"Lion Heart" was described as a soul pop-inspired bubblegum pop song by Billboard.[1] It embraces an 1960s American retro sound and has a jazzy melody as well as "an ear-grabbing bass line".[2][3] Lyrically, the song talks about women falling in love with men who have a cheating heart and how they try to tame him like taming a lion.[4]
Music video
The music video was released on August 18, 2015.[5] The music video narrates a story where the members of Girls' Gen [sic] fall in love with a male protagonist, who later turns out to be an eight-timing player. In the end of music video the girls wake up screaming having fallen asleep watching TV with the Lion beside them. They then become upset and turn away from that said cheater.[1] The song was choreographed by the American choreographer Tony Testa & SM Entertainment's choreographer Shim Jaewon.[6] The visual was the third most viewed music video on YouTube by a South Korean act in August 2015.[7]
Reception
Billboard praised the song for its retro themes and shifting of member roles saying "But what is new, musically, is the division of lines -- namely when Yuri, a member who typically only chimes in with a line or two, gets to handle a majority of the second chorus. It's a decision that further shows how Girls' Generation is embracing change in their eighth year..."[8] The song was deemed the 7th best K-pop single of 2015 by PopMatters.[9] Meanwhile, Idolator chose it as the 24th best K-pop song of the year.[10]