K-Pop is an infectious genre that has been hailing for a while in the global music scene in the past few years. It’s a type of music that seems to have it all. Its vibrant beats, highly addictive melodies, and charismatic performers, all these elements have helped K-Pop to come into the international spotlight. That’s why today, it is a powerful and influential force in the industry that not only has an incredible fan base, but it has also made its way into Hollywood.
Being the global entertainment hub that it is, Hollywood has embraced K-Pop, featuring its music in various movies through the years. Adding a unique flavor to its productions and giving more recognition to the appeal of K-Pop. A collaboration that showcases the cultural reach of thebest of South Korean talentnowadays. That’s why we’ve got to find a way to celebrate how K-Pop is widely enjoyed not only in Korea, but all over the world. Let’s dig into this list of 10 K-Pop songs that have made it into Hollywood movies.
“Rising Sun” by TVXQ – Fast & Furious (2009)
In 2009,Fast & Furiousfeatured the song “Rising Sun” by TVXQ during the opening scene of Paul Walker’s character in the franchise. And even though this added a lot of recognition to the song, this track was already a huge success when it was released in South Korea back in 2005. It was even awarded at the Mnet KM Music Video Festival as “Most Popular Music Video”.
It’s part of the second Korean-language studio album of TVXQ, called “Rising Sun” as well, as it became one of its most standout singles. Its lyrics talk about themes such as the human nature of struggle, symbolizing how we’re gradually losing our innocence as it’s corrupted by the circumstances of life. These changes are compared to the fading of a sunset and the rising sun as the persistence to break through challenges.
Stream on Netflix
“Nobody” by Wonder Girls – Penguins of Madagascar (2014)
“Nobody” was a great hit from Wonder Girls when it was released in 2008, taken from their first EP,The Wonder Years: Trilogy.This song is strongly inspired by a retro dance pop vibe that gives it an infectious energy through its lively rhythms. That’s why this song was featured in the moviePenguins of Madagascar(2014), since its story and characters match perfectly to it. The members of Wonder Girls considered this a huge honor and considered it a great opportunity to showcase not only their music to a broader audience, but to all Asian artists.
Also, this song is kind of considered a game-changer in the K-Pop industry, since it was the first song ever by a Korean artist to ever enter the US Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 76. This was revolutionary, as it marked a milestone and showed the great potential of K-Pop to captivate audiences beyond Asian frontiers and across the world.
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“Fantastic” by RM (feat. Mandy Ventrice) – Fantastic Four (2015)
RM, previously known as Rapper Monster, but also known for being the leader of BTS, Kim Nam-joon, teamed up with the American singer, Mandy Vetrice to create aspecial song for a movie, theFantastic Fourreboot. It released in South Korea as a part of their promotion campaigns. The song title aligns with the film’s theme, and its lyrics highlight the challenges and struggles that the superheroes might face in the story. The mix of RM’s rap and the powerful singing voice of Mandy Ventrice creates a combination of catchy beats and vibrant melodies.
Even if RM was already part of BTS, this song is not part of their discography as a group, but it was a way for them to grow their presence in the entertainment industry. Sadly, the song didn’t break any records on the charts. This is probably because it was a digitally released song only, and the movie itself was one ofMarvel’s lowest-ranking moviesof all time.
Stream on Disney+
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“As If It’s Your Last” by BLACKPINK - Justice League (2017)
Featured in the 2017 film,Justice League,“As if it’s your last” by BLACKPINK is another K-Pop sensation worth listening to. This hit blends different music styles such as dance, house, reggae, and moombahton, with a touch of disco groove. It’s a single that’s considered to be more “Pink” than the group’s previous songs that had more of a “Black” concept. Even though, the lyrics explore serious topics of love and loss.
The song was released in 2017, and it made its mark quickly, since it debuted at the top of Billboard’s World Digital Songs. It also secured a spot in other charts like the K-Pop Hot 100 and Gaon Digital. The track’s music video also achieved its own milestones. Besides, the popularity of the song just arises from the vibrant live performances of the group on music programs. All of it has made “As if it’s your last” remain a standout in BLACKPINK’s repertoire. And, as a random fact, it was also featured in one episode ofAmphibia,one of theDisney Channel’s TV shows.
Stream on Prime Video
“Hangover” by PSY (feat. Snoop Dogg) - Black Panther (2018)
People may argue this, but PSY was one of the first South Korean artists to be known worldwide thanks to his “Gangnam Style” back in 2012. Two years later, he released “Hangover” alongside the American rapper, Snoop Dogg. An energetic song that has found its way into one of Marvel’s superheroes,Black Panther,during the scene in the bustling casino of Busan.
Given the huge success of previous hits from PSY, this track gathered a lot of attention in its debut. Its music video was even premiered on Jimmy Kimmel Live Show. A music video that also features other K-Pop stars such as G-Dragon and CL of 2NE1. Even though critics had mixed opinions, it became popular on social media, gaining more than 10 million views within 24 hours.
“Zimzalabim” by Red Velvet - Trolls World Tour (2020)
Red Velvet’s “Zimzalabim” is the catchy hit that made it into Hollywood in the animated film trailer forTrolls World Tour.Movie in which the K-Pop girl band even lends their voices in the Korean version of it. This film combines so well with the aesthetic of the song, since it has an energetic vibe that goes well with the colorful Trolls.
“Zimzalabim” is part of the sixth EP of the group, “The ReVe Festival: Day 1”. It’s a captivating song where the lyrics encourage its listeners to pursue their biggest dreams. Also, this track is a combination of EDM and electro pop, a sound that generated debates among music critics, since it wasn’t easy to determine this composition into a defined genre. But even if it was this confusing, it still captivated audiences and was praised as an experimental anthem. One that gave Red Velvet a 14th consecutive top 10 entry on Billboard’s World Digital Songs chart.
Stream on Peacock premium
“Russian Roulette” by Red Velvet – Troll World Tour (2020)
Red Velvet combines so well withTrolls World Tourthat two of their songs are featured in this film. As with the previous one, “Russian Roulette” is a song that seems to fit perfectly in the soundtrack of this movie. Its animated and lively rhythm added an extra layer of color and fun to the story. Just like its music video, which combines humor and daring antics that just add to its charm.
Talking about the song itself, this is a track that cleverly compares the Russian roulette game with the task of winning someone’s heart. It was released back in 2016 as part of the group’s third EP of the same name. It was critically acclaimed both in South Korea and internationally, becoming a standout success. It even got to the top two positions on Billboard’s World Digital Songs.
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“Friends” by BTS - Eternals (2021)
When talking about K-Pop, there’s no way of not mentioning BTS. In this list, the first song we have of them featured in a Hollywood movie is “Friends” inEternals. Even though it’s a song performed by the subunit within the group composed of Jimin and V, two of the seven members of BTS, this song is still part of the official discography of the group. It’s the 15th song onMap of the Soul: 7, their fourth album.
Also, “Friends” is Jimin’s first composition, it’s a song that talks about the beauty behind friendship. It explores themes such as trust and shared memories. But it’s extra special since it portrays both singers’ close bond. The feature inEternalsspraked a wide discussion among their fans, who were more than excited to have a piece of their idols on the big screen.
“Not Today” by BTS – Sing 2 (2021)
Because one song wasn’t enough, we got to add another BTS’ song to the list. This time is “Not Today”, a powerful and full-of-energy K-Pop song that was featured in the animated film from 2021,Sing 2.The song is not only known for its energetic and catchy sound, but also because of its meaningful lyrics. Since it talks about themes likefighting against injustice and corruption.
Back in the day, when it was released in 2017 as “You Never Walk Alone”, their second album single, “Not Today” received a lot of good reviews from music critics, and it climbed to the top of many charts. Demonstrating once again that K-Pop has reached worldwide popularity. Besides, its music video is also a stunning piece with incredible choreography that was inspired by theLord of the Ringsmovies.
“How you like that" by BLACKPINK – Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022)
Looking for a thrilling K-Pop hit that took the world by storm? Then “How you like that” by BLACKPINK is that song, and you’ll find it as part of theHotelTransylvania: Transformaniasoundtrack. But it’s not only because of this fact that this song is a worldwide phenomenon, it goes beyond the animated film.
“How you like that” came out in 2020 as a pre-release single from their debut studio album, “The Album”. Co-written by Danny Chung, 24, R. Tee and Teddy, this song is a combination of different music styles such as EDM, hip-hop and Pop that makes it catchy for the audience. Its popularity helped it top all the charts in South Korea, and even enter the US Billboard Hot 100. Besides, itsmusic video broke several YouTube records, it has won multiple awards, including an MTV VMA as the Song of Summer in 2020, and it was a sensation on TikTok trends.
