‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Singers Take ‘The Tonight Show’ With First Full Live Performance of ‘Golden’

The stars of Netflix's animated blockbuster "KPop Demon Hunters," EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, made their major late-night debut this Tuesday on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." They performed a live version of their chart-topping single "Golden," a song that has captivated audiences worldwide. These artists provide the voices for the film's central characters—Rumi (voiced by Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo). The movie, which premiered on June 20, achieved a monumental feat by late August, becoming the most-watched title in Netflix's history with an unprecedented 236 million views, thereby dethroning the 2021 action-comedy "Red Notice."

During the interview segment, host Jimmy Fallon presented the trio with a platinum certification for the film's official soundtrack. He also announced that the album had returned to the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart for a second, non-consecutive week. In its most recent tracking period, the project amassed 102,000 equivalent album units, a figure overwhelmingly driven by 117 million on-demand official streams. This cross-media success is a testament to a new model of entertainment. Media analyst Dr. Lena Shim commented, "The symbiotic relationship between the film's narrative and its musical components has created a cultural wave that transcends typical animated fare, fostering a powerful cycle of audience interaction."

The soundtrack's flagship single, "Golden," has carved out its own historic path on the Billboard Hot 100, securing the number one position for a fifth consecutive week in September. This achievement set a new benchmark for the longest-running chart-topper by any animated musical act. The album's pervasive appeal is further highlighted by its chart dominance, with four of its tracks simultaneously ranking in the Hot 100's top ten. Alongside the record-breaking "Golden," the songs "Your Idol," "Soda Pop," and "How It's Done" claimed the No. 4, No. 5, and No. 8 spots, respectively, demonstrating the project's remarkable depth and sustained popularity.

This prominent television appearance is part of a broader promotional push for the Huntr/x act. Just days prior, on October 4th, the group delivered a condensed performance of "Golden" on "Saturday Night Live." The episode was hosted by the internationally celebrated artist Bad Bunny, a three-time Grammy Award winner who has been instrumental in popularizing Latin trap and reggaeton on a global scale. In a memorable sketch, Bad Bunny played a fervent and endearingly clumsy fan of the fictional group, a comedic turn that further cemented the "KPop Demon Hunters" brand as a formidable presence in contemporary pop culture.