BABYMONSTER Redefines 'Golden' Cover History with Dazzling '2025 MAMA' Performance

The history of covering the 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' OST 'Golden' is now divided into before and after BABYMONSTER. The septet—Ruka, Parita, Asa, Ahyeon, Rami, Rora, and Chiquita—made an indelible impression with their powerful performance at the '2025 MAMA AWARDS' held at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Stadium on the 28th and 29th of last month.

After warming up the crowd with 'WE GO UP' and 'DRIP' on Chapter 1 of 'MAMA AWARDS,' BABYMONSTER delivered a performance of 'Golden' on Chapter 2 the following day, a stage now being hailed as historic. While 'Golden' has seen numerous covers since its release, what made BABYMONSTER's rendition the absolute highlight?

'Golden' boasts an extremely high vocal range, leading even its original artists to predict that finding a singer capable of performing it live would be difficult. Consequently, among music fans, 'Golden' became known as a 'song impossible to sing live.'

However, BABYMONSTER refused to compromise. To fully convey the song's narrative and message of hope, they boldly chose to perform it live in the original key. Beginning with lyrical and delicate vocals, they escalated to explosive power, bathing the stage in a golden hue as the song progressed. Ahyeon's final ad-lib, a piercing high note, was particularly breathtaking, testing the limits of human vocal capability.

Beyond their vocals, their stage presence and styling were flawless. BABYMONSTER appeared on stage with a visual that seemed to have leaped straight from an animation. Their outfits, hair, and makeup perfectly recreated the original concept, portraying them not merely as singers, but as warriors on stage. The choreography vividly depicted the narrative of hunters overcoming darkness and breaking through barriers to enter the outside world, while their determined expressions pulled the audience directly into the work's universe.

The response to BABYMONSTER's performance was immense. Social media and online communities buzzed with praise such as, 'It's unbelievable they performed it live in the original key,' 'Astonishing vocal talent,' and 'Talent never lies.' International reactions were equally explosive. Amidst the trending 'Golden' challenge globally due to the song's difficulty, fans were stunned that a Korean girl group could perfectly execute it live on their first major stage. Reaction videos and fan creations flooded platforms like YouTube and TikTok, indicating the fervor surrounding their performance.

Korean netizens reacted with awe, commenting, 'The live performance is truly amazing,' 'Ahyeon's high notes are insane,' and 'It was the right decision for them to debut with this level of skill.' Some even stated it sounded better than the original track, heightening anticipation for their future endeavors.