2008: Debut
IU debuted on a Korean music program called M! Countdown in September 18, 2008. On September 23, 2008, she released her first mini-album, Lost and Found, in which the most famous song was the title track, "Missing Child." However, the album was not commercially successful. It wasn't until her follow-up album that she succeeded in breaking into the mainstream.
2009
On April 16, 2009, IU launched her first full album, titled Growing Up, with the lead promotional number "Boo." Within three weeks, "Boo" went up to the #1 contenders for SBS Inkigayo, and her name also went up twice on Take 7 together with other notable artists like SG Wannabe and Younha. The song also did well on KBS Music Bank K-Chart, on Mnet M!Countdown chart, and on various online music charts.
In 2009, IU sang the ending title song, "Araro", for the acclaimed MBC drama Queen Seon Duk, where she was recommended by the director, Sam Kim, citing her "clear tone and her lyrical sensibility." She was also featured on Mighty Mouth's album Love Class in the song "희망사항." In late 2009, IU recorded MC Mong's song "Love Letter For You (Neoyege Sseuneun Pyeonji)," featuring SHINee's Key as a rapper in the song.
2010
IU recorded the song "잔소리" (Nagging / Scolded) with 2AM's Seulong for the TV show We Got Married. On June 27, 2010, IU won her first award since her debut on SBS Inkigayo for "Nagging." On July 2, 2010, she won another award for that song on KBS Music Bank K-Chart. Soon after, IU was chosen to sing the main OST song for the MBC drama Road No.1 titled "여자라서" (Because I'm A Woman). IU's other collaborations include duets with Yoo Seung Ho ("사랑을 믿어요" (Believe in Love)), Sung Shi Kyung ("그대네요" (It's You)), and Big Bang's Seungri ("I Know").
IU worked with some of South Korea's most famous musicians and producers for her third mini-album, REAL, released in December 2010. Lee Min Soo and Kim Eana, the creators of IU's previous hit "Nagging", helped produce her award-winning song "좋은 날" ("Good Day"). IU received three SBS Inkigayo Mutizen awards for her performances of the song (on December 18 and December 26, 2010, and January 2, 2011), three awards from KBS Music Bank K-Chart (on December 24 and December 31, 2010, and January 7, 2011), and one award from Mnet M!Countdown on December 23, 2010.
2011
IU often covers other pop artists' songs with her guitar and features her friend Thunder from MBLAQ, most notably renditions of SHINee's "Juliette," Big Bang's "Lies," Super Junior's "Sorry, Sorry" and Girls' Generation's "Gee."
Soribada, an online music service, combined the music downloads and streams from January 1 to March 30, 2011, to name IU's song, "Good Day" as the number one song of the first quarter. Her song "Someday" from the KBS Drama Dream High OST and her ballad "The Story Only I Didn't Know" placed 4th and 7th place, respectively – showing that IU got 3 of the top 10 digital spots for the first quarter. Her first original composition, "Dreaming" was used in the drama "Dream High", but not released officially.
On June 18, 2011, IU held her first official fanmeeting and mini-concert at AX-Korea. It also marked the 1004th day since she debuted.
IU also sang a self-composed OST called "Hold my Hand" for drama series The Greatest Love.
On November 29, 2011, IU's second full length album Last Fantasy was released and achieved an ‘all-kill’ as all 13 songs immediately swept most of all the charts. The track list was revealed on November 22, 2011.
2012
On January 24, 2012, IU held a live showcase at Tokyo's Bunkamura Orchard Hall. On March 1st, 2012, she released a promotional video for the Japanese version of "Good Day", the title track of her Japanese single album. The album, which includes DVD footage from the showcase, was later released on March 21, 2012.
In early April, 2012, it was announced that IU will be holding her first solo tour, "Real Fantasy", starting in June. The tour features performances in six different cities across South Korea, including Seoul and Busan.
IU released the single album, "Spring of a Twenty Year Old" ("스무 살의 봄"), on May 11th, 2012.[16] The album contains three songs, one of which is self-composed by IU. This song, entitled "Peach" ("복숭아"), was digitally released before the album, on May 4th, 2012. A 26-minute-long documentary-style music video film was released alongside the album, featuring several interviews with IU that showcase her personal thoughts and experiences. This film contains footage of IU as she visits Venice, Italy.
2021
On January 11, 2021 IU, and her agency EDAM Entertainment, officially announced that they will be releasing a single from her upcoming album on January 27, 2021.
On January 27, 2021 at 18:00 KST (UTC+9) EDAM Entertainment globally released IU's comeback single entitled "Celebrity". The track was released in major online streaming platforms in South Korea and worldwide and achieved multiple All-Kills in Korean charts every hour.
Friday
IU Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
화요일도 성급해 보이지 안 그래
수요일은 뭔가 어정쩡한 느낌
목요일은 그냥 내가 왠지 싫어
우 이번 주 금요일
우 금요일에 시간 어때요 oh
주말까지 기다리긴 힘들어
시간아 달려라 시계를 더 보채고 싶지만
(Mind control)
일분 일초가 달콤해
이 남자 도대체 뭐야
사랑에 빠지지 않곤 못 배기겠어 (못 배기겠어)
온 종일 내 맘은 저기 시계바늘 위에 올라타
한 칸씩 그대에게 더 가까이
Na na na na na
Na na na na na na
Na na na na na
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
우 이번 주 금요일
우 금요일에 시간 어때요 oh
딱히 보고 싶은 영화는 없지만
딱히 먹고 싶은 메뉴는 없지만
주말까지 기다리긴 힘들어
시간아 달려라 시계를 더 보채고 싶지만
(Mind control)
일분 일초가 달콤해
이 남자 도대체 뭐야
사랑에 빠지지 않곤 못 배기겠어 (겠어)
온 종일 내 맘은 저기 시계바늘 위에 올라타
한 칸씩 그대에게 더 가까이
나 뭔가에 홀린 것 같아
이 여잔 도대체 뭐야
사랑해주지 않고는 못 배기겠어
돌아오는 이번 주 금요일에 만나요
그 날 내 맘을 더 가져가줘요
Na 더 가까이 (na na na na) 더 가까이
Na na na na na na 더 가까이 더 가까이 와요
Na na na na na 더 가까이
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
The lyrics to IU's song Friday describe the excitement and anticipation for the upcoming Friday. The lyrics suggest that the week leading up to Friday might be busy on Monday, but then become rushed and stressful on Tuesday, uncertain on Wednesday, and unpleasant on Thursday. Friday represents the end of the week and the possibility of a break from the pressures of everyday life. The lyrics convey a sense of longing for the weekend, and the desire to spend time with someone special.
The chorus repeats the phrase "일분 일초가 달콤해" which translates to "every minute, every second is sweet." This line suggests that time is passing quickly, but that every moment is cherished, especially when spent with someone special. The lyrics also suggest that the singer may be falling in love and cannot resist the feeling of being with someone they care about.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of playfulness and lightheartedness. The melody is upbeat and the lyrics are filled with catchy chants of "na na na" and "la la la" which add to the overall carefree and joyous feeling of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
월요일엔 아마 바쁘지 않을까
Perhaps you won't be busy on Monday
화요일도 성급해 보이지 안 그래
You don't seem patient on Tuesday
수요일은 뭔가 어정쩡한 느낌
Wednesday has a strange feeling
목요일은 그냥 내가 왠지 싫어
I just don't like Thursdays for some reason
우 이번 주 금요일
Oh, this Friday
우 금요일에 시간 어때요 oh
How about the time on Friday, oh
주말까지 기다리긴 힘들어
It's hard to wait until the weekend
시간아 달려라 시계를 더 보채고 싶지만
Time, hurry up, I want to look at the clock more
(Mind control)
Mind control
일분 일초가 달콤해
Every minute and second is sweet
이 남자 도대체 뭐야
What is this guy
사랑에 빠지지 않곤 못 배기겠어 (못 배기겠어)
I can't hold myself back without falling in love (can't hold myself back)
온 종일 내 맘은 저기 시계바늘 위에 올라타
All day, my heart rides on the clock hand up there
한 칸씩 그대에게 더 가까이
One step closer to you
Na na na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na na na
Na na na na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na na
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
우 이번 주 금요일
Oh, this Friday
우 금요일에 시간 어때요 oh
How about the time on Friday, oh
딱히 보고 싶은 영화는 없지만
There's no movie I really want to see
딱히 먹고 싶은 메뉴는 없지만
There's no menu I really want to eat
나 뭔가에 홀린 것 같아
I feel like I'm captivated by something
이 여잔 도대체 뭐야
What is this girl
사랑해주지 않고는 못 배기겠어
I can't hold myself back without you loving me
돌아오는 이번 주 금요일에 만나요
Let's meet this coming Friday
그 날 내 맘을 더 가져가줘요
Please take more of my heart on that day
Na 더 가까이 (na na na na) 더 가까이
Na, closer (na na na na) closer
Na na na na na na 더 가까이 더 가까이 와요
Na na na na na na, come closer, come closer
Na na na na na 더 가까이
Na na na na na, closer
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Ji Eun Lee
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind