Every Song from Kpop Demon Hunters, Ranked + Recommendations

1 day ago 9

A month on from its release, K-Pop Demon Hunters has taken the pop culture world by storm, racking up critical acclaim, sparking endless fan theories, and spawning multiple top 10 hits in the process. For many, it’s their first ever exposure to the world of K-pop. And while wonderfully exciting for the most part, K-pop is one of those industries that can feel overwhelming at first. From the large group sizes to the wacky concepts and almost unimaginable stream of comebacks, it can almost feel like the barrier to entry is too high.

For those who’ve seen the movie, love some of the songs, and are curious about wanting to go down this little rabbit hole that we all love, you’re in luck! As a fellow K-pop Demon Hunters Enjoyer I’ve gone through each of the songs on the soundtrack (done a cheeky ranking because who doesn’t love one of those) and given a few recommendations for which songs to check out next if you were a fan. And while most of these recommendations aren’t 1:1 near replica’s of the songs from the soundtrack (bar a few), i hope they manage to capture the essence of the soundtrack in a way that makes you want to dive further into the near endless goldmine that is K-pop.

7. How It’s Done (Huntr/x)

The first original song we hear in the film, and in my opinion by far the weakest, How It’s Done plays like an amalgamation of some of my biggest gripes with modern girl group k-pop. It’s a very specific sound thats seen massive success over the years but I just can’t seem to get on board with it. The production is noisy but uninspired (for me) and the droning, repetitive hook grates instantly. It doesn’t stand as the most promising of introductions for me personally but I totally understand why it was chosen. The “pots and pans” soundscape is massively popular amongst the general audience and does well to kick off the tone. To its credit, the rap verses are genuinely solid and the production goes quite hard in some places, enhancing the pace and force of the percussion. In many ways it’s a great homage to it’s intended sound. Just one that I can’t seem to enjoy no matter how hard I try.

Verses: 7

Chorus: 6

Production: 7

Performance: 7

Final Rating: 6.75 / 10

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4Minute – Crazy

Blackpink – Pink Venom

6. Takedown (Huntr/x)

Though it traces a similar sound to How It’s Done, Takedown stands as the much more successful rendition, harnessing a much more electronic soundscape and some genuinely great melodies. The rugged and vaguely symphonic electronic beat that frames the verses is excellent, hitting hard whilst also building a strong sense of momentum. I also love some of the melodic shifts the track takes; especially during the second pre-chorus and bridge. The use of Korean phrases in this song especially works wonders, adding that extra “oomph” and punctuation to moments that already stand as quite impressive. But in the end, such as with many other songs in this vein, the hook doesn’t quite live up to the promise of the verses. But, even if the ideas are once again not that original—this basically is an Everglow song—the end result is quite well made.

Verses: 8

Chorus: 7

Production: 8

Performance: 8

Final Rating: 7.75 / 10

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Everglow – Pirate

Honestly any Everglow hype track could do but I’m going with Pirate just because it’s my favourite of the bunch.

Weki Męki – Cool

5. Free (Rumi & Jinu)

Of all the songs on the soundtrack Free is probably the one track that veers much closer to western pop sensibilities than Korean. This is a double edged sword in many ways as despite its melodic strength, the final result could have come across as out of place or generic in the face of its surrounding bombast. Luckily, the track is anchored by some airtight songwriting and equally potent vocal performances from voice actors EJAE and Andrew Choi. Andrew Choi especially does a phenomenal job switching between some genuinely invigorating rap verses and dynamic shots melody. It’s all very “rewrite the stars”-esque in execution but as a big fan of that track (the movie less so), this works for me.

Verses: 8

Chorus: 8

Production: 8

Performance: 9

Final Rating: 8.25 / 10

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Key, Taeyeon – Hate That…

If what you liked most about Free was the push and pull between performers and the exploration of love and love lost, this is the track for you.

Raiden x Chanyeol – Yours (feat. Lee Hi & Changmo)

If you’re looking for a track where a male and female artist work in tandem to deliver a shot of sentimentality with a beat.

Troublemaker – Troublemaker

If what you most enjoyed about this song was the duet factor, you’re sure to love one of K-pop’s most iconic duo’s. Think of this as an alternate future where Rumi fully gave into her demon side and joined forces with Jinu.

4. Soda Pop (Saja Boys)

One of the two really iconic songs to come out of the movie, Soda Pop is a perfect representation of the quintessential bright boy group track. From the bright synths to the cheery chorus and even the second verse rap break, every single element of Soda Pop stands as a near 1:1 recreation of the kind of tracks that were ever-present around 2018-2022. Now don’t get me twisted because while I do think that Soda Pop is incredibly generic, I have to admit—as the movie said— the song is VERY catchy. The hook that I initially found incredibly cloying has quickly gone onto become one of the catchiest melodies of the year, ever-present and (now) ever-enjoyable. It’s such a fun little pop trifle, supplementing its buoyant hooks with galloping percussion, genuinely solid builds and a convincing vocal performance. They even fully committed to the camp by interspersing the sound of a can being cracked open throughout the track. This one is a massive grower that I just wish was longer.

Verses: 8

Chorus: 9

Production: 8

Performance: 9

Final Rating: 8.5 / 10

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Astro – Candy Sugar Pop (review)

You could probably check out almost any Astro song (except maybe Blue Flame) and get the same kick out of it as this one. My other shouts for a closer sound are Baby and After Midnight.

Cravity – Cloud 9 (review)

UP10TION – Tonight

3. What It Sounds Like (Huntr/x)

Now the ranking gets pretty tough because I happen to genuinely quite like all three of these songs quite abit. They each lean on familiar K-pop tropes but they twist them just enough to really make their own mark. On any other day, What It Sounds Like could have taken the top spot.

As the track that heralds the films final battle, What It Sounds Like carries a palpable sense of drama, growing from hushed yet emotive piano balladry to an utterly euphoric eurodance inspired climax. I love songs that feel as though they’re undergoing a transformation throughout their runtime. A sense of tangible growth. I’ve previously called this the snowball effect and that’s exactly what this song does so damn well. I love the way the initially vulnerable titular hook grows in potency throughout, supported by gradually more dynamic production choices before it just explodes at the end. It’s fist pumping stuff with a heavy undertone of sentimentality. It’s a perfect reflection of the hero’s journey Rumi is forced to endure and a cinematic moment that feels both musically and thematically satisfying.

Verses: 8

Chorus: 9

Production: 9

Performance: 9

Final Rating: 8.75 / 10

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Ailee – I will show you

If you enjoyed the song structure and the snowballing effect from ballad-like to explosive, I will show you is basically the blueprint for it in K-pop.

Babymonster – Forever

If you were a fan of the massive euro-dance style chorus, this one is most definitely for you (just try your best to trudge through the verses the payoff is worth it promise!!).

TWICE – Feel Special

For those who preferred the notions of self alongside the emotive sheen of the track more than anything, this TWICE classic should be the perfect companion piece.

2. Your Idol (Saja Boys)

The first time I heard this song in the movie, I was genuinely taken aback. Sure, it traced many familiar boy group tropes and the hooks were pretty standard—but boy did it pull them off. The commitment to the performance here is what really transforms Your Idol into something instantly iconic, taking so many small details and bringing them full circle into a package that works extremely well both narratively and musically. For one it perfectly pulls off the conceptual transition from bright to dark that SO MANY K-pop boy groups go through in their earlier years (My mind instantly goes to TXT with Crown and Runaway). This detail alone makes me appreciate the writing but that wouldnt mean much if the song itself didn’t have the sauce.

Luckily Your Idol knows its strengths, bolstering its rather standard percussive trap-led verses with some dynamic Gregorian chants and percussion that actually feels weighty. The builds are also very well structured, giving additional potency to each pre-chorus and especially the bridge which grows to a feverish peak that left me genuinely agape on first listen. With many modern K-pop songs forgo’ing bridges altogether, we just don’t get moments like this anymore. The strings. The high notes. The distortion. They’re all so god damn cool. They all lend themselves to a climax that actually feels momentous, melding both the incredibly catchy hook and dynamic chants into one utterly thrilling peak. If i was a character in the movie, you bet i’d become a slave to Gwi-Mah after hearing this.

Verses: 8

Chorus: 8

Production: 9

Performance: 10

Final Rating: 8.75 / 10

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ATEEZ – Halazia

A.C.E – Goblin (Favorite Boys) (review)

Enhypen – Bite Me (review)

I also recommend Drunk Dazed from them If you prefer the louder more harder edged stuff. The chorus on that track is gargantuan and Enhypen have quite similar vocal tones to Saja Boys.

EXO – MAMA (review)

1. Golden (Huntr/x)

I mean… it had to be this one, right?

From its already iconic chopped vocals that frame its opening moments to the gargantuan hook at its core, Golden is a pop culture moment. A moment that wonderfully demonstrates the absolute best instincts of both the film itself and modern Kpop sensibilities.. And yes i know it’s basically a reimagining of IVE’s legendary I AM, but for a movie that’s essentially working as a homage to the industry’s past and present, I believe that it makes perfect sense for the titular track to be a reimagining of an already existing classic. Thankfully, that classic happens to harbour some of my favourite sounds ever.

And like any great reimagining, Golden more than does the original justice, tracing its melody and retaining its bombast while imbuing the entire package with an added cinematic, heft. Much like some of the movies stronger songs, there is a palpable sentimentality residing under the surface, lending the track an additional layer of character alongside the requisite bombast. A characteristic that lends very well to multiple listens and really highlights some of the key factors lacking from most current releases. That feeling of having multiple mini-climax’s before the requisite dynamic finale is what used to be the norm but feels like a lost art in the age of streaming and 2 minute bridge-less songs. A song like Golden (and many others on the soundtrack) helps remind us just how incredible it can be when the focus is on the song itself over streaming. Both from a musical and commerical standpoint (just look at the streams!!). It’s so great to hear a chorus so unabashedly huge, shooting for the rafters over multiple melodic peaks and troughs. It’s endlessly singable, endlessly listenable and endlessly dynamic. Just how a great soundtrack should be.

Verses: 9

Chorus: 9

Production: 9

Performance: 9

Final Rating: 9 / 10