KPop Demon Hunters (2025) is an animated musical fantasy film produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released by Netflix.
It might have the best collection of songs that an animated film has had in decades. Certainly, some titles may have singles that can stay at the top of the charts for weeks. But to have seven songs that could legitimately be singles on any given day is a welcome, musical anomaly.
But in the world of KPop, anomalies are rare. Every hook is intentional. Every melody is purposeful. Even performers are expected to be the epitome of god-like perfection (thus, idols). Here are some quick insights into what makes each song in “KPop Demon Hunters” a standout track.
“Takedown”
“Takedown” is a fun track, but it’s also one that probably suffers from formulaic writing and production. However, considering its place in the film, it’s almost certain that this track-holding-back is intentional, making room for other, more important songs. In the spirit of leaving no crumbs, though, this song is hardly an automatic skip. It still demands some playtime and could be a go-to track for high school dance battles.
“Your Idol”
This track does not suffer from formula fatigue, but because it’s written in a counter-intuitive way, there’s a risk that this may not land on a first listen. However, upon closer examination and consideration of its purpose in the movie, “Your Idol” proves to be a perfect song crafted for villains. The vocal arrangements here — from a group perspective — may be the most intricate among all the tracks featured.
“Soda Pop”
One can’t deny that the groove is absolutely BTS-coded. This is another production masterpiece, from the vocals to the melodies, sounding like the perfect antidote to a hot summer. Even something as subtle as a whistle hook that goes out of scale during the intro and interludes allows the song to rise above the ordinary, suggesting how summer is about being playful and carefree. Speaking of rising, the song even modulates to a higher note for its last chorus. With a 2:30 playtime, however, it may sound more like an advertisement jingle than an actual song. Not a bad thing, considering the song’s purpose in the animated film.
“Free”
“Free” is an unusual track in the sense that it may not be the most KPop-influenced song on the soundtrack. But on its own, it is an absolute masterpiece. The lyrics show depth. The tension is palpable. The push and pull between the male and female vocalists is felt throughout. There is a tasteful use of autotune during the rap parts that even pushes this track into contemporary playlists. Lastly, how the word “free” is sung during the choruses is not for the faint of heart. Because the song demands more from its listeners, there is the danger of them drifting away.
“How It’s Done”
Just like a proper album, the first song may not be your best single, but
it had better be your most technical track, or that tells people to keep listening, or else they’ll be missing out on something great. The verses feature chaotic rapping and are packed with attitude (“Napalm” and “Rambo” references help). Attempting triplet flows in a 160 bpm track is nothing short of commendable. The chant-like chorus enters into half-time territory. Clocking in at less than three minutes, one’s instant ramyeon might take longer to cook (the movie makes a point of this). The magic may wear off, though, after repeated listens, due to it heavily leaning into formula; however, because of the flawless production precision, this song enters the Top 3.
“Golden”
An absolute masterpiece, this one. It goes through the typical sections of a song: intro, verse, pre-chorus, and a soaring chorus. And when we say soaring, boy, do the vocals show off a range that makes Happy Gilmore’s signature drives look like a piece of cake. To think the vocalist sings “up, up, up” while hitting the high notes is inspiring. The lyrics are written from a heart-wrenching place, which makes singing them an absolute act of defiance. The chorus incorporates a marching beat, adding to the feel of singing this as if one is headed out to war. The song offers 3:14 of pure melodic bliss that will be karaoke fare for years to come.
“What It Sounds Like”
How can one top the best song in “Golden?” Pray for a miracle. Write the best lyrics. Insert dense vocal harmonization throughout the song. Tap into the power of buildups and breaks. Use strings to draw out the most drama possible. If “Golden” and “What It Sounds Like” were songs without the movie, “Golden” would be a runaway winner. But in the context in which “What It Sounds Like” was used in the film as a crescendo-part-resolution, all within a three-minute track? “What It Sounds Like” is getting the Golden Buzzer ’til the end.