"Siren" (Korean: 사이렌; RR: Sairen) is a song recorded by the South Korean singer Sunmi for her second EP, Warning. Sunmi co-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 perception of her does not align with reality, ultimately leading her to end the relationship.
The song marks the final release of Sunmi's warning-themed trilogy, which began with "Gashina" and continued with "Heroine". It achieved significant success, reaching the top position on major charts in South Korea. Upon its debut, "Siren" peaked at number 1 on the Gaon Digital Chart, becoming Sunmi's second single to achieve this feat in South Korea.
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 does not 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.
↑《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 中文). November 30, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
