Fearless (Le Sserafim EP)

Fearless is the debut extended play by South Korean girl group Le Sserafim. It was released by Source Music on May 2, 2022, and contains five tracks, including the lead single of the same name. Fearless is the group's only release to include Kim Ga-ram, who was removed from the lineup on July 20, 2022.[4]

Fearless
Digital cover
Digital cover
EP by
Le Sserafim
ReleasedMay 2, 2022 (2022-05-02)
Recorded2022
StudioHybe Studio (Yongsan, Seoul)[1]
Genre
Length14:12
LanguageKorean
Label
Producer
Le Sserafim chronology
Fearless
(2022)		 Antifragile
(2022)
Singles from Fearless
  1. "Fearless"
    Released: May 2, 2022
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
IZM[2]
NME[3]

Background and release

On March 14, 2022, Source Music announced it would be debuting a new girl group in collaboration with Hybe Corporation.[5] One week later, Hybe Corporation announced the group would be debuting in May.[6] On April 13, it was announced the group would release their debut extended play Fearless on May 2.[7] On April 25, the track list was released, with "Fearless" announced as the lead single.[8] Two days later, the highlight medley video was released.[9] Music video teasers for the lead single were released on April 29 and May 1, respectively.[10][11]

Composition

Fearless consists of five tracks and incorporates various genres of alternative pop, disco-funk, and R&B.[12] The opening track, "The World is My Oyster", is characterized by "a strong rhythm and a psychedelic mood that [is] reminiscent of the runway of a fashion show".[13] The lead single "Fearless" is a funk and alternative pop song with lyrics about "moving forward without being shaken by the past".[14] The third track "Blue Flame" is a disco-punk song with "a sophisticated melody and mysterious atmosphere".[13] The fourth track "The Great Mermaid" was described as a retelling of The Little Mermaid fairytale "from the perspective of Le Sserafim".[13] The final track "Sour Grapes" was "inspired by Aesop's The Fox and the Grapes" fable and features lyrics detailing "[the] psychology of pure curiosity about love and the selfish side of valuing oneself more".[13]

Commercial performance

On April 30, it was announced that pre-orders of Fearless exceeded 380,000 copies.[15]

On the day of its release alone, the extended play (EP) sold more than 175,000 copies, breaking the record for a girl group debut set previously in January by Kep1er's First Impact, which achieved 150,000 first-day album sales.[16]

Fearless debuted at number two on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart in the issue dated May 1–7, 2022;[17] on the monthly chart, it debuted at number five in the issue for May 2022 with 412,696 copies sold.[18] On Billboard Japan Hot Albums, the EP debuted at number one in the chart issue dated May 11, 2022.[19] It also debuted at number three on the Oricon Albums Chart in the chart issue dated May 16, 2022;[20] on the monthly chart, it debuted at number nine in the issue for May 2022 with 32,998 copies sold.[21] The EP debuted at number 37 on the Hungarian MAHASZ Top 40 Album Chart in the issue dated May 20–26, 2022.[22]

Promotion

Following the release of Fearless, Le Sserafim held a live showcase on the same date to introduce the extended play and communicate with their fans. The group performed "Fearless" and "Blue Flame" during the showcase.[23]

Track listing
Track listing for Fearless
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The World Is My Oyster"
  • Score (13)
  • Megatone (13)
  • Hybe
1:47
2."Fearless"
2:48
3."Blue Flame"
  • Score (13)
  • Megatone (13)
  • Jonna Hall
  • Gayoung (PNP)
  • Kim In-hyung
  • Danke (Lalala Studio)
  • Ronnie Icon
  • Caroline Gustavsson
  • Kim Chae-won
  • Huh Yun-jin
3:22
4."The Great Mermaid"
2:58
5."Sour Grapes"
  • Score (13)
  • Megatone (13)
  • Danke
  • Abir
  • Kayofkaj
  • Nermin Harambašić (Dsign Music)
  • Lady V
  • Kim In-hyeong
  • Sunshine (Cazzi Opeia and Ellen Berg)
3:17
Total length:14:12

Notes

Charts

Sales and certifications
Sales and certifications for Fearless
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan — 45,994[30]
South Korea (KMCA)[31] 2× Platinum 506,169[32]

Release history
Release history for Fearless
Region Date Format Label
South Korea May 2, 2022 CD
Various

See also

Notes
  1. Score (birth name Lee Kwan) is a member of production team 13.
  2. Megatone (birth name Kim Byung-Seok) is a member of production team 13.

References
  1. "Make sure to read the credits on BTS's and LE SSERAFIM's albums". Weverse Magazine. July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  2. Park Soo-jin (May 2022). "Le Sserafim – Fearless review". IZM. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  3. Yeo, Gladys (May 6, 2022). "Le Sserafim – 'Fearless' review: HYBE's new girl group don't fully live up to their name on hit-and-miss debut". NME. Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  4. "Kim Garam kicked out of K-pop group Le Sserafim after bullying accusations". Manila Bulletin. July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  5. Yang, Haley (March 14, 2022). "Ex-Iz*One members Miyawaki Sakura, Kim Chaewon sign with Source Music". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  6. Kim, Na-yul (March 28, 2022). "사쿠라X김채원, 팀명은 '르세라핌'..하이브 첫 걸그룹 탄생[공식]" [Sakura X Kim Chae-won, team name 'Le Sserafim'..Hybe's first girl group is born [Official]] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022 – via Naver.
  7. Lee, Min-ji (April 13, 2022). "'하이브 최초 걸그룹' 르세라핌, 5월 2일 데뷔 확정 [공식]" ['Hybe's first girl group' Le Sserafim to debut on May 2nd [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022 – via Naver.
  8. Park, Yoon-jin (April 25, 2022). "르세라핌, 타이틀곡은 'Fearless'...트랙리스트 공개" [Le Sserafim, title song 'Fearless'...track list release] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022 – via Naver.
  9. Moon, Wan-sik (April 27, 2022). "르세라핌, 'Fearless' 하이라이트 메들리 공개..세련·트렌디 '기대UP'" [Le Sserafim unveils 'Fearless' highlight medley...Stylish and trendy 'Expectation UP'] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022 – via Naver.
  10. Seon, Mi-kyung (April 29, 2022). "르세라핌, 클래스가 다른 비주얼..데뷔곡 'Fearless' MV 티저 공개" [Le Sserafim, different class visuals..Debut song 'Fearless' MV teaser released] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022 – via Naver.
  11. Kim, Na-yul (May 1, 2022). "르세라핌, 'Fearless' MV 티저 공개..최정상 비주얼로 당당한 무드" [Le Sserafim, 'Fearless' MV teaser released..A dignified mood with the best visuals] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022 – via Naver.
  12. Major, Michael (May 2, 2022). "Le Sserafim Makes Debut With Release of Their First EP 'Fearless'". Broadway World. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  13. Ahn, Byung-gil (April 27, 2022). "르세라핌 'Fearless' 하라메 공개" [Le Sserafim's 'Fearless' Highlight Medley Released] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022 – via Naver.
  14. Lee, Seul (April 29, 2022). "르세라핌, 'Fearless' MV 티저 공개...'진짜 나'의 이야기" [Le Seraphim, 'Fearless' MV teaser released...The story of 'the real me'] (in Korean). X-port News. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022 – via Naver.
  15. Lee, Min-ji (April 30, 2022). "'하이브 첫 걸그룹' 르세라핌, 데뷔앨범 선주문량 38만장 돌파" ['Hybe's first girl group' Le Sserafim, debut album pre-orders exceed 380,000 copies] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on May 2, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022 – via Naver.
  16. "K-pop girl group Le Sserafim's debut album breaks chart record within a day". The Straits Times. Singapore. May 3, 2022. Archived from the original on May 3, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  17. "2022년 19주차 Album Chart" [Week 19 of 2022 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). May 1–7, 2022. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  18. "2022년 05월 Album Chart" [May 2022 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 9, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  19. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums [2022/05/11 公開]" [Billboard Japan Hot Albums [2022/05/11 Publication]]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). May 11, 2022. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  20. "週間　アルバムランキング – 2022年05月16日" [Weekly Album Ranking – May 16, 2022]. Oricon (in Japanese). May 16, 2022. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  21. "月間　アルバムランキング – 2022年05月度" [Monthly Album Ranking – May 2022]. Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  22. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2022. 21. hét" [Album Top 40 Chart – Week 21 of 2022]. Association of Hungarian Record Companies (in Hungarian). May 20–26, 2022. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  23. Kwak, Hyeong-su (May 3, 2022). "르세라핌 데뷔 쇼케이스 "팬임을 자랑스럽게 여기게 할 것"" [Le Seraphim Debut Showcase "It will make you proud to be a fan"] (in Korean). YTN. Archived from the original on May 3, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2022 – via Naver.
  24. "Maxident – Week 49, 2022" (in Croatian). HDU. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  25. "Le Sserafim: Fearless - EP" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  26. "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  27. 年間　アルバムランキング 2022年度 [Annual Album Ranking 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  28. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Year-End 2022". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  29. "Album Chart 2022". Circle Chart. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  30. Japan physical sales figures for Fearless Japan digital sales figures for Fearless
  31. "South Korean album certifications – Le Serrafim – Fearless" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  32. Accumulated sales for Fearless:
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