The Winning Explained

The Winning
Type:ep
Artist:IU
Cover:IU - The Winning.png
Alt:IU with blonde hair and her face partially obscured by a receipt that has a love heart drawn on it, against a red background and the title in white handwriting over her
Caption:Digital cover
Length:18:14
Language:Korean
Label:Edam
Prev Title:Pieces
Prev Year:2021

The Winning is the sixth extended play by South Korean singer-songwriter IU, released on February 20, 2024, through Edam Entertainment. It is her first release since the EP Pieces in December 2021.[1] The EP was preceded by the single "Love Wins All" on January 24, 2024. The follow-up "Holssi" was released on February 16, while "Shopper" was released alongside the EP on February 20, 2024.

Background

After the release of Lilac, IU began working on her next album. In February 2023, she said that the album would be about the feeling of wandering,[2] but later in September she stated that the direction of the project had significantly changed and that the album's main theme would be desire.[3]

IU appeared on BTS member Suga's talk show Suchwita in December 2023, where she hinted that her then-upcoming EP would contain songs about her age.[4]

Promotion

The lead single "Love Wins All" was issued on January 24, 2024, along with its music video.[5] IU officially announced the EP on January 29, 2024, posting a 21-second teaser clip containing close-ups of the singer "accompanied by sombre music",[6] showing her with bleached blonde hair and wearing a red outfit.[5] She is also shown spraying a red-colored spray at the camera before appearing in front of a green background.[4] The track listing of The Winning was revealed on February 5, confirming "Shopper" and "Holssi" as the EP's second and third singles, and guest appearances from NewJeans' Hyein, Wonsun Joe, and an undisclosed narrator on the third track "Shh..".[7]

Accolades

Listicles

Publisher! scope="col"
YearListiclePlacement
Billboard2024The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2024 (So Far): Staff Picks2nd[8]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)[9] 40
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[10] 29
Nigerian Albums (TurnTable)[11] 57
South Korean Albums (Circle)[12] 3

Monthly charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Position
South Korean Albums (Circle)[13] 4

Notes and References

  1. News: IU to release new album next month. The Korea Times. January 30, 2024. February 1, 2024.
  2. Son . Anna . February 22, 2023 . ko:아이유와 이지은 . IU and Lee Ji-eun . https://www.harpersbazaar.co.kr/article/75198 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230918005743/https://www.harpersbazaar.co.kr/article/75198 . September 18, 2023 . September 15, 2023 . . ko.
  3. News: Shin . Hyo-ryeong . September 15, 2023 . ko:아이유 "다음 앨범은 '욕망'에 대한 이야기"[화보] . IU "The next album is a story about 'desire'" [Pictorial] . https://newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20230915_0002452465&cID=10601&pID=10600 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230918005743/https://newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20230915_0002452465&cID=10601&pID=10600 . September 18, 2023 . September 15, 2023 . . ko.
  4. News: IU to unveil 6th EP The Winning next month. The Korea Herald. Hong. Yoo. January 30, 2024. February 1, 2024.
  5. Web site: IU to release new album The Winning this February. GMA Network. January 30, 2024. February 1, 2024.
  6. Web site: IU announces highly anticipated sixth mini-album, The Winning. NME. Ziwei. Puah. January 30, 2024. February 1, 2024.
  7. Web site: https://www.etnews.com/20240205000098. ko:아이유, Shopper·홀씨 등 더블타이틀 확정…뉴진스 혜인 피처링곡 수록. IU confirms double titles including Shopper and Holssi... NewJeans' Hyein-featuring song included. ETNews. Park. Dong-sun. ko. February 5, 2024. February 9, 2024.
  8. The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2024 (So Far): Staff Picks. Billboard. Benjamin. Jeff. July 8, 2024. July 13, 2024.
  9. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2024-03-11 . . March 7, 2024 . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20240307045028/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2024-03-11/p/4/ . March 7, 2024.
  10. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of February 29, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. February 28, 2024.
  11. Official Top 100 Albums: February 23rd, 2024 - February 29th, 2024. TurnTable. March 10, 2024. March 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240310145242/https://www.turntablecharts.com/charts/2. dead.
  12. Web site: Circle Album Chart – Week 8, 2024. Circle Chart. ko. February 29, 2024.
  13. Web site: Circle Album Chart – February 2024. Circle Chart. ko. March 9, 2024.

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