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.
하루 끝
IU Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
처음처럼 설레이는 그런 날
Sunday, better day
종일 너만 생각하는 그런 날
욕심이 나
우리 사이 요만큼만 더 가까이
딱 한 발짝, 그만큼 더 가까이
혼잣말이 속삭임이
네가 좋아서 그래
나 차가운 척 표정 짓고 있지만
내 마음은 그게 아닌데 거짓말인데
바보 같은 네가 난 답답해
너무 좋아서 그래
나 시무룩한 얼굴하고 있지만
또 기다리다, 고민만 하다
흘러가는 하루 끝에서 하는 말
내가 널 사랑해
One day, holiday
혼자 있긴 너무너무 싫은 날
One day, cloudy day
울 것처럼 하늘도 찌푸린 날
눈물이 와, 서글픈
내 맘을 닮은 눈물이 와
꾹 참았다 쏟아지는
내 맘이 온 하늘에, 온 세상에
그저 슬픈 건 아닐 거야
네가 좋아서 그래
나 차가운 척 표정 짓고 있지만
내 마음은 그게 아닌데 거짓말인데
바보 같은 네가 난 답답해
너무 좋아서 그래
나 시무룩한 얼굴하고 있지만
또 기다리다, 고민만 하다
흘러가는 하루 끝에서 하는 말
내가 널 사랑해
내 입술엔 거짓말
내 눈 속엔 정말 하고픈 말
맘속에 숨어 있는 말
많이 좋아서 그래
뒤돌아서 느려진 발걸음을 봐
널 기다리는 맘인 거잖아
날 지켜본 너라면 알잖아
내가 몰라서 그래
네 마음이 들리게 내게 말해줘
손 내밀면, 될 것 같은데
망설이는 이유가 나와 같다면
이제 다가와 줘
In IU's song Every End of the Day, the lyrics express the feelings of a person who is in love with someone but is too hesitant to express their emotions. The song portrays the highs and lows of confessing one’s love. The opening line speaks of Monday and Sunday being better days, symbolizing that the person’s mood changes depending on whether they are hopeful or filled with doubt. The lyrics "너가 좋아서 그래" (because I like you) and "내가 널 사랑해" (I love you) express the singer’s desire to confess his or her love, but at the same time, it highlights their fear of rejection. The singer is struggling to keep their emotions in check, and the lyrics "나 차가운 척 표정 짓고 있지만" (I pretend to be cold) and "나 시무룩한 얼굴하고 있지만" (I wear a gloomy face) describe the efforts of the singer to hide their true emotions.
The song is a beautiful representation of the inner struggle that a person goes through when trying to confess their love. The singer is scared of losing the person they love, but at the same time, they cannot help but express their true feelings. The song portrays the anxiety, doubt, and hope that one feels when they are in love, and the lyrics speak to the heart of anyone who has ever had to navigate the complex emotions of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Monday, better day
The day feels great like it's the beginning
처음처럼 설레이는 그런 날
Feels like the day when you first started to get excited
Sunday, better day
The day feels great like it's Sunday
종일 너만 생각하는 그런 날
A day when I think of only you all day long
욕심이 나
I want to be a little closer to you
우리 사이 요만큼만 더 가까이
Just a little closer to each other
딱 한 발짝, 그만큼 더 가까이
Just a step closer, that much closer
혼잣말이 속삭임이
Talking to myself in a whisper
너도 궁금할 순 있잖아
You might be curious too
네가 좋아서 그래
I act like I'm uninterested but it's because I like you
나 차가운 척 표정 짓고 있지만
I'm pretending to be cold
내 마음은 그게 아닌데 거짓말인데
It's not what I feel but I'm lying
바보 같은 네가 난 답답해
It's frustrating when you act like a fool
너무 좋아서 그래
I act sad even though I'm happy
나 시무룩한 얼굴하고 있지만
I'm looking gloomy
또 기다리다, 고민만 하다
I keep waiting and worrying
흘러가는 하루 끝에서 하는 말
The words I say at the end of the day
내가 널 사랑해
I love you
One day, holiday
A day when I can't stand being alone
혼자 있긴 너무너무 싫은 날
I hate being alone so much
One day, cloudy day
A cloudy day when it looks like it's going to rain
울 것처럼 하늘도 찌푸린 날
The sky is frowning like it's about to cry
눈물이 와, 서글픈
Tears come, it's sad
내 맘을 닮은 눈물이 와
Tears that resemble my heart
꾹 참았다 쏟아지는
I held them back, but they pour out
내 맘이 온 하늘에, 온 세상에
My heart is in the sky, in the world
그저 슬픈 건 아닐 거야
It's not just sad
내 입술엔 거짓말
I'm lying with my lips
내 눈 속엔 정말 하고픈 말
Inside my eyes, there's something I really want to say
맘속에 숨어 있는 말
The words hidden in my heart
많이 좋아서 그래
I'm slowing down so I can look at you
뒤돌아서 느려진 발걸음을 봐
I'm just waiting for you
널 기다리는 맘인 거잖아
My heart is waiting for you
날 지켜본 너라면 알잖아
If you were watching me, you know
내가 몰라서 그래
I don't know how to express myself
네 마음이 들리게 내게 말해줘
Please tell me you hear my heart
손 내밀면, 될 것 같은데
If I reach out, it feels like it will work out
망설이는 이유가 나와 같다면
If the reason you're hesitating is the same as mine
이제 다가와 줘
Now, come to me
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Do Hoon Kim, Ina Kim, Keun Tae Park
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind