FEARLESS (2023 Ver.)

"FEARLESS (2023 Ver.)" is an anthem of empowerment, resilience, and unapologetic ambition. The song's core message is about moving forward without being held back by past experiences or the judgment of others. It conveys a powerful narrative of self-confidence and the determination to succeed on one's own terms. The lyrics explicitly reject humility ("I don't do humble acting anymore") and embrace a strong desire to reach the top. The phrase, "If my scars are a part of me, I got no fear," signifies a profound acceptance of one's past, transforming perceived flaws into sources of strength. This version, re-recorded for their first full album UNFORGIVEN, also carries the implicit meaning of the group's own resilience, as it solidifies their identity as a five-member group and looks decisively toward the future.

The song is a powerful declaration of ambition and unshakeable confidence. It opens with a stated desire to reach the absolute pinnacle, feeling a new, powerful wave of passion coursing through the veins. There is a complete disregard for the past and its troubles; the focus is solely on moving forward as a new, formidable force. The lyrics assert a climb to the top, dismissing any need for humility or pretense. The path forward is envisioned as a wide-open highway leading to a grand destination, a journey taken without fear.

A central theme is the acceptance of one's entire self, including imperfections and past wounds. The line, "If my scars are a part of me," becomes a statement of strength, transforming potential weaknesses into integral parts of a resilient identity. This acceptance fuels a fearless attitude. The song directly confronts external judgment with the recurring, challenging question, "What you lookin' at?" It's a rhetorical shield, deflecting scrutiny and reinforcing their self-assurance. This is followed by the definitive statement, "I'm fearless, huh," a mantra that dispels doubt and warns others to get out of the way to avoid getting hurt.

The narrative rejects societal expectations, particularly those that demand modesty. The lyrics criticize the act of hiding one's desires as strange and announce that the performance of humility is over. Instead, they boldly aim for victory, to have the "Number 1 on my chest" and the world beneath their feet. This isn't just a hope; it's a determined goal to take and break the world to reshape it to their will. The repetition of these core phrases throughout the song hammers home the message of unwavering resolve and the relentless pursuit of their goals, turning the track into an anthem of empowerment and audacious self-belief.

"FEARLESS" was originally released as LE SSERAFIM's debut single on May 2, 2022. The original version was created by a team of songwriters and producers including "Hitman" Bang (Bang Si-hyuk), who served as the executive producer, Score (13), Megatone (13), Supreme Boi, American artist Destiny Rogers, and BLVSH. The song was designed to encapsulate the group's core identity, which is derived from an anagram of "I'M FEARLESS," signifying self-confidence and a strong will.

The "2023 Ver." was released on May 1, 2023, as part of their first studio album, UNFORGIVEN. The primary reason for the re-recording was to create a version with the current five-member lineup, following the departure of Kim Garam in July 2022. This new version redistributes the vocal parts formerly sung by the ex-member among the remaining five members (Sakura, Kim Chaewon, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, and Hong Eunchae). Fans had been anticipating an official five-member studio version, as the group had already been performing the song as a quintet. The re-recording was seen as a way to formally mark the group's new chapter and provide a definitive version for their ongoing performances and legacy.

"FEARLESS" is built on a steady, mid-tempo rhythm of 104 BPM, which gives the song a confident, unhurried, yet purposeful groove. The rhythmic foundation is carried by a prominent and funky bassline, which creates a feeling of a self-assured catwalk strut. The percussion is relatively minimalist, allowing the bass and vocals to dominate. Lyrically, the rhythm is characterized by a mix of sung melodies and more spoken, rhythmic phrases. The pre-chorus builds tension with a more flowing vocal melody, leading into the impactful and rhythmically sparse chorus. The hook "What you lookin' at? / Mm-mm-mm-mm, I'm fearless, huh" relies heavily on rhythmic delivery and pauses, making it a powerful and catchy centerpiece. The song is largely in free verse without a strict, traditional rhyme scheme, which is common in K-pop, prioritizing flow and percussive phrasing over perfect rhymes to align with the modern, chic production.

Musically, "FEARLESS" is a funk-based alternative pop and dance-pop song. Its most notable feature is a groovy and bold bass riff that drives the entire track, combined with a minimalist rhythm, which was considered a fresh sound in 4th generation K-pop at the time of its debut. The tempo is a steady 104 beats per minute, creating a chic and confident strut-like feel. The vocal delivery is notably confident and slightly nonchalant, especially in the spoken-like hook, "I'm fearless, huh."

Lyrically, the song employs direct address and rhetorical questions, such as the confrontational "What you lookin' at?" to engage and challenge the listener. Repetition is used extensively with phrases like "I'm fearless" and the "Bam, ba-ba-ba-bam-bam" motif, creating a hypnotic and memorable anthem. The lyrics are declarative and assertive, avoiding complex metaphors in favor of straightforward statements of intent like, "I want to reach the highest place," which enhances the song's message of raw ambition.

The original "FEARLESS" was a commercially successful debut, peaking in the top ten in South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore. The release of the "2023 Ver." as part of the studio album UNFORGIVEN was significant for the group and its fandom, known as FEARNOT. It officially marked the group's transition to a five-member act and provided a definitive, widely-available version of their debut hit for their current lineup. The album UNFORGIVEN itself was highly successful, debuting at number one on the Circle Album Chart in South Korea and at number six on the US Billboard 200, marking LE SSERAFIM's first top-ten album in the US. The re-recording was a statement of resilience, demonstrating the group's ability to overcome lineup changes and move forward with a stronger, unified identity, a narrative that deeply resonates with their overarching concept of being "antifragile" and "fearless."

The lyrics of "FEARLESS" are rich with symbolism and metaphors that reinforce its central themes of ambition and resilience.

• Highway: The "highway" is used as a metaphor for a clear and direct path to success and a "great ending." It symbolizes an unstoppable forward momentum, leaving behind any past troubles.
• Scars (흉짐): The lyric "내 흉짐도 나의 일부라면" ("If my scars are a part of me") is a powerful metaphor for accepting past hardships, mistakes, and imperfections. Instead of being sources of shame, they are embraced as integral parts of one's identity that contribute to strength and fearlessness.
• Crown/Number 1: The desire to "reach the highest place" and have "Number 1 on my chest" symbolizes the group's unapologetic ambition and goal to be at the pinnacle of their field. The music video visually reinforces this with imagery of a crown-shaped chandelier.
• The Gaze ("What you lookin' at?"): This recurring phrase symbolizes defiance against public scrutiny and judgment. It's a direct challenge to onlookers, turning their gaze back on them and asserting control over their own narrative.

The most prominent recurring motif is the word "fearless" itself, which is the song's title, the group's identity (as an anagram of LE SSERAFIM), and its central lyrical message. It is repeated assertively throughout the song, functioning as a powerful mantra of self-empowerment.

The phrase "What you lookin' at?" is a significant recurring hook. Its repetition serves as a direct and defiant challenge to external judgment, reinforcing the theme of being unbothered by the scrutiny of others. The accompanying line, "You should get away," acts as a confident warning. The rhythmic chant "Bam, ba-ba-ba-bam-bam" that opens and closes the song acts as a sonic signature, making the track instantly recognizable and adding to its anthem-like quality.