Golden

This finally got me out of my creative funk.

I was a ghost, I was alone, [and the road darkened in front of me.]
Given the throne, I didn't know how to believe
I was the queen that I'm meant to be.

That song. From the moment you hear the opening line of Golden, you can tell that it’s special.

Actually, the whole movie is.

K-Pop Demon Hunters woke up my world-weary subconscious in way I didn’t think was currently possible. I could FEEL the craft and the care put into everything. It didn’t feel trite, it didn’t feel formulaic, it didn’t feel fake like EVERYTHING feels lately.

I fell in love with the main character (Rumi) - her troubles, her talent and her kickass purple braid - right away.

But then I learned the story behind the song, and I loved her even more.

Here’s the story:

EJAE is name of the person who wrote and performed Golden in the movie.

EJAE used to be a trainee (a person who’s trying to be a K-pop idol) for a company named SM Entertainment. For ten years, she worked for them, and her time to debut as an idol kept getting pushed off. Over and over.

So she eventually left. Went to college at NYU. Graduated. Came back to SM.

Guess what they told her? That she was now “too old” to be an idol. 😡

EJAE decided to write and perform songs on her own. She started getting attention.

She got hired to write songs for K-pop groups. She wrote several popular songs for K-pop groups like Red Velvet, aespa, Le Sserafim, Nmixx, and Twice.

Then the movie K-Pop Demon Hunters also hired her to write a few songs.

You know what?

The songs that EJAE wrote for the movie were so challenging…that only EJAE could sing them properly.

So the movie ended up officially hiring her to sing the songs. 🤯

At 33, EJAE is suddenly a world-famous singer and songwriter. After working hard for so long for people who didn’t believe in her. Who called her “too old”. After being tucked away behind-the-scenes, only allowed to help others shine.

SHE IS the queen in her song. The one who was a ghost, who was alone. She’s the one who’s “done hiding” and is now shining.

Y’all, not enough is said about people who find the courage to relentlessly pursue their own dreams after 30. (Or 40. Or 50. Or 80!)

This story confirms something I knew for a long time but recently forgot: Talent always shines through. Craft always shines through. Creativity always shines through.

Nothing can stop those things: Not what your body looks like. Not age. Not AI. And not what any naysayers are nay-saying.

Human connection overrides everything superficial. Always. Human connection is THE POINT!

So shine on. Your time is coming.

Cathy

P.S. I did my best to translate the Korean part of the lyric. Any corrections are very welcome.