"Antifragile" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Le Sserafim for their second extended play of the same name. It was released as the lead single of the EP by Source Music on October 17, 2022. An upbeat pop and reggaeton track infused with Afro-Latin production drives the message of overcoming hardships for growth and resilience. Written by several contributors, including "Hitman" Bang and Isabella Lovestory, the song emphasizes the group's determination to emerge stronger after facing hardships.

"Antifragile"
Single by Le Sserafim
from the EP Antifragile
Language
  • Korean
  • English
ReleasedOctober 17, 2022 (2022-10-17)
Genre
Length3:04
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Score (13)
  • Megatone (13)
  • Paulina Cerrilla
  • "Hitman" Bang
  • Shintaro Yasuda
  • Supreme Boi
  • Isabella Lovestory
  • Kyler Niko
  • Ronnie Icon
  • Nathalie Boone
  • Danke (Lalala Studio)
Producer(s)13
Le Sserafim singles chronology
"Fearless"
(2022)
"Antifragile"
(2022)
"Unforgiven"
(2023)
Music video
"Antifragile" on YouTube

The song was commercially successful and peaked at number two on the Circle Digital Chart in South Korea. It has since been certified platinum for surpassing 100 million streams in Japan.

Background edit

On September 19 at midnight KST, the group officially announced the date and details of their upcoming comeback, which would mark their first release as a five-member group after Kim Ga-ram's departure.[1] "Antifragile" was first previewed on October 3, 2022, in a track sampler released by Source Music on social media platforms and was announced through the track list the next day.[2][3] On October 17, 2022, the single was officially released alongside its music video, 18 hours prior to the EP.[4][5] A Japanese version of the song was included in Le Sserafim's second Japanese single "Unforgiven", which was released on August 23, 2023.[6]

Composition and lyrics edit

The second and title track of the EP, "Antifragile" was written by Score (13), Megatone (13), Paulina Cerrilla, "Hitman" Bang, Shintaro Yasuda, Supreme Boi, Isabella Lovestory, Kyler Niko, Ronnie Icon, Nathalie Boone and Danke (Lalala Studio) and runs for three minutes and four seconds.[7] It is an upbeat an "Afro-Latin style" reggaetón pop song with a "heavy" Latin rhythm. Lyrically, the song sees Le Sserafim declare that difficult times are stimulus for growth and that they will become stronger with such a mindset.[3][8][9] It was composed in the key of B-flat minor, with a tempo of 105 beats per minute.[10]

Reception edit

Gladys Yeo of NME wrote, "The song tears away the cool confidence of 'Fearless' and bursts with life an infectious energy previously unseen from Le Sserafim. While the track's ever-present pipe effect borders on grating, the intense, rhythmic beats of 'Antifragile' make for such a thrilling experience that it barely even matters".[8] in July 2023, Rolling Stone ranked the song at #79 on their list of The 100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music.[11]

Music video edit

The music video for "Antifragile" was released on October 17, 2022, at midnight KST, 18 hours before the EP's release. In the music video, Le Sserafim go about their daily lives as others around them panic due to an impending asteroid collision. The video ends with the group finishing the song's choreography and getting hit by the asteroid, only to survive and brush off the dust.[12]

Accolades edit

Awards and nominations for "Antifragile"
Year Ceremony Award Result Ref.
2023 Circle Chart Music Awards Artist of the Year – Global Digital Music (October) Won [13]
Korean Music Awards Best K-pop Song Nominated [14]
Music program awards for "Antifragile"
Program Date Ref.
Music Bank November 4, 2022 [15]
November 11, 2022 [16]
Show! Music Core December 3, 2022 [17]
December 10, 2022 [18]
December 17, 2022 [19]

Credits and personnel edit

  • Score (13) – writing, production
  • Megatone (13) – writing, production
  • Paulina Cerrilla – writing
  • "Hitman" Bang – writing
  • Shintaro Yasuda – writing
  • Supreme Boi – writing
  • Isabella Lovestory – writing
  • Kyler Niko – writing
  • Ronnie Icon – writing
  • Nathalie Boone – writing
  • Danke (Lalala Studio) – writing

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Certifications for "Antifragile"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[39] Platinum 100,000,000
South Korea (KMCA)[40] Platinum 100,000,000

Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history edit

Release history for "Antifragile"
Region Date Format Label
Various October 17, 2022

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "르세라핌, 10월 17일 컴백..미니 2집 'ANTIFRAGILE' 발매 [공식]". Osen (in Korean). September 19, 2022. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022 – via Naver.
  2. ^ Hong, Hye-min (October 3, 2022). ""폭풍이 두렵지 않아"...르세라핌, 베일 벗은 컴백 메시지" ["I'm not afraid of the storm"...Le Sserafim, a comeback message naked] (in Korean). Hankook Ilbo. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022 – via Naver.
  3. ^ a b Seon, Mi-kyung (October 4, 2022). "르세라핌 'ANTIFRAGILE', 트랙리스트 공개…방시혁 필두 초호화 라인업" [Le Sserafim's 'ANTIFRAGILE', track list released... Super luxurious lineup led by Bang Si-hyuk] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022 – via Naver.
  4. ^ Ji-won, Choi (September 22, 2022). "From EXID to Le Sserafim, K-pop welcomes back old and new girl groups this fall". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  5. ^ Daniel Anderson (October 17, 2022). "From 'FEARLESS' to 'ANTIFRAGILE': LE SSERAFIM return with first comeback". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "Le Sserafim to release second EP 'Antifragile' on Oct. 17". Korea JoongAng Daily. September 19, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Yeo, Gladys (October 18, 2022). "Le Sserafim – 'Antifragile' review: ascendant K-pop rookies regroup and find strength in vulnerability". NME. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
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  16. ^ 11월 2주 순위 [Music Bank ranking for the second week of November]. KBS Music Bank (in Korean). November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  17. ^ Kim, Yu-jin (December 3, 2022). "'음악중심' 르세라핌, 출연 없이 1위...카라·레드벨벳·Itzy 컴백 [종합]" ['Music Core' Le Sserafim won first place without appearing...Kara·Red Velvet·Itzy comeback [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). Xports News. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via Naver.
  18. ^ Sun, Mi-kyung (December 10, 2022). '음중' 르세라핌, 활동 종료에도 2주 연속 1위..샤이니 민호 솔로 데뷔[종합] ['Music Core' Le Sserafim, 1st place for 2 weeks in a row even after the end of activities... SHINee Minho's solo debut [Comprehensive]]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  19. ^ Hwang, Soo-yeon (December 17, 2022). '음악중심' 르세라핌, 출연 없이 3주 연속 1위…NCT드림 컴백 [종합] ['Music Core' Le Sserafim won 1st place for 3 consecutive weeks without appearing... NCT Dream comeback [Comprehensive]]. X Sport News (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
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