🔥 Villains, Rule-Breakers, and Unapologetic Queens:
- NUR ADDYANA IZZATY WAN MOHD ZIN
- Jun 12
- 4 min read
A Comparative Analysis of LE SSERAFIM’s “Unforgiven” & JENNIE’s “EXTRA L”
1. 🌍 Introduction
They’re here to break rules, own their power, and show everyone what it means to live unapologetically.
In this analysis, we’re gonna break down how “Unforgiven” and “EXTRA L” basically turn into anthems for breaking free. Using bold word choices, clever symbolism, and powerful vibes, both songs push back against the pressure to be in control all the time, especially for women.
2. 💥 Backstory & Cultural Stakes
🔗 LE SSERAFIM – “Unforgiven"
LE SSERAFIM debuted with the message “I’m fearless,” and “Unforgiven” proves they really mean it. Even before their debut, they faced a lot of hate and controversy, but instead of giving up, they came back even stronger. This song feels like them saying, “We’ve had enough.” They’re not actually “bad girls”, but they just get called that for not following the rules.
In South Korea, girl groups are usually expected to act sweet, quiet, and innocent.
These ideas come from old traditions like Confucianism, which still influence how women are seen today.
Plus, the K-pop industry has a lot of rules about how idols should look and act. But LE SSERAFIM isn’t following those rules.
🔗 JENNIE & Doechii – “EXTRA L”
As a soloist and BLACKPINK’s main rapper, JENNIE is no stranger to being scrutinized. Whether it's for her facial expressions or her fashion, she’s constantly told what to do and how to act. But in “EXTRA L,” she flips it: she’s not adjusting to the world, but the world adjusts to her.
Bringing in Doechii, known for her genre-bending feminist anthems, made this track even more unapologetic.
Together, they push back against outdated expectations by telling the world that women in music (and beyond) don’t need to play nice to be powerful.
3. ✍️ Lyrics That Break Chains, Not Just Rules
Let’s break down how both songs use specific lines and powerful words to reject outdated norms:
🔥 LE SSERAFIM – “Unforgiven”
“Unforgiven, I’m a villain, I’m a / Unforgiven, I’mma walk that road”
This repeating line flips the classic hero vs. villain narrative. The group boldly reclaims the word villain, a label society gives women who are confident, assertive, or unbothered by criticism. Instead of denying it, they embrace it. This is literary reclamation: turning a “negative” label into a badge of honor.
“If belief’s a sin, I’m a villain / I’m not that Cinderella type of a girl”
These two lines subvert familiar fairytales. The Cinderella type is about quiet suffering, waiting for rescue. But LE SSERAFIM tears it down. They’re not waiting for a prince, but they’re creating their own queendom.
This also echoes JENNIE’s line:
"This for my girls with no sponsor, they got they own funding,"
In a world where women are often expected to depend on someone else for success, this line flips the script.
In her interview with Zane Lowe, JENNIE is highlighting women who don’t rely on anyone else, especially not men or corporate backers, to succeed. These are girls who build their own futures, make their own money, and don’t need permission to thrive.
📖 Free access: https://youtu.be/2_bYR3kR0w0?si=Qvt1a-b1NFRzV4O5
4. 💡 Wordplay, Repetition & Symbolism
Let’s zoom into the figurative language and literary devices that make both songs hit harder:
🌀 Repetition for Power
Both songs repeat certain phrases to drill in their message.
“Do my, do my ladies run this?” repeated in almost every section of EXTRA L. This chant sounds like a battle cry, reminding the listener that women do run this whether in boardrooms, studios, or streets.
Likewise, “Unforgiven” is repeated like a mantra in LE SSERAFIM’s chorus. It’s about embracing judgment instead of fearing it. When society refuses to forgive women for being bold, outspoken, or loud, they say, “Then don’t.”
🎭 Irony and Word Reversal
“If belief’s a sin, I’m a villain”
Believing in yourself shouldn’t be controversial, but for women, it often is. Society labels confidence as arrogance. That’s the irony: being proud makes you “bad.” LE SSERAFIM doesn’t try to fix that double standard. They embrace it and use it as a weapon.
Similarly, in EXTRA L, Doechii raps:
“In the boardroom looking bored ‘cause I’m not here for pleasin’ the men”
This line is full of sarcasm. Doechii is mocking the idea of the boardroom, a space that’s traditionally been male-dominated. Women in these spaces are often expected to sit quietly, look presentable, and not cause trouble. But Doechii (and JENNIE too) flips that image. She’s not there to please anyone or act how people expect.
5. 🎶 Musical Mood
Different sounds, but the same goal:
👉 To make women feel powerful when they walk, drive, or dance to these songs.
“Unforgiven” leans into a Western-style guitar riff with a cinematic. It feels like the opening of a female-led action movie. It’s fierce, haunting, and unapologetically bold like the sound of a revolution on the move.
“EXTRA L” is powerful, bass-heavy, and designed to own every runway and every street. The beat is luxurious yet aggressive like strutting through a city knowing everyone’s watching, and you love it.
6. 🧠 Cultural Context, Global Message
LE SSERAFIM is breaking barriers in South Korea, where K-pop still values modesty and “innocent femininity". Traditionally, female idols were expected to be cute, pure, and essentially living “doll-like” presences under strict agency control.
JENNIE & Doechii, on the other hand, are pushing back in a Western industry that hypersexualizes and criticizes confident women. Lyrics like “Extra large, ain’t scared of the dirt” directly reject the idea that women must always look polished or behave “properly.”
7. 💬 Conclusion
Both “Unforgiven” and “EXTRA L” go beyond catchy hooks and killer visuals. They challenge what it means to be a woman in today’s world.
They don’t ask for forgiveness. They don’t wait for permission. They rewrite the rules in bold and glittery ink. Because if society wants to label you for being bold, loud, and fearless?
Then let them! You’re not here to be forgiven. You’re here to be unforgettable. 🖤
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