Last Fantasy
Studio album by
IU
ReleasedNovember 29, 2011
Recorded2010-11
Studio
  • LOEN Studio, Seoul, South Korea
  • T Studio, Seoul
  • Realcollabo Studio, Seoul
  • Music Cabal Studio, Seoul
  • Jun Studio, Seoul
  • Antenna Music Studio, Seoul
  • W Sound Studio, Seoul
  • Sonic Korea Studio, Seoul
Genre
Length52:01
LanguageKorean
LabelLOEN
Producer
  • Shin Won-soo
  • Jo Yeong-cheol
  • Kim Jin-myeong
IU chronology
Real+
(2011)		 Last Fantasy
(2011)		 I U
(2011)
Singles from Last Fantasy
  1. "You & I"
    Released: November 28, 2011
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
IZM[1]

Last Fantasy is the second studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter 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 & I".

Upon its release, Last Fantasy was a huge commercial success, selling almost seven million copies of digital tracks in its first week of release.[2] The total number of its digital sales surpassed the 10 million mark the following week.[3] Meanwhile, the physical album has sold over 117,000 copies, making it the 15th best-selling Korean album of 2011.[4][upper-alpha 1]

The album's lead single "You & I" debuted at the top of the Gaon Singles Chart, with a massive first-week digital sales of 1,129,761 units.[5] It stayed at the summit for two more weeks.[6] 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.[7][8] 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.[9][10]

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.[11] In this album, IU collaborated with singer-songwriters like Yoon Sang, Kim Kwang-jin, Lee Juck, Kim Hyeon-cheol, and Ra.D.[12]

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."[13]

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" (Korean: 별을 찾는 아이; RR: Byeoreul Chatneun Ai) and the lead track "You & I" (Korean: 너랑 나; RR: Neorang Na). Both of the tracks showcased her youthful charm and sweet musicality, which gained a richer depth during her hiatus.[14]

Music videos

On November 28, 2011, the music video for "You & 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.[11]

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.[15]

Track listing

Last Fantasy track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Secret" (비밀; Bimil)Kim EanaJeong Seok-wonJeong Seok-won4:04
2."Sleeping Prince" (잠자는 숲 속의 왕자; Jamjaneun Sup Sogui Wangja, featuring Yoon Sang)Park Chang-hakYoon SangHaihm3:34
3."Holding a Star in My Heart" (별을 찾는 아이; Byeoreul Chatneun Ai, featuring Kim Kwang-jin)Heo Seung-kyungKim Kwang-jinPark Yong-jun3:58
4."You & I" (너랑 나; Neorang Na)Kim EanaLee Min-sooLee Min-soo3:59
5."Wallpaper Pattern" (벽지무늬; Byeokjimunui)Yoon Jong-shinYoon Jong-shin, Lee Geun-hoJeong Seok-won3:40
6."Uncle" (삼촌; Samchon, featuring Lee Juck)IU, Lee JuckLee JuckLee Juck, Yang Se-on3:24
7."Wisdom Tooth" (사랑니; Sarangni)G. Gorilla, IUG. GorillaG. Gorilla3:33
8."Everything's Alright" (featuring Kim Hyeon-cheol)Kim Hyeon-cheol, IUKim Hyeon-cheolKwon Tae-eun3:33
9."Last Fantasy"Kim EanaKim Hyeong-seokKim Hyeong-seok, Ryu Young-min6:07
10."Teacher" (featuring Ra.D)IU, Ra.DRa.DRa.D4:01
11."The Abandoned" (길 잃은 강아지; Gil Ireun Gang-aji)IUIUG. Gorilla3:14
12."4AM"IUCorinne Bailey RaeCorinne Bailey Rae3:02
13."L'Amant" (라망; Ramang)Jung Jae-hyungJung Jae-hyungJung Jae-hyung5:52
Total length:52:01

Notes

  • Track 2 is a cover version of the song under the same title, which was originally performed by South Korean pop duo Halo, from their first and final studio album released in 1997.[16]
  • The title of track 13 means "The Lover" in French.

Charts

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for Last Fantasy
YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2011Song of the Year – December"You & I"Won
Song of the Month – DecemberWon
2012 Record of the YearLast FantasyWon
Best Pop AlbumNominated
Album of the YearNominated
Song of the Year"You & I"Nominated
Netizen Popularity AwardNominated
Song of the YearNominated
Best Vocal Performance – SoloNominated

Release history

Release history for Last Fantasy
Region Date Format Edition Label
South Korea November 29, 2011 Digital download Standard LOEN Entertainment
November 30, 2011 CD[20]
December 1, 2011 CD[20] Limited
Various[21] November 29, 2011 Digital download
Japan November 30, 2011 EMI Music Japan

See also

Notes

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

References

  1. ↑ "Last Fantasy" (in Korean). IZM. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "IU's new album nears 7 million downloads online". 9 December 2011. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ Sales references for Last Fantasy:
  5. ↑ 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. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  6. ↑ Chart references of "You & I":
  7. ↑ Benjamin, Jeff (May 5, 2014). "IU Earns Fifth K-Pop Hot 100 No. 1, Becomes All-Time Chart Leader". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  8. ↑ Chart references of "You & I":
  9. ↑ Chart references of "Gangnam Style":
  10. ↑ Benjamin, Jeff (January 4, 2013). "K-Pop Hot 100: Lee Seung Gi Makes Chart History". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  11. 1 2 "IU unveils music video for "You & I"". Allkpop. Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  12. ↑ "Album info 'You & I'". koreangossipgirl. Archived from the original on 2012-04-17. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  13. ↑ "IU releases new album, 'Last Fantasy'". Allkpop. Archived from the original on 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  14. ↑ "IU makes her long-awaited comeback on 'Inkigayo'". Allkpop. Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  15. ↑ "IU reveals MV for 'Last Fantasy'". Allkpop. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  16. ↑ 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). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  17. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – November 27, 2011 to December 3, 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 8 December 2011. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  18. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – November 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  19. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  20. 1 2 "MelOn::[음반] 아이유 (IU) - 2집 Last Fantasy (포스터/케이스 증정)". MelOn. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  21. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Last Fantasy by IU". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
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