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.
Face to Face
IU Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take my hands baby
I want take you there
I love you, I love you
너에게만 하고 싶은 말
Only you, only you
내 맘속엔 항상 너 뿐이야
처음엔 오래 고민했어
나보다 오빤 줄 알았어
그래서 난 말 걸어보기가
조금은 힘이 들었나 봐
이젠 아닌 걸 너는 내 것인 걸
You know (I already know, let's go)
I love you, I love you
너에게만 하고 싶은 말
Only you, only you
내 맘속엔 항상 너 뿐이야
네가 내 손을 잡아줄 때
머리를 쓰다듬어 줄 때
부드럽게 미소를 지을 때
가슴이 떨려 미치겠어
때론 삐치고 때론 투정해도
You know (I already know, let's go)
I love you, I love you
너에게만 하고 싶은 말
Only you, only you
내 맘속엔 항상 너 뿐이야
And I'm da one for you
이제는 내 어깨에 기대봐 my babe
내 손을 잡고 함께 fly babe
Let's fly to the sky
저 밤하늘에 별
너와 함께 세고 싶어 from now to the death
그래 내 옆이 네 자리
여긴 널 위한 new folder click click
때로는 둘도 없는 친구 때로는
잔소리 늘어놓는 친오빠처럼
달콤한 말만 속삭이는 애인처럼
자 let it go
I love you, I love you
너에게만 하고 싶은 말
(Thank God I found you, 넌 나의 Crown J.E 지)
Only you, only you
내 맘속엔 항상 너 뿐이야
(Uh and I'm da one for you)
손가락 걸고 단 한 가지만
꼭 꼭 약속해
(I promise you, and you gave me a promise)
해와 달 별이 다 사라져도 영원히 둘이
(Swear to God that I love you)
The lyrics of IU's song "Face to Face" express deep and genuine love towards someone. The singer is expressing their affection and devotion, stating that their love is real and they want to take the person's hand and go somewhere together. They repeatedly declare their love for this person, emphasizing that their heart only belongs to them. Initially, the singer hesitated and thought the other person was better than them, which made it difficult for them to initiate conversation. However, they now realize that the person is theirs and they already know it, encouraging them to move forward.
The lyrics convey the singer's overwhelming emotions when the person holds their hand, caresses their head, or smiles at them softly. These simple gestures make their heart tremble, indicating the depth of their love. The singer acknowledges that there may be times of disagreement or tantrums, but despite that, they already know the love they have is strong and enduring.
Overall, "Face to Face" is a heartfelt declaration of love and devotion to someone special, affirming that their love is sincere and unwavering.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeh my love is real
Yes, my love for you is genuine and true
Take my hands baby
Hold my hand, my love
I want take you there
I want to go with you to a special place
I love you, I love you
I am deeply in love with you, expressing it twice
너에게만 하고 싶은 말
The words I want to say are only for you
Only you, only you
You are the only one for me, the only one in my heart
내 맘속엔 항상 너 뿐이야
You're always the only one in my heart
처음엔 오래 고민했어
At first, I hesitated for a long time
나보다 오빤 줄 알았어
I thought you were better than me
그래서 난 말 걸어보기가
That's why I found it difficult to approach you
조금은 힘이 들었나 봐
It seems like it took a little effort
이젠 아닌 걸 너는 내 것인 걸
You aren't just someone anymore, you are mine
You know (I already know, let's go)
You know how I feel, and we can move forward together
네가 내 손을 잡아줄 때
When you hold my hand
머리를 쓰다듬어 줄 때
When you gently stroke my head
부드럽게 미소를 지을 때
When you softly smile
가슴이 떨려 미치겠어
My heart trembles and I feel crazy
때론 삐치고 때론 투정해도
Sometimes I act spoiled, sometimes I throw tantrums
You know (I already know, let's go)
You know me well, and we can overcome it together
And I'm da one for you
I am the one meant for you
이제는 내 어깨에 기대봐 my babe
Now lean on my shoulder, my baby
내 손을 잡고 함께 fly babe
Hold my hand and let's fly together, babe
Let's fly to the sky
Let's soar up to the sky
저 밤하늘에 별
The stars in the night sky
너와 함께 세고 싶어 from now to the death
I want to count the stars with you from now until the end
그래 내 옆이 네 자리
Yes, being by my side is where you belong
여긴 널 위한 new folder click click
This is a new folder created just for you
때로는 둘도 없는 친구 때로는
Sometimes, we are unique friends, sometimes
잔소리 늘어놓는 친오빠처럼
I nag at you like an older brother
달콤한 말만 속삭이는 애인처럼
I whisper sweet words to you like a lover
자 let it go
Let it go and just be ourselves
넌 나의 Crown J.E 지
You are my Crown J.E
손가락 걸고 단 한 가지만
Pinkie swear, with only one thing
꼭 꼭 약속해
Promise me, firmly promise
해와 달 별이 다 사라져도 영원히 둘이
Even if the sun, moon, and stars disappear, we will always be together
Swear to God that I love you
I swear to God that I love you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kab Won Choi, Su Jong Park
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind