EJAE Fights Tears at Golden Globes as ‘Golden’ Wins Best Song, Remembers KPop Industry Rejecting Her for 10 Years: ‘Never Give Up’

The original song "Golden" from the animated Netflix feature "KPop Demon Hunters" has won the Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Composers EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, and Lee Hee-joon accepted the award, with EJAE delivering a moving speech about her own decade-long, unsuccessful pursuit of a K-pop idol career. She dedicated the honor to those facing rejection, reframing it as a "redirection," and expressed pride in creating music that helps people "accept themselves." The win follows the track's recent Critics Choice Award for Best Song, where it triumphed over entries from major franchises like "Avatar: Fire and Ash."

A key element in the song's success was its authentic cultural integration. Co-director Maggie Kang insisted the Korean lyrics be foundational to the composition, not a superficial addition—a deliberate choice credited with amplifying the project's global resonance. This approach reflects a broader industry shift towards authentic representation, a trend increasingly rewarded by awards bodies and audiences alike. The film itself, which premiered on Netflix in June, became the platform's most-watched movie ever and spawned a chart-dominating soundtrack.

The movie's impact extended beyond streaming, prompting an unusual theatrical strategy from Netflix. A sing-along version was released in theaters for two limited fan events, first in August and again around Halloween. The initial two-day run was a box office smash, earning $18 million and claiming the top spot, while the October event added a further $5-6 million. This performance, despite the film's availability online, underscores a potent demand for communal viewing experiences and is influencing how streamers plan releases for major titles.

Adding to its accolades, "KPop Demon Hunters" recently earned three Grammy nominations, with "Golden" competing in the prestigious Song of the Year category. The film was also nominated for the Golden Globe for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, a category typically dominated by big-budget studio releases. This places the streaming-original animated feature alongside cinematic giants, demonstrating its blockbuster status across both critical and commercial metrics. As media analyst Clara Shin observed, "The film's pairing of K-pop's high-octane production with a universal underdog narrative created a blueprint for cross-market appeal that will be studied for years."

Voice cast members have highlighted the project's deeper cultural significance. Singer Rei Ami, who provided the singing voice for protagonist Zoey, noted the shared understanding among the team, many of whom are women of color, of having "to work twice as hard." This collective experience fostered what she described as a "beautiful synchronicity" in the work, contributing to a final product that resonates on both a personal and global scale.