K-Pop's 'Golden' Triumph: 'KPop Demon Hunters' Snag Three Grammy Nominations
The K-Pop group Huntr/x, comprising Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, has achieved a remarkable feat with their song 'Golden'. It has secured three Grammy nominations, including a prestigious nod for Song of the Year. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the group and the K-Pop genre as a whole.
In an exclusive interview with Variety, the trio expressed their overwhelming emotions and gratitude. Ejae, with a mix of excitement and disbelief, stated, 'I can't even process this right now. I'm still in shock.' Ami, visibly moved, added, 'It feels like something out of this world.'
Nuna emphasized the importance of representation, saying, 'You'll see three Korean faces. Thinking about the impact this could have on young people and how it might shape their aspirations is truly inspiring.'
Ejae, making history as the first Korean-American female songwriter nominated for Song of the Year, shared her feelings of 'imposter syndrome'. Ami further highlighted the challenges faced by Korean women in the industry, stating, 'We often have to work twice as hard and prove ourselves more than others to receive the same recognition.'
'Golden' faces strong competition in the Song of the Year category, including hits like 'Abracadabra' by Lady Gaga, 'Anxiety' by Doechii, and 'APT' by Rosé and Bruno Mars. Other notable contenders are 'DtMF' by Bad Bunny, 'Luther' by Kendrick Lamar with SZA, 'Manchild' by Sabrina Carpenter, and 'Wildflower' by Billie Eilish.
In the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category, 'Golden' competes with 'Defying Gravity' (Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande), 'Gabriela' (Katseye), 'APT' (Rosé and Bruno Mars), and '30 For 30' (SZA with Kendrick Lamar). The Visual Media category sees 'Golden' up against 'As Alive As You Need Me To Be' (Nine Inch Nails), 'I Lied to You' (Miles Caton), and other notable entries.
When asked about their expectations for the upcoming Grammy Awards, the group expressed enthusiasm for all the nominees, especially Sabrina Carpenter, whom Ami admires. However, they were disappointed that 'Golden' did not receive a Record of the Year nomination, a category they believed they had a strong chance of winning.
'KPop Demon Hunters' has become a cultural phenomenon, with Netflix releasing the film and its original songs, including 'Golden', 'Your Idol', and 'Soda Pop', to widespread acclaim. The movie's success led Netflix to bring a sing-along version to theaters for fan events, resulting in impressive box office numbers, with 'KPop Demon Hunters' topping the charts with $18 million over two days and collecting $5-6 million around Halloween.
Despite the group's remarkable achievements, the industry's expectations, and the buzz surrounding the awards, 'Golden' missed out on the Record of the Year nomination, a category that would have made history by recognizing Huntr/x as the first K-pop group in that field.
