Wikipedia

Last Fantasy

Last Fantasy is the second studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released and distributed on November 29, 2011, by LOEN Entertainment. The album features a total of thirteen tracks, including the lead single "You & I".

Last Fantasy
Studio album by
IU
ReleasedNovember 29, 2011
Recorded2010–2011
Studio
Genre
Length52:01
LanguageKorean
LabelLOEN
Producer
  • Shin Won-soo
  • Jo Yeong-cheol
  • Kim Jin-myeong
IU chronology
Real+
(2011) 		Last Fantasy
(2011) 		I U
(2011)
Singles from Last Fantasy
  1. "You & I"
    Released: November 28, 2011
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
IZM[1]

Upon its release, Last Fantasy was a huge commercial success, selling almost seven million copies of digital tracks in its first week of release.[2] The total number of its digital sales surpassed the 10 million mark the following week.[3] Meanwhile, the physical album has sold over 117,000 copies, making it the 15th best-selling Korean album of 2011.[4][A]

The album's lead single "You & I" debuted at the top of the Gaon Singles Chart, with a massive first-week digital sales of 1,129,761 units.[5] It stayed at the summit for two more weeks.[6] The song also hit the pole position on the Billboard Korea K-Pop Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks, becoming IU's first Korea K-Pop Hot 100 topper and the longest running number-one song on the chart.[7][8] The record was held until tied with Psy's "Gangnam Style" and later broken by Lee Seung-gi's "Return", which earned six weeks at the top spot from December 2012 to January 2013.[9][10]

Background

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Last Fantasy was meant to reflect the period in the IU's life where she bids farewell to her childhood and prepares to meet maturity.[11] In this album, IU collaborated with singer-songwriters like Yoon Sang, Kim Kwang-jin, Lee Juck, Kim Hyeon-cheol, and Ra.D.[12]

Some of the songs in the album were composed and written by IU herself, with help from artists like Lee Juck, Kim Hyeon-cheol, Yoon Sang, Yoon Jong-shin, G. Gorilla, and Corinne Bailey Rae. Her agency, LOEN Entertainment stated, "The album has been worked on for a long time, and the exclusive content included in the special limited edition will enable fans to better understand the album production process. It's a special gift from IU to those fans who have waited a long time."[13]

On December 3, 2011, she started off her first week of promotions through SBS's Inkigayo. IU performed "A Child Searching for Stars" and the lead track "You & I". Both of the tracks showcased her youthful charm and sweet musicality, which gained a richer depth during her hiatus.[14]

Music videos

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On November 28, 2011, the music video for "You & I" was released through LOEN Entertainment's official YouTube channel one day before the album's release in stores. The music video (starring actor Lee Hyun-woo) brings out elements of fantasy and ties it together with a well-crafted story.[11]

On February 9, 2012, her agency uploaded a music video for the song "Last Fantasy" through its official YouTube channel. The video contains footage from IU's Japanese debut showcase "IU Japan Special Premium Live" held at the Bunkamura Orchard Hall on January 24. This is a special gift for her fans, as the video reveals not only footage from the showcase, but also includes clips of IU touring the cities of Japan and her everyday promotions and activities.[15]

Awards and nominations

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Awards and nominations for Last Fantasy
Year Award Category Result
2012
21st Seoul Music Awards
 Best Album Award Won
9th Korean Music Awards
 Best Pop Album Nominated

Track listing

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Last Fantasy track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Secret" (비밀; Bimil)Kim EanaJeong Seok-wonJeong Seok-won4:04
2."Sleeping Prince" (잠자는 숲 속의 왕자; Jamjaneun Sup Sogui Wangja, featuring Yoon Sang)Park Chang-hakYoon SangHaihm3:34
3."Holding a Star in My Heart" (별을 찾는 아이; Byeoreul Chatneun Ai, featuring Kim Kwang-jin)Heo Seung-kyungKim Kwang-jinPark Yong-jun3:58
4."You & I" (너랑 나; Neorang Na)Kim EanaLee Min-sooLee Min-soo3:59
5."Wallpaper Pattern" (벽지무늬; Byeokjimunui)Yoon Jong-shinYoon Jong-shin, Lee Geun-hoJeong Seok-won3:40
6."Uncle" (삼촌; Samchon, featuring Lee Juck)IU, Lee JuckLee JuckLee Juck, Yang Se-on3:24
7."Wisdom Tooth" (사랑니; Sarangni)G. Gorilla, IUG. GorillaG. Gorilla3:33
8."Everything's Alright" (featuring Kim Hyeon-cheol)Kim Hyeon-cheol, IUKim Hyeon-cheolKwon Tae-eun3:33
9."Last Fantasy"Kim EanaKim Hyeong-seokKim Hyeong-seok, Ryu Young-min6:07
10."Teacher" (featuring Ra.D)IU, Ra.DRa.DRa.D4:01
11."The Abandoned" (길 잃은 강아지; Gil Ireun Gang-aji)IUIUG. Gorilla3:14
12."4AM"IUCorinne Bailey RaeCorinne Bailey Rae3:02
13."L'Amant" (라망; Ramang)Jung Jae-hyungJung Jae-hyungJung Jae-hyung5:52
Total length:52:01

Notes

  • Track 2 is a cover version of the song under the same title, which was originally performed by South Korean pop duo Halo, from their first and final studio album released in 1997.[16]
  • The title of track 13 means "The Lover" in French.

Credits and personnel

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Recording

  • LOEN Studio – recording studio
  • T Studio – recording studio
  • Realcollabo Studio – recording studio
  • Music Cabal Studio – recording studio
  • Jun Studio – recording studio
  • Antenna Music Studio – recording studio
  • W Sound Studio – recording studio
  • Sonic Korea Studio – recording studio

Staff

  • Youngcheol Jo – producer
  • Jinmyeong Kim – co-producer
  • Myunggap Son (Loen Studio) – house engineer
  • Myeong-gap Son (Loen Studio) – recording engineer
  • Lee Myeong-sook (T Studio) – recording engineer
  • Heo Eun-sook (W Sound) – recording engineer
  • Ra.D (Realcollabo) – recording engineer
  • Yangsu Noh (T Studio) – mixing engineer
  • Hangu Kim (W Sound) – mixing engineer
  • Junseong Jo (W Sound) – mixing engineer
  • Hyeonjeong Go (Musicabal Studio) – mixing engineer
  • Eunjeong Kwak (Jun Studio) – mixing engineer
  • Jeongoh Yoon (Antenna Music Studio) – mixing engineer
  • Myeonggap Son (Loen Studio) – mixing engineer
  • Ra.D (Realcollabo) – mixing engineer
  • Jeon Hoon (Sonic Korea) – mastering
  • Namgoong Chan – management director
  • Bae Jong-han – artist manager
  • Jo Choon-ho – artist manager
  • Lee Chang-hee, Park Jeong-hyun, Park Seong-woo, Jeong Woo-kyung, Jo Gye-won – assistant managers
  • Jinmyeong Kim – A&R
  • Kim Eana – A&R
  • Oh Yoo-kyung – marketing director
  • Si-won Park, Soo-hyun Ahn, Hyo-shin Kim, Hee-yeon Jeong, Yong-hoon Seo – marketing
  • Seongwook Jeong – performance director
  • Hwang Soo-ah – visual director
  • Barley – photography
  • Choi Hye-ryeon – stylist
  • Noh Joo-hee – assistant stylist
  • Gwiae Kim, Kowon – hair
  • Hyuna Lee, Kowon – makeup
  • Hwang Soo-ah – music video director
  • Kim Young-seok – executive supervisor
  • Lim Yong-su – executive supervisor
  • Wonsu Shin (LOEN Entertainment) – executive producer

Charts

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Release history

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Release history for Last Fantasy
Region Date Format Edition Label
South Korea November 29, 2011 Digital download Standard LOEN Entertainment
November 30, 2011 CD[20]
December 1, 2011 CD[20] Limited
Various[21] November 29, 2011 Digital download
Japan November 30, 2011 EMI Music Japan

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Sales for both standard and limited editions are combined.

References

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  1. ^ "Last Fantasy" (in Korean). IZM. Archived from the original on February 4, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  2. ^ "IU's new album nears 7 million downloads online". December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  3. ^ Lee, Yeon-jeong (December 15, 2011). "아이유 2집 음원 다운로드 1천만건 돌파 (IU's "Last Fantasy" Surpasses 10 Million Copies in Download Sales)" (in Korean). Yonhap News. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  4. ^ Sales references for Last Fantasy:
  5. ^ Hong, Dong-hee (December 8, 2011). "아이유 2집 발매 첫주에만 다운로드 700만 건 (IU's "Last Fantasy" Sold 7 Million Downloads for Its First Week)". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  6. ^ Chart references of "You & I":
  7. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (May 5, 2014). "IU Earns Fifth K-Pop Hot 100 No. 1, Becomes All-Time Chart Leader". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on December 25, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  8. ^ Chart references of "You & I":
  9. ^ Chart references of "Gangnam Style":
  10. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (January 4, 2013). "K-Pop Hot 100: Lee Seung Gi Makes Chart History". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  11. ^ a b "IU unveils music video for "You & I"". Allkpop. Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  12. ^ "Album info 'You & I'". koreangossipgirl. Archived from the original on April 17, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  13. ^ "IU releases new album, 'Last Fantasy'". Allkpop. Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  14. ^ "IU makes her long-awaited comeback on 'Inkigayo'". Allkpop. Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  15. ^ "IU reveals MV for 'Last Fantasy'". Allkpop. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  16. ^ Kim, Kyung-a (February 23, 2012). "아이유 '잠자는 숲속의 왕자' 원곡 가수는 현직 증권우먼 ("The Original Performer of IU's "Sleeping Prince of the Woods" Now Works at Security Company")". etoday (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  17. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – November 27, 2011 to December 3, 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 8, 2011. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  18. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – November 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  19. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  20. ^ a b "MelOn::[음반] 아이유 (IU) – 2집 Last Fantasy (포스터/케이스 증정)". MelOn. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  21. ^ "iTunes – Music – Last Fantasy by IU". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on June 28, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2013.


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