[랜덤] 아이유 (IU) - 정규5집 [LILAC]

IU's 5th Full-Length Album [LILAC] “Goodbye, like a petal, goodbye” “There are no more questions in my heart, I move on to the next” IU, who had teased a grand ‘farewell’ to the end of her 20s, has returned with her fifth full-length album [LILAC] along with the scent of spring. Unlike her first album of her 20s, [Spring Spring], which captured the honest and fresh emotions of a twenty-year-old, [LILAC]—her first full-length album in four years—unfolds her 20s through 10 tracks from various perspectives, fully capturing her matured sensibilities. Once again participating in the producing as well as the composition and writing of all tracks, IU collaborated with various top-tier artists from Korea and abroad to experiment with genres and present high-quality songs. This showcases her ongoing musical evolution and raises expectations for what she will reveal as she enters her 30s. Furthermore, Korea's top music video productions—VM Project (Celebrity, Flu), Flippable (Lilac, Epilogue), and Sunny Visual (Coin)—participated in this album, creating a powerful synergy between their unique, sensory visuals and IU's music. The language of the 'Lilac' flower, used for both the album title and the title track, is 'first love' and 'memories of youth.' With gratitude to everyone who watched over her from the first page to the last page of her 20s, she delivers a farewell uniquely her own—grand, yet slightly lonely. 1. Lilac The story of a couple who loved passionately for 10 years and part ways happily amidst the exclamation of spring. // The title track ‘Lilac,’ which opens the full-length album, delivers the excitement of spring with its bright and cheerful sound. Starting with a rhythmical bass line, the 70s-80s disco sound—created by a harmony of funky rhythms and pop elements—brings joy to the listener. Im Soo-ho, Dr.JO, Woong Kim, and N!ko participated in the composition. 2. Flu When I write lyrics about the subject of ‘love,’ the primary sensation I emphasize is ‘pain.’ When I finally realize that this emotion, which kept bothering me uncomfortably, is love, I feel as if everything that makes up my body is being rearranged in a jumble. And that feeling is certainly not refreshing. This song tells the story of a final, desperate rebellion against the bacteria called love, which completely neutralizes me shortly after, even if I stubbornly deny it. // ‘Flu,’ featuring hit composer Ryan Jhun and his composition team who have participated in various musical works, breathes life into the song with an addictive hook and a dreamy melody unfolding over a minimal urban beat. IU's characteristic detailed lyrics full of wit and her precarious voice maximize the charm of the song. 3. Coin Stimulating things are irresistibly attractive, but ultimately harmful to one's health. I'll play just one more round of this game that's harmful to my health. // Starting with sample sounds reminiscent of an arcade, the funky groove band soundtrack of Poptime meets IU's melody line to create a new genre she had not previously attempted. In particular, from IU's flashy rapping—presented for the first time via a digital release—to the unique drop part, this is a song with a concept she has tried for the first time since her debut, garnering significant attention since the release of the teaser video. 4. Spring, hello Spring There are still times when you are the first name that comes to mind unconsciously, And there are still some sleepless nights like this, But I no longer think of this as lingering attachment It is just a name I think of on hard days A coincidence I wish to encounter once more The heart that goes outside at a small sound in the early dawn, wondering if it might be you The heart that reaches out to a gentle passing breeze, wondering if it might be you The heart that calls your name upon locking eyes with a cat, wondering if it is you You've become a butterfly You're still beautiful You've become a bird You are finally free You came again today without forgetting Thank you I'm glad I can wait for you tomorrow too Let's meet again on a beautiful day. // A song gifted to IU by Naul, a representative singer-songwriter of Korea, the simple yet restrained melody carefully leads the emotional line along the melodies of the EP and nylon guitar. The melodic chorus, delivered like a monologue, and Naul's calm chorus further elevate the depth of the song, while the bridge that leaves a gentle lingering resonance and the final chorus with a direct key-up add a sincere yet sophisticated feel. The lyrical string melodies, as if spring has arrived, combine with warm electric guitar sounds to complete a typical yet emotional contemporary pop sound. 5. Celebrity I have a friend who has often been treated as an odd person due to their eye-catching attire, slightly unique tastes, diverse talents, defense mechanisms stemming from shyness, and a personality with clear likes and dislikes in everything. Because of those characteristics, I love that person even more, but they told me they have lived receiving more hateful glances for those very reasons. The lyrics began as words I wanted to say to my 'odd friend,' but as I worked on it, I realized that this was also my own story. After completing the lyrics, I felt that it wouldn't be unnatural to substitute anyone as the protagonist, not just my friend or myself. Because everyone must have felt alienated at least once in their life for the reason that they are someone who does not fit the standards set by others. I want to say to those who were born rough yet unique, including my friend: You are not an odd person, but a person like a star. // 'Celebrity,' a pre-release track from this full-length album, signaled a grand comeback by sweeping first place on the music charts immediately upon release. As an electronic pop song with a touch of tropical house, the cheerful and sophisticated sound stands out, and the drop-style hook mixing synthesizers and autotune blends with IU's voice to add freshness. 6. Round Song (Feat. DEAN) It's pathetic, but if this is love, then it's love. // The meeting between IU and DEAN, which many had been waiting for, has come to fruition. Park Woo-sang, JUNNY, DEAN, and jane participated in the composition. In a genre based on reggae and bossa nova, IU and DEAN exchange honest stories about a relationship between lovers that is like a round song. 7. Empty Cup The man, unable to bring himself to stop the woman who rose from her seat first, sat there pale; in his cup, instead of the fragrant coffee that had been filled to the brim, only dirty coffee stains remained stuck to the bottom. // Producer WOOGIE, hip-hop musician PENOMECO, and IU. 'Empty Cup,' which became a hot topic from the moment the tracklist was revealed due to the fresh collaboration of artists with wide musical spectrums, maximizes the chic emotional line of the song by combining IU's toned-down, lonely voice with lo-fi guitar sounds and an R&B-based band sound. 8. My sea Passing through the nights when my heart was poor because I could not fully love myself, my sea, which I have finally managed to reclaim. The duo behind 'Through the Night,' composers Je휘 and Kim Hee-won, have reunited for a ballad track. Starting calmly, the song captures the listeners' ears for 5 minutes and 16 seconds as it blends a soon-emerging grand sound with IU's energetic vocals. Furthermore, the rich performance of a 20-piece string session adds to the beauty of the song, and IU's explosive high notes in the latter half, combined with a choir featuring composer Je휘's friends, lead to a dramatic climax. 9. Ah puh Let's see each other until we're sick of it in that sea. // A sound as refreshing and punchy as surfing on waves, a rhythm that cuts in and out as if taking photographs, and a dynamic melody make the playful lyrics written by IU and Lee Chan-hyuk stand out even more. Additionally, Lee Chan-hyuk provides further points for appreciation with his comment that it would be fitting to call it 'a modern interpretation of IU's refreshing early songs.' 10. Epilogue To all the listeners who willingly shared conversations with me and didn't find my words bothersome throughout my talkative twenties, I sincerely thank you. Not the IU of twenty-three, nor the IU of twenty-five, nor the IU of last year—the me of now now moves forward to the next step without any doubt. Goodbye???? - From Jieun // Composer Shim Eun-ji, who handled the final track of IU's first album of her twenties, , decorates the final track once again for this album that concludes her twenties, teaming up with singer-songwriter Kim Soo-young, SUMIN, and Lim Geum-bi. It is a ballad song that creates a peculiar atmosphere, combining a refreshing farewell from IU with a lo-fi textured sound that feels as if it's flowing from an old record player, adding a retro sensibility.