HUNTR/X lights up stage with live performance of “Golden” on Jimmy Fallon

After their surprise debut on SNL, KPop Demon Hunters’ HUNTR/X returned to the stage with a full live performance of “Golden.”

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon teased the performance a few days in advance, and on October 7, the singing voices of HUNTR/X—EJAE, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna—finally made their late-night live performance debut. The clip has already amassed nearly 9 million views as of this article’s writing. Although the live version was performed in a lower key than the studio recording, audiences were captivated by the trio’s rich vocals. Many fans were especially moved by EJAE’s appearance, as she had been told she was “too old” to debut as a singer in Korea, making this her long-awaited debut more than 20 years later.

Fans have been requesting a live performance from the singing voices of HUNTR/X ever since “Golden” was first released and began breaking records. In the months since KPop Demon Hunters premiered on Netflix in June, both fans and K-pop idols have released covers of songs from the soundtrack—not just “Golden.” “Soda Pop” has also become a popular choice for dance covers.

EJAE came up with the melody for “Golden” on her way to a dentist appointment and later collaborated with composer Mark Sonnenblick to complete the song. The singer-songwriter revealed that the biggest challenge in performing “Golden” wasn’t its high notes but how deeply she related to Rumi. “The bridge especially was difficult to sing because I related so much to the character, and I’ve known her for so long,” she shared.

The soundtrack’s explosive success has led to multiple Grammy submissions, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media, and Best Music Video. “Golden” is currently in its eighth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

KPop Demon Hunters is available to stream on Netflix.

Source: YouTube