▲ This photo, provided by Netflix, shows a scene from “K-pop Demon Hunters.” (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Yonhap) -- “Golden,” the original soundtrack (OST) from Netflix’s animated film “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” has returned to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

 

Billboard said Monday (U.S. time) that “Golden” climbed one notch from last week to reclaim the No. 1 spot, marking its second overall week atop the main singles chart.

 

The track first entered the Hot 100 in early July and reached No. 1 on Aug. 11, before slipping to No. 2 last week behind Alex Warren’s “Ordinary.” Billboard noted that “‘Golden’ shines again at the summit of the Hot 100, lifting back to the top for a second week overall.”

 

The Hot 100 ranks songs based on U.S. streaming, radio airplay and sales data. During the latest tracking week, “Golden” logged 33.8 million streams, up 3 percent from the previous week, along with 16.2 million in radio audience impressions, up 39 percent, and 8,000 sales, up 11 percent.

 

In addition to “Golden,” three other songs from the “K-Pop Demon Hunters” OST landed in the chart’s top 10: “Your Idol” and “Soda Pop” by the film’s rival group Lion Boys ranked at No. 4 and No. 5, while Huntrix’s “How It’s Done” placed at No. 10. Billboard highlighted that this marks the first time in its history that four tracks from the same OST entered the top 10 simultaneously.

 

“Golden” is performed by Huntrix, the girl group featured in the film, with vocals provided by composer Lee Jae, a former SM Entertainment trainee, and singers Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami.

 

So far, only three K-pop songs have spent two or more weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100: BTS’ “Butter” (10 weeks), “Dynamite” (3 weeks) and now “Golden.” The song was also the first K-pop track led by female vocals to top the chart, while it simultaneously reached No. 1 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart, dominating both major global singles charts.

 

Unlike typical K-pop hits that rely heavily on fandom-driven album sales and downloads, “Golden” has maintained momentum mainly through streaming, powered by the widespread popularity of the film. Industry observers expect the song’s chart run to continue, citing the combined success of the animation and its soundtrack at both the box office and Billboard charts.

 

Over the weekend, “K-Pop Demon Hunters” topped the North American box office after selling out more than 1,000 theaters with sing-along screenings held Aug. 23-24. Billboard said the special screenings are expected to boost the film’s popularity further, with the increased streaming and sales to be reflected in next week’s chart.

 

Even James Robinson, last year’s Nobel economics laureate, drew attention by saying at a lecture in Seoul that he is a “big fan” of the film and has already watched it five times.

 

In South Korea, K-pop stars including Bada of S.E.S, Solar of Mamamoo and Lily of Nmixx have joined an online challenge singing the song’s high-note chorus, fueling further interest in related content.

 

“K-Pop Demon Hunters is generating synergy beyond the popularity of the film or a single track,” pop music critic Kim Young-dae said. “With the project already cemented as one of the year’s most influential IPs, it is difficult to imagine the OST dropping quickly from the charts.”

 

He added, “In recent years, there has been a shortage of pop music that appeals easily across all age groups, including children. ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ has filled that gap in the global market.”

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]