Lee Ji-eun (Hangul : 이지은, born May 16, 1993), better known by her stage name IU (Korean: 아이유), is a South Korean singer and actress.[2] Her stage name is derived from the phrase "I and You", which symbolizes that we can become one through music.[3] In her home country of South Korea, she is often referred to as the "Nation's Little Sister" due to her various personality traits.[citation needed] Her fan club name is U-ana (Uaena), where each syllable has a different meaning: "you" is from English, "ae" is Sino-Korean for "love", and "na" is Korean for "me".[citation needed] In 2012, IU ranked #19 on "The 23rd Annual Independent Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Faces."[citation needed]
Biography
2008: Debut
IU debuted on Mnet M! Countdown in September 18, 2008 with her debut single "Lost Child". It was later released as the title track for her debut mini-album Lost and Found on September 24, 2008.[4] However, she did not gain mainstream popularity until her follow-up and debut studio album Growing Up.2009: First studio album, mainstream success, and other activities
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.[citation needed]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."[5] 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 to You" featuring SHINee's Key as the rapper.
2010: Nagging for We Got Married and third mini album
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").[citation needed]IU worked with some of South Korea's most famous musicians and producers for her third mini-album, Real, released in December 2010.[6] Lee Min Soo and Kim Eana, the creators of IU's previous hit "Nagging", helped produce her award-winning song "좋은 날" ("Good Day")."[7] IU received three SBS Inkigayo Mutizen Song 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.[citation needed]
2011: Rising popularity, Real+, and Last Fantasy
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."[8]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", from her Real+ mini-album, 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.[9]
IU also sang a self-composed OST called "Hold my Hand" for drama series The Greatest Love.[10]
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.[11][12] The track list was revealed on November 22, 2011.
2012: Japanese Debut and Spring of a Twenty Year Old
On January 24, 2012, IU held a live showcase at Tokyo's Bunkamura Orchard Hall.[13] At the time of the showcase, it was noted that she was the youngest Korean singer ever to perform at the Hall.[14] On March 1st, 2012, she released a promotional video for the Japanese version of "Good Day", the title track of her Japanese single album.[15] The album, which includes DVD footage from the showcase,[16] was later released on March 21, 2012.[17]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.[18]
IU released the single album, Spring of a Twenty Year Old, on May 11th, 2012.[19] The album contains three songs, one of which is self-composed by IU. This song, entitled "Peach", was digitally released before the album, on May 4th, 2012.[20] A 26-minute-long documentary-style music video film was released alongside the album, featuring the album track, "Every End of the Day", and several interviews with IU that showcase her personal thoughts and experiences. This film contains footage of IU as she visits Venice, Italy.[21] Due to her commitments towards preparing for her first solo tour, she was unable to make broadcast promotions for the single. Additionally, while touring, she had to leave her hosting job at SBS' Inkigayo,[22] though she returned upon the tour's completion.[citation needed]
You & I, IU's second Japanese single, was released on July 18th.[23]
In December, IU's entertainment company, LOEN Entertainment, announced that IU will be having a comeback in 2013. The album, which is expected to have a mature theme in opposition to the "Nation's Little Sister" image that IU has presented on her previous work, will be released in March or April.[24]
On December 29, IU hosted the 2012 SBS Gayo Daejeon, an annual music program, alongside Miss A's Suzy and actor Jung Gyu-woon. She was selected for her "stable emceeing skills as she served as the MC for Inkigayo".[25]
Endorsements and other activities
Endorsements
IU has secured a number of endorsement deals,[26] including the 2011 UNIONBAY clothing line (with Seo In-Kook),[27] MyChew candy, and the action-riding game The Story of My Horse and I, Alicia. In 2011, IU became the next pop star spokesmodel for Mexicana Chicken.[28] Samsung selected IU to represent their Anycall brand, previously endorsed by such stars as Lee Hyori, BoA, and Junki, stating "we believe that [IU] has the potential to create a big bang within the industry.".[29] In the same year, IU endorsed for SK Telecom, Namyang Dairy, S-Oil, Home Plus, Y'SB, Le Coq Sportif, Elite school uniforms, and was chosen to be the ambassador for Yeosu Expo Korea 2012. In 2012, IU secured the endorsement deals for G by Guess[30] and cosmetics brand, The Saem[31] as well. On December 4, 2012, it was announced that IU would endorse NCsoft's Aion: The Tower of Eternity video game.[32]Other activities
In August 2009, IU became a host for the new program Gom Music Chart on GomTV, a weekly show where South Korean netizens vote for their favorite songs on the charts.[citation needed] For a time, IU became a fixed guest on Super Junior's Kiss the Radio, Maybee's Raise the Volume, and MBC's Starry Night (hosted by Park Kyung-lim and Shin Young) and Chin Chin Radio (hosted by Taeyeon). Upon Taeyeon's departure, she was chosen as a temporary DJ for two weeks together with Beast member Doojoon.[citation needed] IU is currently the VJ for MBC Game's Star for You.[citation needed] In October and November of 2010, IU introduced the competing players in season 2 of GomTV's Global Starcraft II League.[33] IU is also one of twelve original female cast members chosen for the SBS variety show Heroes.[34]IU took up a role as Kim Pil Suk in the KBS 2TV teen drama series Dream High.[35]
On February 6, 2011, it was announced that IU would be a guest performer for British contemporary jazz & soul singer, Corinne Bailey Rae, during her 1st Korean concert.[36] She was also featured in K-Will's music video for his song "My Heart is Beating" along with MBLAQ's Lee Joon and Boyfriend's No Minwoo.
Between May and July in 2011, IU attended the filming for SBS's Kiss & Cry, where celebrities show off their figure skating skills.[37] However, she was eliminated in Episode 8.[38] Also during this time, she participated in KBS Immortal Song 2. [39] However due to her overwhelming schedule of "Kiss & Cry" and MC duties for “Inkigayo”, she withdrawn from Immortal Song to focus on her upcoming album. [40]
IU performed at the 2011 GSL Blizzard Cup finals,[41] with the songs "Good Day" and "You and I".[42] This is not the first time she would be involved in the GSL, as she also did the voice over for the player introductions and openers in previous seasons as well.[43]
On March 22 2012, IU along with ZE:A member Yim Si-wan and Hwang Kwanghee starred in a Samsung CF for their latest smartphone, the 'Wave 3'. It is a three-part drama titled '20, the start of the Wave', which introduced various apps and tools of the 'Wave 3'.[44]
Personal life
On February 9, 2012, IU graduated from Seoul's Dongduk Girl's High School.[45]On November 9, 2012, [46] a photo of Super Junior's Eunhyuk and IU was posted on IU's Twitter account. The post appeared to be accidental as the photo was removed within 2 minutes. This, combined with the duo's previous interactions on various media outlets, has lead popular media to speculate that the two are dating.[46] However, IU's agency, LOEN Entertainment, has publicly denied these rumors[47] while Eunhyuk's agency, SM Entertainment, has refused to comment.[48]
