KPop Demon Hunters: Ranking Every Original Song from Great to Greatest

KPop Demon Hunters: Ranking Every Original Song from Great to Greatest

Shaina Higgins

Welcome to MsMojo. Huntr/x and Saja Boys may be battling it out for hearts and minds, but for fans of “Kpop Demon Hunters,” there are no losers. This movie’s soundtrack is a zero-skips masterpiece, and today we’re counting down its songs from great to greatest. A mild spoiler warning is in effect.

#7: “Takedown

“Kpop Demon Hunters”’ fiercely talented trio, Huntr/x never met a chart they couldn’t top or a demon they couldn’t vanquish. So when they have to combine their musical prowess with their martial might to defeat the diabolical boy group, Saja Boys, their first instinct is to slay in every possible sense. “Takedown,” is more than just a savage diss track, it’s a fiery vow of retribution, and it never fails to get us amped up. Bookended by galloping beats, the meat of the song has the propulsive quality of a predator chasing down its prey. But then in comes a stirring bridge, adding a taste of emotional depth to this hard charging banger. Given that it reflects Rumi’s own internal conflict, it’s a shame it’s not included in the film version of the song. But it appears in full on the soundtrack, both by Huntr/x and covered by real life Kpop superstars, Jeongyeon, Jihyo, and Chaeyoung of Twice.

#6: “Free”

For Hallyu fans, one of the fun aspects of KDH is seeing some tried and true K-drama tropes turned on their heads to add even more antagonism to the natural divide between Hunter Rumi and Demon Jinu. But the two are uniquely bonded almost from the start, and we all knew it was just a matter of time before these two enemies became something more. After gradually making little cracks in each others’ armor, “Free” is the moment when the walls between Rumi and Jinu start to crumble. They finally give voice to the confusing emotions they’ve been fighting against, and imagine a future where they could move beyond their shames and secrets. The ethereal vocals combined with the emotional weight of the lyrics gives us a dreamy duet that goes beyond romance. “Free” shows us these two characters finding a hopeful connection that gets us as deep in the feels as any K-drama ever has.

#5: “Soda Pop”

If there’s one thing in KDH that is 100% believable, it’s that a group could rise from obscurity to instant fame with a debut like “Soda Pop.” Inspired by real world mega-hits like BTS’ “Butter,” Saja Boys introduce themselves to the world with a summery, bubblegum bop engineered to earworm its way right to your brainstem and get those shoulders going. That opening whistle draws you in, the hooky patter of the verse has your head nodding, then those smooth oo-ahs of the pre-chorus get you anticipating the moment it all releases in the joyful catharsis of the chorus proper. It’s a very effective snare, isn’t it? The real genius of “Soda Pop” is that it kind of tells you up front exactly what Saja Boys are really after. Yup, we were warned, but we’re having too much fun to notice. Like a real soda on a hot day, this song goes down sweet and cool, and leaves us thirsty for more.

#4: “How It’s Done”

Yes, first impressions are important. And Huntr/x had us seated from the opening riff of the film’s first song, “How It’s Done.” Well, seated and then standing and jamming along. It’s impossible to resist the relentlessly pounding pulse of this beat. But “How It’s Done” levels up with unexpected touches, like the panpipe throughline on the verses. Then it knocks us out with the virtuosity displayed in the vocals and machine gun syncopation of the lyrics. It’s confident, addictive, peak Girl Crush Kpop. That’s no accident. One of the song’s producers is Teddy Park, the man who made an unbroken string of hits for Girl Crush icons Blackpink. And it’s hard to miss his touch here. By the end of “How It’s Done,” not only do we understand why Huntr/x runs the town, but we’ve become full-on stans. We’re locked in, and hyped to follow them through the movie for more high octane action, whether it be on or off the stage.

#3: “Golden”

No song from the “Kpop Demon Hunters” soundtrack has been shining on the real world charts like “Golden.” An anthemic victory lap celebrating the strengths and skills of Huntr/x, this is the song the trio were convinced would finally seal the Honmoon barrier between the human and demon realms. And based on its success, we see their point. The sweeping number is certainly the most vocally impressive on the soundtrack, with both evocative low notes and truly astonishing high ones. It feels grand in scope and scale, representing the moment when the Hunters finally ascend to a place that’s all but completely out of reach. The really brilliant dimension of the song is that “Golden” is out of reach. Not only does Rumi physically struggle to sing it throughout the movie, but thematically, it represents Huntr/x’s denial more than their success. “Golden” is what they all desperately want to be, meanwhile the struggles they sing about overcoming are ones that, in actuality, they are still grappling with. We get it though. We all wish we could be only our best, most perfect selves. Which is part of the reason why “Golden” has struck such a strong chord with fans.

#2: “Your Idol”

“Soda Pop” gave away Saja Boys’ true goal in a subtle, flirty way. By “Your Idol,” they’re ready to say it out loud, and no one is safe. This number is chilling, make no mistake, but it’s also unquestionably seductive. It’s hard to tell if the shivers it induces are from fright or delight. The spooky siren song gets in our brains every bit as deep as “Soda Pop,” hitting those pleasure centers dedicated to risk-taking behavior. Behavior like, say, giving a group of attractive strangers your unreserved devotion. “Your Idol” speaks to the dark side of any fandom. The same beat that has us grooving along has an ominous undercurrent of impending disaster that we just can’t find it in ourselves to be concerned about. When Saja Boys sing their promises to take away all our faults and fears, one little soul doesn’t seem like such a big trade. Considering it became the fourth ever Kpop song to top US Spotify charts, “Your Idol” proves that we truly would be cooked if Saja Boys ever manifested for real.

#1: “What It Sounds Like”

The song that brings Huntr/x back together and ultimately saves the world never fails to give us goosebumps. “Golden” showed us a gleaming, aspirational facade, but in “What It Sounds Like,” the members finally accept themselves, imperfections and all, and discover that’s where their true strength lies. This number marks the only song on the soundtrack that Rumi sings fully in her chest voice. There’s no vocal tricks to hide behind, no suggestion of some superhuman perfection. “What It Sounds Like” drives forward on the force of her heart, and the harmonies of the three Huntr/x members together. As if the song couldn’t go any harder, the climax has the fans joining in as an epic, swelling choral accompaniment, lending their voices to help the Hunters defeat the demon king Gwi-ma. The implication is that everyone on screen is going through the same journey of self-acceptance, turning their flawed humanity into the power to save each other. It’s a beautiful, poignant idea that sends us out of the movie feeling as invigorated as the newly re-forged Honmoon.

Which “Kpop Demon Hunters” song would make your Honmoon the happiest? Or is the entire soundtrack golden as far as you’re concerned? Let us know in the comments!