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Debuting in 2022, the Korean pop (K-pop) girl group LE SSERAFIM has established itself as one of the most successful fourth-generation girl groups in the industry.1 Their debut album “FEARLESS” sold an estimated 175,000 copies on the day of its release, breaking the record for single-day sales for a girl group debut. Additionally, they broke 300,000 sales in a week, making them the first girl group to do so with a debut album.2
Following their debut, each new release performed better than the next. Their second release, “UNFORGIVEN,” once again broke the record for first-day sales by female artists, selling one million copies.3 Their recent releases have all charted globally, with their 2024 release “EASY” breaking into the Billboard Hot 100.4
However, despite their unprecedented success, within the past year, LE SSERAFIM has fallen victim to intense hate trains regarding their performance skills, singing, dancing, and music. This led to them losing fans, as many no longer had faith in their ability to perform. This was an incredibly unfortunate occurrence as K-pop idols rely on fans in a way Western artists don’t. The smallest controversy could mean the end for their careers.
LE SSERAFIM fell victim to this fact in 2024, leading many to wonder if their careers would survive. Nonetheless, despite the extreme criticism and hate from fans due to their perceived lack of talent, LE SSERIFIM’s newest mini album, “HOT,” reinvents them as a group and pushes back against the criticism they have received. Through the genre, choreography, and vocals featured on “HOT,” LE SSERAFIM showed that they are more than the label of “untalented” pushed onto them.
The Rise, Fall, & Rise Again Of LE SSERAFIM
While LE SSERAFIM gathered a large fan base following the release of their debut album, “FEARLESS,” many had been waiting for their debut for a long time prior. This is accredited to both their company and their debuting members. LE SSERAFIM is a product of a collaboration between Hybe, a company known for successful boy groups including BTS, SEVENTEEN, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and one of its subsidiaries, Source Music.5
Up until LE SSERAFIM’s debut, Hybe had yet to debut a girl group under their official label. Previously, they had only debuted girl groups under their subsidiaries or under their previous name of Big Hit Entertainment.6 This made LE SSERAFIM’s debut a hot topic in the industry and among fans, as many were excited to see what a Hybe girl group would be like, considering the success of their boy groups.
Of course, their company wasn’t the only reason fans were excited for LE SSERAFIM’s debut. They were also happy to see two already known idols, Chaewon and Sakura, re-debut as part of the group. Both had formerly been a part of another successful girl group, IZ*ONE, from 2018-2021.7 Although the group was only active for two and a half years before disbanding due to their contracts not being extended, the members all garnered large fan bases. As a result, fans were eager to see the two former members back in the spotlight.
Once LE SSERAFIM officially debuted, fans were not disappointed. Many expressed love for “FEARLESS”, praising its creative and fun nature. Some even called it a “perfect” representation of what LE SSERAFIM stands for: self-love and courage.8 Their following releases continued to be received well by both fans and on streaming charts. However, fan reception switched from positive to negative not long after the release of their third mini album, “EASY.”
Initially, “EASY” performed fairly well, breaking the number of album sales in Japan for a non-Japanese release.9 Not only that, but the title track of the album, “EASY,” gave LE SSERAFIM their Billboard Hot 100 debut at number 99.10 They were receiving a great deal of praise for the album, with their B-side “Smart” gaining traction as a summer song with fun choreography. They became so successful that they received an invitation to perform at Coachella in 2024; it was there that everything began to fall apart.
The Beginning Of The End
When it was first announced that LE SSERAFIM would be performing at Coachella, fans were elated as this would broaden their international fan base. Additionally, it was seen as a great opportunity for a new group. Fans expressed their pride and pure excitement for the upcoming performances.
However, opinions quickly changed after videos of their performance began to circulate. Many began to criticize their vocal skills, expressing that they focused too much on dancing and were lacking as actual singers. At first, the comments were simple criticism toward the company for its poor training, but it quickly turned into unbridled hate toward the girls themselves.
Their official Instagram page was bombarded with hate comments, and it got so severe that they had to keep their comments disabled for months following the festival. Fans criticized their vocals, comparing them to those of other groups, and expressed that they never should have been allowed to perform at Coachella.
Of course, fans were quick to defend the group, but the damage was done. Many had already cemented LE SSERAFIM’s supposed lack of talent as a fact rather than a subjective opinion. As a result, not much was expected from their following comeback, “CRAZY.” Reviewers found it to be underwhelming, with some expressing that the instrumentals were wasted on the title track, “CRAZY.”11
However, regardless of the fans’ criticism, “CRAZY” became one of their best-performing songs, spending multiple weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.12 This set the stage for LE SSERAFIM’s next comeback in the eyes of fans.
Rising From The Ashes
One of the biggest points of criticism towards LE SSERAFIM following their Coachella performance was their vocal skills. Although those who attended the festival found their live performance to be realistic, others saw it as a sign of imperfection. Given the fact that “CRAZY” isn’t a vocal-heavy song, with it fitting as an EDM song as opposed to anything else, many still doubted LE SSERAFIM’s vocal ability. This changed with the release of “HOT” in 2025.
All of the tracks included in the album emphasized vocals rather than rap or dance, which is reflected in the choreography. Additionally, the songs were made to fit the group members’ higher vocal ranges, which were previously unseen in their prior releases. This allowed for their singing abilities to shine through during their live performances — something fans acknowledged and used as a point of defense for the group when hate comments were made.
While their vocals were never bad, “HOT” allowed for them to shine in a way that was undeniable to the ears of others, opening the door for them to be properly appreciated in the eyes of fans.
From “Fearless” To “Hot” — A Story Of Growth & Experimentation
As K-pop is a genre that relies on concepts (themes that guide their music videos and song choices for comebacks), it isn’t uncommon for groups to go through different styles and sounds during each comeback. However, LE SSERAFIM takes this variety to another level with each comeback completely differing from the last, allowing for their range to shine through.
Starting with LE SSERAFIM’s debut, “FEARLESS” showcases an alternative pop and funk sound with each song featured on the mini album following its lead. Fans noted both the low register the girls sang in and the spoken-word feel to the delivery.13 It follows a “typical” K-pop sound, a safe play for a debut. However, they were quick to stray away from a more predictable sound in their following release, “UNFORGIVEN.” This release took them from an alternative pop/funk sound to a pop/hip-hop sound with rock elements.
This release began to show more of their skill as vocalists as it didn’t rely as heavily on the spoken-word element as “FEARLESS” did. Instead, it featured different vocal styles ranging from softer to more powerful tones, allowing for their individual skills to shine through.
Their next and most controversial release, “EASY,” once again broke from the mold they previously set up. Both the title track of the album, “EASY,” and the most popular B-side, “Smart,” featured sounds completely different from “FEARLESS,” “UNFORGIVEN,” and each other. While previous releases had stayed in the pop genre with occasional ventures into funk and hip-hop styles, “EASY” completely shifts into R&B and emphasizes choreography over vocal ability.
Similarly, “Smart” strays away from the “traditional” pop sound found in K-pop and instead ventures into the amapiano genre, a popular genre in South Africa that relies on slower beats and melody as opposed to vocals.14 Like “EASY,” one of the main elements of “Smart” was the choreography that gained a lot of traction. However, the song itself still showcased the amount of range LE SSERAFIM holds, as they differ greatly from their releases of the past.
Fast-forwarding to “CRAZY,” their last release of 2024, LE SSERAFIM once again showed how versatile they are. At its core, “CRAZY” is an Electronic/dance song and the songs featured on the EP range from hip-hop, rock, all the way to Russian dance. It isn’t vocal-heavy and is reminiscent of the spoken word sound of “FEALRESS.” However, it still played an important role in their development as more people began to recognize their vocals from their live performances of the song.
This set the stage for “HOT,” a comeback that completely shifted from previous expectations of the group. Prior to its release, LE SSERAFIM was better known for their dancing rather than their singing because of the music genres they experimented with and the less vocal-heavy songs like “FEARLESS” and “CRAZY.” However, “HOT’s” most popular B-side, “Come Over,” and the title track, “HOT,” both rely completely on vocals. In fact, they are emphasized far more than the choreography.
“HOT” goes back to their roots of traditional pop music while also venturing into a disco-like sound. Additionally, while their previous releases emphasized a lower register in their voices, “HOT” focused on a higher vocal range, allowing for them to sing more comfortably given their naturally higher ranges. The same can be said for “Come Over.”
Reinventing Themselves — The Vocals & Choreography In “Hot”
Prior to “HOT,” LE SSERAFIM had supposedly established their sound as a combination of pop-dance music that relied more heavily on complex choreographies and rap verses rather than vocals and simplistic movements. This is what led to fans doubting their vocal ability and “worthiness” to have debuted as idols.
However, the high range vocals of “HOT” as well as the more simplistic choreography (as compared to those of the past), which allows for the vocals to shine, shift this perception. This shows that the members of LE SSERAFIM have always been talented vocalists; their previous songs had been holding them back rather than allowing for their talents to shine.
“Hot”
Beginning with the vocals, the chorus allows for their singing abilities to be put on display in a way not seen in past songs. For example, the chorus of “CRAZY” features few words. Instead, it is a repetition of “da-da-da-da” as well as spoken-word lyrics,15 while rap inspired the verses. This is due to it being more of a dance song than anything else, which shines through in the vogue-inspired choreography.
“HOT” is in stark contrast to this. There are no rap verses as the entire song relies entirely on vocals. Even the more spoken verses don’t emulate those in their past songs. Rather, they have a smooth, melodious sound that allows it to blend with the vocal-heavy chorus.
The choreography also differs from that of the past. While songs such as “EASY” were dance-heavy songs that included complex choreography with large movements, “HOT” focuses more on precise control and simplistic movements, allowing LE SSERAFIM to focus on vocal control without being impeded by heavy moves.
For example, from the very beginning of the song, “EASY” showcased large movements that relied on the girls moving back and forth. They did light jumping movements as well as heavy upper body movements, often moving their arms with their torso in larger motions. Additionally, the choreography included them swapping positions with one another while completing the skipping motions.
“HOT” does not follow the same formula. While the choreography is in no way “simple,” it still is not comparable to “EASY” in terms of complexity. Rather than there being constant skipping and jumping moves, “EASY” has more sliding and walking motions when the members switch positions. There is also an emphasis on upper body movements, with arm motions and body rolls being frequent elements within the choreography. And while “EASY” had the more intricate style of choreography throughout, including the chorus, “HOT” dialed down moves for the chorus, allowing for vocals to be emphasized.
“Come Over”
In a similar vein, the most popular B-side, “Come Over” from the HOT mini album, also shifted from past styles of vocals and dancing from LE SSERAFIM’s prior releases. As it was produced by Jungle, a British indie band that produces many dance/electronic songs, the sound of “Come Over” is unlike others found in K-pop and LE SSERAFIM’s discography. While it is the same genre as some of their other songs, it takes a different approach.
“CRAZY” is a song meant for voguing. It leans heavily into the electronic genre through its instrumental, with the instruments and sounds used being reflective of electronic tones. However, “Come Over” is more reminiscent of Jungle’s music and leans more into dance than electronic. Additionally, it has a more “old-school” sound found in neo-soul and funk music, with the choreography being more groovy than intense.16 A lot of the moves were inspired by popular Western dances from the 60s, allowing for them to shift away from the electronic songs they did in the past.
“Come Over” followed suit in “HOT’s” more precise choreography and stepped away from jumping moves. Instead, it has smooth transitions relying on sliding and light skipping. The moves are upper-body focused, with their being shoulder movements and arm choreography as opposed to relying more on lower-body movements. It is also another entirely vocal-focused song that has little to no rap or spoken word lyrics. Instead, everything from the first line to the final line is sung.
“HOT” and “Come Over” shifted away from both positive and negative fan expectations. LE SSERAFIM’s entire discography has been filled with unique, experimental songs highlighting their versatility as artists. However, “HOT” has allowed for their skill to be emphasized above all else. Not only did it show perseverance, but it also showcased improvement, with many fans complimenting their live performances.
The Future Of LE SSERAFIM
Although they have had their fair share of struggles, LE SSERAFIM has shown that they can persevere. Rather than backing down in the face of unprecedented hate, they released an album that is a clear message to those who doubted them. “HOT” features clear, powerful vocals and provides a completely new experience within their music.
Everything from the genre, the style, down to the choreography, is a new step for them as a group. This album has shown fans that they can’t be put into a box, labelling them as “generic” or “untalented.” Instead, they have shown their versatility, skill, and willingness to succeed in a harsh industry. The future of LE SSERAFIM is a bright one and will surely be filled with even more vocal-focused songs that continue to surprise their audience.
Footnotes
- “Le Sserafim.” Kpop Wiki, Fandom, Inc. Accessed 18 May 2025. ↩︎
- Nam, S. “Le Sserafim Breaks Record for Highest 1st-Week Sales of Any Girl Group Debut Album in Hanteo History.” Soompi, 9 May 2022. ↩︎
- Nam, S. “Le Sserafim Breaks Record for Highest 1st-Week Sales of Any Girl Group Debut Album in Hanteo History.” Soompi, 9 May 2022. ↩︎
- “Le SSERAFIM Shatters Personal Billboard Hot 100 Record with ‘Crazy’: K-Pop Movie News – Times of India.” The Times of India, TOI, 10 Sept. 2024. ↩︎
- “Hybe.” Kpop Wiki, Fandom, Inc. Accessed 18 May 2025. ↩︎
- Munson, Olivia. “Meet Le Sserafim: A Guide to the Girl Group’s Members, First Album ‘unforgiven’ and More.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 6 June 2023. ↩︎
- “Iz*One” Kpop Wiki, Fandom, Inc. Accessed 18 May 2025. ↩︎
- queefgirl747. “Queefgirl747’s Review of ‘fearless’ by Le Sserafim.” Album of The Year, 7 Oct. 2023. ↩︎
- Hyun-hee, Kim. “Le Sserafim Hits ‘gold’ in Japan with ‘Easy’ and Dominates Global Charts.” K, 8 Mar. 2024. ↩︎
- Cha, E. “Le SSERAFIM Debuts on Billboard’s Hot 100, Making Them 6th K-Pop Girl Group to Enter the U.S. Chart.” Soompi, 5 Mar. 2024. ↩︎
- Enderkeenan. “Enderkeenan’s Review of ‘crazy’ by Le Sserafim.” Album of The Year, 30 Aug. 2024. ↩︎
- Young-sun, Shin. “Le Sserafim’s ‘crazy’ Stays in Spotify’s Global Top 100 for 3 Consecutive Weeks!” K, 21 Sept. 2024. ↩︎
- Nick. “Song Review: Le SSERAFIM – Fearless.” The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion, 3 May 2022. ↩︎
- “What Is Amapiano and Where Did This Hot African Sound Come From?” The Music Origins Project, 2 Feb. 2024. ↩︎
- Le Sserafim – Crazy Lyrics | Genius Lyrics, 2024. ↩︎
- Nick. “Song Review: Le SSERAFIM – Come Over.” The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion, 30 Mar. 2025. ↩︎