I think many people confuse "musical identity" with song genre and that might be the problem because, to me, their musical identity is still very much the same and a lot of people don't get that musical identity can evolve constantly. To me, their musical identity has evolved with each song but the theme is still very much the same. Their entire musical identity since debut has been: FEARLESS. "I'M FEARLESS," it's literally in their name. You can see this recurring theme in every single one of their releases to date. I'll explain.
FEARLESS:
Pretty self-explanatory. It's a song about being fearless, overcoming obstacles, and not being afraid to move forward despite all the challenges one may face. The song emphasizes confidence, self-acceptance, and defiance and how those factors help us redefine our personal strength.
"내 흉짐도 나의 일부라면" or "If my scars are a part of me" inspires the fact that vulnerability is not something to be feared or avoided because being vulnerable ultimately teaches us a valuable lesson about how we are shaped by our past and mistakes but not defined by them.
ANTIFRAGILE:
This a song about overcoming adversity and, again, not being afraid to move forward despite all the challenges one may face. It teaches us how our journey that may now be full of hardships and challenges but is merely a steppingstone to achieving our full potential.
"가시밭길 위로 ridin' You made me boost up" or "Riding over the trail of thorns, You made me boost up" is a message about perseverance and resilience. In "잊지 마 내가 두고 온 toe shoes 무슨 말이 더 필요해 무시 마 내가 걸어온 career I go to ride ’til I die, die" or "Don't forget my pointe shoes I left behind, What more must be said. Don't underestimate the path I've walked. I go to ride 'til I die, die," Kazuha speaks about not being insecure or ashamed of the path that we've foraged through because those experiences make up who we are. She speaks from a personal point of view where she left a promising career in Ballet behind for something more and she feels fearless in the decision and sacrifice she made because she places full faith and trust in her past adventures and how they have shaped her as a person.
UNFORGIVEN:
Is a song about not being afraid to push boundaries of confinement regardless of the consequences. In today's society where anyone who deviates from the norm is persecuted and ostracized and made out to be a "villain," it is important to stand your ground and embody a confidence that requires no forgiveness.
LE SSERAFIM says "신념이 죄면 난 villain" or "If belief’s a sin, I’m a villain" meaning that if believing and having confidence in oneself is a "sin" then being considered a "villain" is absolutely worth it. In "힘없이 늘 져야만 했던 싸움 but I ride" or "I was powerless, used to lose every fight but I ride," they say that you should rather be confident and persistent than be powerless and lose every fight.
Is a song about that feeling of freedom that we all experience after finding solace in personal relationships and company.
"I got all I need, You know nothing else can beat. The way that I feel when I'm dancin' with my girls. Perfect energy, Yeah, we flawless, yeah, we free. There's no better feelin' in the whole wide world" speaks to the euphoria that descends over us when around people that we love or feel comfortable around. There's a reason why Perfect Night is their most successful single to date: the song acts as a gateway to a sort of utopia where we are consumed by a fearlessness that liberates us from the societal shackles that we were previously bound with.
Now moving onto the iconic trilogy...
EASY:
Is an anthem that depicts a crazy and hot fearlessness that pushes them to overcome challenges while making everything look easy (when its really not) and being true to themselves.
"다친대도, 길을 걸어, kiss me 쉽지 않음 내가 쉽게 easy Stage, 위엔 불이 튀어, 내 body Pull up and I rip it up like ballet Damn, I really make it look easy Yeah, know that I make it look easy" or "I could get hurt, but keep on walking, kiss me. If it’s hard then I make it easy. Up on the stage, sparks fly off my body. Pull up and I rip it up like ballet," conveys a message of embracing hardships with unbridled strength and resilience.
When you watch a ballerina on stage performing pirouettes en pointe while exuding an unmatched level of grace and elegance, you probably think its easy...but its not.
When you watch an idol performing on an award stage with energetic precision, you assume you can do it while thinking its easy...but its not.
They just make it look easy.
A song about letting go of all worries and just...going crazy with the fear of nothing.
They make an interesting point of bringing up Galileo, who, for those who don't know was persecuted by The Church for presenting the heliocentric model..a model where the Sun was the center of the solar system and not the Earth. This, I believe, is meant to speak to his experience with The Church. Despite the fact that he was forced to be silent, he still inspired many people to think for themselves. He was one of the pioneers that sparked the cultural and intellectual rebirth of Italy in an era known as the Italian Renaissance.
Chaewon says "Yeah, me and my girls 우린 눈이 멀 것을 알아도 저 태양에 kiss, mwah" or "Yeah, me and my girls We know we will go blind, but we still give the sun a kiss, mwah" meaning that their craziness brings them to the point of fearlessness. They will look their opponents dead in the eye and still have to courage to fight while knowing the possibility of them losing the battle.
And finally,
HOT:
LE SSERAFIM brings an exciting end to their powerful trilogy with a simple yet influential message to live one's life on one's own terms and without fear.
"I'm burning hot (Hot), 내가 나로 살 수 있다면 재가 된대도 난 좋아 (좋아) So tonight, 안겨 네 품 안에 Bonnie and Clyde it, oh" or "I'm burning hot. if I can live life my own way, Turning to ashes ain't no problem. So tonight in your embrace, Bonnie and Clyde it, oh" and "Not running from it, not running from it 불타오르지, I love it 살게 해 날 (Hot) I'm burning hot (I'm burning hot)" or "Not running from it, not running from it. Flames rising high, I love it. Let me live, I'm burning hot" circling back to Perfect Night's message about finding solace in companionship.
The song is basically a massive "fuck you" to societal norms (and haters) saying, "You can call me a villain and you can call me crazy but I will live my life my own way, without fear, tearing down your confinements with confidence that needs no forgiveness..all while making it look easy."
That was a long rant but after reading all of that, do you still think they lack a musical identity?
If you do then please explain why.
