Real (IU EP)
Real (stylized as REAL) is the third Korean-language extended play (EP) by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released and distributed by LOEN Entertainment on December 9, 2010. The special edition of the album was sold out during pre-order, which revealed the high anticipation for the album. IU collaborated with some of the top vocalists and producers in South Korea such as Yoon Jong-shin, Kim Hyeong-seok, Lee Min-soo, Kim Eana, Shinsadong Tiger, and Choi Gap-won to work on the album.[2] The album's success strengthened the singer's position as the "Nation's little sister" in her native country. In November 2019, Billboard magazine compiled a list of the 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s, with the single "Good Day" ranking at number one.[3]
| Real | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Digital release and standard edition | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | December 9, 2010 | |||
| Recorded | 2010 LOEN Studio, Seoul, South Korea T Studio, Seoul, South Korea Booming Studio, Seoul, South Korea Music Cabal Studio, Seoul, South Korea K-Note Studio, Seoul, South Korea Vitamin Studio, Seoul, South Korea W Sound Studio, Seoul, South Korea Sonic Korea Studio, Seoul, South Korea | |||
| Genre | K-pop, ballad, dance-pop, electronic | |||
| Length | 26:38 | |||
| Language | Korean | |||
| Label | LOEN | |||
| Producer | Jo Yeong-cheol, Choi Gap-won | |||
| IU chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Real | ||||
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| IU singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Good Day" on YouTube | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| IZM (for "Good Day")[1] |   |
Background and release
Real consists of six songs and an instrumental of the title track, "Good Day" (Korean: 좋은 날; RR: Joeun Nal). The album came in two different versions, normal and special edition. IU had worked with composers of hit songs such as "Abracadabra", "Nagging", and "Irreversible" to develop this album.
The album reflected the natural image of IU, as described by the album title. The title track is "Good Day" includes a musical combination of violin, wind instruments, guitar, and piano. It also displays her powerful vocals. The lyrics describe a story of a girl who doesn't have the courage to confess to her crush, the sweetness and tension of a first love.
IU also tried out a new music genre, electronic, in this album ("This Is Not What I Thought"). Other songs in this album includes "The Night of the First Breakup" (Korean: 첫 이별 그날 밤; RR: Cheot Ibyeol Geunal Bam), a story about the day of a panicking girl who just broke up with her boyfriend; "Alone in the Room" (Korean: 혼자 있는 방; RR: Honja Itneun Bang), lets you feel a mature side of IU and is filled with the emotions of an 18-year-old girl as IU co-wrote the lyrics to this song; "The Thing I Do Slowly" (Korean: 느리게 하는 일; RR: Neurige Haneun Il), a ballad that describes a girl trying to forget her love after a breakup; and "Merry Christmas in Advance" (Korean: 미리 메리 크리스마스; RR: Miri Meri Kriseumaseu), a confession from IU to the fans, which was composed by Shinsadong Tiger. It features rapping from Thunder, who has been friends with IU since pre-debut, and the tune is a love song which brings everyone love during Christmas.[4]
IU made her official comeback through KBS's Music Bank on December 10, 2010.
As of 2012, the album has sold more than 85,000 copies.[upper-alpha 1]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "This Is Not What I Thought" (이게 아닌데; Ige Aninde, lit. Not Like This) | Kim Eana | Kim Hyung-seok | Yoon Woo-seok | 3:07 |
| 2. | "The Thing I Do Slowly" (느리게 하는 일; Neurige Haneun Il, lit. What I'm Doing Slow) | Choi Gap-won | PJ, Min Woong-shik | Kim Jin-hoon | 4:13 |
| 3. | "Good Day" (좋은 날; Joeun Nal) | Kim Eana | Lee Min-soo | Lee Min-soo | 3:53 |
| 4. | "The Night of the First Breakup" (첫 이별 그날 밤; Cheot Ibyeol Geunal Bam) | Yoon Jong-shin | Yoon Jong-shin | Jo Jung-chi | 4:26 |
| 5. | "Alone in the Room" (혼자 있는 방; Honja Itneun Bang, lit. Lonely Room) | Choi Gap-won, IU | Jeon Seung-woo | Jeon Seung-woo | 3:58 |
| 6. | "Merry Christmas in Advance" (미리 메리 크리스마스; Miri Meri Keuriseumaseu, featuring Thunder) | Choi Gap-won | Shinsadong Tiger, Choi Kyu-sung | Shinsadong Tiger, Choi Kyu-sung | 4:28 |
| 7. | "Good Day (Instrumental)" | Lee Min-soo | Lee Min-soo | 3:53 | |
| Total length: | 26:38 | ||||
Charts
Awards and nominations
Annual music awards
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Song of the Month – December | "Good Day" | Won | |
| 2011 | Bonsang Award (Main Prize) | Won | ||
| Record of the Year in Digital Release | Won | |||
| Song of the Year | "Good Day" | Won | ||
| Top 10 Artists | IU | Won | ||
| Best Female Artist | Nominated | |||
| Best Vocal Performance – Solo | "Good Day" | Won | ||
| 2012 | Song of the Year | Won | ||
| Best Pop Song | Won | |||
| Female Musician of the Year (Netizen Vote) | IU | Won |
Music program awards
| Song | Program | Date |
|---|---|---|
| "Good Day" | Music Bank (KBS) | December 24, 2010 |
| December 31, 2010 | ||
| January 7, 2011 | ||
| The Music Trend (SBS) | December 19, 2010 | |
| December 26, 2010 | ||
| January 2, 2011 | ||
| M Countdown (Mnet) | December 23, 2010 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Edition | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | December 9, 2010 | CD, digital download | Standard Edition | LOEN Entertainment |
| CD+DVD | Special Limited Edition | |||
| Worldwide[10] | Digital download |
Footnotes
- Sales for both standard and special limited editions are combined.[5]
References
- "Every End of the Day" (in Korean). IZM. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
- IU releases her new album, “REAL”. Allkpop. Retrieved on 2012-3-13.
- Billboard Staff (November 25, 2019). "The 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
- Update: IU to release 3rd mini album "Real" on December 9th Archived 2013-12-02 at the Wayback Machine. koreaboo. Retrieved on 2012-3-13.
- Sales references for Real:
- "2010년 가온차트 부문별 Top 100위 ("2010 Gaon Chart Sectoral Top 100")". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. 8 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-02-13. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album (Domestic) – 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album (Domestic) – May 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- (in Korean)
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – December 19, 2010 to December 25, 2010". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – December 2010". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- "iTunes - Music - Real by IU". iTunes Store. Retrieved 24 November 2013.