IU Inspirations

Musings of an IU fan 

[iuinspires]

Hi iuinspires! Do you have an updated article of iu's golden hour? I really appreciate your musings.

Hello there my fellow uaena! So sorry I missed your msg as this account has been dormant for the longest time. I don't have an article on golden hour as I didn't get a chance to watch the concert, but I REALLY hope IU will resume her international concerts soon!

[iuinspires]

Love Poem in Singapore: My Second IU Concert

On 6 Dec 2019, I was blessed with the opportunity of seeing IU perform live for the second time at her Love Poem concert tour in Singapore.

I must confess that in some ways, things didn't go smoothly for me: ticketing was somewhat traumatic, because the tickets for the original 7 Dec Saturday show sold out within an hour of release, even before I had logged on to the site (sorry for underestimating your popularity, IU!); after I secured a Friday ticket, I couldn't help fretting about whether I could get to the concert venue from work on time; when I reached the concert hall, I realised I had missed out on collecting the SG Heart IU fan support items and the free IU postcard from the concert organizer; and towards the end of the show, my phone ran low on storage and battery so I couldn't take further audio recordings.

Yet there was a silver lining to everything: getting a Friday ticket turned out to be blessing in disguise because of a family commitment cropping up which would have made attending the Saturday show a challenge; my day at work turned out to be fairly peaceful and productive, so I did leave work on time; not having the fan support items prompted me to initiate a conversation with a fellow uaena; and not being burdened with the need to record everything allowed me to focus purely on enjoying the show. Above all, no number of minor obstacles could detract from the wonderful experience of seeing IU again. So let me try once again to document my precious memories, before they slowly fade with the passing of time.

Pre-concert

So on the fateful day of 6 Dec, I woke with a feeling of great joy and anticipation; all day at work, it took supreme discipline to rein in my feelings of excitement to concentrate on my tasks. Thankfully, I left on time and rushed down to the concert venue from my workplace by train. As I walked from the train station to Star Vista, I was quite amused to spot a number of people selling (selfmade?) IU posters and merchandise along the roadside, but  refrained from stopping to avoid the risk of being late. It seemed that everyone around me was making their way to the concert as well, for they were all holding IU concert tickets or knick knacks.

As I was queuing to get to the concert hall, I took the chance to observe the profile of my fellow uaenas again. I noticed that compared to last year, where the nationalities of the concert goers were distinctly varied, this year's crowd seemed to be predominantly Singaporean - probably a direct result of IU having more Southeast Asian stops in this year's tour. It made me glad that IU did have a sizable Singaena fanbase after all, that was sufficiently large to sell out two days !

When I was seated in the hall, I realised that everyone except myself was holding on to IU postcards and fanchant guides. I was also puzzled about where the SG Heart IU fingerlights were, which I had assumed would be at the seats. I plucked up the courage to ask the fellow uaena next to me where she had got hers, and she said she had picked them at the bag check area (sorry SG Heart IU, for not reading admin instructions properly!) I spent the next few minutes feeling dismayed at the thought of not being able to being able to do my part for the fan support - but the feeling of disappointment was soon replaced by excitement when the IU band members made their way to the stage to screams from the crowd. There was no sign of IU yet though - until the fellow uaena next to me nudged me excitedly and said, "Look, I think that's her!" From our circle seats we had a fairly good view of the whole stage including the curtained areas, and there, indeed, was a familiar, petite figure peeking out from backstage. I don't think anyone else noticed though, or there would have been wild screams! My heart skipped a beat, and I was too dumbstruck with excitement to respond. (To my fellow uaena, if you are reading this, I'm sorry - I didn't mean to be rude!)

Opening segment

Before we knew it, the lights dimmed, and IU emerged on an elevated platform under a spotlight in the middle of the stage, singing the upbeat, cheery opening line of "unlucky" in her clear, sweet voice. She looked lovely and girlish with a white flower in her long, flowing tresses, clad in a soft, frilly yellow dress speckled with blue flowers (an image which for some reason was reminiscent of Lee Soon Shin to me.)

I guess for me, the opening is always one of the most emotional and special moments of an IU concert. For overseas fans like myself who hardly get to see IU, there is something incredibly surreal about seeing that familiar figure and hearing that familiar voice in person. I can still recall how overwhelmed I was when I saw IU for the first time at last year's concert - in fact I now associate the opening song "Red Shoes" with the feeling of euphoria, and for the same reason, "unlucky" will have a special place in my heart as well. The audience shared my joy too, for it went absolutely wild with rapturous screams at the sight of IU, and kept up with this energy level throughout the concert.

IU moved on to a lovely acoustic rendition of Palette, before greeting the audience in a mix of Korean and English. She introduced herself as "IU who loves so much Singapore" - an awkward turn of phrase, but all the more adorable because of that! She expressed her happiness at being in Singapore for a second time, and talked about how this was her favourite venue (because of the "atmosphere, sound, mood...and the colour of the chairs - very red"). She also made us raise our hands to indicate whether we were here last year, and when most of us did so, she marvelled at how we have "so much loyalty here in Singapore".

For the rest of the segment, she sang "Autumn Morning", "Friday" and "Secret Garden". I recall IU had mentioned in one of her concert stops in Korea that for the opening segment, she had deliberately chosen songs that would allow the audience to focus on her vocals. And indeed, the songs were perfect for showcasing the light and mellow side of her voice. Before singing Autumn Morning, she told us to imagine the following: "blue sky, the children, lovely family, lovely mum, lovely dad...lazy son" (to which everyone burst out laughing). And when she started singing the first two lines of the song acapella, her voice pure, clear and gentle, I did feel as though I had been transported to a temperate country on a crisp autumn morning with fresh air and bright sunlight.

The theme of nature continued with "Secret Garden", where IU stood in front of a gorgeous projection of lush greenery, and behind three panels of silvery light that seemed like cascading waterfalls. It was a breathtaking sight that complemented the beauty of the song and IU's voice, and created an enduring image which will always come to mind whenever I hear "Secret Garden" now. It was also a fitting end to the first segment with its mix of sweet, uplifting and lyrical ballads.

Segment two

One of things I admire most about IU as an artist is her versatility, and she demonstrated this in the second segment with a setlist that had a completely different mood and vibe from the first. If the first segment was about showcasing IU's light and sweet voice, the second part was a chance to show off the sultry and husky side of her vocals. She kickstarted the segment with "The Visitor", a slow but groovy number with edgy and sensuous vibes. It's my favourite song in IU's latest album, and hearing it live was absolutely thrilling! IU was dressed to match the mood as well, clad in a blouse with bold prints matched with a short black skirt, hidden teasingly beneath a loose, draping coat, and with a sparkly black beret and boots to complete the look.

For the rest of the segment, IU performed a mix of her more groovy tracks and lively dance numbers: "Jam Jam", "Twenty-Three", "BBIBBI", "Hold my Hand", "Last Night Story" and "Blueming". I generally gravitate towards IU's ballads, but I actually found myself enjoying this segment the most. Other than IU's charismatic and energetic stage presence, I was  buoyed by the audience's infectious enthusiasm; even for a reserved person like myself, it felt exhilarating to be singing and cheering along with a huge crowd, bound by our shared love for the little bean onstage. IU commended us for our high energy level as well, commenting a number of times on how passionate and "high-tensioned" Singaenas were and how enthusiastically everyone was waving their lightsticks. At some point she teased someone for waving her lightstick at two times the speed of everyone else - "Maybe your hand will be less painful if you sway it together with the audience". Our deafening fanchants for BBIBBI also prompted her to declare Singapore as "the hometown for BBIBBI".

Another notable moment was during "Blueming", where the the SG Heart IU fan event was pulled off successfully. The audience in the stall seats turned on their colour-changing rose-shaped lights, turning the concert hall into a beautiful illuminated field of multi-coloured flowers - a perfect tribute to the million blooming roses referenced in "Blueming". IU commented later that she had initially thought that the audience was waving her official lightstick, before realising that it was a fan event, which she described as "the cutest" ever, and very pretty. Even though I was a little sad that I wasn't part of the fan event, I felt really happy seeing how nice it looked, and how it brought a smile to IU's face.

Segment three

IU started off the third segment with the heartwarming singalong favourite Meaning of You, which the audience sang with great gusto. She looked elegant in a long-sleeved, ankle-length white dress that was old fashioned but classy - my favourite outfit for the night.

The highlight of this segment came when IU announced that she had a present for us - an idea which came to her only two days ago, and which the team had to prepare in a rush. The audience stirred with excitement, and I was filled with anticipation too, expecting a local song which IU typically prepares for her overseas concerts. But we were all in for a bigger surprise when IU said: "Please don’t think of me as a singer, but think of me as Jang Man Wol". She proceeded to seranade us with a medley of Hotel Del Luna OSTs ("Lean On Me", "All About You", "Remember Me", and most notably, "Happy Ending" with her self-written lyrics) while a video montage of Jang Man Wol and Goo Chan Sung moments played in the background. I was swooning internally, and I'm sure in the rest of the audience was too - especially the few ahjummas and ahjusshis I spied in the audience, whom I guessed might have been new fans from the drama!

After the medley ended, IU said her Korean fans would be really sad as she had never sung "Happy Ending" for them even when she requested it, and made us promise to keep this a secret from her K-uaenas. (Nice try, IU!) She also shared how close she was to the HDL team, whom she had watched Frozen 2 with recently, as well as her love and respect for Gummy (singer of Remember Me) - which hilariously created some confusion with the translation initially as the Korean pronunciation for "Gummy" also sounds like "spider".

IU then wrapped up this segment with two sentimental ballads - "Lullaby", and "Through the Night", another crowd favourite which I enjoyed singing along to as well. Before the last line - "I hope its a good dream", IU gently murmured "Singapore" - and for some reason that triggered a sudden surge of emotions in me. It brought to mind how two years ago, as a new fan, I wasn't sure if IU was even aware that she had fans in Singapore, and seeing her seemed all but a distant dream - and reminded me how lucky I was to have her here now, acknowledging our presence as fans.

Segment Four + Encore

IU returned in a sparkly dark coloured dress for the fourth segment, which began with "Sogyeokdong". IU commented that this was a song with underlying sadness, but Singaenas were still so excited that she coud not help excitedly waving her hands too - "I'm not a pro...Even when I'm singing ballads, I can't control myself". (It's ok to be slightly unprofessional at times IU, it makes us even happier when you are happy!)

"Sogyeokdong" was followed by "Red Shoes", which evoked a wave of nostalgia in me as it brought to mind the exciting opening for last year's concert. IU then said she would have to move on to the last song -  eliciting loud groans from the audience - to which IU chuckled and teased us for our "pro reaction". The purported last song was "Above the Time" - a song which I didn't like immediately when it was first released, but which I grew to love the more I listened to it. I have to add too, that it's a song that sounds absolutely amazing live, and gave me goosebumps listening to it then!

After IU left the stage, the audience promptly began to chant "encore" repeatedly. IU returned shortly after in a long gem-studded pink dress, laughing at how she didn't even have time to go to the washroom because of our immediate chants. She ended off with "Good Day" and her titular song "Love Poem", before leaving the stage.

Re-encore

A few audience members began to leave, but the vast majority were clearly seasoned fans who knew what to expect, for the loud chants for encore started again. After a brief interlude, the IU band members returned onstage, followed by IU, to wild cheers from the crowd. Being used to seeing IU's characteristically baggy shirts and oversized sweaters for her re-encores, I was surprised to see her dressed girlishly in a sweet cream-coloured sweater pulled over a pretty floral dress.

The re-encore started with "Heart", which IU sung with the audience, in keeping with uaena tradition. IU quipped that at overseas concerts, she enjoyed hearing the imperfect pronunciation of her international fans, but Singaenas were just too good in Korean. IU continued asking for song requests thereafter - but the screams were so loud I couldn't hear a thing! She settled on "Sleepless Rainy Night" (which I was delighted to hear), "Night of the First Breakup", before wrapping up with "Someday".

Post-concert reflections

The 2018 dlwlrma concert will always have a special place in my heart as my inaugural IU concert, but I think this year's Love Poem concert experience was even better.

For one, it felt more fun and intimate because IU was even more interactive with the audience this year. There were many hilarious moments - like when she teased a male fan for dancing very animatedly throughout the concert, and pronounced him the cutest guy in Singapore - or when she laughed at how a female fan responded to her in Korean when she spoke in English. The rapport between IU and the audience also felt even stronger this year - the audience demonstrated an energy level that seemed to surpass last year's - and you could see how IU in turn radiated with joy to see our enthusiasm. She regularly teased us about how loud we were, and at one point, also commented on how there seemed to be "no shade" in Singapore - meaning that everyone here seemed really happy. My heart was also full hearing her express her love for Singapore - she talked about her family holiday here in January this year, and how her brother liked it so much that he was seriously considering doing his exchange studies here (please do so, IU's brother!)

But above all, what I found most moving and meaningful was IU's introspective musings on sadness, happiness and love. She spoke of how during this year's concert tour, there was a bit of underlying sadness during each of her concert, but in today's concert, she was laughing all the way even for the sad songs, and there was no single space for sadness to come in. I felt a sense of relief hearing that - for prior to the concert, a part of me was worrying about how IU was coping with recent events - and whether she would be reining in her sadness to deliver the smiles and energy expected from her as a performer.

But I guess IU has always been a strong and resilient  person, and one to give love and provide healing words of comfort, as she did during my favourite part of her concert talk. I think paraphrasing her words might not do her justice, so let me just reproduce her words here:

"I come here only once a year so I don’t know in detail what kind of troubles you’re living with and what makes you sad, but I think that all people live with similar problems, similar troubles. Right? Anyway, when you feel dispirited and want to end everything, I wish that you think of our promise today: to meet me here next year. You have to remember! We promise. To meet here again next year, we will right? All promises are truly important right? Keep your promise! Day by day, if you live on breathing slowly, it will soon be next year, right? And I’ll come back again to make another promise, to meet here next year, and we keep our promise again, and again, and again, and again. Right? This will be easy. I’ll do it as well. Promise. I hope that today was a good day. I.. (hesitantly) love you."

IU went on to say that this was her first time saying I love you in English, and added, almost bashfully: "I adore you. I cherish you." When she said this, I felt my heart expand with a warm, fuzzy feeling of peace and joy.

Perhaps it was because of these uplifting words and IU's repeated reassurance that she would be back - and perhaps because the adrenaline from the infectious enthusiasm of my fellow uaenas had yet to subside - the post-concert blues didn't hit me immediately after the concert ended. I recall last year I had remained in my seat, feeling lost and empty, but this year, I left beaming as I made my way out of the concert hall with the rest of the crowd.

The post-concert blues did sink in a little the next day, as I relived my memories looking at other fancams - but mixed with this was a feeling of gratitude and joy at how blessed I had been.

Thank you IU, for giving love through your Love Poem concert, and I look forward to seeing you again next year.

[iuinspires]

Persona - One Lee Ji Eun, Four Personas

IU is perhaps better known for her identity as a singer-songwriter rather than an actress, but she has mentioned her love for acting on a number of occasions, explaining that it allows her to assume different identities and express emotions in a manner that she may not be able to in reality.

Persona, a four-part anthology on Netflix that marks actress Lee Ji Eun’s first foray into the world of film-making, allows her to do precisely that: take on the challenge of portraying four characters with completely different personas, displaying a wide range of emotions that fans have hitherto not seen from her. Comprising four short films produced by four critically acclaimed Korean directors, each film is greatly different in terms of style and tone, with no apparent connection to each other - but I think they all tackle the theme of love and passion to some extent, manifested in different forms: jealousy and anger (Love Set); deceit and betrayal (Collector); friendship and revenge (Kiss Burn); as well as separation and loss (Walking at Night).

I’ll be completely honest – as these are essentially indie arthouse films with ambiguous plots and cryptic characters, they are an acquired taste which may not appeal to everyone; being no film expert myself, I’m not sure I understood everything that the filmmakers were trying to convey. But I certainly had great fun watching actress Lee Ji Eun take on four very different personas in each story, and also reading the thoughts of my fellow uaenas who have enthusiastically dissected the films. Let me just share my thoughts on each of the films as well.

(WARNING: Spoilers ahead)

Love Set

This was the film which I had been looking forward to most before its release, for the premise seemed so intriguing from the trailers: an angsty and jealous IU locking horns with her prospective stepmother (Bae Doona) in a game of tennis with high stakes, where the loser would “end it all” with the man of their shared affections (IU’s dad and Doona’s lover). I was also excited to see how IU would unleash her character’s unbridled fury that seemed to be the key motif of the story, especially since she had mentioned in interviews how challenging it was for her to portray anger in such a manner that was contrary to her personality.

I must confess that I was slightly disappointed when I first watched the film though, for the story didn’t seem to go beyond what we already knew would happen – IU and Doona engaging in a heated battle on the tennis court. A significant amount of time was devoted to slow motion shots of them whacking the tennis ball, and close-ups of their hot, reddened faces of intense agony that was almost painful to watch. I was also somewhat frustrated by the seeming apathy and emotional detachment of the two male characters (IU’s dad and an unnamed Caucasian friend haplessly dragged in to “seduce” Doona) – both sat silent and almost expressionless with their heads turning back and forth rhythmically like puppets following the movement of the tennis ball – a direct contrast to the fury and fierce energy displayed by the women on the courts. I couldn’t quite fathom why IU’s dad seemed indifferent to his daughter’s angry outbursts or suffering, even calmly saying “Out!” when she missed the ball and fell down – did it signify the fact he cared more for his lover and was rooting for her? Why then did he seem emotionless even though Doona was winning?

I did however enjoy observing the dynamics between the women and their contrasting personalities – Doona, the older and more mature of the two, was clearly at the upper hand throughout, remaining level-headed and taking an almost sadistic pleasure in calmly taunting IU; poor IU, on the other hand, was a loser not just in the tennis game but in her complete failure to rein in her emotions, seeming like a complete wreck with her expletive-laden outbursts. Towards the end, however, Doona handed over the tennis ball to IU with a gentle stroke of the thumb in what seemed like a conciliatory gesture, and told IU that she didn’t intend to marry her father, suggesting that she had never been serious about their bet to begin with – and ending off the movie on an almost anti-climactic note.

One thing which struck me was the sexual innuendoes that was evident throughout the story – the suggestive shrieks and panting with each hit of the tennis ball, the sensuous close-up shots of IU’s lips biting a plum, and of the women’s hot, sweaty bare skin – but I didn’t quite comprehend how it quite fit in with the context of the story. One of my fellow uaenas, however, has offered an intriguing explanation: that IU and Doona were actually in a sexual relationship before, with Doona betraying IU by getting together with her dad – which explained IU’s extreme agitation at the entire situation, and at puzzling moments like Doona’s flirtations with the Caucasian. The sexual innuendoes would then be a deliberate hint of the relationship between the two, with the tennis match signifying a lover’s quarrel, and the caressing of IU’s hand at the end a romantic gesture on Doona’s part. I think that’s a fascinating and plausible interpretation of the story, and could possibly also explain the two men’s indifference and insignificance throughout the show – they are mere spectators on the sidelines, observing the relationship that is key to the story: the secret passion between IU and Doona.

Collector

Prior to watching the film, Collector left the vaguest impression on me for I wasn’t sure what it was about beyond a love story between a man and a woman; as it turns out, this was the most memorable film, and my favourite of the series for its surreal, eerie plot and rich use of metaphors.

Director Im Pil-Sung has explained that in making this film, he was inspired by IU’s song Jam Jam - which is essentially about a non-committal and superficial relationship between a man and woman, with jam serving as a metaphor for the sugar-coating of lies and pretensions binding them together. And indeed, this idea of deceit in a relationship was evident in the film with the character of Eun portrayed by Ji Eun; while she seemed tender and gently seductive at times towards her entranced lover, there was also clear indifference in her attitude, shown from her boredom with his conversation attempts, and her open flirtations with other men. Her lover, however, was not completely innocent himself, for it seemed that he had betrayed his ex-fiancé by breaking off their engagement to be with Eun. This fact was revealed through an abrupt switch of scenes from his conversation with Eun to an empty white room in a surreal, clinical setting that seemed to represent his subconscious mind. In one particularly gruesome scene, the man’s head was sliced off in his subconscious state, suggesting a blow to his ego after finding out that Eun had gone travelling with two male friends. Notably, his head was fixed back to his neck after he had waxed lyrical to Eun about his pompous theory on the superiority of females, probably representing a restoration of his ego from the self-pleasure of his intellectual discourse.

Nothing however, could rival the shock factor from the bizarre twist towards the end of the story, when the man, egged on by Eun, literally dug out his heart of his body and handed it to her. As he sat motionlessly in tears, now a heartless man, Eun carefully placed her prized possession in a jar, and smilingly declared that she would “salt it to prevent it from rotting”. This, I think, was a chilling but clever reference to the following lines in Jam Jam:

“Tell me that you love me

Say the pretty things smeared on your lips

Sticky sticky, I’ll keep it pickled

So it won’t rot, for a long time”

In the final scene, the man opened up a small box which Eun had handed to him as a gift, only to find a miniature version of himself trapped in the empty white room – which I interpreted as symbolising that her parting gift to him was the gift of conscience, a reminder of his heartlessness for betraying his original lover.  

The story left me unnerved and shaken with its gory and disturbing elements, but I loved its use of metaphors, and how it brought a whole new meaning to the lyrics of Jam Jam. What I appreciated most, however, was Ji Eun’s portrayal of the callous and mysterious seductress that Eun was; her acting was nuanced and deliberate, with subtle gestures and expressions that brought her character to life. I can never forget the look of rapt eagerness on Eun’s face, for instance, as she watched the man dig out his heart, and how she gently licked her lips at one point, almost like a predator anticipating a bite of its prey. Watching it gave me the chills, and made me forget that the Eun we saw onscreen was the lovable Lee Ji Eun who has inspired all kinds of emotions in me before, except for fear. In short, I think this film was the most effective in allowing her to take her acting skills at a whole new level, and to experiment with a different persona that viewers have never seen from her before.

Kiss Burn

Kiss Burn features Ji Eun as Hanna, a spirited school girl who visits the rural home of her good friend Hye Bok to seek her company, only to find her locked in by her authoritative father. Hye Bok’s hair has been shorn off by her father in a drunken fit, possibly as punishment for returning home with kiss marks after making out with a boy at a beach. Annoyed by his unjust behaviour, Hanna vows to exact revenge, and the two girls embark on a series of hilarious attempts at pulling off pranks to punish him.

Compared to the other films, the story is relatively light-hearted, with many comedic moments. However, it takes a slightly dark turn towards the end: while the girls’ deliberate and carefully thought-out pranks fail to achieve their desired outcome, a careless gesture – a flick of a cigarette butt into the chicken coop – eventually sparks off a fire, ironically turning out to be the biggest punishment for Hye Bok’s father, who works as a forest fire lookout.

Interestingly, the director chose to use chickens as a recurring motif to carry the dark humour of the story: in one of the early scenes, Hanna chomps on large chunks of roast chicken, and towards the end, the girls cheerily comment on smelling the aroma of fried chicken, blissfully unaware of the growing blaze presumably spread by a chicken which had gone astray after its tail caught fire in the coop.

In terms of acting, I think the role of Hanna was less of a ground-breaking one for Ji Eun, because it isn’t the first time we’ve seen her portray lively characters like that before. That doesn’t mean, however, that she didn’t do a good job in delivering her role – Hanna was a character with an endearing mix of rebelliousness and naiveté who found her way to my heart. For all her deviousness in conjuring pranks to seek revenge, Hanna still possessed an innocence about her, as evidenced from her curious probing of Hye Bok’s making out session, her amusing attempt at kissing herself to produce a hickey (after insisting wide-eyed to her friend that she knew how it was created), and her eagerness at visiting the beach (which Hye Bok claimed was a good place to “relieve stress” through making out). It was also a pleasure to watch Ji Eun’s chemistry with actress Shin Dal-gi, who played Hye Bok. Ji Eun had mentioned in interviews that director Jeon Go Won had employed unique techniques prior to the start of filming for the actresses to bond with each other, and that camaraderie was indeed evident onscreen, making the friendship between Hanna and Hye Bok a believable and funnily heartwarming one.

Walking at Night

Walking at Night appears to be a favourite amongst many uaenas, and I can see why: it is a hauntingly sad but beautiful and poetic piece, which would appeal to the sensibilities of those who gravitate towards IU’s sentimental ballads. I love it myself, and would rank it as my second favourite, after Collector.

Shot entirely in black and white, it tells the story of a man who meets his dead girlfriend in his dream, and together they revisit old haunts, reminisce their time together, and muse about love, life and death. Director Kim Jong Kwan had mentioned that he was inspired by the air of loneliness Ji Eun exudes despite her lively public persona, and indeed, the film delves into the theme of loneliness; mid-way through the show, it is revealed that the girl had killed herself because of her desperate sense of loneliness. Anxious, the man asks if he had caused her to be lonely, and she reassures him that he hadn’t:

“No. You were always there for me. There are people who know me and people who don’t. You were one of those who knew me, and there were others besides you. Those people were the ones who made me feel lonely. There were so many people who knew me other than you, but the way they treated me made me feel lonely. You were always there for me, but I just suffered in vain until I died.”

These poignant lines made my heart ache and struck a chord with me; it is so true that not being alone does not equate to not being lonely, for there have been moments in my life when I am surrounded by people, yet feel overwhelmed by an odd sense of loneliness.

Ji Eun’s words in the final scene are just as beautifully sad, a reminder of the ephemeral nature of our existence, and how we are all but transient visitors on this earth:  

“Dreams and death lead to nowhere. They will end up nowhere…and eventually be forgotten. We are here, but no one will remember us. Everything is gone, and only the night remains.”

I’m not sure if I imagined it, but as the camera pans out in one of the final scenes to show the couple embracing, there appears to be a silhouette of a man standing in the distance. I recall shuddering involuntarily when I first noticed it, and even now, I feel an odd mix of fear and intrigue as I ponder who that man could be. Is it the protagonist himself, looking on at himself with his lover, as how we are wont to view ourselves from a third party perspective in dreams? Is he desperately trying to cling on to his memories before they fade? Or is it perhaps an onlooker bearing witness to their existence, proving that Ji Eun’s words may not entirely true – for while death leads us to disappear from this earth, we will still leave traces of ourselves behind, in the memories of those we’ve crossed paths with? I guess the beauty of such films is that there’s no right or wrong answer.

Compared to the other films, Walking at Night has the simplest narrative, with no notable climax; but I think its beauty lies in its simplicity, which allows us to focus on the poetic nature of its dialogue, and ruminate on what it means. In the same vein, Ji Eun’s acting is understated and restrained; there is no need for dramatic expressions, for so much of her emotions is conveyed in subtle ways, like a simple gesture, an inflexion in voice, or the expression in her large, soulful eyes.

Conclusion

Ji Eun’s acting career has been a rocky one, and there will always be people who love to hate her acting. Yet slowly but surely, she has been establishing her credentials as an actress over the years; My Ahjusshi was a breakthrough role which gained her recognition for her acting skills, and with Persona, she has proven once again her remarkable versatility as an actress, and added another notable work under her belt. Persona is probably not a show which will have mainstream appeal, but I believe it is the kind of acting project which will fulfil Ji Eun’s desire for more creative freedom, and I hope she’ll continue to take on such projects that will allow her to find joy in doing what she loves.

[iuinspires]

My Hopes for IU in the Next 10 Years

As all ueanas would know, 2018 was a major milestone in IU’s career for it marked the 10th anniversary of her debut, which was commemorated by various events, including a series of concerts celebrating her discography over the past decade. I’m glad though, that beyond celebrating her past achievements, IU and her company seem to be taking a forward-looking approach – IU mentioned on various occasions that she was looking forward to embarking on the next phase of her career, and I heard too that her company had earlier surveyed ueanas on what they hope to see from her in future.

As we welcome a new beginning with the start of 2019, I thought it would be fun to share my thoughts on what I personally hope to see from IU in the next 10 years. As with most ueanas, I look forward to hearing more music from IU and seeing her take on more acting projects, but these are the three specific things which I would personally love to see:

IU appearing on more programmes which reinforce her identity as a producer, musician & singer-songwriter

Some of the IU videos I’ve enjoyed the most include IU’s 2017 appearance on MBC Picnic with Kim Eana and her 2015 Melon Chat-shire showcase, where she talks about the creative process behind her song writing process and the conceptualisation of her albums. So I really hope to see IU appear on more of such programmes, because I love seeing how passionate, eloquent and intelligent she is when she shares her thoughts on her music and provides insight that allows a deeper appreciation of her works.

I also hope to see more behind-the-scenes videos in the IU’s recording studio, because that is where we get to see a different side of IU – not as an idol, or performer, but as a music professional. I don’t know why, but there’s something I find really moving about the short videos of IU’s recording process we occasionally get to see, like those of the Flower Bookmark Albums; IU may wear minimal makeup, look slightly dishevelled in her baggy casual clothes, and seem really exhausted at times, but I think she looks most beautiful just being herself, passionately in discussion with other music professionals, and dedicating herself tirelessly to her music.

Finally, I would love to see IU in more programmes like MBC’s Secret Vacation, where she can simply sit before a small audience strumming her guitar, singing her favourite songs, and sharing her personal stories and thoughts. It’s times like this when IU seems the most comfortable, affable, and down-to-earth, and demonstrates an ability to create a deep connection with her audience.

IU’s Palette music show

This is something which IU mentioned herself, and is an idea which excited me greatly when I first heard it: on the 400th episode of Yoo Hee Yeol’s Sketchbook, IU said she hoped to succeed Yoo Hee Yeol someday with her own Palette music show. For the uninitiated, Sketchbook is a music programme with a special significance to IU; she first appeared on the show as a rookie in 2009, when she was hardly known by the public, and over the course of her career, made numerous appearances that traced her growth and evolution as an artist. IU also established a special friendship with Yoo Hee Yeol, who often declares himself proudly as IU’s ‘uncle’ who first recognised her budding talent, and helped nurture her growth over the years. So for Yoo Hee Yeol to pass on the baton to IU is something which would be especially meaningful; I love the thought of IU helming her own music show, and taking over the role of grooming fellow musicians as a respected senior in the industry. Also, I think “Palette” would make a beautiful title for such a music show - not only is it the name of IU’s highly successful 2017 album, it is also an apt metaphor for the colourful diversity of talent and music genres that IU can help promote with a programme like this.

IU’s Bed and Breakfast

This is a slightly wild and perhaps unrealistic idea, inspired by my love for Hyori’s Bed and Breakfast, a reality show featuring IU as a part-time worker who helped Lee Hyori and her husband Lee Sang Soon run a B&B in their Jeju Island home. As I mentioned in my first post, I loved how the show allowed us to see IU for who she was – not as celebrity IU but an ordinary person Lee Jieun, with her quirks, vulnerabilities, endearing traits and all. It was also meaningful to see how IU developed a bond with Lee Hyori as she confided in her and sought advice, tapping on the latter’s wisdom and experience as a sunbaenim in the industry.

What I hope to see in 10 years is an “IU’s Bed and Breakfast” of sorts: a similar programme where IU will no longer be a helper, but assume a role akin to Hyori’s – a married woman with her own happy family (hopefully with kids too), and a well-respected veteran in the industry with sufficient stature to provide guidance and mentorship to a junior. I’m sure the Lee Jieun we get to see then will still have the same traits and quirks we know and love - (I don’t think her fashion sense or sense of direction will have improved much, for instance!) - but what I hope will change is that she will be even stronger, more confident, and self-assured.

And so to conclude…

Ten years is a long time, and no one can foretell the future. As much as I hate to admit it, our hopes for the future have to be grounded in reality – over the course of 10 years, new faces will emerge in the industry, and perhaps someone new will one day overtake IU in her popularity. I think IU herself is very much cognisant of that; she has in fact discussed on various occasions, even in her early days, her worries about the transience of fame. What sets her apart, though, is how she is constantly thinking ahead of time, and working hard to improve herself to take her career to the next stage – progressing over the years from being a singer to a songwriter and a producer of her album. Above all, I think one of the biggest factors for her success is her genuine passion and tireless dedication to music, which has allowed her to earn the respect and affection of the public over these years.

The recent revelation of IU’s “Bunker” – her personal music studio and practice rooms let out to aspiring junior musicians for free – is probably an indication that she has greater ideas in mind for the future. Perhaps she has plans to lead and manage her own group of musicians under her own label, or perhaps she’ll decide to gradually take on a more backseat role as a producer and creative director. But whatever happens, I have faith that IU, with her capability, drive and passion, will continue to find joy in doing what she loves, and be successful in her own terms.

And on my part, as a fan, I’ll continue to listen to and grow old with her music.

[iuinspires]

My first IU concert: a dream come true

In one of my earlier entries I mentioned that my greatest dream as an IU fan was to see her perform live, and lamented that it was a far-off dream for a fan living in the tiny island of Singapore. So you can imagine my exhilaration when I first heard that IU would be performing here as part of her 10th anniversary concert tour, and realised that my dream wasn’t that distant after all. When the ticketing prices were first announced I was a little hesitant because they were so steep, but on the day the tickets were released, I took the plunge and snapped up a ticket. And it’s a decision I have not regretted.

Because IU’s concert on 15th December 2018 was one the most exuberating and magical three hours of my life. 

It’s been more than 24 hours since the concert ended, but the adrenaline rush from the amazing experience still lingers in my blood, and my emotions haven’t quite settled down. For IU brought me on a roller coaster of emotions: nervousness and anticipation before the concert, a heady sense of excitement at finally setting eyes on her in person, overwhelming euphoria at singing along with her and my fellow ueanas, heartache during her poignant ballads, and finally, a bittersweet feeling of joy mixed with sadness when the concert finally ended.

There are so many precious memories I want to document that I had a hard time organising my thoughts, but I decided to focus on the top six experiences that were most memorable for me.

#1 The pre-concert anticipation 

First of all, the joy of anticipation. My anticipation for the concert began from the moment I bought the concert tickets in October, and grew progressively with the passing of each day. But nothing could beat the sense of anticipation that culminated on the day of the concert, when I finally arrived at the concert venue.

IU’s concert in Singapore was held at the Star Theatre, which is located on the top floor of a shopping mall. Prior to the concert, I had visited the mall a few times, but never had the chance to go to the theatre. When I reached there I could not help feeling somewhat awestruck; access to the concert foyer was via pairs of escalators at different wings, and the escalators were unusually long and steep, which made for a rather grand entrance befitting the momentousness of the occasion for me. As I made my way up, the familiar strains of IU’s "Bbi Bbi" drifted towards me, and I don’t know why, but hearing IU's voice then was my first magical moment for the day. Perhaps it was the surreal feeling of hearing IU’s songs played in a public place, or perhaps it was the sudden realisation of how close I was to fulfilling my dream. But whatever it was, I experienced a bubbling over of emotions and giddy sense of anticipation that felt out of this world.

#2 Observing my fellow ueanas

When I finally managed to rein in my emotions I turned my attention to something which I had been curious about for the longest time: the profile of my fellow ueanas. I must confess that while I do know many lovely ueanas on Twitter, I have not met any in person, and do not know any ueanas in real life (other than my mum, who became fond of IU after Lee Soon Shin but doesn’t really know that much about her). So it was fun to observe the crowd to get a sense of who my fellow ueanas were. It was quite evenly distributed by gender, but predominantly a very young crowd – they looked mostly like teens, college students or young working adults like myself, though I did spot an adorable grey-haired couple and a few ahjummas and ahjusshis. What was interesting though, was the diversity of the languages and accents I heard; while there were many Singaporeans, I also heard people speaking in Korean, Malay, Chinese (with non-local accents), American-accented English and Hong Kong-accented English.  I knew for a fact from Twitter too, that many ueanas had flown in specially from as far as US and Australia to Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia just for the concert, so the crowd was probably a mini United Nations of ueanas.

After I got to my seat I found myself flanked by two pairs of Singaporean girls. Because I was early, and too nervous to focus on anything on my phone, I spent my time eavesdropping on their conversations. It was quite funny listening to them fangirl and exchange random facts about IU (“I LOVED Through The Night when it came out, that is her best song!”, “Her skin is so nice”, “She was spotted hanging out in Bugis yesterday!”, “Her concerts are known for being very long, I wonder how long today’s one will be!”) I also spotted a male fan in front of me who spent his time admiring his phone wallpaper which featured a huge picture of IU, and another who was taking multiple photos of the SG Heart IU fan support banner and posting it on his Instagram account. Although I was alone and too shy to make small talk with anyone, I felt a strange sense of comfort from the affinity I shared with the crowd of fellow ueanas, however diverse their backgrounds might be.

#3 Seeing and hearing IU in person 

As 6pm drew near, the lights dimmed. The excitement in the air was palpable, and the crowd started screaming in anticipation of IU's appearance. But IU didn't appear, and instead, a video starting playing. Filmed in a style reminiscent of the black-and-white silent films of the 1920s, it featured IU and her team in a backstage area of a theatre preparing for a performance. Whoever had conceptualized this was truly a creative genius, for the old school Hollywood vibes it evoked fit cleverly with the 'movies' theme of the concert, and the backstage setting was a perfect prelude to the start of a show. It was also excellent in building up suspense for the audience - the final scene showed IU about to open the stage doors, ready to make her entrance. Just when it seemed that she would open the doors, she turned suddenly to the audience with a comically deadpan expression, and one word flashed across the screen: "Scream!" The audience obeyed promptly and went absolutely wild. Before we knew it, the opening of IU's "Red Shoes" with its lively, thumping beats began playing, and a familiar voice - strong, clear and powerful, belted out the first line of the song. It was the moment we had all been waiting for: IU's grand entrance.

I've thought hard about how I can describe my emotions at this precise moment, but I don't think words can do justice to what I felt at seeing and hearing IU live for the first time. It was a moment which I had earlier been thinking about and anticipating for the longest time, and I had initially thought that I would definitely cry when the time came, but for some reason, I did not. Perhaps it was because it was too surreal seeing IU in person, or perhaps it seemed too unbelievable that my dream had finally come true. But I did feel a heady mix of excitement, euphoria and unadulterated bliss that left me almost too shaken to focus on the performance.

After my nerves had calmed down sufficiently I began to relax and enjoy the performance. From where I was sitting, IU was too small for me to see her facial expressions without the onscreen projection, and the sound system at the concert venue was sadly less than stellar. But none of that could detract from IU's charismatic stage presence, or how beautiful, clear and well-controlled her voice was. Prior to the concert I had heard so many ueanas rave about how listening to IU live was even better than listening to her studio recorded songs, and I finally saw for myself that this was not an exaggeration. Over the next few hours, IU showcased the versatility of the voice with great aplomb as she performed a variety of songs from her discography of ten years - from cutesy songs like "Marshmellow" and "Boo", to upbeat dance numbers like "23" and "Last Night Story", and sorrowful ballads like "The Only Story I Didn't Know" and "Gloomy Clock" (her heartfelt and poignant tribute to the late Jonghyun).

#4 Singing with the crowd

Other than seeing and hearing IU live, I think another unforgettable experience was getting to sing along with my fellow ueanas in the crowd. Anyone who has watched fancams of IU's performances would be familiar with how she loves to point her mike at the audience for them to sing along - and I must confess that I had earlier been worried about how the Singapore audience would fare with this, given our general predisposition to being a somewhat reserved lot. 

My fears, however, proved to be completely unfounded. When the first singalong favourite "Friday" starting playing, the crowd cheered excitedly, and began singing along with great enthusiasm and gusto. The crowd did just as well for the next song "Meaning of You". I was a little shy, but I sang along as well, and it felt absolutely amazing - I think I experienced what sociologists call "collective effervescence" - the intoxicating joy and the sense of affinity from a shared experience with a crowd. It was exhilarating, too, to shout the fanchants - some were too hard for me, but the easier ones like "Bbi Bbi" were great fun. But above all, what I loved most was seeing how IU's face lit up with joy and surprise when she heard our voices. She declared that we sang so well that she got goosebumps, and hearing that expanded my heart with warmth and joy.

#5 Listening to IU's concert talk 

I had previously mentioned how I love reading translations of IU's concert talk, which provides great insight into her mature, introspective and thoughtful personality. So listening to her talk as an actual member of an audience that she interacted with was one of the most precious concert experiences for me.

As most ueanas would know by now, IU spoke in English for the most part of the concert, and switched to Korean only towards the later half - thanks to the prompting of IU Team, who said that her fans were used to hearing her speak in Korean and might find it weird otherwise, and that the concert might end prematurely if she only spoke only in English. I loved hearing her speak in English though - her accent, coupled with her husky voice, was absolutely adorable, and her command of the language, while not perfect, was impressive nonetheless. It has certainly come a long day from her Heroes days, where her hilarious "I run to you" line has been immortalised forever in the annals of classic IU moments, or her 2014 KCon performance in America, where she said it was suffocating not being able to communicate with her fans. She certainly had no such problems with her Singapore concert, for she was able to convey her thoughts in English with coherence and clarity.

With the deluge of updates on Twitter, and IU Team Star Candy's excellent translations, I think most ueanas would already know what IU had spoken of during her concert, but I think it's worth summarising a few key highlights in my account here, for completeness:

(a) IU's love for Singapore: IU mentioned how she and her team went sightseeing in Singapore, and loved the clean environment, delicious food, nice weather (which made the Singaporean girl next to me gasp in disbelief) and kind people. Best of all, she said that her father got really excited after she texted him about her experience here, and that she would return for a visit with her family next year. Hearing this thrilled the patriot in me and made my heart swell with pride and delight.

(b) IU's surprise and happiness at being able to hold a concert here: One of the things which IU repeatedly mentioned was her surprise and happiness at having enough fans to hold a concert in Singapore. I could sense her genuine joy, which made me really happy too. She also apologized many times at coming here only ten years after her debut - I hope this means that IU and her company will finally have more confidence in venturing overseas to reach out to her international fans!

(c) IU's personal growth: At the segment of the concert featuring songs she had written herself (23, Zeze, Glasses etc.) IU mentioned how she used to focus on negativity in her younger days, but has since moved on to focus on love, and accept and like herself for who she is. This was one of my favourite parts of the concert talk - an example of one of those intimate, deeply personal moments where IU opens up about herself to her fans, and also a testament to how much she has matured as an artist over the years.

#6  IU's encore and re-encore

All good things come to an end; two hours flew by quickly, and before we knew it, IU announced that she would be performing her last song ("You and I"), to the collective groans of the audience. It was evident that everyone was aware of her legendary encores though, for after she got offstage, the audience started chanting "Encore! Encore!" expectantly. IU did not disappoint, returning to the stage in her dazzling white gown for "Through the Night" and "Dear Name".

I must confess that because I had watched so many fancams of her earlier concerts, I more or less knew what to expect from this segment. But nothing could compare to seeing it live for myself. 

It was a breathtaking sight - standing on the stage in her sparkly white gown with the spotlight on her, and against a backdrop designed to look like a night sky with twinkling stars, glowing fireflies and pretty swirly patterns , IU looked ethereal, like an angel descended from heaven. When IU sang "Dear Name", we held up the hand banners and waved the green finger lights that SG Heart IU had prepared, illuminating the entire venue like the glow of fireflies. 

This beautiful set up, coupled with the poignant nature of the two sentimental ballads, and the awareness that the show was coming to an end, made my heart ache with a bittersweet mixture of joy and sadness.

After IU exited the stage, we started chanting "Encore!" repeatedly again. I wasn't sure if IU would appear for her famous "re-encore", given that she had another concert in Bangkok the next day. But to everyone's delight, IU soon emerged in her casual wear - one of her characteristically baggy T shirts, with a graphic print design. She explained that while her time was limited as most of her staff had to pack up and fly off to Bangkok that night, she wanted her overseas fans to have a chance to experience her "re-encores" as well. She also requested the security staff to lift the ban on phototaking and videography (while not forgetting to thank them for their hard work - bless her soul!), to the rapturous cheers of the audience. After inviting us to tell her what songs we wanted (which turned the place into a madhouse with screams from every corner), she eventually settled on "The Shower" and her signature encore song "Heart", before bidding her final goodbye.

Conclusion 

After the concert ended I stayed on in my seat, feeling a little dazed and lost. I think when something which you have been looking forward to for such a long time finally ends, the sense of emptiness that hits you can be overwhelming - and I really felt it keenly in this case. I had previously thought that I would be more than satisfied if I could fulfil my dream of seeing IU just once, but after experiencing her concert, I realised that all I wanted was to see her perform live again. 

But as IU herself said - when talking about the topic of post-concert emptiness during her 2017 concert - this sense of emptiness need not be sad so long as we remember and treasure what we had witnessed, and move on to recharge ourselves with something new. We need not remember all the details; what is important is to just keep the impressions and emotions in our memories.

And indeed, I think I've slowly begun to move on as I catch up with the other realities of life. I started writing this post on the day after the concert, but with limited time, and my slow pace of writing, I'm wrapping this up only now, more than a week later. Over this period, the post concert withdrawal symptoms, which were so intense immediately after the concert, have gradually lessened. I know, too, that my recollections of specific moments may eventually become less distinct over time as well. But I will never forget the feeling of intense happiness from the time shared with IU and my fellow ueanas, and I know that 15th December 2018 will always have a special place in my heart.

[iuinspires]

Zico & IU in Soulmate

OMG SEEING IU IN THIS MV AFTER SUCH A PROLONGED IU DROUGHT LITERALLY BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES.

I’ll be honest – prior to its release, my interest in this song was lukewarm because I didn’t know much about Zico, and I thought we would just hear a bit of IU in the chorus without seeing her in the MV. So when I saw her unexpected appearance in this, I was swept over by a wave of ecstasy that I’ve not felt in a long, long while. I love everything about the MV – the quirky concept, the whimsical storyline, the bright colours, IU’s retro garb, and her funny, cute chemistry with Zico. The song is proving to be pretty catchy too – kudos to Zico for his creativity, and for making my day with this amazing release. 

(PS: Add to that the triple good news of: 1) the song sweeping all the charts in Korea; 2) IU FINALLY updating her Instagram and 3) news of IU’s upcoming appearance on a variety show - and my mood is now at an all-time high :) )

[iuinspires]

IU’s Versatile Voice

One of the things which always amazes me is the versatility of IU’s voice. Someone who is new to IU and listens to a random sampling of songs from her discography for the first time might be forgiven for thinking that they were sung by different people. For IU has the ability to vary her voice to pull off a variety of styles – it can be cutesy and girlish, light and sweet, deep and soulful, or sultry and playful, depending on the mood and genre of the song. To make my point, I’ve chosen four very different songs to highlight each of these qualities of her voice.  

Cutesy and girlish

IU’s cutesy and girlish voice can be heard in songs from the early days of her career, when her company was trying to promote a cute image after the failure of her debut album Lost Child was blamed on its overly dark and mature concept. I’m not a fan of IU’s songs from these era – Boo and Marshmallow are a travesty in my opinion, and even IU herself seems quite embarrassed whenever she performs them these days – but you can’t deny that she managed to pull off admirably the aegyo she was expected to deliver, through her voice. To highlight this I’ve chosen to feature Nagging, IU’s 2010 duet with 2 AM’s Seulong that I find reasonably catchy and not overly cringe-worthy, even if it isn’t exactly my kind of song. It’s a light-hearted pop ballad where the lyrics are like the banter between a couple, and IU’s voice exudes a cute, girlish charm that is well-suited to the song and harmonizes well with Seulong’s voice.

Light and sweet

This is probably what IU is best known for – her light, sweet and mellow vocals, exemplified through popular sentimental ballads like Through the Night and The Shower, where her voice lends a delicate touch that complements the lyrical nature of these acoustic songs. I love so many of IU’s ballads that I had a hard time choosing one song feature, but I finally decided on IU’s Autumn Morning from her last album, Flower Bookmark 2. Here, IU’s voice demonstrates a pure, sweet clarity that does indeed seem like a breath of fresh morning air. I love how there is an element of gentle cheeriness to her voice as well - listen carefully, and at 1:12 when IU sings “ah-chi-meh”, you can almost hear the smile in her voice. Even though I do not understand Korean, listening to her sing this does evoke the image of a beautiful morning with clean, fresh air, bright sunlight and chirping birds!

Deep and soulful

While IU applies a light touch for many of her songs, she has the capability to exercise strength and depth with her voice where needed. One of the best-known examples of the power of her voice would probably be her three-octave note in her hit song Good Day, where she belts out three consecutive high notes in the chorus. I prefer, however, songs where IU demonstrates the strength of her voice in more subtle ways by going deeper - such as in the chorus of When a Love Passes By, or in this song I’ve chosen to feature: a cover of the oldie Forgotten Seasons, which IU sang in her drama You’re the Best Lee Soon Shin. Here, IU’s voice is much lower and deeper than usual, producing a lovely, rich resonance that sounds suitably soulful for this poignant song.

Sultry and playful

This is my favourite – the sultry and playful side of IU’s voice. I love this aspect of her voice because it showcases the unique huskiness of her vocals which goes particularly well with jazzy songs, such as those in her Modern Times album that I really enjoy (check out Modern Times, Love of B, Red Shoes, Between the Lips, all of which are great songs). One of my greatest loves amongst songs of this category, however, would be Zeze from IU’s 2015 album Chatshire. I know it was a controversial song (and probably one with painful memories for IU fans due to the unfair accusations levelled at IU for its lyrics), but that doesn’t detract from the fact that it is an excellent piece of music. I particularly love IU’s live performance in the acoustic version of the song in the video below. Notice how her voice has a special, lilting charm which conveys a sense of mischief and playfulness, with subtle details like the soft, suppressed chuckle at the beginning of the song (0:26 of the video).

The four songs I’ve chosen are just a tiny sample from IU’s vast discography - there are many other songs where IU’s vocal quality demonstrates all of these abovementioned qualities or even defies categorisation. They do, however, provide a quick snapshot of how versatile IU’s voice can be, and prove how IU is not afraid to experiment with a variety of musical styles. I know there are critics who say that IU’s singing skills are overrated, and that IU doesn’t have the best vocal techniques. But for a layperson like myself who isn’t vocally trained, listening to IU sing is a great joy, for she has the ability to tell a different story and convey a variety of emotions with her beautiful voice. And that to me, is what matters most at the end of the day – to listen to music that has the ability to touch the heart.

[iuinspires]

Actress Son Sook Praises IU

“Although Ji-Eun is a singer and has never taken proper acting classes before, her profundity of thought and attitude towards her work are so respectable. She really went all out and immersed herself in this project from the beginning till the end. So I thought “She’s not a child. She’s like an adult. This kid behaves like an old person.” She’s really humble and smart. I was touched by her enthusiasm and hardworking side. Nowadays, young people are so full of talent and do everything so well.”

(Source: IU Teamstarcandy)

Reading this comment from veteran actress Son Sook (who played Ji-An’s grandma in My Ahjusshi) just expanded my heart with a warm and fuzzy happiness. This is by no means the first time IU has received praise from her fellow artists – there are countless actors, actresses, singers and celebrities who have complimented her attitude and personality after working with her – but this is especially meaningful to me for a few reasons.

Firstly, because Son Sook is a well-respected veteran in the acting circle, and her words of affirmation provide great validation for IU, especially in the face of detractors who love to hate IU’s acting on the grounds that she is a mere “idol”.

Secondly, because my favourite scenes in My Ahjusshi are those involving Ji-An’s interaction with her grandma. There is something incredibly moving about seeing the usually tough, cold and sombre Ji-An soften whenever she interacts with her grandma. Given the paucity of dialogue for Ji-An’s character, this is conveyed in the most subtle of ways – a flicker of eye, a movement of lips, a softening of glance – sending wordless signals which speak a thousand words about her love for her grandma. It is heartening to know that the special connection between the characters onscreen extends to reality as well.

And finally, I think Son Sook’s words affirms what many others have said and what IU has shown in her words and actions on her intelligence, maturity, humility and dedication towards her work . It makes me glad that I’m a fan of someone with not just a beautiful face and voice, but a beautiful heart and mind as well.

[iuinspires]

As much as I hate to admit it, IU and her music is my only way of escaping from reality these days. Like a pain relief drug, it soothes and calms me down after a long and difficult day, but when I wake in the morning with the effect worn off, the pain becomes especially pronouced.

[iuinspires]

IU’s Intimate Small Theatre Concert

As an IU fan, my greatest dream is to be able to watch IU perform live at her concert someday. Sadly, being a non-Korean speaking fan living miles away from Korea in the tiny island of Singapore, which Fave Entertainment seems unlikely to have interest in expanding its reach to, that is but a distant dream for now.

Fortunately, there are plenty of concert clips, fan videos and fan accounts which I can rely on to get a sense of what IU’s concerts are like. And watching them makes me incredibly envious of the thousands of IU fans who pack each concert, illuminating the venue with their greenish-yellow light sticks like the glow of fireflies (yes ueanas, that’s a deliberate reference to our beloved Through the Night). 

IU concerts seem like amazing affairs. They aren’t the kind of concerts where people stand up, jump and jive to (which in any case wouldn’t be my cup of tea) – but they inevitably include a good mix of IU’s livelier, upbeat songs and dance numbers, along with her slow, sentimental ballads, and feature visually striking stage set-ups and colourful costume changes which people generally expect of pop concerts.

I guess what makes IU’s concerts unique though, is her close interaction with fans and the great lengths she goes to ensure they are happy. IU’s concerts are known for their remarkably long “encores” which are almost as long as the main concert itself – her 2017 Seoul concert was apparently a record-breaking five hours – during which she entertains random song requests and chats with her fans. Thanks to the wonderful translations of IU fans like @4seasonswithiu​ and @iu-jjang​, I’ve managed to find out what IU says during her concert talk time, which often reveal the introspective, mature and thoughtful side of IU I love so much – but perhaps I’ll save my thoughts on that for a separate post. Instead, I shall focus today on IU’s 2014 small theatre concerts, which seem to me represents IU’s intimate fan interaction at its best, and is the one IU concert I would go to if I could only choose one.

Just one step…That much more

Held over eight runs between May to June 2014, IU’s small theatre concert “Just one step…That much more” was probably a fulfilment of IU’s dream, often professed in her younger days, of having a concert in a small-scale setting. An old advertisement from the KBS World website describes this as a show that “focuses more on IU as a true singer than a glitzy celebrity and star” where she’ll “bring to her fans a more soulful session with her signature sweet voice to help usher in the warmth of spring”. And though I wasn’t there myself, that’s exactly the vibes I get from watching clips online. The concerts have none of the glamour, glitz and theatrics of large-scale concerts, but come across like a cosy and intimate affair where IU seems truly happy, relaxed and in her element performing for her fans. Fave Entertainment was kind enough to post three high quality concert clips on YouTube - let me just share two here to talk briefly about them.

Friday

Friday is one of my favourite IU songs, and I’ve watched dozens of clips of her performing it live – but this clip is my absolute favourite. I love everything about it – the beautiful stage set-up, the wonderful band accompaniment, IU’s chic and classy outfit, her glossy tresses, and the enthusiastic audience singing along. Above all, what I really love is how IU’s face seems suffused in a warm glow of joy which gives one the sense that she is truly enjoying the performance, and dare I say, basking in the bliss of thoughts on someone she loves. You can see how her happiness spreads to the audience, who seem to share her bliss, and likewise, watching this inevitably uplifts my spirits and brings a smile to my face. (P.S: And yes, I love this so much I’ve used it for my Tumblr header image!)

When Love Passes By

I recall that the first time I watched this clip was also the first time I listened in full to this song, which was covered in IU’s first Flower Bookmark Album. And I was absolutely mesmerized. IU’s rendition of this poignant song in her soulful, magnetic voice is deeply moving and hauntingly beautiful. Someone commented on YouTube that IU “moves like a zombie” in the beginning – and indeed she’s treading slowly, but that’s only because she’s so immersed in her emotions, and as always, conveys these emotions so well through her voice. If her performance of Friday is an energizer boost, this song is a tranquiliser which soothes and calms me down after a bad day, and I’m sure her fans in the audience were just as moved.

And so to conclude…

In the comments section on YouTube for the Friday video, there was some discussion about how this was the concert attended by Kim Soo Hyun (IU’s friend and co-star in The Producers, and the leading man in her MV for Ending Scene). I love one of the comments, which I shall quote here – “He picked a darn good concert to attend. A very intimate concert filled with overtones of acoustic energy and IU’s magnetic voice, yet possessing an undertone of serenity.” I think that sums up perfectly the vibes I get from this series of concerts just from watching the clips alone, and I can only dream about how it would have been like to be actually there, soaking in the atmosphere and listening to IU perform.

Sadly, it seems that this was the only series of small-scale concerts held by IU, and I can guess why – from Fave’s viewpoint, a small concert probably doesn’t have the same economies of scale of a larger one and wouldn’t justify the sunk costs involved. Nonetheless, I hope that IU will be able to replicate this someday, and above all, that I’ll be one amongst the lucky audience to be there!

[iuinspires]

IU and Her Old Soul

My latest obsession: to watch videos of IU’s live performances of Korean oldies.

Any IU fan should be familiar with IU’s love for old songs, which she said was developed through karaoke sessions with her dad in her younger days. IU has often professed her respect and admiration for the work of her sunbaenims in the music industry, and her two Flower Bookmark albums, which feature remakes of Korean oldies, are perhaps the best testament to her love for the classics.

I love these two albums – I think songs from the yesteryear possess a certain beauty and flavour which IU leverages to showcase the unique charm of her voice. So it was with great delight that I discovered these four IU covers of Korean oldies that I had not heard of previously. Before I delve further into each of them, I must emphasize that each song is beautiful in itself, and due credit must be given to their original composers and performers for creating such wonderful music. But for me, IU’s rendition of these songs enhances the listening experience – she reinterprets each of them in her own special way, while staying true to the spirit of the original compositions. Also, what I really like about these four songs is that they showcase IU’s versatility as a singer in being able to pull off a variety of styles. Let me just elaborate a little on each of them.  

Love is Like Rainwater Outside the Window 

This IU cover of Yang Soo Kyung’s 1989 hit has become my absolute favourite in recent days, and I’ve been re-watching it obsessively ever since I discovered it. Other than MBC’s clumsy translation of the song title, everything about it is perfect. I love the beautiful accompaniment of the saxophone and flute, and how IU breezily sails through the song with her signature light, breathy vocals that complement the jazzy vibes of this rearranged piece perfectly. I’m by no means a vocal expert, but I think that characteristic huskiness and “breathiness” of IU’s voice go really well with this song, which she performs here with flair and aplomb. I think IU was aware of how well she had performed too at that point in time, for I notice that little smile of triumph that she broke into right at the end.  It’s also delightful to see how appreciative the audience is – you can see everyone from ahjummas to young men beaming and singing along – which to me is a testament to IU’s ability to connect to people of all ages through her music. It’s such a pity that this seems to be the only time she has sung this live – I do hope to hear her sing this elsewhere in future!

Old Love; Story of a 60-year Old Couple  

Old Love and Story of a 60-year old couple were originally sung by Kim Kwang Seok and Lee Moon Sae respectively – both legendary singers whom IU has expressed respect for on many occasions, and whose songs she has covered in her Flower Bookmark albums. I’ve put these two songs together because they give me similar vibes; both feature beautiful, melancholy melodies with poignant lyrics lamenting the loss of a loved one. I love these songs so much for their pure, soothing melodies, and I believe IU does too, for she has performed them on more than one occasion. Listening to IU sing these songs, what stands out most for me is her ability to emote and convey their heart-wrenching sadness through her soulful voice; listening to her sing brings tears to my eyes and gives me little goose bumps. I notice how she always closes her eyes for these performances and seems completely immersed in her emotions. That, to me, shows another strength of IU as a musician – her ability to invest in the emotions of her music, and convey this to her audience.

Most Ordinary Existence 

I was deeply fascinated from the first time I stumbled on this clip, but was frustrated at the same time - because without any English translation on the YouTube link, it took me the longest time to figure out the context of this performance (it was Ep 199 of Sketchbook!) and the background of this song. With some intense Googling I eventually found out that this was IU’s cover of a 2008 release* by Korean Indie group Sisters’ Barbershop who debuted in 1996 and whom she later collaborated with in 2017. (*Ok, so technically this song isn’t really an oldie, depending on how you define the term, but it is 10 years old now!)

It’s hard to describe my fascination with this song, but there’s something about it that feels whimsical, mysterious and full of contradictions – the beat is repetitive and the tune almost monotonous at first, yet the song is annoyingly catchy at the same time - and IU delivers it in a seemingly nonchalant, careless way in a flat tone, yet manages to ooze plenty of charm and attitude in doing so. If Love is like Rainwater showcases IU’s husky vocals while Old Love and Story demonstrate her ability to emote, I think Most Ordinary Existence shows her ability to exercise restraint over her voice (which clearly has capability to deliver more strength) to suit the style of the song where needed.

To sum up, I think these performances demonstrate not just IU’s versatility as a performer, but her varied taste and genuine love and respect for music. I remember being distinctly annoyed with an article which suggested that the Flower Bookmark album was released as a clever marketing ploy to attract an audience of an older demographic after she had alienated part of her younger fan base with her “scandal”. Whoever wrote that article clearly knows nothing about IU, who has been covering old songs since her debut days, and whose sincerity in wanting to pay tribute to the classics she loves is clear from what she’s said and done all these years, such as her heartfelt performances of the songs above. But I guess it doesn’t matter what others think – as IU said herself, you can’t please everyone, and being successful means finding people who like your honest thoughts and what you produce. IU’s passion and dedication to music is clear, and if she continues to do what she loves, her sincerity will always resonate with the right audience.

[iuinspires]

Cr: http://luvtome.tistory.com/m/246

I’m one day late, but better late than never. So…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IU!!!

At the tender age of 25, you’ve experienced more in life than some older folks. You’ve weathered many storms, been through ups and downs, and achieved so much - yet you remain strong, sensible, humble and kind. Thank you for bringing so much comfort and joy with your music, and inspiring lives with your beautiful personality. You may not be perfect, but we love you with your imperfections, quirks and all.

As you embark on your 25th year, I wish you good health and happiness, and hope that you will always be blessed with the love of everyone around you, and the joy of doing what you love :)

[iuinspires]

Say You Love Me

I love IU's beautiful vocals, but I'm generally not such a big fan of her covers of English songs - I think her pronunciation isn't that precise, which affects her rendition of the songs somehow. But I recently stumbled on this clip of IU's cover of Say You Love Me - and I must say, I am in love! I can't get this song out of my head now, and I've replayed this clip endlessly.

Enthralled by its light, catchy beat, I did a quick Google search  - so this song was originally released by Patti Austin, but IU's cover is based on an arrangement by a Filipino duo called MYMP who made this song a number 1 hit in Korean charts. Such a fascinating history - and yet another example of the power of music to transcend language and cultural barriers!

IU really seems to love this song, for she performed it quite a number of occasions - was delighted to find clips of her live performance from as far back as 2011 and as recent as 2015 (please let me know if you find earlier/more recent renditions!) My favourite, however, remains this clip from 2014, where she was standing in as a DJ on bestie Yoo Inna's radio show Turn Up The Volume. It isn't her best performance - it's a shortened version, she misses some lyrics, and towards the end she even stumbles without finishing the song properly. But her voice is beautiful all the same, and I can't help but smile when I see her break off into a peal of laughter at her mistake. I suspect it was a happy thought which distracted her, for you can see a smile creep to her face shortly before she loses focus. And seeing that smile just adds to the sweetness of this delightful song, and makes me want to Say I Love U :)

[togetherwithiu]

[IU Instagram] 180316 dlwlrma: Together with the dimple princess👭

[iuinspires]

Seeing this bright smile provides balm for the soul after a depressing day

[iuinspires]

[IU TEAM TV] GAONCHART MUSIC AWARDS 2017

“Actually I am just Lee Jieun but together we make IU.”

I was just re-watching some old episodes of IU TV last night and feeling sad thinking that it would be a long while more before we would get to see any new ones, when this lovely surprise came today. There’s never any pre-empting before Fave Entertainment uploads one of these gems, so I always get an adrenaline rush from the excitement of seeing a new episode appear out of the blue. (I’ll always recall the overwhelming sense of joy that rushed over me when I received the YouTube notification of the Seoul Palette Concert  IU TV episode on a particularly dreary day in office, and how that motivated me to get through work quickly so that I could rush home to watch it!)

Anyway back to the topic – this episode is a special one for it is captioned “IU Team TV” rather than just “IU TV” – an apt title, because it pays tribute to the IU Team which won an award at the GaonChart Music Awards 2017 for Album Producer of the Year. I always love observing the camaraderie between IU and her team in IU TV, and that is especially palpable in this episode. As always, the team seems like a huge family where there’s plenty of playful banter, deadpan humour, and funnily sarcastic digs at each other – a testament to how close they have grown to each other over the years. It’s also a reminder of how the artist IU we know and love is who she is today because of a huge team of people behind her, and I’m truly glad at how blessed she is in this regard.

I guess this line from IU’s acceptance speech (eloquent as always!) sums it up beautifully - “Actually I am just Lee Jieun but together we make IU.” *Heartmelts*

P.S: I know they’ll probably not see this, but I’m truly grateful to the Chinese fans who upload subbed videos so efficiently on the same day. Thanks to them, I watch every IU TV episode at least 3 times – once raw, once with Chinese subs, and another time when 1-the-K finally uploads the English subs!

[iuinspires]

Dingo Studio’s Well Done Today Too

This video of IU having a heart-to-heart talk with her fan was one of the first few videos I watched in my early days of discovering IU, but it remains one of my favourites today. I would strongly recommend it to any ueana who has yet to watch it, because it gives you a good sense of IU’s beautiful personality. Even if you are not an IU fan, it makes for a heart-warming video in itself.

I wasn’t able to find much (English) information online about Dingo Studios or how its “Well Done Today” series was conceptualised, but what I’ve gathered is that it features Korean celebrities/public figures who make a surprise appearance in the life of an ordinary person who is going through difficult times, to encourage and cheer them on. In this episode, the target of the surprise is Yoo Rim, a young aspiring musician who works as a part-time waitress to support her music studies. Through a hidden camera, we see Yoo Rim hard at work during her part-time job, where she appears diligent and cheerful despite being on her feet all day, juggling multiple menial tasks. We also see her at her music lessons, where we get to hear snippets of her singing that demonstrate her impressive vocals.

IU makes an appearance at around 1:18, walking down the street. I love how she looks – she is dressed simply in a white T-shirt and jeans paired with a black leather jacket, pulling off her characteristic casual style that radiates an understated charm. She creeps surreptitiously into the music studio where Yoo Rim is practising alone, and settles down quietly on a piano chair behind her. Yoo Rim is so absorbed in her singing that she is completely unaware of IU’s intrusion, until she ends off her song to IU’s applause.

Yoo Rim’s reaction upon seeing IU is so priceless that the video is edited to repeat that moment three times, each captured at a different camera angle. Yoo Rim turns round smiling at first, probably expecting to see someone she knows; as she sets her eyes on IU, her expression turns into one of bewilderment, before she claps her hands to her face and dissolves into tears as the reality of seeing her beloved idol sinks in. IU’s reaction is hilarious as well – she also claps her hands over her mouth and bursts into a long peal of shrill laughter, perhaps a release of nervous energy from the anticipation of preparing for the surprise.

Yoo Rim seems overwhelmed at first, but after she calms down, the two of them slip into a conversation which flows naturally and comfortably. Under IU’s gentle probing, Yoo Rim opens up about her family difficulties and worries as an aspiring singer. Perhaps because IU has undergone similar circumstances herself, she seems genuinely empathetic and understanding; her words of advice are sensible and sincere, without being patronizing in any way. IU and Yoo Rim later share a sweet potato pizza, and move on to sing a duet of IU’s debut song Mia, rendered beautifully in perfect harmony of their lovely voices. Towards the end, IU slips off and returns with presents for Yoo Rim. In the spirit of generosity so typical of IU, she has not one but FOUR gifts – pain relief patches, an autographed leather-bound notebook for song-writing, headphones of the same model used by IU, and a microphone (which later creates a buzz amongst netizens when its price is discovered to be a whooping $3 million won).

So what was the most impactful part of the video for me? I love the entire video, but if I had to choose my favourite part, it would be when Yoo Rim asks IU for advice on song-writing (09:00):

-          Yoo Rim: You compose and write lyrics for your own songs. Can you give me some advice on how to do it well?

 -          IU (in between bites of pizza): I really like putting words together and constructing sentences.* Ever since I was young. During the process of making songs, I think writing lyrics is the part I like the most and have the most fun. I love the stress from writing lyrics of a song.

(*Note: In the original Dingo video, the English subs of the first line simply says “I really like writing”, but this is taken from SGHeartIU’s version, which I’m guessing is a more literal translation, and which I prefer because it sounds so much more lyrical!)

 -          Yoo Rim: You must enjoy it a lot. I guess the only way to get good at it is to do it a lot?

 -          IU: But there isn’t really set standard for what’s good and what’s not so it’s really hard to say. You can’t please everyone. All you can do is find your personal style and to find and meet people who like it. In my opinion, I think being successful means finding people who like the writing you like and people who tell you that you like your honest thoughts and will listen to you.

When I first watched this, this part of the video moved me deeply and resonated powerfully for two reasons.  Firstly, because IU’s comments on music standards and on finding one’s personal style was so honest and made so much sense; it is an example of the kind of deep thinking we see from the introspective, thoughtful side of IU. Second, knowing that IU is someone who loves “putting words together and constructing sentences” means so much to me because growing up, I loved reading and dreamed of becoming a writer. Unlike IU, I never had the courage to pursue my dreams, and I’m nowhere as talented as her, but I like to believe that people who love to read and write are kindred spirits who share similar temperaments to some extent – we are sensitive souls, easily moved by the power of the written word and the emotions it can evoke.

As an IU fan, my greatest regret is that I do not understand Korean because I’ve read so much from fans who rave about how beautiful her lyrics are; without the knowledge of the language, the nuances of the lyrics are lost in translation. Even so, I do appreciate the beauty and emotional clarity of the imagery evoked from IU’s lyrics, such as the glow of a firefly (Through the Night), or of laying your head in the lap of someone you love (Knees).

But I digress – perhaps I’ll go into some of my favourite songs for later posts. To sum it up, this is a lovely video which leaves me all warm and fuzzy from watching the genuine connection between two human beings who seem so different yet share so much in common, and I hope you’ll watch it if you haven’t!

[iuinspires]

A Ueana’s Journey: How I Became An IU fan

So…I am a huge IU fan, and I’ve decided to dedicate this blog to her.

Being the un-tech-savvy person I am, I have no idea how to create/edit pretty IU GIFS or photos which so many fan blogs feature. So I’ve decided instead to record the personal musings and emotions that the beautiful IU aka Lee Ji-Eun inspires in me.

So how did I become an IU fan? Given her long and productive career since her debut since 2008, IU must have gained fans at different points in her career, and I’m sure every ueana has a very different story to tell. I’m a relatively new fan, having discovered IU only in 2017, which was arguably one of her most productive and successful years: she released two albums, including Palette, which was commercially successful and critically acclaimed; appeared in Hyori’s Homestay which earned her the affection of the public; held a successful series of nationwide concerts, and ended off the year by winning a number of accolades for her music.

But it was through sheer serendipity that I became a fan - for I discovered her not through any of her 2017 activities, but from her 2013 drama You’re the Best Lee Soon Shin, which happened to be broadcast in Singapore in the early part of the year (yes, four years late). Prior to that, I had absolutely NO IDEA who she was, and knew next to nothing about Korean music, nor had interest in it, for that matter. It was thanks to Lee Soon Shin that I discovered IU’s existence. The 50-episode drama, like all long-running shows, took a little while to grow on me, but I came to develop a fondness for the characters, in particular the adorable Soon Shin which IU portrayed so well. Like any good show I enjoy, I did a quick Google search after I was done with it. I found out that Soon Shin was a well-known Korean singer called IU, got curious, went to YouTube – and the rest, I guess, is history. :)

I must confess though that I didn’t become a fan overnight. The first IU MV I watched was of Good Day, the hit song which had propelled IU to fame. It sounds sacrilegious as a ueana to say this – but I must confess that I was not particularly impressed. The colourful visuals, theatrical orchestration, and somewhat cheesy dance moves seemed consistent with my prejudice that K-pop was mere bubble-gum pop.

But I persisted, and stumbled on the MV of Not Spring, Love or Cherry Blossoms, IU’s 2014 collaboration with boyband High4 – and had a change of heart.  There are some songs that take a while to grow on you, but there are others which catch your attention almost immediately – and this song belongs to the second category. I was hooked very quickly to its catchy, upbeat tune, carried beautifully by IU’s light, airy vocals, and found myself strangely magnetised by IU, who looked so gorgeous and happy and carefree that my spirits could not help but be uplifted each time I watched the MV.

That started me on a journey of discovery of IU songs – a journey which I am still on and enjoying very much, thanks to her long and productive career. My list of favourites keep growing as I discover more songs, but my current loves include Knees, Friday, Zeze, Sleepless Rainy Night, When a Love Passes, and Modern Times. It has been delightful to discover the diversity of genres IU has experimented with, and the versatility of her vocals. I love how her voice can be light and sweet at times, low and soulful at others, strong and powerful at the right moments, or even sultry and playful for some songs – but always with that distinctive, unique quality that is so hard to define, but makes it so unmistakably IU’s voice.

It was interesting, too, to discover that IU is not merely a singer, but also an artist proactively involved in the creation of her music as a producer, songwriter and lyricist. I particularly enjoyed watching interviews where she talked about the creative process behind her compositions, song choices, and the conceptualisation of her albums. As I delved deeper into IU’s musical career though, I came to realise how far she had come: after the commercial failure of her debut album Lost Child, which had a concept deemed too dark and mature for her age, she forayed into the cutesy genre with the likes of Marshmallow and Boo (which I’m sorry to say are a travesty in my opinion!), before rising to overnight stardom with her hit song Good Day. It was only with public recognition over time that she began to gain more creative control over her music, such as her more recent albums like Chatshire and Palette. I guess you can say that she has evolved beyond a mere idol to an artist who paints with her palette (pun intended!) of musical notes and words.

But I didn’t become such a huge IU fan merely because of her musical talent - I must confess that a large part of my intrigue stemmed from her fascinating personality. I first got a sense of IU’s personality when I started watching Hyori’s Homestay shortly after I was done with Lee Soon Shin and found myself longing for more IU content. For the uninitiated, Hyori’s Homestay is a variety show featuring singer Lee Hyori and her husband Lee Sang Soon who open up their home on Jeju Island to ordinary folks for short homestays. IU featured in the first season as a part-time worker who helped the Lees. She was a little slow and clumsy in carrying out her chores, and somewhat shy and awkward at times when interacting with the guests, especially when meeting them for the first time. She also displayed strange quirks like a penchant for spacing out, chewing her food very slowly, and having a questionable fashion sense manifested in the form of large sun hats, baggy t-shirts and bright-coloured monochrome tracksuits. But for all her dorkiness, she was also incredibly endearing – coming across as someone who was hardworking, earnest, down-to-earth and genuine. I found myself developing a soft spot for her, especially when she revealed her vulnerabilities and confided her insecurities to Lee Hyori. As an introvert, I couldn’t help finding her relatable.

Fascinated by IU’s personality, I took the chance to read every article and watch every English-subbed video I could find, including virtually every video on the wonderful SGHeartIU and IUTeamStarCandy YouTube channels. (To side-track - for that, I must give special thanks to the amazing people behind both channels, whose efficient and competent translations over the years must have helped connect IU to countless English-speaking fans. A big THANK YOU to you all, whoever you are; your Singaporean-style efficiency makes me proud as a fellow Singaporean!) What struck me was that while IU’s mannerisms and what she said may have varied across the years and across different contexts, the overall impression which came through consistently was that she is a filial child, loyal friend, obliging idol, hardworking artist, and above all, a good person with a kind heart. Cynics might say that celebrities are obliged to create and maintain a positive image which may differ from their actual personalities, but I don’t think it’s possible to keep up with a false countenance in perpetuity, and IU has displayed remarkable consistency in those aspects over her ten years in the public eye. There are also a few distinctive traits which I find especially compelling, and worth elaborating on:      

a.       Her strength of character: I think IU’s petite frame and soft, girlish features belie the fact that she’s one tough cookie who has managed to overcome countless adversities throughout her life. I’m sure most ueanas will be familiar with IU’s story but I think it’s worth summarising what I know here, based on what I’ve gleaned from articles, videos and other online resources: As a child, IU’s family fell into financial difficulties and for a period of time, she had to live in poverty with her grandmother, separated from her parents; in her teens, she was swindled by fake entertainment companies and faced numerous rejections at auditions during the pursuit of her dream to be a singer; when she finally debuted, she was jeered at on her debut stage, and her first album was a flop. Even after she became successful and well-known, she encountered numerous setbacks in her career, including some “scandals” that were completely blown out of proportion and fuelled by distorted facts. She also battled with depression and bulimia for a period of time. Despite these challenges, IU survived. She triumphed the odds, and has arguably gained considerable public recognition and respect for her talent, even if she continues to have her detractors. One can only imagine the strength of character and resolve it takes to weather such storms but achieve so much at such a young age.

 b.      Her intelligence and maturity: Perhaps because of the setbacks she had to contend with from an early age, IU comes across as someone sensible, grounded and wise beyond her years. When talking about her past difficulties, for instance, IU speaks with no bitterness or self-pity, but in a calm and measured manner that often makes one forget how young she is. IU may have often displayed the obligatory “aegyo” (i.e. act cute) behaviour expected of her as a young female idol, especially in the early years of her career, but more often than not, she reveals her thoughtful, introspective self at more serious interviews, or during her concert “talk-time” with fans. There were many a times when watching her videos that I found myself amazed by the intelligence and maturity reflected from her words. I could cite examples, but there are just too many – perhaps I’ll reserve more in-depth discussions for future posts. In any case, other celebrities/public figures have described IU in similar terms – bestie Yoo Inna has labelled her a “mountain god” who acts more like someone 500 years old than her age; actress Gong Hyo Jin (IU’s co-star in The Producers) has described her as a “grown-up child”, commending her for her dignity, patience and remarkable self-control; lyricist Kim Eana, who has worked with IU on multiple occasions, has complimented her for being someone who is thoughtful and mature, and who self-reflects when something goes wrong while giving credit to others when things work out well.

 c.       Her kindness and loyalty: Throughout her career, especially in her early years, IU has had aspersions cast on her character by malicious tongues who twisted her words and misinterpreted her actions. But I think the best judges of character would be the people around her, and time has proven the loyalty she shows and gains in return from others. Many of IU’s staff members have stayed with her since her debut, and IU’s camaraderie with them is especially palpable in behind-the-scenes videos like IU TV, where one gets to see her playful side through her amusing banter with staff members like her manager Hanteo (whom I love for his deadpan humour by the way!). IU has proven herself to be a loyal friend as well – her involvement in High4’s Not Spring, Love or Cherry Blossoms was an act of loyalty and a fulfilment of a pledge to her good friend Kim Sung Gu from her trainee days, to whom she had promised to help with his debut. There are many other examples, but I guess the best testament to her ability to sustain long-running strong relationships would be her well-known friendship with Yoo Inna, whom she has remained close to since meeting her in a variety show in 2010.

In the course of learning about IU, I’ve discovered erstwhile foreign concepts like “stanning” and “shipping” in the world of K-pop fandom, and found that many hardcore fans place their idols on a pedestal, describing them in superlatives along with labels like “King/Queen” or “God/Goddess”. I’m not a fan of such terms, and would hesitate to use them on IU. It may seem strange to say this after having written long paragraphs of praise, but I’m sure IU is not perfect, and is human just like you and I (pun unintended, ueanas!). However, I do think she has an overwhelming number of positive attributes deserving of respect, and she has become a great source of inspiration, joy and comfort to me since I discovered her existence. Which is why I’ve decided to start this blog – to document the musings and emotions she inspires in me. I’m not sure if anyone will read this at all, but if you are someone new to IU, I hope this will pique your curiosity to find out more, and if you are already a ueana, I hope this will inspire you to share your personal story and help spread the IU love.

Alright this sure has been one looooong post, but this, in short, is the story of my ueana journey. I’ll end off for now. To anyone who may be reading this, annyeong, I hope to be back soon!