Here are my credentials (again): I would definitely consider myself a fan of IU. I’ve liked almost every song of hers I’ve heard, including a couple b-sides, and I think she’s very talented. I also really enjoyed her performance in the k-drama Hotel Del Luna. But besides that, I don’t know much about her, and I’m hoping to change that. So let’s get started!

(Part One) (Part Three)

Album #4: A Flower Bookmark; Part 1

My Old Story is a song I actually hadn’t heard before. I can’t say that much about it, to be honest. IU’s voice is lovely as always, but there’s nothing that special about the track itself. Soft and piano led, it’s a bonafide ballad, and traipses along pleasantly, never irritating, but never that engaging either.

A Flower Bookmark is an EP of covers, and it speaks to how distinctive IU’s sound is that it didn’t bore me. Her voice is stunning, especially so in the quietly heartbreaking orchestral Flower and the gentle, acoustic When Love Passes By.

EP #4: Chat-shire

Twenty-Three marks the start of something new for IU; a look back on herself, fun and solidly poppy, but still refreshingly honest. As IU goes back and forth on the song’s central question of what it means to be twenty three, she’s accompanied by light percussion and a touch of funk that seems to be at war with the pop. Purple or pink? Child or adult? Idol or person? It’s exhausting just hearing it. That moment in the music video where she blows out the candles and face plants into her birthday cake is so understandable, considering that she doesn’t have the choice whether to listen to these thoughts or not. It’s a very human portrait of her, albeit covered in glitter and dancing in short shorts, and it’s the sound of exploration.

With Chat-shire, we enter what I would call the “golden age” of IU’s work, and despite this being a short EP, I had a few favorites. I enjoyed the relentless beat of Shoes and the unusual percussion of Glasses. My hidden gem was Zeze, with its cutting lyrics about growing up in the kpop industry and surprisingly incredibly catchy, jazzy beat.

Album #5: Palette

Palette starts where Twenty-three left off, as IU looks back on seven years in an often unforgiving industry with a smile and even a bit of pride. It’s truly minimalistic in a way that’s rare for k-pop, practically empty aside from an occasional recurring beat. But this choice frees up IU’s voice for a surprisingly engaging rumination on her life and how she’s changed. This kind of song isn’t really for me, I have to admit, but I can appreciate that it’s exactly what it sets out to be. I didn’t even mind the rap!

While I did like My Old Story, Dear Name remains my favorite IU ballad. Written after she experienced unimaginable loss, it’s gentle yet powerful in the most piercing way. With the backing strings and piano, it lulls you into what you assume will be a quiet ballad, and then gut-punches you with the utter heartbreak in IU’s voice, which has never sounded better. This song happens to be one of the ones I’ve performed, and I can tell you it’s incredibly difficult; far more difficult than it looks. Full props to IU, because it took me months to get right and I still can’t hold a candle to hers.

From the album, Palette, I enjoyed the twinkling piano of Dlwlrma and the dissonance between the sugary beat and cutting lyrics of Jam Jam. My hidden gem was probably Black Out, with its woozy feeling and pulsing dance-floor beat. Most of this album is ballads, so mostly not my style, but it was still nice to have on in the background.

EP #5: A Flower Bookmark Part 2

Last Night Story is an odd one, bopping along with the kind of relentless energy usually seen in bubbly or happy titles, which this is absolutely not. Instead, it’s cynical and skewering, starting with the line “last night I started to hate you”, and punctuated with an eye roll here and there for good measure. It’s delightfully retro too, with a surf rock guitar and sharp drums, and it wouldn’t surprise me if I learned it was actually first recorded back in 1967.

The EP, A Flower Bookmark 2, is another of covers, as the other was. I enjoyed the magical strings of Secret Garden and the grounded feel of Everyday With You. My hidden gem was Autumn Morning, with its incredibly peaceful acapella and later percussive yet gentle acoustic guitar and flute. I definitely preferred this to the first part; it has a good balance of ballads and uplifting songs.

EP #6: Blueming

Blueming, despite being released when IU was nearly thirty, feels like a return to her roots, young and hopeful. It’s straight out of a slice-of-life kdrama, just on the right side of the sweet / too childish line, and grounded by a strong electric guitar. Though the verses leap and bound forward, the chorus is where the song really takes off, in a bubbly explosion perfect for falling in love. It’s impossible not to smile when you’re a witness to the pure delight that is this song (or its music video for that matter, which is just as great). So, if you need a pick-me-up, I can’t recommend a better one. Petition for this to be made into a 16 episode series starring Lee Jieun? Yes, please.

From the EP, my hidden gem was easily Love Poem, which builds beautifully on the sense of quiet power in IU’s voice for a beautiful, encouraging ballad that promises the listener they’ll never be alone. I also enjoyed the folksy breakdown in Above The Time.

Single #2: BBIBBI

Taking a page from Last Night Story, single BBIBBI is directed at critics and trolls with little more than a raised eyebrow and a bedroom bathed in yellow. It’s minimalistic too, but in a very different way than Palette. It’s almost like it should be celebratory, and yet it’s been ruined, like a birthday party where no one came. Despite the uncaring image, it’s obvious that the song comes from years of hurt, and it’s impressive that she can manage to find humor in the situation. The moment where she folds down the newspaper and says, dead-eyed, “It’s me,” makes me cackle every single time.

Next time, we’ll be doing the third and final part. Tschüss!

(Part One)