The track earned the Best Female Performance Award at the 2020 Golden Disc Awards and a nomination for Best Pop Song at the Korean Music Awards.
The official music video for is a cinematic declaration of sovereignty, originally born from their final performance on the Mnet survival show Queendom . Released on November 4, 2019, the video serves as a visual anthem for female empowerment, moving beyond typical girl-group concepts to establish the group as formidable "young lions" in the industry. Concept and Visual Narrative The track earned the Best Female Performance Award
Written and produced by along with Big Sancho , the track is an E-minor dance piece characterized by heavy drums and an 808 bass sound. Concept and Visual Narrative Written and produced by
Critics from Billboard and Rolling Stone have praised the song as a "victorious celebration of female power," noting its departure from conventional gender hierarchies. Performance and Legacy (G)I-DLE - Intro + LION @ Mnet Queendom
The "LION" stage is often cited as a "legendary" turning point for the group, particularly for Shuhua , who received significant praise for her growth and confidence during this era. (G)I-DLE - Intro + LION @ Mnet Queendom Episode 10 (191031)
The official "LION" music video by Digipedi follows a narrative arc of ascension—from being "caged" by expectations to taking the throne.
The lyrics compare a woman's natural dignity to that of a lion. The song builds tension with a "heartbeat" rhythm, culminating in the defiant chorus, "queen like a lion".