Last Fantasy

Last Fantasy
Studio album by IU
Released November 29, 2011
(see release history)
Recorded 2011
LOEN Studio, Seoul, South Korea
T Studio, Seoul, South Korea
Realcollabo Studio, Seoul, South Korea
Music Cabal Studio, Seoul, South Korea
Jun Studio, Seoul, South Korea
Antenna Music Studio, Seoul, South Korea
W Sound Studio, Seoul, South Korea
Sonic Korea Studio, Seoul, South Korea
Genre K-pop, electronic, jazz
Length 52:01
Language Korean
Label LOEN Entertainment
Producer Jo Yeong-cheol
IU chronology
Real+
(2011)		 Last Fantasy
(2011)		 I U
(2011)
Singles from Last Fantasy
  1. "You and I"
    Released: November 28, 2011
Music video
"You and I" on YouTube
"You and I" (Performance ver.) on YouTube
"Last Fantasy" on YouTube

Last Fantasy is the second Korean-language studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter and actress IU. It was released and distributed on November 29, 2011 by LOEN Entertainment. The album features a total of thirteen tracks, including the lead single "You and I". The album is her first release after a nine-month-hiatus since Real+.

Upon its release, Last Fantasy was a huge commercial success, selling almost seven million copies of digital tracks in its first week of release.[1] The total number of its digital sales surpassed the 10 million mark the following week.[2] Meanwhile, the physical album has sold over 117,000 copies, making it the 15th best-selling Korean album of 2011.[3][upper-alpha 1]

The album's lead single "You and I" debuted at the top of the Gaon Singles Chart, with a massive first-week digital sales of 1,129,761 units.[4] It stayed at the summit for two more weeks.[5] The song also hit the pole position on the Billboard Korea K-Pop Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks, becoming IU's first Korea K-Pop Hot 100 topper and the longest running number-one song on the chart.[6][7] The record was held until tied with Psy's "Gangnam Style" and later broken by Lee Seung-gi's "Return", which earned six weeks at the top spot from December 2012 to January 2013.[8][9]

Background

Last Fantasy was meant to reflect the period in the IU's life where she bids farewell to her childhood and prepares to meet maturity.[10] In this album, IU collaborated with singer-songwriters like Yoon Sang, Kim Kwang-jin, Lee Juck, Kim Hyeon-cheol, and Ra.D.[11]

Some of the songs in the album were composed and written by IU herself, with help from artists like Lee Juck, Kim Hyeon-cheol, Yoon Sang, Yoon Jong-shin, G. Gorilla, and Corinne Bailey Rae. Her agency, LOEN Entertainment stated, "The album has been worked on for a long time, and the exclusive content included in the special limited edition will enable fans to better understand the album production process. It's a special gift from IU to those fans who have waited a long time."[12]

On December 3, 2011, she started off her first week of promotions through SBS's The Music Trend. IU performed "A Child Searching for Stars" (Hangul: 별을 찾는 아이; RR: Byeoreul Chatneun Ai) and the lead track "You and I" (Hangul: 너랑 나; RR: Neorang Na). Both of the tracks showcased her youthful charm and sweet musicality, which gained a richer depth during her hiatus.[13]

Music videos

On November 28, 2011, the music video for "You and I" was released through LOEN Entertainment's official YouTube channel one day before the album's release in stores. The music video (starring actor Lee Hyun-woo) brings out elements of fantasy and ties it together with a well-crafted story.[10]

On February 9, 2012, her agency uploaded a music video for the song "Last Fantasy" through its official YouTube channel. The video contains footage from IU's Japanese debut showcase "IU JAPAN PREMIUM SPECIAL LIVE" held at the Bunkamura Orchard Hall on January 24. This is a special gift for her fans, as the video reveals not only footage from the showcase, but also includes clips of IU touring the cities of Japan and her everyday promotions and activities.[14]

Track listing

※ Bolded tracks identify singles from the album.

CD/Digital download
No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "Secret" (비밀; Bimil)Kim EanaJeong Seok-won 4:04
2. "Sleeping Prince of the Woods" (잠자는 숲 속의 왕자; Jamjaneun Sup Sogui Wangja, featuring Yoon Sang)Bak Chang-hakYoon Sang 3:34
3. "A Child Searching for Stars" (별을 찾는 아이; Byeoreul Chatneun Ai, featuring Kim Kwang-jin)Heo Seung-kyeongKim Kwang-jin 3:58
4. "You and I" (너랑 나; Neorang Na)Kim EanaLee Min-soo 3:59
5. "Wallpaper Patterns" (벽지무늬; Byeokjimunui)Yoon Jong-shinYoon Jong-shin, Lee Geun-ho 3:40
6. "Uncle" (삼촌; Samchon, featuring Lee Juck)IU, Lee JuckLee Juck 3:24
7. "Wisdom Tooth" (사랑니; Sarangni)G. Gorilla, IUG. Gorilla 3:33
8. "Everything's Alright" (featuring Kim Hyeon-cheol)Kim Hyeon-cheol, IUKim Hyeon-cheol 3:33
9. "Last Fantasy"  Kim EanaKim Hyeong-seok 6:07
10. "Teacher" (featuring Ra.D)IU, Ra.DRa.D 4:01
11. "A Stray Puppy" (길 잃은 강아지; Gil Ireun Gang-aji)IUIU 3:14
12. "4AM"  IUCorinne Bailey Rae 3:02
13. "L'amant" (라망; Ramang)Jung Jae-hyungJung Jae-hyung 5:52
Total length:
 52:01
Notes

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[16] 1

Monthly charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[17] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[18] 15

Awards and nominations

Annual music awards

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2011
1st Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards
Song of the Year – December "You and I" Won
6th Cyworld Digital Music Awards
Song of the Month – December Won
2012
21st Seoul Music Awards
Bonsang Award (Main Prize) IU Won
Record of the Year Last Fantasy Won
9th Korean Music Awards
Best Pop Album Nominated
4th MelOn Music Awards
Artist of the Year IU Nominated
Album of the Year Last Fantasy Nominated
Song of the Year "You and I" Nominated
Netizen Popularity Award Nominated
Top 10 Artists IU Won
14th Mnet Asian Music Awards
Artist of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year "You and I" Nominated
Best Female Artist IU Won
Best Vocal Performance – Solo "You and I" Nominated

Music program awards

Song Program Date
"You and I" Music Bank (KBS) December 9, 2011
December 16, 2011
December 23, 2011
December 30, 2011
January 6, 2012
January 13, 2012
The Music Trend (SBS) December 18, 2011
December 25, 2011
January 1, 2012
Music on Top (JTBC) January 12, 2012

Release history

Region Date Format Edition Label
South Korea November 29, 2011 Digital download Standard Edition LOEN Entertainment
November 30, 2011 CD[19]
December 1, 2011 CD[19] Limited Edition
Worldwide[20] November 29, 2011 Digital download
Japan November 30, 2011 EMI Music Japan

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Sales for both standard and limited editions are combined.

References

  1. ↑ "IU's new album nears 7 million downloads online". 9 December 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Lee, Yeon-jeong (15 December 2011). "아이유 2집 음원 다운로드 1천만건 돌파 (IU's "Last Fantasy" Surpasses 10 Million Copies in Download Sales)" (in Korean). Yonhap News. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Sales references for Last Fantasy:
  4. ↑ Hong, Dong-hee (8 December 2011). "아이유 2집 발매 첫주에만 다운로드 700만 건 (IU's "Last Fantasy" Sold 7 Million Downloads for Its First Week)". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  5. ↑ Chart references of "You and I":
  6. ↑ Benjamin, Jeff (May 5, 2014). "IU Earns Fifth K-Pop Hot 100 No. 1, Becomes All-Time Chart Leader". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  7. ↑ Chart references of "You and I":
  8. ↑ Chart references of "Gangnam Style":
  9. ↑ Benjamin, Jeff (January 4, 2013). "K-Pop Hot 100: Lee Seung Gi Makes Chart History". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  10. 1 2 "IU unveils music video for "You and I"". Allkpop.
  11. ↑ "Album info 'You and I'". koreangossipgirl.
  12. ↑ "IU releases new album, 'Last Fantasy'". Allkpop.
  13. ↑ "IU makes her long-awaited comeback on 'Inkigayo'". Allkpop.
  14. ↑ "IU reveals MV for 'Last Fantasy'". Allkpop.
  15. ↑ Kim, Kyung-a (23 February 2012). "아이유 '잠자는 숲속의 왕자' 원곡 가수는 현직 증권우먼 ("The Original Performer of IU's "Sleeping Prince of the Woods" Now Works at Security Company")". etoday (in Korean). Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  16. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – November 27, 2011 to December 3, 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – November 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  18. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  19. 1 2 "MelOn::[음반] 아이유 (IU) - 2집 Last Fantasy (포스터/케이스 증정)". MelOn. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  20. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Last Fantasy by IU". iTunes Store. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
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