Unforgiven (Le Sserafim song)

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]

• CD single / digital download / streaming (Japanese version)

1. "Unforgiven" (featuring Nile Rodgers and Ado) (Japanese version) – 3:03
2. "Antifragile" (Japanese version) – 3:04
3. "Jewelry" (produced by Imase) – 2:43

• DVD (Japanese version – limited B)

1. "Unforgiven" (Japanese version) (music video)
2. "Unforgiven" (Japanese version) (MV & jacket shoot sketch)

Adapted from the album liner notes.^[34]

• Le Sserafim - vocals
• Score (13) – production, keyboards, drums, digital editing, vocal arrangement
• Megatone (13) – production, bass, drums, digital editing, vocal arrangement
• Kim Jun-yeong – digital editing
• Nile Rodgers – guitar
• Hareem – harmonica, ocarina, Irish whistle, background vocals
• Anne Judith Wik – background vocals
• Josefin Glenmark – background vocals
• Kris Jana – background vocals
• Manny Marroquin – mix engineering
• Chris Galland – mix engineering
• Hwang Min-hee – engineering
• Ramiro Fernandez-Seoane – mix engineering assistance
• Chris Gehringer – mastering

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.