Last Fantasy

Last Fantasy is the second Korean-language 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 and I".

Last Fantasy
Studio album by
IU
ReleasedNovember 29, 2011
Recorded2011
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
GenreK-pop, electronic, jazz, orchestral pop
Length52:01
LanguageKorean
LabelLOEN
ProducerShin Won-soo (Executive), Jo Yeong-cheol, Kim Jin-myeong
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
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
IZM[1]

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 and 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 and 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 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.[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
CD/Digital download
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Secret" (비밀; Bimil)Kim EanaJeong Seok-wonJeong Seok-won4:04
2."Sleeping Prince of the Woods" (잠자는 숲 속의 왕자; Jamjaneun Sup Sogui Wangja, featuring Yoon Sang)Park Chang-hakYoon SangHaihm3:34
3."A Child Searching for Stars" (별을 찾는 아이; Byeoreul Chatneun Ai, featuring Kim Kwang-jin)Heo Seung-kyungKim Kwang-jinPark Yong-jun3:58
4."You and I" (너랑 나; Neorang Na)Kim EanaLee Min-sooLee Min-soo3:59
5."Wallpaper Patterns" (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."A Stray Puppy" (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

Single

Awards and nominations

Annual music awards
YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
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 – DecemberWon
2012
21st Seoul Music Awards
Bonsang Award (Main Prize)IUWon
Record of the YearLast FantasyWon
9th Korean Music Awards
Best Pop AlbumNominated
4th Melon Music Awards
Artist of the YearIUNominated
Album of the YearLast FantasyNominated
Song of the Year"You and I"Nominated
Netizen Popularity AwardNominated
Top 10 ArtistsIUWon
14th Mnet Asian Music Awards
Artist of the YearNominated
Song of the Year"You and I"Nominated
Best Female ArtistIUWon
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[27]
December 1, 2011 CD[27] Limited Edition
Worldwide[28] 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. "Last Fantasy" (in Korean). IZM. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  2. "IU's new album nears 7 million downloads online". 9 December 2011. 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. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  6. Chart references of "You and I":
  7. 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.
  8. Chart references of "You and 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. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  11. "IU unveils music video for "You and I"". Allkpop.
  12. "Album info 'You and I'". koreangossipgirl. Archived from the original on 2012-04-17. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  13. "IU releases new album, 'Last Fantasy'". Allkpop.
  14. "IU makes her long-awaited comeback on 'Inkigayo'". Allkpop.
  15. "IU reveals MV for 'Last Fantasy'". Allkpop.
  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). 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. "Oricon Singles Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon Chart. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  21. "IU Chart History: Japan Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  22. "KOREA K-POP HOT 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  23. "Digital Chart – Week 50 of 2011". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  24. "IU Chart History: World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  25. "2011년 Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  26. "2012년 Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  27. "MelOn::[음반] 아이유 (IU) - 2집 Last Fantasy (포스터/케이스 증정)". MelOn. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  28. "iTunes - Music - Last Fantasy by IU". iTunes Store. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
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