowers to face off with rival boy band the Saja Boys, whose members are secretly demons.
Although it’s been a month since its release, the film has spent four weeks on Netflix’s top 10 movies viewed in New Zealand and around the world – climbing to number one this week in New Zealand.
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It’s not just the film that’s making waves. The catchy K-pop songs spearheaded by actual singers voicing the actors are topping Spotify’s Top 50 most played tracks in New Zealand (ahead of Justin Bieber’s 'DAISIES') and is Aotearoa Music Chart’s number one album this week (beating Lorde’s Virgin at second place).
Lending their vocals to the animation hit were producer and singer EJAE (who has worked with Red Velvet and aespa), Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, Andrew Choi (who has written songs for SHINee and EXO), Kevin Woo (formerly of U-KISS), ssamUIL Lee (who has worked with Seventeen and NCT Dream), Neckwav, Danny Chung, Lea Salonga (who has worked on Disney's Aladdin and Mulan).
Around the world, their songs are also ahead of the pack on the Billboard Global 200, beating the likes of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ 'Die with a Smile' collab and ROSE and Bruno Mars’ 'APT', and climbing the ranks in the Billboard Hot 100.
It was the highest-debuting soundtrack of the year (entering the Billboard 200 at number 8) and earned the highest charting position for a soundtrack this year.
The Saja Boys consists of members inu, Abby, Mystery, Romance, and Baby.
Netflix
Billboard says only four soundtracks have reached the top two on the Billboard 200 in the 2020s, including Wicked, Barbie and Encanto.
Huntr/x’s ‘Golden’ and Saja Boy’s ‘Your Idol’ and ‘Soda Pop’ are getting the most streams and replays.
According to Vulture, ‘Your Idol’ surpassed mega band BTS’s number three hit ‘Dynamite’ on Spotify’s US ranking to become the highest-charting track by a K-pop boy group ever. The track has more than 83 million streams on Spotify.
Korean supernatural beings are sometimes depicted in traditional Korean attire on screen. The Saja Boys, who are demons under disguise, take a similar inspiration.
Netflix
The director, Maggie Kang, even suggested a collab with BTS, who recently reunited after being discharged from their military service, when the news about Saja Boys’ record emerged.
The K-Pop Demon Hunters phenomenon has caught on in the industry, with idols and dancers referencing the popular songs or covering them.
K-pop fans are also drawing comparisons between the animated characters and their favourite idols. Kang told reporters the inspiration behind the characters was more so about following typical archetypes in K-pop, but their board of ideas did include a mix of the big names like Tomorrow X Together, BTS, Stray Kids, ATEEZ, BIGBANG, Monsta X, ITZY, BLACKPINK, and TWICE.
