Love Poem (EP) explained

Love Poem
Type:ep
Artist:IU
Cover:IU - Love Poem EP.png
Caption:Digital cover
Recorded:2019
Genre:K-pop
Length:24:58
Language:Korean
Label:Kakao M
Producer:
  • IU
  • Lee Jong-hoon
Prev Title:A Flower Bookmark 2
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Lilac
Next Year:2021

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 and had been certified platinum by the Korean Music Content Association for selling over 250,000 copies.[1]

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] The album was the third best-selling of November, moving nearly 170,000 physical copies.[8] The album had been certified platinum by the Korean Music Content Association for selling over 250,000 copies.

Sales

Sales figures for Love Poem! Region! Sales
South Korea (Gaon)[12] 250,000

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=11&hitYear=2019&termGbn=month. ko:2019년 11월 Album Chart. November 2019 Album Chart. Gaon Music Chart. December 31, 2019. ko.
  2. Web site: IU to release new single 'BBI BBI' on Oct. 10. October 1, 2018. The Korea Times. August 12, 2020.
  3. Web site: https://www.insight.co.kr/news/214114. ko:아이유, 곧 컴백한다 “새 앨범 준비 중”. IU, comeback soon "Preparing for a new album". Insight. March 3, 2019. August 12, 2020. ko. Gil-yeo. Kwon.
  4. Web site: IU returns with a touch of the blues. October 11, 2019. Cho. Hae-min. The Korea Times. August 12, 2020.
  5. Web site: IU postpones album release date. October 1, 2019. Korea JoongAng Daily. Yoon. So-yeon. August 12, 2020.
  6. IU Unveils 'Love Poem' EP: Watch Music Videos For 'Blueming' and 'Above the Time'. Billboard. Herman. Tamar. November 18, 2019. November 20, 2019.
  7. Web site: http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=47&hitYear=2019&termGbn=week. ko:2019년 47주차 Album Chart. Week 47 of 2019 Album Chart. Gaon Album Chart. August 12, 2020. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20191128021957/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=47&hitYear=2019&termGbn=week. November 28, 2019. live.
  8. Web site: http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=11&hitYear=2019&termGbn=month. ko:2019년 11월 Album Chart. November 2019 Album Chart. Gaon Album Chart. August 12, 2020. ko. https://web.archive.org/web/20191128021957/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=47&hitYear=2019&termGbn=week. November 28, 2019. live. .
  9. Web site: Gaon Album Chart – Week 47, 2019. Gaon Chart. ko. November 28, 2019.
  10. Web site: Gaon Album Chart - November 2019. Gaon Music Chart. December 12, 2019.
  11. Web site: 2019년 Album Chart. Gaon. January 10, 2020.