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.
New World
IU Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dokoka he nigedashite
Iketa nara sometimes you swear
Kako ni shibararete
Mirai wo osorete
Tojita eyes Hiraite take me there
Motto karei ni
Bokutachi wa utai odoreru
If your tears are falling
Makes your smile more shining
KIMI-rashiku umarekawaru
Start of New world
Shippai wo Hajiratte
Jishin sae nakushite
Soredemo if you couldn't despair
Dareka wo aishite
Iki mo dekinaku natte
Isn't it hard pretending like Okay
Motto kirameki
Motto kagayaku
Bokutachi ga hikari hanateba
If your tears are falling
Makes your smile more shining
Arata na tobira wo hiraite
Start of New world
World
Sono sekai wa
wonderful
Hajimaru sono sekai wa
beautiful
Motto jiyuu ni
Motto karei ni
Bokutachi wa utai odoreru
If your tears are falling
Makes your smile more shining
KIMI-rashiku umarekawaru
Start of New world
Motto kirameki
Motto kagayaku
Bokutachi ga hikaru hanateba
If your tears are falling
Makes your smile more shining
Arata na tobira wo hiraite
Start of New world
The lyrics of IU's New World embody the idea of leaving behind the past and embracing a brighter future. The first verse talks about leaving everything behind and running away from reality, hoping to find something better. However, the second verse paints a different picture, acknowledging the fear of the unknown and the difficulty in pretending that everything is okay. Regardless of the struggle, the chorus encourages shining through despite the tears and embracing one's identity. The song is a message of hope and strength. It talks about the importance of shedding the past and creating a new beginning, one that is full of possibilities and opportunities. The lyrics capture the essence of IU's message of growth and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
Subete wo wasurete
Forgetting everything
Dokoka he nigedashite
Escape somewhere
Iketa nara sometimes you swear
Sometimes you swear if you were able to go
Kako ni shibara rete
Bound by the past
Mirai wo osorete
Afraid of the future
Tojita eyes Hiraite take me there
Open your closed eyes and take me there
Motto jiyuu ni
More free
Motto karei ni
More beautiful
Bokutachi wa utai odoreru
We can sing and dance
If your tears are falling
If your tears fall
Makes your smile more shining
It makes your smile shine more
KIMI-rashiku umarekawaru
We will be reborn like ourselves
Start of New world
This is the start of a new world
Shippai wo Hajiratte
Embarrassed by failure
Jishin sae nakushite
Even losing confidence
Soredemo if you couldn't despair
Even if you couldn't despair
Dareka wo aishite
To love someone
Iki mo dekinaku natte
Even losing breath
Isn't it hard pretending like Okay
Isn't it hard to pretend that you're okay
Motto kirameki
More glitter
Motto kagayaku
More shining
Bokutachi ga hikari hanateba
If we emit light
Arata na tobira wo hiraite
Open a new door
World
The world
Sono sekai wa
That world is
wonderful
wonderful
Hajimaru sono sekai wa
The world that begins
beautiful
beautiful
Writer(s): Christoffer Thomas Viktor Vikberg, Ali Thomson, Ivan Kort, Alina Natalie Devecerski Copyright: Reverb Music, Joveek Music Publishing, BMG Chrysalis Scandinavia AB
Contributed by Lucy S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
rosetea
Her voice sounds amazing here ..and seriously loving the song! IU fighting!!
Melai Cupido
I have always been believing in this girl. She has a lot to go through. I know it hasn't really been easy pleasing her fans, but I know, all this hard works will get payed off in due time. I wish for the best on IU. I love her so much! Daebak! Fighting IU-ssi!!
짱유애나
왜 이렇게 귀엽지? 노래 잘하지? 연기 잘하지? 일본말도 잘하지? 못하는게 없네--- 진짜 짱이당!! 아이유언니 화이팅!!!
みるくてぃー
すごく癒やされます！IUさんみたいな素晴らしい声になりたいです！
SquishyZuzu
Already love this song!! Can't wait for the rest!
Sal E
She sounds amazing. And she looks so cute~ I luv the shirt <3 IU HWAITING!!! The song is so good with her voice...
Yang Wei
IU is very talented. Love her singing and acting...
吉村正浩
good song! good voice! best vocalist!
milkshania
i love her voice in this song!
Ragini
Her voice is so beautiful <3