Takedown (2) Lyrics – HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI & KPop Demon Hunters Cast
Soundtrack Album: KPop Demon Hunters
[Intro: Zoey & Mira]
Takedown, takedown
Takedown, down, down, down (HUNTR/X girls to the world)
Takedown, takedown
Takedown, down, down, down (It's a takedown)
[Verse 1: Zoey & Mira]
So sweet, so easy on the eyes, but hideous on the inside
Whole life spreading lies, but you can't hide, baby, nice try
I'm 'bout to switch up these vibes, I finally opened my eyes
It's time to kick you straight back into the night
[Refrain: Rumi, Zoey & Mira, All]
'Cause I see your real face and it's ugly as sin
Time to put you in your place 'cause you're rotten within
When your patterns start to show
It makes the hatred wanna grow outta my veins
[Pre-Chorus: Rumi, All]
I don't think you're ready for the takedown
Break you into pieces in a world of pain, 'cause you're all the same
Yeah, it's a takedown
A demon with no feelings, don't deserve to live, it's so obvious
[Chorus: Rumi & Mira, All]
I'ma gear up and take you down (Oh)
Da-da-da, down
It's a takedown (Oh)
Da-da-da, down
I'ma take it down (Oh)
Da-da-da, down
It's a takedown (Oh)
Da-da-da, down (Take it down)
[Verse 2: Zoey & Mira]
It's a takedown, I'ma take you out, you break down like, "What?"
It's a takedown, I'ma take you out and I ain't gonna stop
정신을 놓고 널 짓밟고 칼을 새겨놔
You'll be beggin' and cryin', all of you dyin', never miss my shot
[Refrain: All]
When your patterns start to show
It makes the hatred wanna grow out of my veins
[Pre-Chorus: Rumi, All]
I don't think you're ready for the takedown
당당하게 어둠 앞에 다가서 다 무너뜨려
Yeah, it's a takedown
A demon with no feelings, don't deserve to live, it's so obvious
[Chorus: Rumi, Mira & Zoey, All]
I'ma gear up and take you down (Oh)
Da-da-da, down
It's a takedown (Oh)
Da-da-da, down
I'ma take it down (Oh, watch me do it, yeah)
Da-da-da, down (Ooh)
It's a takedown (Oh)
Da-da-da, down (Ooh)
[Bridge: Rumi, Rumi & Zoey, Zoey]
Oh, you're the master of illusion
나를 속이려 하지마
Look at all the masses that you're foolin'
But they'll turn on you soon, so how?
How can you sleep or live with yourself?
A broken soul trapped in a nastiest shell
영혼 없는 니 목숨을 끊으러 and watch you die
You can try but you can't hide
[Verse 3: Rumi]
It's a takedown, I'ma take you out, you break down like, "What?"
It's a takedown, I'ma take you out and I ain't gonna stop
I'ma cut you open, lose control, then rip out your heart
You'll be beggin' and cryin', all of you dyin'
[Chorus: Rumi, Mira & Zoey, All]
I'ma gear up and take you down (Oh)
Da-da-da, down (Ah)
It's a takedown (Oh)
Da-da-da, down (Yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah)
I'ma take it down (Oh)
Da-da-da, down (Ooh)
It's a takedown (Oh)
Da-da-da, down (Watch me do it, yeah)
[Outro: Rumi]
Take it down
KPop Demon Hunters
Soundtrack Lyrics for Cartoon, 2025
Track Listing
TWICE
HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI & KPop Demon Hunters Cast
Saja Boys, Andrew Choi (앤드류최), neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo, SamUIL & KPop Demon Hunters Cast
HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI & KPop Demon Hunters Cast
TWICE
HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI & KPop Demon Hunters Cast
Saja Boys, Andrew Choi (앤드류최), neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo, SamUIL & KPop Demon Hunters Cast
RUMI (HUNTR/X), JINU (Saja Boys), EJAE, Andrew Choi (앤드류최) & KPop Demon Hunters Cast
HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI & KPop Demon Hunters Cast
MeloMance
Jokers (죠커스) (KOR)
Marcelo Zarvos
HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI & KPop Demon Hunters Cast
Song Overview
Song Credits
- Featured Voices: EJAE as Rumi; Audrey Nuna as Mira; Rei Ami as Zoey
- Producers: Michel “Lindgren” Schulz & Ian Eisendrath
- Writer: Michel “Lindgren” Schulz
- Release Date: June 20, 2025
- Album: KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film)
- Track #: 6
- Genre: Pop; K-Pop; Soundtrack
- Language: Korean & English
- Label: Republic Records; Universal Music Group; Netflix Music
- Strings Arranger & Conductor: Rob Mathes & Ian Eisendrath
- Vocal Engineer: Derik Lee
- Mixing Engineers: Lee Taesub & Curtis Miller
- Mastering Engineer: Kwon Nam Woo
- Additional Engineers: Lee KayOne; Andy Dudman; Choi Hye Jin
- Distributor: Universal Music Group
- Phonographic Copyright ℗: 2025 Republic Records, UMG & Netflix Music
- Copyright ©: 2025 Republic Records & Universal Music Group
Song Meaning and Annotations
From its opening chant of “Takedown, takedown” the track plunges you into a battlefield where every beat feels like a weapon being cocked. The choreography of sounds—pounding 808s, serrated synths and trap-hi-hat flurries—underscores the trio’s mission: to expose and destroy deception.
Though steeped in modern trap-pop production, the song’s aggressive drive nods to Korean folklore of demon hunters, reframing ancient rivalry into a pop-culture war cry. Rumi’s clipped English and the others’ Korean verses mirror the duality of their roles—superstar idols and secret guardians.
Emotionally the arc moves from wary revelation (“So sweet… hideous on the inside”) to unflinching vengeance (“I’m ’bout to switch up these vibes”). That crescendo captures the catharsis of facing inner darkness, a theme at the heart of the film’s narrative.
The bridge flickers like a lightning strike: stripped-down vocals ask, “How can you sleep or live with yourself?” before descending into the final, merciless refrain. Here lyrics become literal—ending a corrupted soul as easily as a fallen soldier on a battlefield.
Verse 1
“So sweet, so easy on the eyes, but hideous on the inside / Whole life spreading lies, but you can’t hide, baby, nice try”
Zoey and Mira’s opening lines set the tone: charm is revealed as weaponised illusion. The juxtaposition of softness (“sweet”) and violence (“hideous”) encapsulates the song’s central tension.
Pre-Chorus
“I don’t think you’re ready for the takedown / Break you into pieces in a world of pain”
Rumi’s warning is clinical, almost surgical—this isn’t just opposition, it’s dissection. The imagery of “pieces” amplifies the brutal honesty of their mission.
Chorus
“I’ma gear up and take you down… Da-da-da, down”
The deceptively catchy chant morphs into an incantation. Repetition here isn’t comfort—it’s inevitability, like the tolling of a war drum.
Bridge
“How can you sleep or live with yourself? / 영혼 없는 니 목숨을 끊으러 and watch you die”
A bilingual assault on the self-deluded, the shift into Korean adds a raw intimacy—an ultimatum delivered in the language of home.
Verse 3
“I’ma cut you open, lose control, then rip out your heart / You’ll be beggin’ and cryin’, all of you dyin’”
The final verse leaves no doubt: this takedown is total. Even the most hardened antagonist is shown no mercy.
With Rumi, Mira, and Zoey growing increasingly frustrated over their rivalry with The Saja Boys, “Takedown” becomes their warrior anthem. “They’re writing a song that is going to express their rage, their vengeance, and what they're going to do to these demons that are not only threatening the world, but also their careers,” Eisendrath says. “It’s got to be hard, as an artist, to watch this other group come in [and] steal all their fans. The idea of ‘Takedown’ is this diss track that is going to scare away, intimidate, and drive away the demons.” With venomous lyrics that serve as a battle cry against all demons, Rumi — who’s half demon — struggles to sing the song. “What this reveals is how much Mira and Zoey would hate her and want to destroy her if they knew that she had the demon patterns,” Eisendrath explains. “As she's losing her voice and starting to deal with what can no longer be hidden, you see her in a studio trying to rewrite the lyrics and make them softer.” However, demons disguised as Mira and Zoey reject Rumi’s alternate version and decide to perform the musical takedown. On stage, she lives her worst nightmare as the whole arena becomes demonic and “Takedown” is sung to her. The song, as well as the film’s other original tracks, were written and recorded before being structured into the film. “We were always writing for the narrative of the film, but we wanted to make sure that they could be stand-alone records,” Eisendrath notes.Similar Songs
- TWICE – “Takedown” (2025)
This official cover, voiced by Jeongyeon, Jihyo and Chaeyoung, recontextualises the original’s menacing rhythm with TWICE’s signature bright harmonies. Whereas HUNTR/X’s version feels subterranean and ritualistic, TWICE layers sparkling synths atop the same hook, shifting the mood from grim hunt to cathartic unmasking. The contrast highlights how arrangement and vocal tone can recast aggression as empowerment. Even the pounding percussion sounds almost celebratory here, suggesting solidarity rather than solitude. Fans who adore both finds this duality—dark versus defiant—absolutely compelling. - BLACKPINK – “Kill This Love” (2019)
Both tracks weaponise orchestral stabs and marching percussion to signal warlike fervour—BLACKPINK’s uprising against a toxic lover parallels HUNTR/X’s battle against demonic deception. Yet “Kill This Love” frames heartbreak as an act of liberation, while “Takedown” presents righteous violence as redemption. Sonically, the brass-led drops in BLACKPINK’s anthem feel bombastic, whereas HUNTR/X employs darker sub-bass and skittering hi-hats for a modern trap edge. Both use call-and-response chants to rally listeners, but where “Kill This Love” feels stadium-ready, “Takedown” whispers of clandestine rituals. This shared intensity cements them as sisters in sonic arms.- Who produced “Takedown”?
- Michel “Lindgren” Schulz and Ian Eisendrath led the production, blending trap elements with cinematic orchestration.
- Who wrote the song?
- Michel “Lindgren” Schulz is credited as the sole writer, crafting both the lyrics and core melodic motifs.
- How did “Takedown” perform on the charts?
- It debuted at #64 on the Billboard Hot 100 (week of July 12, 2025) and reached #39 on the Billboard Global 200 and #52 on Global Excl. US.
- Is there an official cover?
- Yes—members of TWICE released their own “Takedown” cover, which has outpaced the original in streams within K-pop fandom circles.
Awards and Chart Positions
- Billboard Hot 100: Debuted at #64 (week of July 12, 2025)
- Billboard Global 200: Peaked at #39 (week of July 12, 2025)
- Billboard Global Excl. US: Reached #52 (week of July 12, 2025)
- Billboard Philippines Hot 100: Climbed to #24 (July 12, 2025)
Fan and Media Reactions
Listeners on Reddit and TikTok have hailed “Takedown” as the quintessential demon-hunting anthem—praised for its pit-ready beats and cinematic scale. Many note it as the standout track on the film’s soundtrack, sparking viral dance challenges and fan edits.
“Jinu used everything Rumi told him to pull that Takedown-stunt.” u/at1:30am
“Can’t place it but I swear the part in Takedown where the beat goes bum bum bum bum is sampled yes.” u/Anonymous
“All of the songs are sooo good!” u/SoundTripPh
“The girl in the picture is Jeongyeon from TWICE, who sang Takedown.” u/WryTunPalace
“Is it just me or did HUNTR/X make up WAY fast after that seemingly disastrous on-stage fight? Was it all a STUNT!?” u/keeptrackoftime
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