Last Fantasy Explained

Last Fantasy
Type:studio
Artist:IU
Cover:IU Last Fantasy album cover.jpg
Released:November 29, 2011
Recorded:2010–2011
Studio:
Genre:
Length:52:01
Language:Korean
Label:LOEN
Producer:
  • Shin Won-soo
  • Jo Yeong-cheol
  • Kim Jin-myeong
Prev Title:Real+
Prev Year:2011
Next Title:I U
Next Year:2011

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".

Upon its release, Last Fantasy was a huge commercial success, selling almost seven million copies of digital tracks in its first week of release.[1] The total number of its digital sales surpassed the 10 million mark the following week.[2] Meanwhile, the physical album has sold over 117,000 copies, making it the 15th best-selling Korean album of 2011.[3]

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.[4] It stayed at the summit for two more weeks.[5] 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.[6] [7] 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.[8] [9]

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.[10] In this album, IU collaborated with singer-songwriters like Yoon Sang, Kim Kwang-jin, Lee Juck, Kim Hyeon-cheol, and Ra.D.[11]

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."[12]

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.[13]

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.[10]

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.[14]

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations for Last Fantasy! Year !! Award !! Category !! Result
2012
Best Pop Album

Track listing

Notes

Credits and personnel

Recording

Staff

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2011)! scope="col"
Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[16] 1

Monthly charts

Chart (2011)! scope="col"
Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[17] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (2011)! scope="col"
Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[18] 15

Release history

Region! style="text-align:center;"
DateFormatEditionLabel
South KoreaNovember 29, 2011Digital downloadStandardLOEN Entertainment
November 30, 2011CD[19]
December 1, 2011CDLimited
Various[20] November 29, 2011Digital download
JapanNovember 30, 2011EMI Music Japan

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IU's new album nears 7 million downloads online. December 9, 2011. August 31, 2013. October 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131017171117/http://www.hancinema.net/iu-s-new-album-nears-7-million-downloads-online-36165.html. live.
  2. News: Lee. Yeon-jeong. 아이유 2집 음원 다운로드 1천만건 돌파 (IU's "Last Fantasy" Surpasses 10 Million Copies in Download Sales). August 31, 2013. Yonhap News. December 15, 2011. ko.
  3. Sales references for Last Fantasy:
    • Web site: South Korean Gaon Chart: Album (Domestic) – The Year of 2011. Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. January 9, 2015. March 3, 2015. July 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180714135353/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2011&targetTime=3&nationGbn=K. live.
    • Web site: South Korean Gaon Chart: Album (Domestic) – The Year of 2012. Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. January 9, 2015. March 3, 2015. July 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180714164348/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2012&targetTime=3&nationGbn=K. live.
    • Web site: South Korean Gaon Chart: Album (Domestic) – October 2015. Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. November 12, 2015. November 12, 2015. October 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181024232128/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=month&hitYear=2015&targetTime=10&nationGbn=K. live.
  4. Web site: Hong. Dong-hee. 아이유 2집 발매 첫주에만 다운로드 700만 건 (IU's "Last Fantasy" Sold 7 Million Downloads for Its First Week). October 12, 2014. Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 8, 2011. ko. October 16, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141016181700/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/theme/theme_view.php?f_seq=70&theme=week&gubun=week. live.
  5. Chart references of "You & I":
  6. IU Earns Fifth K-Pop Hot 100 No. 1, Becomes All-Time Chart Leader. Jeff. Benjamin. Billboard. Rovi Corporation. May 5, 2014. October 13, 2014. December 25, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141225034316/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/6077416/iu-fifth-k-pop-hot-100-no-1-all-time-chart-leader-high4. live.
  7. Chart references of "You & I":
  8. Chart references of "Gangnam Style":
  9. K-Pop Hot 100: Lee Seung Gi Makes Chart History. Jeff. Benjamin. Billboard. Rovi Corporation. January 4, 2013. October 12, 2014. February 4, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130204101826/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/1481590/k-pop-hot-100-lee-seung-gi-makes-chart-history. live.
  10. Web site: IU unveils music video for "You & I". Allkpop. March 13, 2012. March 17, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120317223028/http://www.allkpop.com/2011/11/iu-unveils-nine-minute-mv-for-you-and-i. live.
  11. Web site: Album info 'You & I'. koreangossipgirl. March 13, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120417094508/http://koreangossipgirl.com/album-info-photo-iu-2nd-album-last-fantasy-you-i/. April 17, 2012. dead.
  12. Web site: IU releases new album, 'Last Fantasy'. Allkpop. March 13, 2012. February 26, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120226051818/http://www.allkpop.com/2011/11/iu-releases-new-album-last-fantasy. live.
  13. Web site: IU makes her long-awaited comeback on 'Inkigayo'. Allkpop. March 13, 2012. March 17, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120317232800/http://www.allkpop.com/2011/12/iu-makes-her-long-awaited-comeback-on-inkigayo. live.
  14. Web site: IU reveals MV for 'Last Fantasy'. Allkpop. March 13, 2012. March 5, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120305112315/http://www.allkpop.com/2012/02/iu-reveals-mv-for-last-fantasy. live.
  15. News: Kim. Kyung-a. 아이유 '잠자는 숲속의 왕자' 원곡 가수는 현직 증권우먼 ("The Original Performer of IU's "Sleeping Prince of the Woods" Now Works at Security Company"). July 5, 2015. etoday. February 23, 2012. ko. September 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924002948/http://www.etoday.co.kr/news/section/newsview.php?TM=news&SM=2106&idxno=548894. live.
  16. Web site: South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – November 27, 2011 to December 3, 2011. Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 8, 2011. August 31, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131202224247/http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/album.php?nationGbn=T&current_week=50&current_year=2011&chart_Time=week. December 2, 2013.
  17. Web site: South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – November 2011 . Gaon Chart . Korea Music Content Industry Association . August 30, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203160902/http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/album.php?nationGbn=T&current_month=11&current_year=2011&chart_Time=month . December 3, 2013 .
  18. Web site: South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – 2011 . Gaon Chart . Korea Music Content Industry Association . August 31, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131024195011/http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/album.php?nationGbn=T&current_year=2011&chart_Time=year&current_quarter=3 . October 24, 2013 .
  19. Web site: MelOn::[음반] 아이유 (IU) – 2집 Last Fantasy (포스터/케이스 증정)]. MelOn. December 7, 2011. https://archive.today/20120707031025/http://cd.melon.com/cd/detail.php?melonID=2040666. July 7, 2012. dead.
  20. Web site: iTunes – Music – Last Fantasy by IU. iTunes Store. August 30, 2013. June 28, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140628160220/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/last-fantasy/id484346200. live.

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