As Hanukkah draws closer, Jewish a cappella sensation Six13, known for their creative and entertaining parodies, has once again brightened the Festival of Lights. This year they’ve gone bigger, brighter and far more neon than ever with their latest release, “Golden: A K-pop Demon Hunters Chanukah.”
Okay, let’s stop right there. Even as I write this, I have no idea what “K-Pop Demon Hunters” is or are. Give me a minute to consult the Google.
I’m back. Apparently, “K-pop Demon Hunters” is a Netflix animated musical where a K-pop girl group battles demons using, naturally, their choreography and vocal skills. Meanwhile demon-powered boy bands lurk around trying to steal fan souls. It’s Korean pop culture meets Ghostbusters with better eyeliner.
Six13’s new parody blends two of the movie’s hits, “Golden” and “Soda Pop” into a full-blown holiday remix. You can click both songs to hear the original versions.
Now, that we are all on the page, please read on.
How K-pop met the Maccabees
Six13 has never shied away from a good mashup — Queen, Elton John, ABBA, “West Side Story,” Taylor Swift and “Wicked” have all been part of the group’s Hanukkah timeline in recent years. But this year’s video pushes the boundaries even further, pulling the group into this new high-energy world.
The video “Hanukkafies” the movie’s biggest songs, capturing the color, choreography and electricity of K-pop while staying rooted in the holiday’s timeless themes of light and resilience. According to the group, the production value took a noticeable leap this year, with saturated stage lighting, stylized dance breaks and even a Times Square sequence to match the blockbuster vibe.
“We loved these songs from the moment we heard them and quickly saw how applicable they could be to Hanukkah, a time when we recall the miracle of our survival against all odds and how we can light up the darkest nights of the year with our golden warmth,” said Six13 member and St. Louis native Lior Melnick. “We also needed a whole lot of pink and purple hair spray.”
A St. Louis spark behind the sparkle
Melnick, an alum of the Mirowitz School and a member of Traditional Congregation, has long been one of the creative engines inside Six13. St. Louis readers will recognize him from previous holiday releases like last year’s “Wicked”-inspired parody, where he spoke about helping Jews move through difficult times by anchoring in identity and joy.
His fingerprints are on the group’s Passover parodies too, including this spring’s Bruno Mars mashup that leaned on clever wordplay, inside-Jewish humor and sharp visuals, all signatures of the group’s style.
This year’s Hanukkah project carries that same blend of humor, production value and Jewish heart, reframed through a K-pop lens.
