"Unforgiven" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Le Sserafim featuring American musician Nile Rodgers. It was released as the lead single for their first studio album of the same name by Source Music on May 1, 2023. The Japanese version of the song featuring Nile Rodgers and Japanese singer Ado was released on August 23, 2023, as the group's second Japanese single by EMI Records and Universal Music Japan.
The song was commercially successful and peaked at number two on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart, as well as the top ten in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan. The Japanese version additionally peaked at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart and number six on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. It has been certified platinum for physical sales and gold for streaming in Japan.
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] On April 18, the track listing was released with "Unforgiven" announced as the lead single.[4] On April 24, the highlight medley teaser video was released.[5] The music video teasers was released on April 28 and 30.[6][7] The song was released alongside the album and its music video on May 1.[8] The release of the Japanese version of the song was announced on June 20 as Le Sserafim's second Japanese single.[9] The song was pre-released digitally on August 8 featuring Japanese singer Ado.[10]
"Unforgiven" was written and produced by Score (13) and Megatone (13) alongside Supreme Boi, Oneye, Josefin Glenmark, Anders Gukko, Anne Judith Wik, Nermin Harambašić, Benjmn, Feli Ferraro, Kris Jana, Kyler Niko, Young Chance, Belle, Glenda Proby, Makaila J Garcia, and Belle.[11] It was described as hip hop song characterized by "funk guitar rhythms" played by American musician Nile Rodgers, it samples Ennio Morricone's "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" used in the film of the same name with lyrics about "breaking away from the rules set by the world and going your own way".[12][13] "Unforgiven" was composed in the key of E minor, with a tempo of 104 beats per minute.[14]
The music video directed by Yang Soon-sik was released alongside the song by Source Music on May 1.[15][8] The western-inspired music video filmed in Bangkok, Thailand, portrays "the members [donning] cowboy hats" with scenes that switches between "western-themed bar to a helipad" while also featuring member Kim Chae-won "riding a white horse through a devastated city jumping over wreckage".[13][16]
Prior to the release of Unforgiven, on May 1, 2023, Le Sserafim held a live event on YouTube to introduce the album and its song, including "Unforgiven", and to communicate with their fans.[17] They subsequently performed on three music programs: Mnet's M Countdown on May 4,[18]KBS's Music Bank on May 5,[19] and SBS's Inkigayo on May 6.[20]
Grammy included "Unforgiven" in their list of the "15 K-Pop Songs That Took 2023 By Storm." The song was highlighted for its production and lyrical themes.[21]
^Lee, Su-hyeon (June 7, 2023). 키스오브라이프 벨=가수 심신 딸…메인보컬로 데뷔 [Kiss of Life Belle = Singer Shim Shin's daughter... Debut as the main vocalist.]. Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved July 8, 2023.
^Moon, Wan-suk (March 16, 2023). "[단독]르세라핌, 5월 컴백 확정" [[Exclusive] Le Sserafim confirms comeback in May] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yoon, Ji-hyun (April 3, 2023). "르세라핌, 정규 1집 'Unforgiven' 발매...5월 1일 컴백 [공식입장]" [Le Sserafim Releases 1st Full-length Album 'Unforgiven'...Come back on May 1st. [Official entrance]] (in Korean). X-port News. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Seon, Mi-kyung (April 18, 2023). "르세라핌, 정규 1집 트랙리스트 공개..나일 로저스 피처링[공식]" [Le Sserafim, 1st studio album tracklist released..Featuring Nile Rogers [Official]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kang, Da-yoon (April 24, 2023). "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"] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Jeong-hyeok (April 28, 2023). "르세라핌, 'Unforgiven' MV 티저 공개...서부 영화 같은 영상미" [Le Sserafim, 'Unforgiven' MV teaser released...Western movie-like visual beauty] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yoon, Seon-gyo (April 30, 2023). "르세라핌, 'Unforgiven' 두 번째 MV 티저 공개" [Le Sserafim unveils second MV teaser for 'Unforgiven']. Single List (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
^ abJin, Joo-hee (May 1, 2023). "르세라핌, 'Unforgiven' MV 공개...화려한 군무" [Le Sserafim, 'Unforgiven' MV released...Splendid group dance] (in Korean). MK Sports. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^"LE SSERAFIM 日本2ndシングル 'UNFORGIVEN' 予約発売開始!" [LESSERAFIM Japan's 2nd single UNFORGIVEN is now on sale!]. Le Sserafim Official Japan Website (in Japanese). June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
^Lee, Jung-hyuk (April 24, 2023). "르세라핌, 정규 1집 하이라이트 메들리 공개...'Unforgiven' 흥행 예열!" [Le Sserafim, 1st regular album highlight medley released...Warming up for 'Unforgiven' box office!] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abPark, Seo-hyun (May 1, 2023). "르세라핌, 오늘(1일) 첫 정규 'Unforgiven' 컴백..'르세라핌 데이'" [Le Sserafim, the first regular 'Unforgiven' comeback today (the 1st)..'Le Sserafim Day'] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jung, Byeong-geun (May 1, 2023). ""더 입체적으로"...르세라핌, 진취적인 석양의 무법자(종합)" ["More three-dimensional"...Le Sserafim, the pushing sunset outlaw (Comprehensive)] (in Korean). The Fact. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim, Chae-yeon (May 4, 2023). "'엠카' 세븐틴, 아이브 'I Am' 제치고 1위 트로피..비투비·아이콘·르세라핌 컴백 [종합]" ['M Countdown' Seventeen beat Ive's 'I Am' to win 1st place trophy..BtoB, iKon, Le Sserafim comeback [Comprehensive]]. Osen. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Shim, Min-kyung (May 5, 2023). "[뮤직뱅크] 르세라핌, 함께 나아가고 싶은 소녀들 ♪Unforgiven (feat. Nile Rodgers)" [[Music Bank] Le Sserafim, girls who want to move forward together ♪ Unforgiven (feat. Nile Rodgers)] (in Korean). KBS Entertainment News. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Ha, Ji-won (May 7, 2023). "'인기가요' 세븐틴 1위 "캐럿 사랑해"...르세라핌·비투비 컴백" ['Inkigayo' Seventeen 1st Place "I love you Carat"...Le Sserafim and BtoB comeback] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Da-gyeom (January 10, 2024). NCT 드림, ‘2023 써클차트’ 디지털 앨범상...올해의 가수상은 20팀(종합) [NCT Dream won the '2023 Circle Chart' Digital Album Award... Singer of the Year Award goes to 20 teams (Comprehensive)] (in Korean). Maeil Gyeongje. Retrieved January 10, 2024 – via Naver.
^Lee-Seul (May 14, 2023). 르세라핌, '인기가요' 1위 "우리는 한 팀"…에스파·원어스·성민 컴백 [종합] [Le Sserafim, 'Inkigayo' 1st place "We are one team"... Aespa·Oneus·Sungmin Comeback [Comprehensive]]. Xsports News (in Korean). Retrieved May 14, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yoo Soo-yeon (May 11, 2023). 르세라핌, ‘엠카’ 첫 1위 트로피 차지…에스파·이무진 컴백 [종합] [Le Sserafim won the first trophy on 'M Countdown'… Aespa·Lee Mu-jin comeback [Comprehensive]]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved May 11, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim Chae-yeon (May 12, 2023). '뮤직뱅크' 5월 둘째주 1위 르세라핌 'UNFORGIVEN'.."피어나 고마워" [종합] ['Music Bank' 1st place in the 2nd week of May, Le Sserafim's 'UNFORGIVEN'.."Thank you Fearnot" [Comprehensive]]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved May 12, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kang Da-yoon (May 13, 2023). '음중' 르세라핌, 출연 없이 1위…에스파·이무진·원어스 컴백-에이디야 데뷔[종합] ['Music Core' Le Sserafim, 1st place without appearing... Aespa·Lee Mu-jin·Oneus comeback-ADYA debut[Comprehensive]]. mydaily (in Korean). Retrieved May 13, 2023 – via Naver.
^"SHOW CHAMPION 475회 TOP5" [SHOW CHAMPION Episode 475 TOP 5]. MBC Plus (in Korean). May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
^Park Joon-hyung (May 9, 2023). [사진]르세라핌,'더쇼 초이스 감격의 순간' [[Photo] Le Sserafim, 'The Show Choice moment of emotion']. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved May 11, 2023 – via Naver.
^年間 アルバムランキング 2023年度 [Annual Singles Ranking 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. p. 5. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.