Why Sunmi's Heart Burn Became Summer's Most Enchanting Love Story

Sunmi Heart Burn takes listeners on a fascinating journey through time with its unique music video set across four different eras and locations. Released as a standalone single on June 29, 2022, this dreamy, guitar-driven track peaked at number 23 on the Circle Digital Chart. Unlike her previous summer hit "Pporappippam," this song has been described as its "day version," offering a more chill vibe while maintaining an engaging energy.

The concept photos and teasers for Heart Burn brilliantly foreshadowed what was to come - a love story with an unexpected twist. Filmed in Los Angeles, the music video transports viewers from 1966 Los Angeles to 1856 Texas, then to 1928 Bogota, and finally to 1969 Tokyo. Meanwhile, the lyrics tell the story of a woman suffering from a love fever, starting with innocent, almost cutesy visuals that gradually reveal a deeper narrative. Though it differs from her previous releases, this single demonstrates Sunmi's continuing artistic evolution and her talent for creating captivating musical experiences.

The story behind Sunmi’s summer comeback

Following the release of her upbeat single "Oh Sorry Ya," Sunmi made a notable shift in musical direction for her summer 2022 comeback. After exploring a more dance-oriented sound, she surprised fans by embracing a dreamy, retro aesthetic that would become the foundation for "Heart Burn."

Sunmi's return after 'Oh Sorry Ya'

Initially, fans anticipated Sunmi might continue with the high-energy concepts she had been exploring. Nevertheless, she chose to showcase her versatility by pivoting toward a more mellow, yet equally captivating sound. This artistic decision demonstrated her growth as an artist who continuously reinvents herself without losing her distinctive musical identity.

The 'Heart Burn' release date and teaser rollout

Before the June 29 release, Sunmi's team expertly built anticipation through a series of teasers. Beginning with cryptic social media posts, each new reveal added another layer to the vampire-inspired storyline. Additionally, the strategic timing of the summer release perfectly complemented the song's bright, airy qualities.

How the concept photos set the tone

The concept photos brilliantly foreshadowed the time-traveling narrative. Specifically, each set of images represented different eras—1966 Los Angeles, 1856 Texas, 1928 Bogota, and 1969 Tokyo. Furthermore, the styling in each photo series carefully established the visual language that would later unfold in the music video, creating a cohesive artistic vision.

Exploring the sound and lyrics of 'Heart Burn'

The sonic landscape of "Heart Burn" presents a captivating blend of dream-like sounds and catchy dance elements. Described as a "chill vibe" track with an "addictive melody," the song offers listeners a refreshing summer experience.

A contrast to 'Pporappippam'

"Heart Burn" serves as a fascinating daytime counterpart to Sunmi's previous summer hit "Pporappippam." Essentially, both tracks compare love with summer but from different temporal perspectives. "If 'pporappippam' took place in the late afternoon, 'Heart Burn' takes place in the daytime," Sunmi explained in interviews. This deliberate connection creates a thematic continuity in her discography, with each song capturing a distinct summer mood.

The meaning behind the lyrics

At its core, "Heart Burn" tells the story of a woman suffering from "love fever." The lyrics metaphorically use heartburn to express the overwhelming sensation of wild summer love. According to Sunmi, the protagonist develops a fever because "she loves someone so much". Moreover, the lyrics describe a romantic atmosphere under the "burning sunshine" where breathing becomes difficult when the object of affection looks at them.

Musical influences and arrangement

The song features a distinctive oriental feel, particularly noticeable in the guitar riff that carries a "sorrowful feeling unique to Korea". Produced by CobiCudi and Kyuwon 'Q' Kim, the track deviates from Sunmi's previous electronic-heavy releases. Instead, it embraces a more organic sound that complements the summer day concept perfectly.

The role of Sunmi in songwriting

Although Sunmi participated in writing lyrics for both "Heart Burn" and the B-side "Childhood," she did not compose the title track. This creative decision was intentional—Sunmi wanted to "see how other producers perceived her" and was curious about "how other people would musically define" her artistry. The B-side "Childhood" draws inspiration from both Korean myths about first love and the film "The Notebook," reflecting Sunmi's personal artistic influences.

A music video that travels through time and myth

Behind the bright melodies of "Heart Burn" lies a visually stunning music video that showcases Sunmi's artistic depth. Filmed in Los Angeles, the video masterfully combines romance, fantasy, and a touch of darkness.

The vampire love story concept

At its core, the music video reveals Sunmi as an immortal vampire who leaves a trail of dead lovers throughout history. Despite appearing as a "fresh young woman who resembles summer," her character harbors a deadly secret. After kissing her paramours, the men develop fevers and subsequently die. This delightfully morbid concept culminates with Sunmi dancing and throwing flower petals over her lovers' graves.

Locations and eras featured in the video

The narrative ingeniously traverses through four distinct time periods: 1966 Los Angeles, 1856 Texas, 1928 Bogota, and 1969 Tokyo. These eras weren't chosen for deeper symbolic meaning but rather to "visually clearly show the change of time and place". This time-hopping structure effectively supports the immortal vampire storyline.

Symbolism in choreography and visuals

Sunmi's choreography features several distinctive elements, primarily the unique jump-rope dance. As she explained, "I don't believe any other singers performed the jump-rope dance on stage". Similarly noteworthy is the performance with large fans, chosen specifically because "the fans fit the Korean vibe of 'Heart Burn'".

Sunmi's transformation: hair, makeup, and styling

The striking orange-red hair color was deliberately chosen to evoke "a hot, burning sun". Surprisingly, Sunmi added freckles, noting "it would be quite a fun look if a vampire had freckles". These stylistic choices created a unique twist on traditional vampire imagery while maintaining the summer theme.

Reception, impact, and what came next

Upon its release in June 2022, "Heart Burn" garnered significant attention across multiple music platforms, establishing itself as another milestone in Sunmi's evolving career.

Chart performance and accolades

"Heart Burn" peaked at number 23 on the Circle Digital Chart, showcasing its commercial appeal in South Korea's competitive music landscape. Internationally, the track charted in France, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. Notably, it reached #74 on the Australian Songs Chart. In terms of recognition, NME ranked the song #43 in their "50 Best Songs of 2022" list and #13 among "The 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2022". Furthermore, the track earned a nomination for "Best Dance Performance – Solo" at the 2022 MAMA Awards.

Fan reactions and critical reviews

Sunmi's followers expressed overwhelming enthusiasm for the release. Remarkably, one concert reviewer admitted to "coming as a faker, and leaving as a fan" after experiencing the song live. Many fans were visibly emotional during performances, with some holding "Marry Me" signs. Critics praised the song's artistic merit, with one fan commenting that the comeback represented "everything I wanted from Sunmi".

The band version and live performances

Shortly after the initial release, Sunmi delighted fans with a band version of "Heart Burn". This version highlighted her return to playing bass guitar—a skill many followers had been eagerly anticipating. "She has been working hard to play the bass again for so long," noted one enthusiastic fan. Sunmi herself acknowledged this excitement: "My fans like it when I play the bass".

Connection to the GOOD GIRL GONE MAD tour

Coinciding with "Heart Burn," Sunmi announced her second world tour titled "GOOD GIRL GONE MAD". The tour commenced in August 2022 in Europe, continuing through North America in September, before concluding in Seoul in October. During interviews, Sunmi expressed her tour aspirations: "I would love to go and reach out and visit all the places". She particularly emphasized her plan to incorporate bass playing into performances, promising fans "a more elaborated version of my discography".