Golden Child: Truly K-pop’s Golden Child
Golden Child is truly a golden child in the K-pop music industry. The group is exceptional, embracing the evolving nature of the K-pop world as their music has improved over the years. Plus, they’re loved by everyone, like a golden child would be—a reciprocation of the group’s love for their fanbase, Goldenness. With the help of their fans, and through teamwork and innovation in music style, the group has carved a space for themselves in the K-pop industry.
Golden Child debuted under Woollim Entertainment on August 28, 2017, after the label launched a pre-debut project for its trainees, W Project. The group is made up of ten members: Daeyeol, Y, Jangjun, Tag, Seungmin, Jaehyun, Jibeom, Donghyun, Joochan, and Bomin. Golden Child originally had 11 members, but Jaeseok departed from the group in 2018 due to health issues.
Golden Child’s experimentation with genre is a big part of their appeal. From bright and energy-filled tracks like “DamDaDi” to more reggaeton and dark music like “Burn It,” the group consistently delivers new and exciting songs. Check out the cinematic MV for “Burn It.” It beautifully combines storytelling and choreography as it tells a story of pain and growth with visuals of plants growing and fires burning.
The group is also incredibly relentless in their work ethic. Despite being considered by some to be a mid-tier group, that hasn’t stopped Golden Child from working hard to improve themselves and being heavily involved in the production of their music. They’ve also solidified their reputation as top-tier performers as they’ve participated in major events like the Dream Concert. Even at the beginning of their career, with songs like “Genie,” you can tell Golden Child worked hard to pull off their dancing and melodies.
Finally, Golden Child has been hugely involved with their fanbase, Goldenness, since its inception. From social media to fan meetings, Golden Child is highly connected to their fans. The group even held an online concert, NOW, in 2020, keeping the fanbase’s interest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their appearance on reality show WoollimPICK, gave fans a peek into the group’s daily lives through charming selfie-style videos, further strengthening the bond between the boy group and their audience.
Golden Child is aptly named. With a refreshing mix of genres, any K-pop listener should give them a chance. They’ve adapted and grown over the years and will continue to do so as they embrace their fans, stay dedicated to their craft, and continue to experiment with sounds.