HUNTR/X Takes The Tonight Show Stage With 'GOLDEN' Live Performance

HUNTR/X delivered a stunning debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Their hit song GOLDEN achieved platinum status.
The performance sparked a thoughtful key change debate.

The fictional girl group from the hit Netflix series 'KPop Demon Hunters,' HUNTR/X, just became very real to American audiences with a stunning U.S. television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. On October 8, the vocal powerhouses behind the group, Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, took the stage to perform their chart-dominating single, “GOLDEN,” delivering a live performance that was both powerful and polished.

Introduced by Jimmy Fallon as a “number-one hit song stage,” the trio, embodying their animated characters Lumi, Mira, and Joy, showcased not just the song's infectious energy but also their formidable and impressively stable live vocals, proving they are far more than just studio voices.

HUNTR/X Debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The October 8th episode of The Tonight Show served as the perfect platform for HUNTR/X's grand introduction. The performance was met with immediate enthusiasm from the live audience, a energy that host Jimmy Fallon had already felt behind the scenes. During their interview segment, he didn't hold back his praise, offering a compelling compliment that highlighted the sheer impact of their presence.

“Even during rehearsal, the studio felt packed. It was like The Beatles were in the room,” Jimmy Fallon said with a smile, instantly drawing a wave of applause.

The trio’s reaction to the entire experience was one of pure, unfiltered joy and disbelief. When trying to encapsulate the feeling of their song connecting with a global audience.

“It feels unreal, like a dream. Every time, we have to find new words like ‘ecstatic’ or ‘beautiful’ to describe it," they revealed.

The trio further shared deeply personal connections to the project. Rei Ami recalled a moving fan moment, “Seeing a five-year-old sing ‘GOLDEN’ at the top of their lungs brought tears to my eyes.

While Audrey Nuna shared a poignant story about representation, explaining how a scene with kimbap resonated deeply with her own childhood experiences of hiding her food.

“I cried from the very start of the screening, especially during the kimbap scene. Growing up, I used to hide when eating kimbap, worried about being teased for the smell.” She added, “It’s amazing to see stories like this on screen. It made me feel that the world is changing. I think many Korean-Americans will resonate with it, too," she said.

Unexpected Change in "GOLDEN" Live Performance Sparks Debate

Despite the debut being a resounding success, it wasn't without its share of immediate online discourse. Sharp-eared fans, particularly Korean netizens, quickly noticed that the live version of "GOLDEN" was performed in a noticeably lower key than the original studio recording. This creative decision ignited a wave of reactions and speculation. While the performance was universally praised for its energy and stunning vocal harmonies, the key change became a hot topic.

Some netizens theorized it was a protective measure for the vocalists' health, while others debated the artistic merit. The online community platform TheQoo was flooded with mixed but largely supportive comments.

“Lowering the key was a good decision. They’ll be doing more live stages from now on, and singing it in the original key every time would ruin their throat. The live was great, especially the harmonies. I want to hear more songs.”

“They really lowered the key a lot… sounds like about 2 to 3 semitones.”

However, many focused on the positive outcome, like none fan noting,

“It’s so good.. It’s not like this is a high-note competition, so what’s wrong with lowering the key? The live version sounds way better. Their tone and vocals are out of this world..”

This debate ultimately underscored the group's vocal prowess, even a modified performance was powerful enough to dominate conversations and showcase their incredible tone and control.

HUNTR/X debut wasn't just a performance, it was a milestone-marking event. Following their act, Jimmy Fallon sat down with the elated trio and delivered a massive surprise, announcing that the 'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack had been officially certified platinum. This achievement catapults the fictional group into a very real and prestigious echelon of music artists. The success doesn't stop there. “GOLDEN” itself continues to be a historic force, maintaining its grip on the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as of October 11. This marks its incredible eighth consecutive week at the summit, a feat that places it in rare company, joining the ranks of mega-hits like BTS's "Butter" which also achieved a long reign at the top.

Watch HUNTR/X full performance here:

Source: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, theqoo, allkpop, Koreaboo