K-Pop Generations Unite: Iconic Artists Cover 'GOLDEN' from Netflix's 'K-Pop Demon Hunters'

From Bada of the first-generation idol group S.E.S to An Yujin of the fourth-generation group IVE, K-pop artists across generations are taking on the challenge of covering 'GOLDEN'. This track from the globally popular Netflix animation 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' (referred to as 'KDH') is known for its high difficulty, sparking the competitive spirit among skilled singers.

Bada, formerly of the first-generation idol group S.E.S, uploaded her cover of 'GOLDEN' on her YouTube channel 'BADA' on the 23rd. Appearing with braided hair and a purple ribbon, she resembled the main character LUMI from 'KDH'. Her powerful vocals and strong presence, fitting for a hunter character, captured the audience's attention.

As of the 24th, Bada's cover video ranked 6th on YouTube's trending music chart. The cover gained particular attention because S.E.S plays a significant role in the 'KDH' universe. It's known that the predecessor hunter group of LUMI's group, Huntrix, was inspired by S.E.S.

Fans expressed their excitement in the comments, saying, "The predecessor hunter has appeared," "She's the official predecessor, LOL," and "She protected us from the late '90s to the early 2000s."

Lee Haeri of the second-generation K-pop group Davichi released her cover of 'GOLDEN' on her personal YouTube channel 'Lee Haeri Haeri' on the 22nd. In a pinned comment, she explained, "I wanted to share it sooner, but it took some time. I worked hard with arrangers to add my style to the original."

Lee Haeri rearranged the electronic original into Davichi's signature band style. Known for her impeccable vocal technique, she delivered the high notes effortlessly, capturing a live-like sound with minimal editing. Her emotional rendition led some to compare her to Elsa from the animated film 'Frozen' during the song's climax.

Solar of the third-generation group MAMAMOO also released a cover video on the 17th. She humorously expressed her struggle with the high notes on Instagram, saying, "It's so high," and "I almost didn't upload it, but oh well." Known for her powerful vocals, Solar impressed with her chest voice, hitting high notes rarely achieved without mixing head voice.

Fans were intrigued, especially since Yoo Ji-young, who voices the character Joy in 'KDH', expressed a desire to be part of MAMAMOO if she were in a girl group. Comments included, "We want the full version," and "This is the power of a third-generation vocal queen."

An Yujin of the fourth-generation group IVE joined the 'GOLDEN' cover trend. Her cover video drew attention for its resemblance to IVE's hit song 'I AM' and its high synchronization with the original. Recorded hastily during a tour, the video sparked some debate over its polished quality, with fans expressing a desire to hear an unedited version.

Other artists like Ailee, Kwon Jin-ah, Apink's Jung Eun-ji, NMIXX's Lily, ONF's MK, and Urban Zakapa's Kwon Soon-il have also participated in covering 'GOLDEN'. This single track is breaking down generational barriers in K-pop, achieving an unprecedented unification across all generations.