Real (IU EP)

Real (stylized as REAL) is the third Korean-language extended play (EP) by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released and distributed by LOEN Entertainment on December 9, 2010. The special edition of the album was sold out during pre-order, which revealed the high anticipation for the album. IU collaborated with some of the top vocalists and producers in South Korea such as Yoon Jong-shin, Kim Hyeong-seok, Lee Min-soo, Kim Eana, Shinsadong Tiger, and Choi Gap-won to work on the album.[2] The album's success strengthened the singer's position as the "Nation's little sister" in her native country. In November 2019, Billboard magazine compiled a list of the 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s, with the single "Good Day" ranking at number one.[3]

Real
Digital release and standard edition
EP by
IU
ReleasedDecember 9, 2010
Length26:38
LanguageKorean
LabelLOEN
ProducerJo Yeong-cheol, Choi Gap-won
IU chronology
IU...IM
(2009)		 Real
(2010)		 Last Fantasy
(2011)
Singles from Real
  1. "Good Day"
    Released: December 9, 2010
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
IZM (for "Good Day")[1]

Background and release

Real consists of six songs and an instrumental of the title track, "Good Day" (Korean: 좋은 날; RR: Joeun Nal). The album came in two different versions, normal and special edition. IU had worked with composers of hit songs such as "Abracadabra", "Nagging", and "Irreversible" to develop this album.

The album reflected the natural image of IU, as described by the album title. The title track is "Good Day" includes a musical combination of violin, wind instruments, guitar, and piano. It also displays her powerful vocals. The lyrics describe a story of a girl who doesn't have the courage to confess to her crush, the sweetness and tension of a first love.

IU also tried out a new music genre, electronic, in this album ("This Is Not What I Thought"). Other songs in this album includes "The Night of the First Breakup" (Korean: 첫 이별 그날 밤; RR: Cheot Ibyeol Geunal Bam), a story about the day of a panicking girl who just broke up with her boyfriend; "Alone in the Room" (Korean: 혼자 있는 방; RR: Honja Itneun Bang), lets you feel a mature side of IU and is filled with the emotions of an 18-year-old girl as IU co-wrote the lyrics to this song; "The Thing I Do Slowly" (Korean: 느리게 하는 일; RR: Neurige Haneun Il), a ballad that describes a girl trying to forget her love after a breakup; and "Merry Christmas in Advance" (Korean: 미리 메리 크리스마스; RR: Miri Meri Kriseumaseu), a confession from IU to the fans, which was composed by Shinsadong Tiger. It features rapping from Thunder, who has been friends with IU since pre-debut, and the tune is a love song which brings everyone love during Christmas.[4]

IU made her official comeback through KBS's Music Bank on December 10, 2010.

As of 2012, the album has sold more than 85,000 copies.[upper-alpha 1]

Track listing
CD/Digital download[6]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."This Is Not What I Thought" (이게 아닌데; Ige Aninde, lit. Not Like This)Kim EanaKim Hyung-seokYoon Woo-seok3:07
2."The Thing I Do Slowly" (느리게 하는 일; Neurige Haneun Il, lit. What I'm Doing Slow)Choi Gap-wonPJ, Min Woong-shikKim Jin-hoon4:13
3."Good Day" (좋은 날; Joeun Nal)Kim EanaLee Min-sooLee Min-soo3:53
4."The Night of the First Breakup" (첫 이별 그날 밤; Cheot Ibyeol Geunal Bam)Yoon Jong-shinYoon Jong-shinJo Jung-chi4:26
5."Alone in the Room" (혼자 있는 방; Honja Itneun Bang, lit. Lonely Room)Choi Gap-won, IUJeon Seung-wooJeon Seung-woo3:58
6."Merry Christmas in Advance" (미리 메리 크리스마스; Miri Meri Keuriseumaseu, featuring Thunder)Choi Gap-wonShinsadong Tiger, Choi Kyu-sungShinsadong Tiger, Choi Kyu-sung4:28
7."Good Day (Instrumental)" Lee Min-sooLee Min-soo3:53
Total length:26:38

Charts

Awards and nominations

Annual music awards
YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2010
5th Cyworld Digital Music Awards
Song of the Month – December"Good Day"Won
2011
20th Seoul Music Awards
Bonsang Award (Main Prize)Won
Record of the Year in Digital ReleaseWon
3rd Melon Music Awards
Song of the Year"Good Day"Won
Top 10 ArtistsIUWon
13th Mnet Asian Music Awards
Best Female ArtistNominated
Best Vocal Performance – Solo"Good Day"Won
2012
9th Korean Music Awards
Song of the YearWon
Best Pop SongWon
Female Musician of the Year (Netizen Vote)IUWon

Release history
Region Date Format Edition Label
South Korea December 9, 2010 CD, digital download Standard Edition LOEN Entertainment
CD+DVD Special Limited Edition
Worldwide[10] Digital download

See also

Footnotes
  1. Sales for both standard and special limited editions are combined.[5]

References
  1. "Every End of the Day" (in Korean). IZM. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  2. IU releases her new album, “REAL”. Allkpop. Retrieved on 2012-3-13.
  3. Billboard Staff (November 25, 2019). "The 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2019.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  4. Update: IU to release 3rd mini album "Real" on December 9th Archived 2013-12-02 at the Wayback Machine. koreaboo. Retrieved on 2012-3-13.
  5. Sales references for Real:
  6. (in Korean)
  7. "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – December 19, 2010 to December 25, 2010". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  8. "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – December 2010". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  9. "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  10. "iTunes - Music - Real by IU". iTunes Store. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
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