Siren (Sunmi song)
"Siren" (Korean: 사이렌) is a song recorded by South Korean singer Sunmi for her second EP, Warning. Sunmi produced the song with Frants, and it was released on September 4, 2018, by Makeus Entertainment as the lead single from the EP.[2] "Siren" is a pop track, in which Sunmi sings lyrics about a lover whose image of her doesn't fit with reality, resulting in her ending the relationship.
"Siren" | ||||
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Single by Sunmi | ||||
from the EP Warning | ||||
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Released | September 4, 2018 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:19 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Sunmi singles chronology | ||||
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Music videos | ||||
"Siren" on YouTube |
Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
IZM | [1] |
The song marks the final release of Sunmi's warning-themed trilogy that started with "Gashina" and continued with "Heroine". It topped all major charts in South Korea and debuted and peaked at number 1 on the Gaon Digital Chart, becoming Sunmi's second number-one single in South Korea.
Background and release
About two to three years ago, “Siren” had been considered as a potential title track for Wonder Girls, but the song was ultimately shelved because JYP Entertainment decided that it “wouldn't sound as great if arranged for a band" since the Wonder Girls were promoting as a band and not as a dance group at the time, and "Why So Lonely" was chosen as the title track instead. "Siren" was ultimately released on September 4, 2018, and serves as the lead single from Sunmi's second EP Warning. Sunmi announced the song via her social media accounts on August 26, 2018.[3]
"Sirens are used for warnings, and I was also inspired by sirens in mythology. They are known as beautiful but frightening presences that lure sailors in with their beautiful voices and drag them down to the bottom of the ocean. The mermaids that appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides were also sirens. I think I’ll be able to take that unique concept and express it well… the reason sirens stuck out to me is that they’re what are used in the most dangerous of situations. And the origin of the word ‘Siren’ is that mermaid figure. The song itself has an ambiguous meaning, so I wanted to use that word."
— Sunmi explaining the use of the word "Siren", [4]
Composition
"Siren" was written by Sunmi and produced by her and Frants. It runs for three minutes and nineteen seconds.[5] "Siren" was described as "an ‘80s-evoking ambient pop track". Lyrically, it is about a lover whose image of her doesn't fit with reality, resulting in her ending the relationship.[6]
Commercial performance
"Siren" achieved the perfect all-kill status, a status where a song is simultaneously topping all charts, both daily and realtime.[7] The song topped Gaon Digital Chart for a total of 2 consecutive weeks, becoming her second number-one single in South Korea.
Music video
The music video, directed by Choi Yongseok,[8] was released along with the song and features different facets of Sunmi, all of which make one version face the reality of her relationship. Sunmi performs a choreographed powerful dance and also appears in several looks, with Billboard stating that the outfits "evoke mythological creatures and mermaids, while hair accessories like crowns and a “priority” shipping label hair-tie emphasize the domineering nature of the track".[6]
The video currently has over 50 million views.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[9]
- Sunmi - vocals, songwriter, producer
- Frants – producer
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
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Singapore (RIAS)[10] | 25 |
South Korea (Gaon Digital Chart)[11] | 1 |
South Korea (K-pop Hot 100)[12] | 1 |
US World Digital Songs (Billboard) | 5 |
Monthly charts
Chart (September 2018) | Peak position |
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South Korea (Gaon Digital Chart)[13] | 1 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2019) | Position |
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South Korea (Gaon)[14] | 81 |
Accolades
Critic/Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
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SBS | Top 100 Asian pop songs of 2018 | 11 | [15] |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
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2018 | Best Digital Song | Nominated | [16] | |
Best Solo Dance Track | Nominated | |||
Best Dance Performance – Female Solo | Nominated | [17] | ||
2019 | Song of the Year – September | Nominated | [18] | |
Bonsang Award | Nominated | [19] |
Music program awards
Program | Date | Ref. |
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M Countdown (Mnet) | September 13, 2018 | [20] |
September 20, 2018 | [21] | |
Show Champion (MBC Music) | September 19, 2019 | [22] |
Music Bank (KBS) | September 21, 2018 | [23] |
Show! Music Core (MBC) | September 22, 2018 | [24] |
Inkigayo (SBS) | September 23, 2018 | [25] |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label |
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Various | September 4, 2018 | Digital download, streaming | Makeus Entertainment |
See also
- List of Gaon Digital Chart number ones of 2018
- List of Inkigayo Chart winners (2018)
- List of Kpop Hot 100 number ones
- List of M Countdown Chart winners (2018)
References
- Hwang Sun-up. "사이렌". IZM (in Korean). IZM. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- "Siren – Single by Sunmi on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- "⚠️2018.09.04 6pm "사이렌"⚠️ #warning #ADDICT #사이렌 #곡선 #blackpearl #비밀테이프 #Siren". Instagram. August 26, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2020 – via Instagram.
- Bradley Stern (2019-09-04). "Siren': Sunmi Delivers a Fierce Warning". Muumuse. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
- "Siren". Spotify. September 4, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- "Sunmi Returns With a 'Siren' Song: Watch the Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- "Perfect kill!!!!!!!! #사이렌 #Siren". Instagram. September 9, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
- lumpens (October 25, 2018). "siren – SUNMI 선미". Vimeo.
- "Siren by Sunmi". Tidal. United States. September 4, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- "RIAS International Top Charts Week 36" (PDF). Recording Industry Association (Singapore).
- "2018년 09주차 Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- "BILLBOARD KOREA K-POP 100". Retrieved 2018-09-22.
- "2019년 09월 Chart" [Digital Chart – September 2018] (in Korean). Gaon Digital Chart. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- "2019년 Digital Chart" [Digital Chart – 2019] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- "PopAsia's Top 100 Asian pop songs of 2018: 50-1". SBS. Popasia. December 24, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- 《2018 KPMA》入圍名單公開,BTS、EXO、WANNA ONE 三強鼎立! [The Finalists of the "2018 KPMA" are Announced, and BTS, EXO, and Wanna One Stand Out!]. Kpopn (in Chinese). November 30, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
- "2018 MAMA Winners". Mwave. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
- Whitney, Kayla (January 9, 2019). "8th Gaon Chart Music Awards Nominees and categories". AXS. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- Whitney, Kayla (January 5, 2019). "2019 Seoul Music Awards fan voting, livestream and event details". AXS. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- "Watch: Sunmi Takes 1st Win For "Siren" On "M Countdown," Performances By Shinhwa, PENTAGON, And More". Soompi. September 13, 2018.
- "Watch: Sunmi Takes 3rd Win For "Siren" On "M Countdown," Performances By GOT7, DreamCatcher, And More". Soompi. September 20, 2018.
- "Watch: Sunmi Takes 2nd Win For "Siren" On "Show Champion," Performances By PENTAGON, Oh My Girl, And More". Soompi. September 19, 2018.
- "Watch: Sunmi Takes 4th Win For "Siren" On "Music Bank," Performances By GOT7, WJSN, And More". Soompi. September 21, 2018.
- "Watch: Sunmi Takes 5th Win For "Siren" On "Music Core," Performances By GOT7, DreamCatcher, And More". Soompi. September 22, 2018.
- "Watch: Sunmi Takes 6th Win For "Siren" On "Inkigayo"; Performances By GOT7, WJSN, DreamCatcher, And More". Soompi. September 23, 2018.