KPop Demon Hunters” First Live “GOLDEN” Performance Leaves Fans Shocked Over Key Change — But Praise Floods In!

The animated blockbuster KPop Demon Hunters continues to dominate global pop culture — and now, its hit track “GOLDEN” has taken over the live stage.

Performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami, the trio made their much-awaited first-ever live appearance of “GOLDEN” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, stunning audiences with their magnetic presence and soulful vocals.

However, what truly set social media ablaze was an unexpected twist — the key of the song was noticeably lowered compared to the viral studio version.

Fans React to the Key Change

The adjustment instantly caught fans’ attention, sparking a wave of reactions online. While some were surprised, many praised the move, saying it allowed the singers to showcase more control, harmony, and tone instead of pushing for extreme high notes.

“It’s not like this is a high-note competition,” one fan commented. “The live version sounds even better. Their tone and delivery are out of this world!”

Others appreciated the more grounded performance:

“Lowering the key was a smart choice. They’ll be doing more live stages, and singing it in the original pitch could damage their voices.”

“Their harmonies were unreal — this version feels richer.”

“Even with the lower key, the ‘up up’ part still hits so hard. Love it!”

A few fans even speculated the change was made to accommodate a vocal health concern, as one member was reportedly recovering from an illness.

A Performance That Still Shined Bright

Despite the altered pitch, fans agreed on one thing — the trio delivered flawlessly. From dynamic harmonies to powerful stage presence, the live rendition captured the heart of the original while giving it a fresh, emotional twist.

The live performance showcased why KPop Demon Hunters’ soundtrack has become one of the most talked-about K-Pop moments of the year, bridging music, animation, and performance art in a way fans can’t get enough of.

“The song is so good — the key doesn’t matter when their voices sound this heavenly,” wrote one netizen on TheQoo.

Watch the Full Performance

Fans can now stream the full “GOLDEN” live performance from The Tonight Show below — and decide for themselves whether the key change made it even more magical.