Unforgiven (Le Sserafim album) explained

Unforgiven is the first studio album by South Korean girl group Le Sserafim, released by Source Music on May 1, 2023. It contains 13 tracks, including the singles "Unforgiven" and "Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard's Wife".

The album debuted at number one on the Circle Album Chart and was certified million by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) for selling 1,000,000 units. In the United States, it debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200, becoming the group's first top-ten album. It was awarded the Best Album Bonsang at the 38th Golden Disc Awards.

Background and release

On March 16, 2023, Source Music reported that Le Sserafim would be releasing an album in early May.^[2] On April 3, it was confirmed that the group's first studio album would be titled Unforgiven and released on May 1.^[3] A day later, the promotional schedule was released.^[4] On April 10, the album teaser video was released.^[5] On April 17, the track sampler video was released.^[6] A day later, the track listing was released with "Unforgiven" announced as the lead single.^[7] On April 24, the highlight medley teaser video was released.^[8] The music video teasers for "Unforgiven" was released on April 28 and 30.^{[9] [10]} The album was released alongside the music video for "Unforgiven" on May 1.^[11]

Composition

Unforgiven consists of 13 tracks, with the first six tracks having previously been released as part of Fearless and Antifragile, respectively. The seventh track, "Burn the Bridge", was described as a song that "announces the start of Le Sserafim's new journey" with lyrics "based on the members' own writings or what they [had] said in interviews [previously], adding sincerity to the message they wanted to convey". The eighth track and lead single, "Unforgiven", was described as a hip hop song characterized by "funk guitar rhythms" played by American musician Nile Rodgers; it samples "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", a theme song used in the film of the same name. Rodgers stated he was excited to work on the song due to the new types of chord changes it included.^[12] The ninth track, "No-Return (Into the Unknown)", was described as a song with lyrics that "expressed the excitement ahead of the adventure". The tenth track, "Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard's Wife", was described as a song with lyrics that contains the meaning "you can move on to the next level only when you break the taboo". The eleventh track, "Fearnot (Between You, Me and the Lamppost)", was described as a song with lyrics written by all of the members for their "fandom and singing just for them". The twelfth track, "Flash Forward", was described as a social media pop song with lyrics about "risking everything without hesitation even if the ending is obvious". The thirteenth and final track, "Fire in the Belly", was described as a song with lyrics about "burning the passion in [your] heart by showing the ambition to becoming the winner of an adventure".^[13]

Critical reception

Unforgiven was met with positive reviews from critics. Cristina Jaleru of AP News called the album "an absolute firecracker of a record" and praised it as being "a bold anthem of female empowerment."^[14] Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic wrote that the album is "an ideal entry point into the world of Le Sserafim" and particularly commended the track "Fearnot (Between You, Me and the Lamppost)" for highlighting "the group's vocal harmony."^[15] Onome Uyovbievbo of Riff Magazine noted the album's "nonconventional tropes and experimental pop twists" and opined that "Le Sserafim is setting the example for a new generation of K-pop artists."^[16] Paste ranked the album number three in their list of The 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2023.^[17]

Accolades

Award ceremony! scope="col"

Year	Category	Result
Golden Disc Awards	2024	Best Album (Bonsang)		[18]
		Album of the Year (Daesang)

Commercial performance

On April 11, 2023, media outlets reported that Unforgiven had sold over one million copies in pre-orders in less than one week.^[19] Pre-orders increased to 1,380,000 copies by April 28.^[20] In the United States, the album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 main album chart on 15 May 2023, marking the first time Le Sserafim entered the Top 10 of the chart since their debut.^[21]

Promotion

Prior to the release of album, on May 1, 2023, Le Sserafim held a live event on YouTube to introduce the album and communicate with their fans.^[22]

Track listing

Notes

• "Unforgiven" contains portions of "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly", the theme to the film of the same name, written by Ennio Morricone.
• "Fire in the Belly" and "Eve, Psyche, & The Bluebeard's Wife" are stylized in sentence case.
• "Fearnot (Between You, Me, and the Lamppost)" is stylized as "FEARNOT (Between you, me, and the lamppost)".
• "No-Return (Into the Unknown)" is stylized as "No-Return (Into the unknown)".
• "Fearless," "Antifragile," and "Unforgiven" are stylized in all caps.

Personnel

Musicians

• Le Sserafim – lead vocals (all tracks), background vocals (7, 11)
  • Huh Yunjin – production (11)
• Score (13) – production, keyboards (1–11, 13); drums (2–3, 5–10, 13), digital editing (all tracks), vocal arrangement (all tracks)
• Megatone (13) – production (1–11, 13), bass (1–10, 13), guitar (2–3, 5–7, 13), drums (8–10), keyboards (11), strings (11), digital editing (all tracks), vocal arrangement (all tracks)
• Jukjae – production, guitar (11)
• Hiss Noise – production, keyboards, synthesizer (12)
• Woo Min-jung – digital editing (2)
• Kim Jun-yeong – digital editing (8–10, 12–13)
• Nile Rodgers – guitar (8)
• Hareem – harmonica, ocarina, Irish whistle, background vocals (8)
• Matt Hornbeck – guitar (9)
• George Shelby – saxophone (9)
• Louis Van Taylor – saxophone (9)
• Phillip Whack – saxophone (9)
• Wendell Kelly – trombone (9)
• James Ford – trumpet (9)
• Mike Condone – trumpet (9)
• Craig Young – bass (11)
• Victor Indrizzio – drums (11)
• Sam Hunter – guitar (11)
• Blvsh – background vocals (2)
• Paulina Cerilla – background vocals (2, 5, 12–13)
• Josefin Glenmark – background vocals (2, 8)
• Sound Kim – background vocals (2, 11)
• Jonna Hall – background vocals (3, 6)
• Isabella Lovestory – background vocals (5)
• Charli Taft – background vocals (6, 9)
• Anne Judith Wik – background vocals (8)
• Kris Jana – background vocals (8)
• Arineh Karimi – background vocals (9–10)
• Cazzi Opeia – background vocals (9)
• Shorelle – background vocals (9)
• Young Chance – background vocals (9–10)
• Belle – background vocals (10)
• Feli Ferraro – background vocals (10)
• Duane Benjamin – horns director (9)
• Stella Jang – vocal arrangement (1)

Technical

• So Sung-jin – executive producer
• Geoff Swan – mix engineering (1, 4, 7)
• Manny Marroquin – mix engineering (2, 5, 8)
• Chris Galland – mix engineering (2, 5, 8)
• Josh Gudwin – mix engineering (3)
• Tony Maserati – mix engineering (6, 9)
• David K. Younghyun – mix engineering (6, 9)
• James F. Reynolds – mix engineering (10)
• Chris Lord-Alge – mix engineering (11)
• John Hanes – mix engineering (13)
• Chris Gehringer – mastering
• Hwang Min-hee – engineering (1–3, 5–8, 11–13)
• Lee Yeon-soo – engineering (3, 5–7, 9–10)
• Jeon Bu-yeon – engineering (3), mix engineering (12)
• Kim Hyeon-soo – engineering (4)
• Bob Horn – engineering (9)
• Howard Willing – engineering (11)
• Matt Cahill – mix engineering assistance (1, 4, 7)
• Ramiro Fernandez-Seoane – mix engineering assistance (2, 5, 8)
• Heidi Wang – mix engineering assistance (3)
• James Cunningham – mix engineering assistance (10)
• Brian Judd – mix engineering assistance (11)
• Shachar Boussani – engineering assistance (9)
• Austin Brown – engineering assistance (11)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"

Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[23]	63
Croatian International Albums (HDU)[24]	35
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[25]	1
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[26]	1
South Korean Albums (Circle)[27]	1
US Billboard 200[28]	6
US World Albums (Billboard)[29]	1

Monthly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"

Position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[30]	3
South Korean Albums (Circle)[31]	3

Year-end charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"

Position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[32]	44
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[33]	44
South Korean Albums (Circle)[34]	22
US World Albums (Billboard)[35]	13

Release history

Region! scope="col"

Date	Format	Label
Various<	-- Inclusive of South Korea -->	May 1, 2023
	May 2, 2023	CD
	May 5, 2023

Notes and References

1. Web site: Uyovbievbo . Onome . REVIEW: Le Sserafim 'fearlessly' strut their versatility on 'Unforgiven' . RIFF Magazine . May 2, 2023 . 21 May 2023.
2. Web site: [단독]르세라핌, 5월 컴백 확정]. [Exclusive] Le Sserafim confirms comeback in May. Naver. MT Star News. ko. Moon. Wan-suk. March 16, 2023. April 14, 2023. April 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230413192225/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0003136665. live.
3. Web site: 르세라핌, 정규 1집 'Unforgiven' 발매...5월 1일 컴백 [공식입장]]. Le Sserafim Releases 1st Full-length Album 'Unforgiven'...Come back on May 1st. [Official entrance]. Naver. X-port News. ko. Yoon. Ji-hyun. April 3, 2023. April 14, 2023. April 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230414030615/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0001576386. live.
4. Web site: 르세라핌, 정규 1집 'Unforgiven' 프로모션 타임테이블 공개(공식). Le Sserafim, studio 1st album 'Unforgiven' promotion timetable released (official). Naver. Herald Pop. ko. Im. Min-ji. April 4, 2023. May 7, 2023. May 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507152608/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0003623623. live.
5. Web site: 르세라핌이 전하는 연대의 메시지, 정규 1집 트레일러 공개. The message of solidarity from Le Sserafim, the first full-length album trailer released. Naver. Newsen. ko. Lee. Min-ji. April 10, 2023. May 7, 2023. May 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507152602/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000710857. live.
6. Web site: "용서 바란 적 없어"..르세라핌, 정규 1집 샘플러 공개. "I never asked for forgiveness"... Le Sserafim, 1st studio album sampler released. Naver. MT Star News. ko. Lee. Seung-hun. April 17, 2023. May 7, 2023. May 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507152729/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0003144990. live.
7. Web site: 르세라핌, 정규 1집 트랙리스트 공개..나일 로저스 피처링[공식]]. Le Sserafim, 1st studio album tracklist released..Featuring Nile Rogers [Official]. Naver. Osen. ko. Seon. Mi-kyung. April 18, 2023. May 7, 2023. May 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507152744/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0004831923. live.
8. Web site: 르세라핌, 정규 1집 하이라이트 메들리 공개 "새 시대로 기억될 언포기븐". Le Sserafim unveils the highlight medley of the 1st studio album "Unforgiven to be remembered as a new era". Naver. My Daily. ko. Kang. Da-yoon. April 24, 2023. May 7, 2023. May 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507152821/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=117&aid=0003722260. live.
9. Web site: 르세라핌, 'Unforgiven' MV 티저 공개...서부 영화 같은 영상미. Le Sserafim, 'Unforgiven' MV teaser released...Western movie-like visual beauty. Naver. Sports Chosun. ko. Lee. Jeong-hyeok. April 28, 2023. May 7, 2023. May 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507152847/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=076&aid=0004000859. live.
10. Web site: 르세라핌, 'Unforgiven' 두 번째 MV 티저 공개. Le Sserafim unveils second MV teaser for 'Unforgiven'. Single List. ko. Yoon. Seon-gyo. April 30, 2023. May 7, 2023. May 2, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230502035141/http://www.slist.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=446224. live.
11. Web site: 르세라핌, 'Unforgiven' MV 공개...화려한 군무. Le Sserafim, 'Unforgiven' MV released...Splendid group dance. Naver. MK Sports. ko. Jin. Joo-hee. May 1, 2023. May 7, 2023. May 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507152900/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=410&aid=0000935402. live.
12. Web site: Assis . Tássia . Meet LE SSERAFIM, The K-Pop Group Nile Rodgers Chose For His First Foray Into The Genre . Grammy.com . Recording Academy . 21 May 2023.
13. Web site: 르세라핌, 정규 1집 하이라이트 메들리 공개...'Unforgiven' 흥행 예열!. Le Sserafim, 1st regular album highlight medley released...Warming up for 'Unforgiven' box office!. Naver. Sports Chosun. ko. Lee. Jung-hyuk. April 24, 2023. May 7, 2023. May 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507152927/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=076&aid=0003998872. live.
14. News: Review: K-pop's Le Sserafim offer a diabolically good time . Jaleru . Cristina. Associated Press . October 30, 2023.
15. Web site: Yeung . Neil . Le Sserafim - Unforgiven Album . AllMusic.com . 21 May 2023.
16. Web site: Uyovbievbo . Onome . REVIEW: Le Sserafim 'fearlessly' strut their versatility on 'Unforgiven' . RIFF Magazine . May 2, 2023 . 21 May 2023.
17. Opie . David . December 21, 2023 . The 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2023 . December 23, 2023 . Paste.
18. Web site: January 6, 2024 . Golden Disc Awards 2024 Full Winners List: Jung Kook, NewJeans, Stray Kids, SEVENTEEN Take Home Trophies . January 6, 2024 . outlookindia.
19. Web site: 르세라핌, 2연속 밀리언셀러? 예약 판매 7일 만에 선주문량 103만 장. Le Sserafim, 2 consecutive million seller? Pre-order 1.03 million in 7 days. Naver. MK Sports. ko. Kim. Na-young. April 11, 2023. April 14, 2023. April 14, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230414030615/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=410&aid=0000931334. live.
20. Web site: Lee Min-ji. April 29, 2023. 르세라핌, 새 앨범 선주문량 138만 장 돌파. Le Sserafim, new album surpassed 1,380,000 pre-orders. Naver. Newsen. ko. April 29, 2023. April 29, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230429005014/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/609/0000718468. live.
21. News: 15 May 2023. The Korea Times. Le Sserafim ranks at No. 6 on Billboard 200.
22. Web site: "더 입체적으로"...르세라핌, 진취적인 석양의 무법자(종합). "More three-dimensional"...Le Sserafim, the pushing sunset outlaw (Comprehensive). Naver. The Fact. ko. Jung. Byeong-geun. May 1, 2023. May 7, 2023. May 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507152938/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=629&aid=0000214649. live.
23. Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of May 20, 2023. Billboard. May 16, 2023.
24. Web site: Unforgiven – Week 21, 2023. 15 May 2023 . HDU. hr. June 3, 2023.
25. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-05-15 . . May 12, 2023. ja.
26. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of May 10, 2023. Billboard Japan. ja. May 10, 2023.
27. Web site: Circle Album Chart – Week 18, 2023. Circle Chart. ko. May 11, 2023.
28. Billboard 200: Week of May 20, 2023. Billboard. May 16, 2023. subscription.
29. World Albums: Week of May 20, 2023. Billboard. May 16, 2023. subscription.
30. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-05 . . June 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230614054920/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2023-05/ . June 14, 2023 . ja.
31. Web site: Circle Album Chart – May 2023. Circle Chart. ko. June 8, 2023.
32. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/y/2023/p/5/. ja:年間 アルバムランキング 2023年度. Oricon. 5. ja. Annual Album Ranking 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231219222404/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/y/2023/p/5/. December 19, 2023. live. December 20, 2023.
33. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums Year-End 2023. Billboard Japan. December 24, 2023.
34. Web site: Album Chart 2023. Circle Chart. January 12, 2024.
35. World Albums – Year-End 2023. Billboard. November 23, 2023.