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For the Japanese single of the same name, see Fearless (single).

Fearless (stylized in all-caps) is the debut mini album by LE SSERAFIM. It was released on May 2, 2022 with "Fearless" serving as the album's title track.

This was the only release to feature Kim Garam after temporarily taking a hiatus from all activities following the album's release, before ultimately leaving the group and their agency following contract termination on July 20, 2022, due to school bullying accusations.[1]

The physical album comes in three versions: Vol.1 Black Petrol, Vol.2 Blue Chypre, and Monochrome Bouquet.

Background[]

On March 21, 2022, Source Music confirmed that their new girl group would be preparing to debut in May 2022.[2]

On March 25, 2022, Source Music started a 72-hour countdown through their official website with the page reading "IM FEARLESS" which would later revealed to be an anagram for the group's name, LE SSERAFIM.[3][4] Later that same day, it was reported that the group would have six members, including Sakura, Chaewon, Yunjin, two trainees from Source Music and a Dutch member personally recruited by the CEO of Source Music.[5]

On March 29, 2022, a project called 'The First Moment of LE SSERAFIM' was revealed through Weverse, which would start with the reveal of the group's first member, Sakura on April 4, 2022.[6] On April 4, 2022, the project 'The First Moment of LE SSERAFIM' was started, in which voice messages, signature and exclusive photos of the members were revealed, as well as snippets of the group's debut song through their official website.[7][8]

On April 13, 2022, Source Music announced that LE SSERAFIM would be debuting on May 2, 2022, with their first mini album, Fearless.[9][10]

Composition[]

The title track "Fearless", has been described as a funk-based alternative pop genre song that contains the message of moving forward without fear and without being influenced by the world's gaze.[11]

The album's first track "The World Is My Oyster" was described as a song that harmonizes with a strong rhythm reminiscent of a fashion show catwalk and a psychedelic mood. Members Kim Chaewon and Huh Yunjin participated in composing the lyrics for "Blue Flame", a disco-punk-style song that creates a mysterious atmosphere with a sophisticated melody. "The Great Mermaid" is a song that reinterprets the fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" from the perspective of LE SSERAFIM. "Sour Grapes", which was themed around the story of Esop's fable "The Fox and the Grapes", sings the psychology of pure curiosity about love and the selfish side of valuing yourself more.[11]

Production[]

On March 30, 2022, it was reported that HYBE founder Bang Si Hyuk ("Hitman Bang") would be in charge of LE SSERAFIM's debut album, being credited as the 'Executive Producer'.[12]

Promotions[]

On April 14, 2022, the album's promotion time table was revealed.[13] On April 18, 2022, Source Music announced that the debut trailer planned for April 18 had been postponed to the April 19, without further explanation.[14]

To celebrate the group's debut and album release, an in-person showcase at Jangchung Arena was held on the same day as the album's release. The showcase was also streamed online through HYBE Labels' official YouTube channel & Naver NOW.[15][16]

The group performed the title track "Fearless" and the b-side "Blue Flame" at several music shows such as M Countdown, Music Bank and Inkigayo.[17] On May 10, 2022, they took their first ever music show win for "Fearless" on SBS MTV's The Show.[18]

Commercial performance[]

On April 21, 2022, it was reported that Fearless had surpassed 270,000 copies sold within the first week of its pre-order period.[19] A week later, on April 30, YG PLUS revealed that pre-orders for the album had exceeded 380,000 copies.[20]

As of 9 a.m. KST on May 3, the album had hit number 1 on the iTunes Top Albums charts in at least 13 different regions.[21]

The album broke the weekly sales record for a debut album by a girl group on Hanteo, selling 300,000 copies in its first week.[22] The album achieved great results on the Korean and Japanese charts debuting at the top of the Billboard Japanese Hot Album and reaching the third position on the Oricon Japanese Albums and the second position on the Gaon Album Charts.[23][24][25]

On July 6, 2022, the album was certified Platinum by the Korean Music Contents Association (KMCA) for selling 250,000 copies on Circle Chart.[26]

The title track "Fearless" was a sleeper hit on the Korean digital charts, reaching the TOP 10 of major real-time charts like Melon, Bugs and Genie weeks after its release.[27][28][29] The song also reached the TOP 10 of Genie, Bugs, Vibe and Melon's daily chart.[30][31] In Japan, the song reached the TOP 10 of the Oricon Streaming Chart, Japan HOT 100 and the TOP 15 of the Oricon Combined Chart.[32][33][34]

The Recording Industry Association of Japan reported that "Fearless" has earned a gold certification for reaching 50 million streams in Japan.[35]

On February 8, 2023, Source Music announced that Fearless reached 300 million cumulative streams on Spotify.[36]

On April 6, 2023, the album received a double platinum certification for surpassing 500,000 copies sold on Circle Chart.[37]

Track list[]

  1. "The World Is My Oyster" - 1:47
  2. "Fearless" - 2:48
  3. "Blue Flame" - 3:22
  4. "The Great Mermaid" - 2:58
  5. "Sour Grapes" - 3:17

Merchandise[]

On May 16, 2022 an official merchandise kit called "The First Moment in Your Hands" was made available for pre-order in the Weverse Shop. The kit includes a brand tag, a postcard set and a sticker set.[38]

Awards[]

Music show wins[]

Song Music show Date
"Fearless" The Show (SBS MTV) May 10, 2022[18]
May 17, 2022[39]
Music Bank (KBS) May 13, 2022[40]
Show Champion (MBC M) June 1, 2022[41]

Trivia[]

  • "Blue Flame" is the theme song for the group's original webtoon titled Crimson Heart.[42]
  • "Fearless" has the same BPM as "Candy" by H.O.T.

Gallery[]

Promotional[]

Achievements[]

"Fearless" music video behind[]

On May 2, 2022 exclusive behind the scene photos from the music video of "Fearless" were released through Genie and Melon.[43]

Genie[]

Melon[]

References[]

  1. @SOURCEMUSIC on Twitter (July 20, 2022)
  2. (KR) TopStar News: "‘하이브 산하 첫 걸그룹’ 사쿠라-김채원, 5월 데뷔…쏘스뮤직 측 “확정 되는 대로 공개” (공식입장)"
  3. WayBack Machine: SOURCE MUSIC - EVENT
  4. Source Music on Twitter: "IM FEARLESS COUNTDOWN START" (March 25, 2022)
  5. (KR) Star News: 단독 - 사쿠라·김채원→네덜란드 발탁 멤버..하이브 新걸그룹 6인 확정
  6. Weverse: “The First Moment of LE SSERAFIM” Project Open Notice
  7. OSEN (KR): '하이브 걸그룹' 르세라핌, ‘더 퍼스트 모먼트 오브 르세라핌’ 프로젝트 공개
  8. “The First Moment of LE SSERAFIM” Project Open Notice
  9. Soompi: HYBE’s New Girl Group LE SSERAFIM Announces Debut Date And Details
  10. (KR) XSportsNews: 르세라핌, 5월 2일 데뷔…하이브 ‘월클’ 제작진 총출동
  11. 11.0 11.1 (KR) OSEN: 르세라핌, 'FEARLESS' 하이라이트 메들리 공개..초호화 작곡진 총출동
  12. (KR) MyDaily: 방시혁, 하이브 첫 걸그룹 '르세라핌' 직접 프로듀싱한다
  13. Source Music on Twitter: 'FEARLESS' PROMOTION TIME TABLE
  14. Source Music on Twitter: 안녕하세요.쏘스뮤직입니다.
  15. NOTICE - LE SSERAFIM "FEARLESS" Release and Fan Showcase
  16. [EVENT] LE SSERAFIM DEBUT SHOWCASE <FEARLESS> 응모 안내
  17. (KR) StarMoneyToday: 르세라핌, 클래스가 다른 첫주 음방 마무리..퍼포먼스+라이브+비주얼 'PERFECT'
  18. 18.0 18.1 iNews24: [포토]르세라핌 사쿠라-김채원, '행복한 더쇼 초이스'
  19. Single List Korea (KOR): 레세라핌, 하이브 후광 효과? '피어리스' 선주문 27만장 돌파
  20. Soompi: LE SSERAFIM Surpasses 380,000 Stock Pre-Orders For Debut Album “FEARLESS”
  21. Soompi: LE SSERAFIM Tops iTunes Charts All Over The World With Debut Album “FEARLESS”
  22. (KR) TenAsia: 르세라핌, 'FEARLESS' 30만 장 돌파…역대 걸그룹 데뷔 앨범 초동 1위
  23. Billboard Japan Hot Albums 2022/05/11 公開
  24. 週間 アルバムランキング – 2022年05月16日
  25. 2022년 19주차 Album Chart
  26. Koreaboo: BTS, Stray Kids, LE SSERAFIM, And Others Just Earned New Gaon Certifications
  27. Wayback Machine: 멜론차트>TOP100>멜론
  28. Wayback Machine: 인스티즈(instiz) 카테고리
  29. Wayback Machine: 지니차트>실시간-지니
  30. Wayback Machine: 멜론차트>일간>장르종합
  31. Newsen: 르세라핌 ‘FEARLESS’ 멜론 일간차트 10위, 올해 걸그룹 데뷔곡 최고 기록
  32. 週間 ストリーミングランキング 2022年05月23日付
  33. Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of May 11, 2022
  34. 週間 合算シングルランキング 2022年05月16日付 11~20位
  35. Soompi: BIGBANG, BTS, TWICE’s Nayeon, LE SSERAFIM, And More Earn RIAJ Gold Certifications For Streaming In Japan
  36. (KR) Yonhap News: 르세라핌 데뷔 음반, 스포티파이 누적 재생 수 3억 회 돌파
  37. Circle Chart: Album Certification
  38. Pre-order #LE_SSERAFIM [FEARLESS] official merch. Weverse Shop Twitter (2022-05-16). Retrieved on 2022-05-17.
  39. Soompi: Watch: LE SSERAFIM Takes 3rd Win For “FEARLESS” On “The Show”; Performances By VERIVERY, Jeong Sewoon, CLASS:y, And More
  40. Soompi: Watch: LE SSERAFIM Takes 2nd Win For “FEARLESS” On “Music Bank”; Performances By TXT, CLASS:y, Lim Young Woong, And More
  41. Soompi: Watch: LE SSERAFIM Snags 4th Win For “FEARLESS” On “Show Champion”; Performances By ONEUS, LIGHTSUM, BVNDIT, And More
  42. (KR) OSEN: 르세라핌, 벌써 '핫'하다..'FEARLESS'로 들려줄 '진짜 나'의 이야기
  43. Genie: 이벤트‘하이브 최초 걸그룹’ 르세라핌, 5월 2일 데뷔 앨범 ‘FEARLESS’ 발표!

Video links[]

"Fearless"
"Blue Flame"
Fearless

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