On August 1, rising K-pop group IZNA appeared at KCON LA, with members Koko, Jeemin, and Jungeun delivering a special stage of “Golden” by HUNTR/X —a popular track from the hit film KPop Demon Hunters. The high-energy performance initially excited fans, but soon became a hot topic online for all the wrong reasons.
As clips of the performance circulated on social media, netizens began criticizing the group for what they perceived as a lackluster execution. Many pointed out that the members appeared to lip-sync rather than perform the song live, while others expressed disappointment over the altered lyrics and simplified choreography.
“It’s strange to cover a song but not sing it live,” one comment read. “The vocals are the heart of ‘Golden,’ and it feels like that was lost.”
Others wrote, “The lip-syncing is so obvious—it’s disappointing,” and, “They changed the dance too. I was expecting something closer to the original.”
While some defended the group, citing the song’s high vocal and choreographic demands, others noted that many idol groups at KCON opt to perform covers live. “There are so many groups that actually sing live when covering songs,” one netizen commented, adding, “It’s a shame they didn’t take the chance to do the same.”
Still, not all reactions were negative. Some praised IZNA for taking on such a bold stage concept and acknowledged the difficulty of performing a vocally demanding track like “Golden” while dancing. “You’d need to stand still to sing that live,” one fan noted. “No one can do that full-out and hit those notes at the same time.”
Despite the backlash, the performance has sparked plenty of conversation, proving IZNA’s growing impact and visibility in the global K-pop scene. As the group continues to gain international exposure, all eyes will be on how they respond—and evolve—in future stages.
Sources: Allkpop
You must be logged in to post a comment.