Love Poem (EP)
Love Poem is the fifth Korean-language extended play (seventh overall) by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. The EP was released on November 18, 2019, through Kakao M. It includes the lead single and title track, "Love Poem", as well as the tracks "Above the Time" and "Blueming", which both received music videos. The EP debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart, selling over 168,000 copies in South Korea in November 2019.[1]
Love Poem | ||||
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Digital cover | ||||
EP by | ||||
Released | November 18, 2019 | |||
Genre | K-pop | |||
Length | 24:58 | |||
Language | Korean | |||
Label | Kakao M | |||
Producer |
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IU chronology | ||||
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Singles from Love Poem | ||||
Background and release
Following the release of A Flower Bookmark 2 in September 2017, IU focused on acting. In October 2018, she released "Bbibbi", to commemorate ten years since her debut.[2] On March 3, 2019, IU announced that she was working on a new album that would release soon.[3] Love Poem was announced on October 11.[4] The EP was originally supposed to be released on November 1, 2019, but was postponed by the singer on October 21, following the suicide of South Korean singer and close friend Sulli in mid-October.[5] The title-track "Love Poem" was released on November 1.[6]
Love Poem was released digitally in various countries by Kakao M on November 18, 2019. A physical version was released two days later in the form of a photo book alongside a CD.
Critical reception
Tamar Herman of Billboard wrote that the "EP as a whole is almost like a Love Poem of sorts to IU's career, with each of the singles representing a different part of her discography", comparing the title track to the "poignant tunes" from IU's own A Flower Bookmark series of EPs; the "vivacious pop-rock tune" "Blueming" to IU's 2015 track "Twenty-Three", and calling the "melodious, theatrical" "Above the Time" "a sonic and visual sequel" to IU's 2011 song "You and I", in terms of both its music and the storyline of its video.[6]
Commercial performance
Love Poem debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart on the 47th issued week (November 17–23).[7] It became her fourth number one album in South Korea after Last Fantasy (2011), Modern Times (2013), and Palette (2017). The album was the third best-selling of November, moving nearly 170,000 physical copies, making it her best-selling album released.[8]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by IU.
No. | Title | Music | Arrangement | Length |
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1. | "Unlucky" | Kim Je-hwi | Kim Je-hwi | 3:51 |
2. | "The Visitor" (그 사람; Geu saram; lit. That Person) | IU | Jukjae | 3:51 |
3. | "Blueming" |
|
| 3:37 |
4. | "Above the Time" (시간의 바깥; Sigan-ui bakkat; lit. Outside of Time) | Lee Min-soo | Lee Min-soo | 5:00 |
5. | "Lullaby" (자장가; Jajang-ga) | Kim Hee-won | Hong So-jin | 4:21 |
6. | "Love Poem" (사랑시; Sarang-si) | Lee Jong-hoon |
| 4:18 |
Total length: | 25:04 |
Charts
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Accolades
Song | Program | Date | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
"Love Poem" | |||
Show! Music Core (MBC) | November 16, 2019 | [14] | |
November 23, 2019 | [15] | ||
Inkigayo (SBS) | November 17, 2019 | [16] | |
Music Bank (KBS) | November 29, 2019 | [17] | |
"Blueming" | |||
Inkigayo (SBS) | December 1, 2019 | [18] | |
December 8, 2019 | [19] | ||
December 15, 2019 | [20] | ||
Music Bank (KBS) | December 20, 2019 | [21] | |
December 27, 2019 | [22] | ||
Show! Music Core (MBC) | December 21, 2019 | [23] |
References
- 2019년 11월 Album Chart [November 2019 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved December 31, 2019.
- "IU to release new single 'BBI BBI' on Oct. 10". The Korea Times. October 1, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- Kwon, Gil-yeo (March 3, 2019). 아이유, 곧 컴백한다 “새 앨범 준비 중” [IU, comeback soon "Preparing for a new album"]. Insight (in Korean). Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- Cho, Hae-minwork=The Korea Times (October 11, 2019). "IU returns with a touch of the blues". Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- Yoon, So-yeon (October 1, 2019). "IU postpones album release date". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- Herman, Tamar (November 18, 2019). "IU Unveils 'Love Poem' EP: Watch Music Videos For 'Blueming' and 'Above the Time'". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
- 2019년 47주차 Album Chart [Week 47 of 2019 Album Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Album Chart. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- 2019년 11월 Album Chart [November 2019 Album Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Album Chart. Archived from the original on February 3, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- "Gaon Album Chart – Week 47, 2019". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- "IU Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
- "Gaon Album Chart - November 2019". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
- "2019년 Album Chart". Gaon. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
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- 2019년 12월 Album Chart [December 2019 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- 2020년 05월 Album Chart [May 2020 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- "IU wins #1 on November 16th 'Show! Music Core'!". www.allkpop.com. 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
- '음중' 아이유 1위..마마무·아스트로·우주소녀·갓세븐 '여기가 엔딩 맛집' [종합]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). November 23, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- '인기가요'아이유, 방송없이 1위 2관왕..마마무네이처사우스클럽 컴백[종합] (in Korean). November 17, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
- "Watch: IU Takes 4th Win For "Love Poem" On "Music Bank"; Performances By AOA, Kang Daniel, Sungmin, And More". November 29, 2019.
- "Watch: IU Takes 1st Win For "Blueming" On "Inkigayo"; Performances By AOA, Kang Daniel, Super Junior's Sungmin, And More". December 1, 2019.
- "Watch: IU Takes 2nd Win For "Blueming" On "Inkigayo"; Performances By EXO, AOA, ASTRO, And More". December 8, 2019.
- "Watch: IU Takes 3rd Win And Triple Crown For "Blueming" On "Inkigayo"; Performances By Stray Kids, Park Ji Hoon, And More". December 15, 2019.
- "Watch: IU Takes 4th Win For "Blueming" On "Music Bank"; Performances By Super Junior, MAMAMOO, GFRIEND, And More". December 20, 2019.
- "뮤직뱅크". 뮤직뱅크 (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-12-30.
- "Watch: IU Takes 5th Win For "Blueming" On "Music Core"; Performances By Kim Jae Hwan, Stray Kids, Kim Sejeong, And More". Soompi. December 21, 2019.