Latest news with #KevinWoo

[Grace Kao] Real K-pop idols cover animated ‘KPop Demon Hunters'

Korea Herald

10 hours ago

Entertainment
Korea Herald

[Grace Kao] Real K-pop idols cover animated ‘KPop Demon Hunters'

What does it mean when real-life K-pop idols cover songs from an animated film about K-pop demon hunters inspired by K-pop? A lot, actually. The Netflix film 'KPop Demon Hunters' has just reached a new milestone. It is the first Netflix film to hit a new weekly viewing high more than a month after its initial release. In week 5, it garnered 25.8 million views, its biggest week ever. It's No. 1 among Netflix films in the US as I write. It is on its way to being one of the top 10 most-watched Netflix films of all time. Moreover, eight of its singles are on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart — the lead single, 'Golden' (by the fictional group Huntrix, composed of singers Ejae, Aundrey Nuna and Rei Ami) is at No. 4 on the chart. 'Your Idol' (by fictional group Saja Boys, with singers Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo and Samuil Lee) is at No. 14, 'How It's Done' is at No. 23, 'Soda Pop' is at No. 25, 'Free' is at No. 41,' 'What It Sounds Like' is at No. 43, and two versions of 'Takedown' (Huntrix's version is at No. 51 and Twice members Jeongyeon, Jihyo and Chaeyoung is at No. 90). Note that this is Twice's first appearance on the chart, a decade into its career. Not even K-pop idols can resist the film's catchy songs and dance moves. I first noticed it on YouTube when the voice actor for Jinu, Ahn Hyoseop, sang 'Free.' That made a lot of sense since he played the character. I think it still counts as a cover, but it was his character in the film. Kevin Woo (formerly of U-Kiss) was the singing voice behind Mystery Saja, and he released a YouTube short with a dance cover of 'Soda Pop.' He also posted a cover of his dancing to 'Your Idol,' which has 2.5 million views. Are these covers? It's debatable. The first definite cover I saw was Wonho performing 'Soda Pop' and 'Your Idol' in full costume. It was great and true to the source material, and it was released on July 9, 2025, just a couple of weeks after the film's release. It has since received 4.2 million views. I then saw BTS's Jungkook singing along to 'Soda Pop' and 'Your Idol' during a livestream. Some have speculated that he is one of the inspirations for Jinu of the Saja Boys, so that certainly seems apropos. Members from Enhypen, Le Serrafim, Ive, Itzy, BoyNextDoor, Ateez, Cravity, Oneus, ONF, Evnne, Plave and others have uploaded dance or song covers of 'Golden,' 'Soda Pop,' 'Your Idol' or 'Free." Plave is itself an animated group, but a cover is a cover. Junhee of A.C.E has a popular rendition of 'Your Idol,' which has 3.6 million views, and his cover (with Alexa) of 'Free' has 2.5 million views. Astro's Cha Eunwoo danced to 'Soda Pop' and performed 'Free' with Arden Cho (the speaking voice of Rumi in the film). More recently, Ryeowook of Super Junior posted a ballad version of 'Golden.' After digging around, I found that An Yujin of Ive, Lily of Nmixx, Solar of Mamamoo, Urban Zakapa and many others have covered "Golden.' An YuJin's cover has 3.4 million views. Solar's version has 1 million views, but the short has something around 4 million views. Yeji of Izy did a dance cover of 'Golden.' Tomorrow x Together even released a hanbok version dance practice of their B-side 'Eternally,' recorded in 2022, and gave the dance videos the moniker 'Demon Hunters ver.' Usually, singers and dancers cover songs that are better known than their own body of work — this is how one might attract new fans. Award shows and fanmeets regularly include at least one cover stage. Lesser-known groups will likely have to do more covers, and at their concerts, they often perform well-known songs to balance out their limited discography. However, what does it mean when an animated film inspired by K-pop and Korean mythology produces a soundtrack that compels K-pop stars to cover it? It implies that the songs have arrived. The choreography to 'Soda Pop' is recognizable to fans, both because of its similarity to actual dance moves by K-pop groups and because of its distinctive point moves. It's hard not to sing along with 'Golden' or 'Free' — just ask my sister and her kids. The often incomplete quote, 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,' suggests that the value of the source material is demonstrated by inspiring others to copy it. The actual quote from Oscar Wilde is: "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness,' which slights the imitator. In this case, I think the incomplete version applies best; K-pop idols inspired the animated K-pop demons and demon hunters, and they, in turn, have inspired real-life idols.

Roaring back: Kevin Woo finds new fame as the voice behind K-Pop Demon Hunters' Lion Boyz

Time of India

3 days ago

Entertainment
Time of India

Roaring back: Kevin Woo finds new fame as the voice behind K-Pop Demon Hunters' Lion Boyz

Kevin Woo, a K-pop veteran from U-KISS, is experiencing a career resurgence through the animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters,' where he voices the lead singer of Lion Boyz. Their single, "Your Idol," impressively reached #14 on Billboard's Hot 100. Woo is also preparing a solo single, a U-KISS reunion, and acting roles in U.S. films, including Anderson . A Familiar Lion with a Brand-New Roar Kevin Woo 's listeners have exploded from barely ten thousand to over 2.1 crore since he lent his velvet falsetto to "Mystery," the charismatic lead singer of the animated group Lion Boyz in the upcoming film K-Pop Demon Hunters . The movie's first single, "Your Idol," even clawed its way to #14 on the Billboard Hot 100-a feat that would make many fourth-gen idols green with envy. For Woo, who debuted with U-KISS back in 2008, voice-acting an idol felt less like a detour and more like a homecoming: "I saw my old self in every frame," he quips, half-proud, half-nostalgic. Studio Sessions, Subway Sandwiches & Sleepless Nights Recording took the Korean-American singer ping-ponging between New York and L.A., powered by cold brews and way too many foot-long subs. Under the watchful ears of vocal director Lee Jae and musical overseer Ian Eisendrath, Woo experimented with everything from hushed whispers to rock-opera belts to give Mystery dimensional swagger. Unlike a concert where a wink or a dab can rescue a shaky note, studio booths demand pure vocal storytelling. "Every syllable had to hit like a killer choreo move nobody sees," he laughs-perhaps a gentle nod to every trainee currently sweating through monthly evaluations. Why Gen Z Can't Get Enough Gen Z stans aren't just streaming; they're dissecting Easter eggs. Many recognize Woo as part of K-pop's early international push-U-KISS toured Manila and Jakarta when passports were still rare flexes among Seoul idols. In 2025, however, his comeback feels fresh , not retro. The Lion Boyz concept taps into the same cinematic universe now occupied by Across the Spider-Verse and Arcane : stylized animation, hyper-catchy OSTs, and lore deep enough to spawn fan theories longer than a Tolstoy chapter. For desi fans posting stan art from Bengaluru dorm rooms, Woo's journey frames K-pop not as a monolith but as a playground where music, anime aesthetics and global identity collide. What's Next on Kevin's Playlist Woo is readying a solo digital single, plotting a U-KISS sub-unit reunion, and polishing lines for two U.S. features: K-POPS! (helmed by Anderson .Paak) and the indie horror flick Death Name . If rumors hold, a small-venue tour could follow, with ticket prices expected to hover around ₹4,500-a sweet spot for college wallets that already scrape together ₹999 for official lightsticks. Industry insiders whisper that the Lion Boyz soundtrack might spawn a deluxe EP; Woo simply drops a sly emoji when asked. About Kevin Woo Kevin Woo is a Korean-American singer born in 1991 who debuted as a member of U-KISS in 2008 and remained active for over a decade. Originally from California, his fluent English and Korean skills played a crucial role in K-pop's global expansion, and he's now expanding his career into solo music, voice acting, and film roles. He's currently experiencing a renaissance through the animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters.'

Kevin Woo reacts to 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' success: 'I saw my old self in every frame'

Time of India

3 days ago

Entertainment
Time of India

Kevin Woo reacts to 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' success: 'I saw my old self in every frame'

Kevin Woo 's Spotify monthly listeners have exploded from barely ten thousand to over 2.1 crore since he lent his velvet falsetto to "Mystery," the charismatic lead singer of the animated group Lion Boyz in the new film ' K-Pop Demon Hunters '. For Woo, who debuted with U-KISS back in 2008, voice-acting an idol felt less like a detour and more like a homecoming. "I saw my old self in every frame," he quiped. Studio Sessions, Subway Sandwiches and Sleepless Nights Recording took the Korean-American singer ping-ponging between New York and L.A., powered by cold brews and way too many foot-long subs. Under the guidance of director Lee Jae and musical overseer Ian Eisendrath, Woo experimented with everything from hushed whispers to rock-opera belts to give Mystery dimensional swagger. "Every syllable had to hit like a killer choreo move nobody sees," he laughs-perhaps a gentle nod to every trainee currently sweating through monthly evaluations. Why Gen Z Can't Get Enough Gen Z stans aren't just streaming; they're dissecting Easter eggs. Many recognize Woo as part of K-pop's early international push-U-KISS toured Manila and Jakarta when passports were still rare flexes among Seoul idols. In 2025, however, his comeback feels fresh, not retro. The Lion Boyz concept taps into the same cinematic universe now occupied by 'Across the Spider-Verse' and 'Arcane'. What's Next on Kevin's Playlist Hot on the film's buzz, Woo is readying a solo digital single, plotting a U-KISS sub-unit reunion, and polishing lines for two U.S. features - 'K-POPS!' helmed by Anderson Paak and the indie horror flick 'Death Name'. If rumours hold, a small-venue tour could follow. Industry insiders whisper that the Lion Boyz soundtrack might spawn a deluxe EP; Woo simply drops a sly emoji when asked. About Kevin Woo Kevin Woo is a Korean-American singer born in 1991 who debuted as a member of U-KISS in 2008 and remained active for over a decade. Originally from California, his fluent English and Korean skills played a crucial role in K-pop's global expansion, and he's now expanding his career into solo music, voice acting, and film roles. He's currently experiencing a renaissance through the animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters.'

The biggest name in K-Pop isn't BTS. It's Netflix.

Mint

20-07-2025

Entertainment
Mint

The biggest name in K-Pop isn't BTS. It's Netflix.

After nearly a decade in a K-pop boy band, Kevin Woo returned home to the U.S. four years ago, looking to expand his musical career outside South Korea. His monthly Spotify listeners, until recently, stood at about 10,000. Now, it's around 20 million. The reason? Netflix's No. 1 movie globally, 'KPop Demon Hunters," an animated film with girl-group protagonists and boy-band baddies. Two of the film's tracks have sat atop the U.S. Spotify's most-streamed songs—feats never before achieved by BTS, Blackpink or any other K-pop group, real or imagined. That's delivered a harsh reality to a genre seeking reinvention: Fictional bands have gotten popular faster in the U.S. than humans ever did. The triumph comes as the broader music industry grapples with unconventional entrants, like bogus hits created by AI claiming to be authentic. Woo provides the singing voice for Mystery, one of the five members of the film's soul-stealing Saja Boys. On a recent day, he was relaxing with a friend at a hotel pool in the Los Angeles area when a Saja Boys song started playing. Kevin Woo provides the singing voice for Mystery, one of the five members of the fictional group. Some children began dancing, prompting Woo's friend to ask: 'Do you want to meet the actual Saja Boy?" They shrieked and asked for an autograph, which Woo obliged. He signed his own name next to Mystery Saja. 'It feels very surreal because I play a fictional character," said Woo, 33. 'They don't recognize me as Kevin Woo or a K-pop artist." 'KPop Demon Hunters," produced by Sony Pictures Animation, is an American production shot in English, with a creative team and cast stocked with South Koreans and Korean diaspora. The film, which debuted June 20, has inspired fan art, handmade plushie dolls and cosplays of the main characters. Real-life K-pop stars, including several members of BTS, have praised the film. The fictional K-pop idols are appealing to tribal fanbases that often lock in support for a single group and disavow others. In K-pop lingo, a 'bias" refers to one's favorite singer, while 'akgae" identifies someone who prefers one member of the group but dislikes everyone else. 'Multi-stan" is someone capable of loving more than one group—a stigmatized notion in the K-pop universe. That has made rooting for the Saja Boys and the film's girl-group trio, HUNTR/X, a relatively guilt-free endeavor, fans say. Becoming the Switzerland of K-pop wasn't luck. The film aimed to be an amalgamism of K-pop aesthetics and sounds, with hopes of honoring 'all the fans," said Ian Eisendrath, the movie's executive music producer. 'I challenge people to not love this music," Eisendrath said. Seven of the film's songs rank among Spotify's 15 most-streamed tunes on the U.S. daily charts. The two most popular hits, HUNTR/X's 'Golden" and the Saja Boys' 'Your Idol," are also roaring up the Billboard Hot 100, placing No. 6 and No. 16 respectively. The film's companion album has achieved the biggest streaming week for a movie soundtrack since 2021's 'Encanto." Vasileios Tsagkaropoulos with his daughters, says K-pop feels different now because of the movie. The catchy tunes have created many converts like Vasileios Tsagkaropoulos, a 45-year-old dad who had never listened to K-pop. On a co-worker's suggestion, he found himself on his sofa watching 'KPop Demon Hunters," his two young daughters on each arm. Near the end, Tsagkaropoulos began to tear up. His 6-year-old glanced over as he let out a quiet whimper. He's watched the movie twice more, the soundtrack blares in their car and he's a proud owner of a purple HUNTR/X T-shirt. He said K-pop previously seemed like 'a flashy product." 'It feels different now," Tsagkaropoulos said, 'because it's something I shared with my daughters." The film's chart success carries some caveats. Several individual K-pop singers—as opposed to groups—have vaulted atop the daily Spotify charts in the U.S., the world's most-lucrative music market. BTS and Blackpink, who typically sing in Korean, have hit No. 1 on Spotify globally. BTS, whose members concluded mandatory military service last month, have six chart-toppers on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite explosive growth over the years, the K-pop industry had become top-heavy and stagnated. Two years ago, the CEO of BTS's music label put it bluntly: 'K-pop is in crisis." The success of 'KPop Demon Hunters" shows it is possible for fans to connect with nonhuman idols, said Suk-Young Kim, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, who has written a book about K-pop. It will likely spawn copycats. 'This is a long-running dream for K-pop companies," Prof. Kim said. 'Here we have idols who never sleep, never get sick, never age." But don't count the humans out, said Benny Char, a K-pop producer and songwriter, who has also worked with an AI singer. 'You can't manufacture the vulnerability, chemistry and unpredictability that real artists bring to the table," he said. Benny Char, a K-pop producer and songwriter, said there are some elements of real-life groups you can't manufacture. Woo, the Saja Boy singer, said he doesn't mind if his work as Mystery overshadows his prior time with the K-pop group, U-KISS, his Broadway performances or his acting roles. 'For me, in a sense, it's like a reinvention of my artistry," he said. Sky Blaw, who supports the K-pop boy band Vanner, gives high marks to the film's authenticity, from the intense bond between the fans and stars to the glossy stage outfits. But the 27-year-old, who works at an engraving shop in Salem, Ore., was puzzled about one thing: The Saja Boys crashing HUNTR/X's meet-and-greet with fans. 'That," Blaw said, 'would never happen." Write to Timothy W. Martin at

Wall Street Journal