Last Fantasy

Last Fantasy is the second Korean-language 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
Released	November 29, 2011
Recorded	2011 LOEN Studio, Seoul, South Korea T Studio, Seoul, South Korea Realcollabo Studio, Seoul, South Korea Music Cabal Studio, Seoul, South Korea Jun Studio, Seoul, South Korea Antenna Music Studio, Seoul, South Korea W Sound Studio, Seoul, South Korea Sonic Korea Studio, Seoul, South Korea
Genre	K-pop, electronic, jazz, orchestral pop
Length	52:01
Language	Korean
Label	LOEN
Producer	Shin Won-soo (Executive), Jo Yeong-cheol, Kim Jin-myeong
IU chronology
Real+ (2011) Last Fantasy (2011) I U (2011)
Singles from Last Fantasy
"You & I" Released: November 28, 2011

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
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][upper-alpha 1]

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

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 The Music Trend. IU performed "A Child Searching for Stars" (Korean: 별을 찾는 아이; RR: Byeoreul Chatneun Ai) and the lead track "You & I" (Korean: 너랑 나; RR: Neorang Na). Both of the tracks showcased her youthful charm and sweet musicality, which gained a richer depth during her hiatus.[14]

Music videos

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 PREMIUM SPECIAL 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]

Track listing

CD/Digital download

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
1.	"Secret" (비밀; Bimil)	Kim Eana	Jeong Seok-won	Jeong Seok-won	4:04
2.	"Sleeping Prince of the Woods" (잠자는 숲 속의 왕자; Jamjaneun Sup Sogui Wangja, featuring Yoon Sang)	Park Chang-hak	Yoon Sang	Haihm	3:34
3.	"A Child Searching for Stars" (별을 찾는 아이; Byeoreul Chatneun Ai, featuring Kim Kwang-jin)	Heo Seung-kyung	Kim Kwang-jin	Park Yong-jun	3:58
4.	"You & I" (너랑 나; Neorang Na)	Kim Eana	Lee Min-soo	Lee Min-soo	3:59
5.	"Wallpaper Patterns" (벽지무늬; Byeokjimunui)	Yoon Jong-shin	Yoon Jong-shin, Lee Geun-ho	Jeong Seok-won	3:40
6.	"Uncle" (삼촌; Samchon, featuring Lee Juck)	IU, Lee Juck	Lee Juck	Lee Juck, Yang Se-on	3:24
7.	"Wisdom Tooth" (사랑니; Sarangni)	G. Gorilla, IU	G. Gorilla	G. Gorilla	3:33
8.	"Everything's Alright" (featuring Kim Hyeon-cheol)	Kim Hyeon-cheol, IU	Kim Hyeon-cheol	Kwon Tae-eun	3:33
9.	"Last Fantasy"	Kim Eana	Kim Hyeong-seok	Kim Hyeong-seok, Ryu Young-min	6:07
10.	"Teacher" (featuring Ra.D)	IU, Ra.D	Ra.D	Ra.D	4:01
11.	"A Stray Puppy" (길 잃은 강아지; Gil Ireun Gang-aji)	IU	IU	G. Gorilla	3:14
12.	"4AM"	IU	Corinne Bailey Rae	Corinne Bailey Rae	3:02
13.	"L'amant" (라망; Ramang)	Jung Jae-hyung	Jung Jae-hyung	Jung Jae-hyung	5:52
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.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2011) Peak position South Korean Albums (Gaon)[17] 1 Monthly charts Chart (2011) Peak position South Korean Albums (Gaon)[18] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2011) Peak position South Korean Albums (Gaon)[19] 15

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result
2011	1st Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards	Song of the Year – December	"You & I"	Won
	6th Cyworld Digital Music Awards	Song of the Month – December		Won
2012	21st Seoul Music Awards	Bonsang Award (Main Prize)	IU	Won
		Record of the Year	Last Fantasy	Won
	9th Korean Music Awards	Best Pop Album		Nominated
	4th Melon Music Awards	Artist of the Year	IU	Nominated
		Album of the Year	Last Fantasy	Nominated
		Song of the Year	"You & I"	Nominated
		Netizen Popularity Award		Nominated
		Top 10 Artists	IU	Won
	14th Mnet Asian Music Awards	Artist of the Year		Nominated
		Song of the Year	"You & I"	Nominated
		Best Female Artist	IU	Won
		Best Vocal Performance – Solo	"You & I"	Nominated

Release history

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

See also

• List of best-selling singles in South Korea
• List of Korea K-Pop Hot 100 number-one singles
• List of number-one albums of 2011 (South Korea)
• List of number-one hits of 2011 (South Korea)

Footnotes

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

References

1. "Last Fantasy" (in Korean). IZM. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
2. "IU's new album nears 7 million downloads online". 9 December 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
3. Lee, Yeon-jeong (15 December 2011). "아이유 2집 음원 다운로드 1천만건 돌파 (IU's "Last Fantasy" Surpasses 10 Million Copies in Download Sales)" (in Korean). Yonhap News. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
4. Sales references for Last Fantasy:
   • "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album (Domestic) – The Year of 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
   • "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album (Domestic) – The Year of 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
   • "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album (Domestic) – October 2015". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
5. Hong, Dong-hee (8 December 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. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
6. Chart references of "You & I":
   • "South Korean Gaon Chart: Overall singles – The 50th Week of 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
   • "South Korean Gaon Chart: Overall singles – The 51st Week of 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
   • "South Korean Gaon Chart: Overall singles – The 52nd Week of 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
7. Benjamin, Jeff (May 5, 2014). "IU Earns Fifth K-Pop Hot 100 No. 1, Becomes All-Time Chart Leader". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
8. Chart references of "You & I":
   • "Korea K-Pop Hot 100, Week of 17 December, 2011". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
   • "Korea K-Pop Hot 100, Week of 24 December, 2011". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
   • "Korea K-Pop Hot 100, Week of 31 December, 2011". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
   • "Korea K-Pop Hot 100, Week of 7 January, 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
   • "Korea K-Pop Hot 100, Week of 14 January, 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
9. Chart references of "Gangnam Style":
   • "Korea K-Pop Hot 100, Week of 28 July, 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
   • "Korea K-Pop Hot 100, Week of 4 August, 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
   • "Korea K-Pop Hot 100, Week of 11 August, 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
   • "Korea K-Pop Hot 100, Week of 18 August, 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
   • "Korea K-Pop Hot 100, Week of 25 August, 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
10. Benjamin, Jeff (January 4, 2013). "K-Pop Hot 100: Lee Seung Gi Makes Chart History". Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
11. "IU unveils music video for "You & I"". Allkpop.
12. "Album info 'You & I'". koreangossipgirl. Archived from the original on 2012-04-17. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
13. "IU releases new album, 'Last Fantasy'". Allkpop.
14. "IU makes her long-awaited comeback on 'Inkigayo'". Allkpop.
15. "IU reveals MV for 'Last Fantasy'". Allkpop.
16. Kim, Kyung-a (23 February 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). Retrieved 5 July 2015.
17. "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – November 27, 2011 to December 3, 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 8 December 2011. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
18. "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – November 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
19. "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – 2011". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
20. "MelOn::[음반] 아이유 (IU) - 2집 Last Fantasy (포스터/케이스 증정)". MelOn. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
21. "iTunes - Music - Last Fantasy by IU". iTunes Store. Retrieved 30 August 2013.

External links

• You & I (Music video) on YouTube
• You & I (Performance-centered music video) on YouTube
• Last Fantasy (Music video) on YouTube
• You & I (Music video teaser) on YouTube
• IU's official website