IU Amazes With New Mini-Album
IU has made her long awaited return with a new mini-album! Titled Love Poem, IU brings six brand new tracks for fans young and old to enjoy. It’s a no brainer that IU’s latest album will tug at the heartstrings of listeners, offering a variety of tracks that bring feelings from fantasy and joy to sad and somber. Prior to the release of Love Poem, the powerhouse soloist had pre-released “Love poem” as an apology for pushing back the release date of her album which was originally meant to drop at the very beginning of November. Nonetheless, IU’s latest album is beautiful from beginning to end.
The Fantasy Continued
Leading up to the release of her album, IU surprised many fans with the teaser of “above the time.” As an actor and close friend of the soloist, Lee Hyunwoo once again stars as the main lead in her music video. This particular casting was a delight as many learned that “above the time” is a direct follow up to her 2011 release, “YOU&I.” However, it takes a different twist, as it is not a straightforward continuation of the storyline, but something deeper and more mature.
For those who haven’t watched IU’s “YOU&I” music video, to briefly summarize the story, IU was given a boy (Lee Hyunwoo) who was destined to be her forever partner, but he had remained in a deep sleep. Only at the right time will he awake and truly be hers. But as the young IU remained lonely and impatient, she began to build a time machine that would help her go into the future and be with him. It’s only moments right after she takes off in the time machine he awakes and he’s left alone, waiting for the time where they can reunite once again. “above the time” seems to take place as an alternate universe, where Lee Hyunwoo and IU were unable to reunite in the end and he continues to search for her after she left. Now featuring an older version of Hyunwoo, it seems that he kept a few things from IU’s original workshop, with the train and building tools from the time machine. This time, it showcases the story of Hyunwoo searching for IU and in his fantasies, reuniting with her once again to be happily in love. Considerably the most endearing moment of the music video is the moment where Hyunwoo and IU dance together in the rain.
The meaning of the song relates to time as IU speaks of telling those to wait for the time of meeting again. Practicing patience will bring the biggest rewards in the end. But that’s not all; at the very end of the music video, it alludes to the fact that story isn’t over just yet and there is still more to come. This pop-ballad truly takes listeners on a fantastical journey with moments of sadness, joy and thrill coming together in the song. It’s a guarantee that many will be reaching for that replay button just to hear IU’s sweet yet powerful and deeply-moving voice.
“Blueming”
As if it couldn’t get even better, IU delivers with another music video for her title track “Blueming.” Stepping away from the fantasy theme, is the quirky and ever-so-upbeat pop song with a fun and bright music video to match. Blue is the theme of the video, whether it showcased in the multitude of props or IU’s striking blue hair color. “Blueming” can also be interpreted as “bloom,” as the love and feelings that she’s having are “blooming” while she continues to pursue this kind of love. “Blueming” is surely a song that will lift any listener’s mood up, and seeing her silly yet cute antics throughout the music video will only make those who watch her fall in love with her even more. To add, just three days after the release of her album and “Blueming,” iChart confirmed that IU had topped all music charts in Korea, earning herself her second certified Perfect All Kill. This goes to show the power and immense love IU has gained over her career,which shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.
The rest of the album offers a diverse mix of acoustic, pop and ballad songs that give a nice balance when listening to it. There is truly a song for everyone off of this album. For those in particular who are very much into her signature acoustic-classical sound, there is plenty to take in and enjoy. From beginning to end, IU delivers a solid and highly-recommended album that everyone must listen to and enjoy. Hopefully there is a chance for IU to release another album within the next few months rather than waiting a full year for her next release.