Real (IU EP)

Real
EP by IU
Released December 9, 2010
(see release history)
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 Entertainment
Producer Jo Yeong-cheol, Choi Gap-won
IU chronology

IU...IM
(2009)		 Real
(2010)		 Real+
(2011)
Singles from Real
  1. "Good Day (좋은 날)"
    Released: December 9, 2010

Real (stylized as REAL) is the third Korean-language extended play (EP) by South Korean singer and actress 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 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.[1] The album's success strengthened the singer's position as "the nation's sweetheart" in her native country.

Background

Real consists of six songs and an instrumental of the title track, "Good Day" (Hangul: 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", which 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 on this album include "The Night of the First Breakup" (Hangul: 첫 이별 그날 밤; RR: Cheot Ibyeol Geunal Bam), a story about the day of a panicking girl who broke up with her boyfriend; "Alone in the Room" (Hangul: 혼자 있는 방; RR: Honja Itneun Bang), which 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" (Hangul: 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" (Hangul: 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.[2]

IU made her official comeback through KBS's Music Bank on December 10, 2010.

Track listing

※ Bolded tracks identify singles from the album.

CD/Digital download[3]
No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "This Is Not What I Thought" (이게 아닌데; Ige Aninde)Kim EanaKim Hyeong-seok 3:07
2. "The Thing I Do Slowly" (느리게 하는 일; Neurige Haneun Il)Choi Gap-wonPeejay, Min Woong-shik 4:13
3. "Good Day" (좋은 날; Joeun Nal)Kim EanaLee Min-soo 3:53
4. "The Night of the First Breakup" (첫 이별 그날 밤; Cheot Ibyeol Geunal Bam)Yoon Jong-shinYoon Jong-shin 4:26
5. "Alone in the Room" (혼자 있는 방; Honja Itneun Bang)Choi Gap-won, IUJeon Seung-woo 3:58
6. "Merry Christmas in Advance" (미리 메리 크리스마스; Miri Meri Keuriseumaseu, featuring Thunder)Choi Gap-wonShinsadong Tiger, Choi Gyu-seong 4:28
7. "Good Day (Instrumental)"  Kim EanaLee Min-soo 3:53
Total length:
 26:38

Chart performance

Album charts

Chart (2010-11) Peak
position		 Sales
South Korean Gaon Weekly Albums Chart[4] 2
South Korean Gaon Monthly Albums Chart[6] 3
South Korean Gaon Year-End Albums Chart[7] 33 (2011)

Single charts

Good Day

Chart (2010-11) Peak
position		 Sales
South Korean Gaon Weekly Singles Chart[8] 1
  • KOR: 3,592,811+ (digital downloads only)[9]
South Korean Gaon Monthly Singles Chart[10] 1
South Korean Gaon Year-End Singles Chart[11] 17 (2011)

Other charted songs

Title Peak chart position Sales
KOR
Gaon
"This Is Not What I Thought" 9
"Merry Christmas in Advance" 7
  • KOR: 596,962+ (digital downloads only)[12]
"The Thing I Do Slowly" 21
"The Night of the First Breakup" 20
"Alone in the Room" 27
"Good Day (Instrumental)" 193

Awards and nominations

Annual music awards

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2010
5th Cyworld Digital Music Awards
Song of the Month – December "Good Day" Won
2011
20th Seoul Music Awards
Bonsang Award (Main Prize) "Good Day" Won
Record of the Year in Digital Release "Good Day" Won
3rd MelOn Music Awards
Top 10 Artists IU Won
13th Mnet Asian Music Awards
Best Female Artist IU Nominated
Best Vocal Performance – Solo "Good Day" Won
2012
9th Korean Music Awards
Song of the Year "Good Day" Won
Best Pop Song "Good Day" 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[13] Digital download

See also

Footnotes

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

References

  1. ↑ IU releases her new album, “REAL”. Allkpop. Retrieved on 2012-3-13.
  2. ↑ Update: IU to release 3rd mini album "Real" on December 9th. koreaboo. Retrieved on 2012-3-13.
  3. ↑ (Korean)
  4. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – December 19, 2010 to December 25, 2010". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  5. ↑ :: 가온차트와 함께하세요 ::. Gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved on 2011-10-24.
  6. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – December 2010". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  7. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  8. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Overall singles – December 5, 2010 to December 11, 2010". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  9. ↑ Sales references for "Good Day":
  10. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Overall singles – December 2010". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  11. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Overall singles – 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  12. ↑ Sales references for "Merry Christmas in Advance":
  13. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Real by IU". iTunes Store. Retrieved 24 November 2013.

External links