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.
Havana
IU Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
부서지는 파도 앞에 살면서
가장 낯설은 도시
가장 익숙한 그대와
어때요 멋질 것 같죠
여기선 다 못한 우리 비밀 얘기들
크게 나누면서 걸어 다닐래
Muchacha hermosa
아침마다 말해줘요
널 위해 한 잔 날 위해 한 잔
늦은 저녁의 피냐 콜라다
웃어요 활짝 예뻐요 찰칵
이 순간을 기억해
Havana you're my Havana
그대의 미지의 그 눈빛
Havana 언제나 설레임
그대의 존재는 날 꿈꾸게 해
너무 정신 없이 바쁠수록 소중한
그대와 마주한 짧은 순간들
기다릴 누군가가 있는 하루는 행복해
반쯤은 들뜬 내 모습
햇살이 얼핏 달콤한 귤빛
오후가 떠날 마지막 순간
그대를 만날 준비할 시간
난 여행을 떠나요
Havana you're my Havana
그대의 미지의 그 눈빛
Havana 언제나 설레임
그대의 존재는 날 꿈꾸게 해
Olá boa viagem, menina bonito
Olá muito prazer, menina bonito
그대는 나만의 휴식
고민과 걱정 사라지네
난 매일 저 멀리 떠나요
그대를 볼 때면
Havana you're my Havana
그대의 미지의 그 눈빛
Havana 언제나 설레임
그대의 존재는 날 꿈꾸게 해
Tu tu tu ru tu
날 꿈꾸게 해 ooh ah ooh ah ooh ah
The lyrics of IU's song "Havana" depict a sense of escapism and finding solace in a foreign city. The singer describes living in a place where everyone sings and faces the breaking waves but also feels unfamiliar. However, amidst this unfamiliarity, the singer finds comfort and familiarity in the presence of their loved one. They express their admiration for their partner, stating that they look cool together. The song suggests that being in Havana with their loved one brings them a sense of joy, exhilaration, and inspiration.
The lyrics mention shared secrets and conversations, suggesting that the singer and their loved one are open and connected. They talk about enjoying drinks together and ask their loved one to say "hola" and "muchacha hermosa" (beautiful girl) every morning. The lyrics also reflect on fleeting moments and the significance of small encounters with their loved one. The singer finds happiness in knowing that there is someone waiting for them and is excited about the preparations to meet their loved one.
Overall, "Havana" conveys a sense of longing for a place where the singer finds escape, love, and happiness through the presence of their loved one. It captures the desire to create lasting memories and cherish every moment with them.
Line by Line Meaning
거기선 모두가 노랠 하고 산대요
Everyone there is singing and dancing
부서지는 파도 앞에 살면서
Living in front of crashing waves
가장 낯설은 도시
The most unfamiliar city
가장 익숙한 그대와
With you, who is the most familiar
어때요 멋질 것 같죠
How does it feel? Seems cool, right?
여기선 다 못한 우리 비밀 얘기들
All the secrets we couldn't share here
크게 나누면서 걸어 다닐래
Let's walk and share them loudly
이건 외워주세요 hola
Please remember this, hola
Muchacha hermosa
Beautiful girl
아침마다 말해줘요
Tell me every morning
널 위해 한 잔 날 위해 한 잔
One drink for you, one drink for me
늦은 저녁의 피냐 콜라다
Late evening pina colada
웃어요 활짝 예뻐요 찰칵
Smile, beautiful, snap
이 순간을 기억해
Remember this moment
Havana you're my Havana
Havana, you're my Havana
그대의 미지의 그 눈빛
Your mysterious gaze
Havana 언제나 설레임
Havana, always excitement
그대의 존재는 날 꿈꾸게 해
Your presence makes me dream
너무 정신 없이 바쁠수록 소중한
The busier, the more precious
그대와 마주한 짧은 순간들
The short moments facing you
기다릴 누군가가 있는 하루는 행복해
I'm happy when I have someone to wait for
반쯤은 들뜬 내 모습
Half-excited version of me
햇살이 얼핏 달콤한 귤빛
The sunlight is faintly sweet tangerine
오후가 떠날 마지막 순간
The last moment before the afternoon leaves
그대를 만날 준비할 시간
Time to prepare to meet you
난 여행을 떠나요
I'm going on a trip
Olá boa viagem, menina bonito
Hello, good trip, beautiful girl
Olá muito prazer, menina bonito
Hello, nice to meet you, beautiful girl
그대는 나만의 휴식
You are my only rest
고민과 걱정 사라지네
Worries and concerns disappear
난 매일 저 멀리 떠나요
I leave far away every day
그대를 볼 때면
When I see you
Tu tu tu ru tu
Tu tu tu ru tu
날 꿈꾸게 해 ooh ah ooh ah ooh ah
You make me dream, ooh ah ooh ah ooh ah
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jeong Hoon Jeon, I Na Kim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-yy8zn9vc6q
팬콘 이후로 내 최애곡 하바나임ㅠㅜ
구슬씌 너무 예쁘고 살랑살랑 도랏었음🥹
좌천곡이라니!! 하바나가 좌천곡이라니ㅠㅜ!!!!
떡상해서 콘서트 정식 셋리에 들어가야 된다고 봅니다
이건 진짜 완전 축제!! 페스티벌!!!
라클에 현장의 감동이 완전히 안담기는것 같아 아쉽…🥺
이거 현장에서 직접 본 사람들이 진짜 승자다 이건 진짜 눈으로 직접 봤어야됨ㅠㅜ
그리고 일콘 블루밍이랑 나랑너도 올려주세요
일해라이담
@lee9488
아이유의 하바나 안무 요청사항 : 맨발로 추는 듯한 느낌의 춤이면서 토속적인 느낌과 해변에서 살랑살랑 거리는 느낌과 동시에 정글에 있는 것 같은 느낌ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 아이유의 요청대로 너무나도 완벽한 안무를 만들어주신 분들 감사합니다💜
@loveho0982
의상까지 그랬다면 더 좋았을것같아요!! ㅠㅠㅠㅠ 좀 더 자연스러운 산토리니해변 느낌으로요!!!!!😂
@user-bj8pb4nb2h
약간 하와이안 느낌이 나는 의상이었다면 좋았을텐데
@user-jv8cd4le1d
대한민국에사 솔로 무대로 저만한 공연장을 다 채우는...진짜 대단하다
@gksgmlrud3696
작년에훨씬 큰 잠실도 이틀이나 풀로 채워서 체조는 이제 작게 느껴지는데요
@UAENA_love
잠실 주경기장 7만석 풀로 채워도 부족할것 같아요
@user-wn9wb5mu1w
그깟 체조 쯤이야...ㅎㅎ
@user-wi3we9jc9d
이미 잠실이틀도쌉가능..ㅎㅎ
@user-ez7ni2dq9o
저길 못갔다니 ㅠㅠ 자리가없
@user-bv4ms4bp4e
와. 몇번이고 반복해서 들으면 더 좋아지네. 정말 노래 잘부른다..