Modern Times | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 8, 2013 | |||
Recorded | 2013 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:44 53:34 (Repackaged album) | |||
Language | Korean | |||
Label | ||||
IU chronology | ||||
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Singles from Modern Times | ||||
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Repackaged album cover | ||||
Singles from Modern Times - Epilogue | ||||
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Modern Times is the third studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released on October 8,2013,via LOEN Entertainment under its imprint LOEN Tree. Under the theme of "French Black", [1] the album departs from the singer's girlish image which established her as the "Nation's Sweetheart",by attempting various styles of music such as swing,jazz,and bossa nova. [2] Her first full-length record since Last Fantasy (2011),the album contains guest features and collaborations from several artists. [3]
Modern Times contains thirteen tracks,including IU's number-one hit "The Red Shoes" and her self-composed song "Bad Day". It also features the Korean version of "Voice Mail" from IU's Japanese EP Can You Hear Me? (2013) as a bonus track. The album was re-released as Modern Times - Epilogue on December 20,2013,and contained the single "Friday" as well as the track "Pastel Crayon" from KBS's television series Bel Ami where IU starred as a lead role. The repackaged album contained two DVDs and was limited to 10,000 copies. [4]
Modern Times was met with acclaim from music critics,who praised its musical styles and composition and was ranked the second greatest K-pop album of the 2010s by Billboard . [5] It experienced commercial success in South Korea,with its tracks garnering over three million digital downloads in its opening week. [6] The album has sold more than 70,000 physical copies and ten million digital singles,with "Friday" being one of the best-selling singles in the country.
Musically,the pop and jazz album incorporates a wide range of genres including bossa nova,folk and Latin pop. [7] [8] Sonically,the album recreates sounds similar to Christina Aguilera's Back to Basic (2006). [8]
The album's title and artwork were revealed on September 17. According to LOEN Entertainment,IU's agency,the singer's third full-length album would be titled Modern Times. It was also announced that her agency would provide an illustrated guide for Modern Times which gives audiences clues about the tracks of the album. [9] From September 23 to October 4,seven video teasers were released for the album through LOEN Entertainment's YouTube channel. The series of teasers introduced some of the tracks from her new album.
Modern Times was released digitally at 12:00 am KST on October 8,2013. Upon its release,the lead single "The Red Shoes" topped a number of real-time charts in South Korea,achieving an all-kill status, [10] while the rest of the tracks also entered the charts. [11] The album topped the Gaon Albums Chart on the third week of October 2013. [12] The physical album sold 40,360 copies in 2013,making it the 41st best-selling Korean album of that year. [13] As of 2014 [update] ,Modern Times has sold 58,145 copies in South Korea,with the sales of its repackaged album combined. [14]
"The Red Shoes" (Korean : 분홍신) the album's lead track, [15] is a song with big band sounds,dramatic developments,and elaborate choruses. The song was inspired from the 1845 fairy tale under the same title written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, [16] and the movie plot for its music video was adapted from the 1948 British film of the same title. Comparing to red shoes,it tells about a woman who begins her journey for the once-brilliant and summer-like days she had with her lost love,counting on her fate. [17]
The single was released on October 8,2013,along with the whole album,and its music video was officially unveiled at 11:00 am KST on the same day (although it premiered a day earlier on SBS MTV). [18] The video,directed by Hwang Soo-ah,features cameo appearances from Yoo Hee-yeol (also known as the sole member of one-man project band Toy),electronic duo Peppertones,and models Fhi Fan and Jang Ki-yong. [19] A performance-centered music video for "The Red Shoes" was also released via LOEN's official YouTube channel on October 21. [20]
"The Red Shoes" reached number one on both the Gaon Digital Chart and Download Charts in the third week of October 2013. [21] [22] It also topped the K-pop Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks, [23] [24] becoming the singer's third number-one hit on the chart. "The Red Shoes" received six music program awards throughout October and was the 42nd biggest selling digital song of 2013 in South Korea. [25] It sold 1,359,107 downloads by the end of 2014. [26]
"Friday" (Korean : 금요일에만나요; RR : Geumyoil-e Mannayo),is the lead single for the repackaged album Modern Times - Epilogue. [27] The self-composed song is a bossa nova tune with a catchy medium-tempo melody,and sings about delirious excitement of a couple who just had a crush on each other. [28] The singer's labelmate Jang Yi-jeong,a member of boy group History participated as a featured artist (He also starred on its music video,as a guy who has a one-sided love for IU). The single was released on December 20,2013,and its music video was officially uploaded at 12:00 pm KST on the same day. [29] The one shot music video also reunites IU and model Jang Ki-yong,who she previously starred with for the video "The Red Shoes". [30]
Just like the previous single,"Friday" peaked at number one on both the Gaon Singles and Download Charts. [31] [32] The song also topped the K-pop Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks, [33] [34] becoming the singer's fourth number-one single there. [upper-alpha 1] Without any televised promotions,"Friday" received four music show wins. Although released in 2013,"Friday" was the sixth biggest selling digital song of 2014 in South Korea. [35] As of 2020 [update] ,it has sold more than 5,000,000 digital downloads in the country,making it one of the best-selling singles in South Korea. [36]
On October 7,2013,prior to the album's release,IU presented her first-ever comeback showcase at K-Art Hall in Olympic Park,Seoul,performing her brand-new songs including "Modern Times","Between the Lips (50cm)",and "The Red Shoes". She also held a preview of the official music video for the title track. [37] IU began promoting her comeback album on various music programs,starting on the October 10,2013,broadcast of M! Countdown. Along with the lead single,she promoted "Modern Times","Between the Lips (50cm)",and "Love of B" on M! Countdown, [38] [39] Music Bank, [40] Show! Music Core, [41] [42] [43] and Inkigayo, [44] [45] [46] and Show Champion. [47] [48]
On KBS's You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook ,the singer performed "The Red Shoes","Bad Day",and "Walk with Me,Girl",alongside a cover of "About Romance" originally sung by Choi Baek-ho (who was featured in "Walk with Me,Girl"). IU performed the lead single also at the 50th annual Grand Bell Awards,in celebration of the event. [49] It was announced that IU would hold her second solo concert entitled "Modern Times" from November 23. Starting at Kyung Hee University's Peace Palace Hall in Seoul,she also performed in Busan at KBS Hall on December 1,to promote the album. [50]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
IZM | [51] |
Modern Times received positive reviews from critics. The Korea Herald complimented the album writing:"... vintage sounds and modern effects are put together artfully,forming a fresh but familiar compilation of songs. Modern Times has a distinct carefree feel that is reminiscent of jazz during the Roaring Twenties." [52] Seoul Beats also gave a positive review,explaining "With its jazzy,big band sound,IU provided a breath of fresh air to the K-pop scene... The album’s real strength is how seamlessly the tracks flow together." [53] Billboard gave the album a positive review while praising IU for proving to have "musical sensibilities well beyond a typical 20-year-old". [54] Commercially,the album has sold more than 61,900 copies in South Korea as of October 2015 [update] [upper-alpha 2] and 3,300 copies in Japan. [56]
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards | Song of the Year –October | "The Red Shoes" | Won | [57] |
Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Vocal Performance –Female | Nominated | [58] | ||
2014 | Golden Disc Awards | Grand Prize in Album Releasing | Modern Times | Nominated | [59] |
Melon Music Awards | Song of the Year | "Friday" | Nominated | [60] | |
Best Ballad Award | Nominated | ||||
Mnet Asian Music Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated | [61] | ||
Best Vocal Performance –Female | Nominated |
Song | Program | Date | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
"The Red Shoes" | Show Champion | October 16,2013 | [62] |
M Countdown | October 17,2013 | [63] | |
October 24,2013 | [64] | ||
Music Bank | October 18,2013 | [65] | |
Show! Music Core | October 19,2013 | [66] | |
Inkigayo | October 20,2013 | [67] | |
"Friday" | December 29,2013 | [68] | |
January 5,2014 | [69] | ||
Music Bank | January 3,2014 | [70] | |
Show! Music Core | January 4,2014 | [71] |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Love of B" (을의 연애; Eurui Yeonae, with Park Ju-won) | IU | Park Ju-won | Park Ju-won | 3:11 |
2. | "Everybody Has Secrets" (누구나 비밀은 있다; Nuguna Bimireun Itda, featuring Gain of Brown Eyed Girls) | Kim Eana | Yoon Sang, East4A | Yoon Sang, East4A | 3:49 |
3. | "Between the Lips (50cm)" (입술 사이; Ipsul Sai) | G. Gorilla | G. Gorilla | G. Gorilla | 2:50 |
4. | "The Red Shoes" (분홍신; Bunhongsin) | Kim Eana | Lee Min-soo | Lee Min-soo, Toyama Kazuhiko | 4:14 |
5. | "Modern Times" | Kim Eana | Jeong Seok-won | Jeong Seok-won | 3:25 |
6. | "Bad Day" (싫은 날; Sireun Nal) | IU | IU | G. Gorilla | 3:52 |
7. | "Obliviate" | G. Gorilla, Kim Eana | G. Gorilla | G. Gorilla | 3:10 |
8. | "Walk with Me, Girl" (아이야, 나랑 걷자; Aiya, Narang Geotja, featuring Choi Baek-ho) | Kim Eana | Park Ju-won | Park Ju-won | 5:00 |
9. | "Havana" | Kim Eana | Jeon Jung-hoon | Jeon Jung-hoon | 4:09 |
10. | "A Gloomy Clock" (우울시계; Uulsigye, featuring Jonghyun of Shinee) | Kim Jong-hyun | Kim Jong-hyun | Oh Jun-hyuk | 2:48 |
11. | "Daydream" (한낮의 꿈; Hannajui Kkum, featuring Yang Hee-eun) | PJ, Choi Gap-won | PJ, Choi Gap-won | PJ, Shin Seung-ik | 3:40 |
12. | "Wait" (기다려; Gidaryeo) | IU | TEXU | TEXU | 2:30 |
13. | "Voice Mail (Korean version)" (Bonus track) | IU | IU | G. Gorilla | 4:06 |
Total length: | 46:44 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Friday" (금요일에 만나요; Geumyoil-e Mannayo, featuring Jang Yi-jeong of History) | IU | IU | Lee Jong-min | 3:37 |
2. | "Pastel Crayon" (크레파스; Keurepaseu, from Bel Ami ) | IU | KZ, Junjaman | KZ, Junjaman | 3:13 |
3. | "Love of B" (을의 연애; Eurui Yeonae, with Park Ju-won) | IU | Park Ju-won | Park Ju-won | 3:11 |
4. | "Everybody Has Secrets" (누구나 비밀은 있다; Nuguna Bimireun Itda, featuring Gain of Brown Eyed Girls) | Kim Eana | Yoon Sang, East4A | Yoon Sang, East4A | 3:49 |
5. | "Between the Lips (50cm)" (입술 사이; Ipsul Sai) | G. Gorilla | G. Gorilla | G. Gorilla | 2:50 |
6. | "The Red Shoes" (분홍신; Bunhongsin) | Kim Eana | Lee Min-soo | Lee Min-soo, Toyama Kazuhiko | 4:14 |
7. | "Modern Times" | Kim Eana | Jeong Seok-won | Jeong Seok-won | 3:25 |
8. | "Bad Day" (싫은 날; Sireun Nal) | IU | IU | G. Gorilla | 3:52 |
9. | "Obliviate" | G. Gorilla, Kim Eana | G. Gorilla | G. Gorilla | 3:10 |
10. | "Walk with Me, Girl" (아이야, 나랑 걷자; Aiya, Narang Geotja, featuring Choi Baek-ho) | Kim Eana | Park Ju-won | Park Ju-won | 5:00 |
11. | "Havana" | Kim Eana | Jeon Jung-hoon | Jeon Jung-hoon | 4:09 |
12. | "A Gloomy Clock" (우울시계; Uulsigye, featuring Jonghyun of Shinee) | Kim Jong-hyun | Kim Jong-hyun | Oh Jun-hyuk | 2:48 |
13. | "Daydream" (한낮의 꿈; Hannajui Kkum, featuring Yang Hee-eun) | PJ, Choi Gap-won | PJ, Choi Gap-won | PJ, Shin Seung-ik | 3:40 |
14. | "Wait" (기다려; Gidaryeo) | IU | TEXU | TEXU | 2:30 |
15. | "Voice Mail (Korean version)" (Bonus track) | IU | IU | G. Gorilla | 4:06 |
Total length: | 53:34 |
Region | Sales amount |
---|---|
Japan | 3,323 [78] |
South Korea | 73,351 [79] |
South Korea (repackage) | 10,000 [80] |
Region | Date | Format | Edition | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | October 8, 2013 | Digital download | LOEN Tree | [81] | |
South Korea | CD | Standard edition | |||
Hong Kong | October 9, 2013 | Standard edition | Present Media | [82] | |
Japan | CD, CD+DVD | Standard edition, limited edition | LOEN Tree | [83] | |
South Korea | October 10, 2013 | CD+DVD | Limited edition | ||
Hong Kong | October 11, 2013 | Present Media | [84] | ||
Various | December 20, 2013 (Repackage) | Digital download | LOEN Tree | [85] | |
South Korea | CD+DVD |
Lee Ji-eun, also known by her stage name IU (아이유), is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress. She signed with LOEN Entertainment in 2007 as a trainee and debuted as a singer at the age of fifteen with Lost and Found (2008), her first EP. Although her follow-up albums in 2009, Growing Up and IU...IM, brought mainstream success, it was only after the release of "Good Day", the lead single from her 2010 album Real, that she achieved national stardom. "Good Day" went on to spend five consecutive weeks at the top of South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart, and in 2019, it was ranked number one on Billboard's "100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s" list.
Last Fantasy is the second studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released and distributed on November 29, 2011, by LOEN Entertainment. The album features a total of thirteen tracks, including the lead single "You & I".
South Korean singer-songwriter IU has released five studio albums, eleven extended plays (EPs), 47 singles, five single albums, two remake albums and two compilation albums. In addition, the singer has collaborations and soundtracks for television series, films, and online games.
Spring of a Twenty Year Old is a single album by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released as a CD single. The single has a double A-side hit singles, "Peach" and "Every End of the Day" which was also released digitally, consists of three tracks in total, one of which was composed by IU. It is the singer's first Korean-language release since the full-length album, Last Fantasy, that was released six months prior.. The latter topped the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 for four consecutive weeks, making it IU's second number-one hit on the chart after "You and I". The single has sold over 34,400 copies in South Korea as of 2013.
"Good Day" is a song recorded in two languages by South Korean singer IU. The Korean version was released on December 9, 2010, as the lead single for IU's third extended play (EP) Real. It was written by Kim Eana, while production was handled by Lee Min-soo. The Japanese version was originally included on IU's first Japanese extended play I□U, released on December 14, 2011, before being released on March 21, 2012, as IU's first single album Good Day.
A Flower Bookmark is the first cover extended play by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It is also her fourth Korean-language extended play. The EP was released on May 16, 2014, the singer's birthday, by LOEN Entertainment under its imprint LOEN Tree. Unlike her previous works, A Flower Bookmark features cover versions of nostalgic K-pop songs popularized from 1980s to 1990s.
Quiet Night is the ninth studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter Seo Taiji, and his fifth solo studio album. It was released on October 20, 2014, by Seo Taiji Company and distributed by CJ E&M Music. The album was preceded by two singles: the collaborative song "Sogyeokdong" and the lead track "Christmalo.win". It is Seo's first full-length release after a five-year hiatus since Seotaiji 8th Atomos (2009).
Chat-Shire is the fourth Korean-language extended play by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. The self-composed EP was released digitally on October 23, 2015, and physically four days later by LOEN Entertainment under its imprint LOEN Tree. It was her first original material release since Modern Times (2013).
Palette is the fourth studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released on April 21, 2017, by LOEN Entertainment under its imprint FAVE Entertainment. Palette is IU's first album since Chat-Shire (2015), and her first full-length release since Modern Times (2013).
"Nagging" is a song recorded by South Korean singers IU and Lim Seulong. Written by Kim Eana and composed by Lee Min-soo, the pop ballad duet was used as one of the theme songs for the second season of the variety show, We Got Married, along with "We Fell in Love" by Jo Kwon and Ga-in.
"Palette" is a song recorded by South Korean singers IU and G-Dragon for the fourth studio album of the same title. IU herself composed the music and penned the lyrics with the collaboration of G-Dragon. The song was released on April 21, 2017, in conjunction with the release of the album as the album's third single, following "Through the Night" and "Can't Love You Anymore".
"Love Poem" is a song by South Korean singer-songwriter IU, released by Kakao M as the lead single from her seventh Korean-language EP Love Poem on November 1, 2019. It debuted at number 11 on the Gaon Digital Chart before topping the chart the following week, becoming IU's 21st number-one single in South Korea, and extending her record for the most number ones on the chart.
"Blueming" is a song by South Korean singer-songwriter IU, serving as the second single from her seventh Korean-language extended play (EP) Love Poem. It was released on November 18, 2019, through Kakao M, and was co-written by IU, Lee Jong-hoon and Lee Chae-kyu, with production handled by the latter two. Lyrically, the song expresses the sentiments of what it means to live and love in modern-day society.
"Twenty-Three" is a song recorded by South Korean singer-songwriter IU for the fifth extended play Chat-Shire. IU herself penned the lyrics of the song and co-composed it with its producers Lee Jong-hoon and Lee Chae-kyu. The song was released on October 23, 2015, in conjunction with the release of the album as the album's lead single. A dance track, the lyrics document IU's inner thoughts as she walks into her twenties.
"You & I" is a song recorded in Korean and Japanese by South Korean singer IU from her second Korean-language studio album Last Fantasy (2011). The Korean version was released on November 29, 2011 through LOEN Entertainment, and was written and produced by Kim Eana and Lee Min-soo, respectively. The song was a huge domestic success, achieving the top spot on the Gaon Digital Chart and went on to sell more 7,000,000 digital units by 2021. According to Gaon, "You & I" is the second best-selling single in South Korea since 2010, ranking only behind Busker Busker's "Cherry Blossom Ending" (2012).
"Celebrity" is a song by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released on January 27, 2021, through EDAM Entertainment via Kakao M, and serves as the lead single from her fifth Korean-language studio album, Lilac. A dance-pop and electropop track, "Celebrity" was written by IU, with additional composition by Chloe Latimer and Celine Svanback, and Ryan S. Jhun, Jeppe London Bilsby, Lauritz Emil Christiansen, —the last three also handled arrangement.
Lilac is the fifth studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released on March 25, 2021, through Edam Entertainment. The album was certified platinum by the Korean Music Content Association.
"Rollin'" is a song by South Korean girl group Brave Girls. It was released on March 7, 2017, as the lead single from the EP of the same name. Written by Brave Brothers, Two Champ, and Chakun, the song has been characterized as a dance-pop track that incorporates elements of tropical house. A rearranged version of the song titled "Rollin' " was released on August 11, 2018, as a thank-you to the group's fans for their support of the original version.
"Strawberry Moon" is a song by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released on October 19, 2021, through EDAM Entertainment via Kakao M. "Strawberry Moon" was both written and composed by IU, with additional composition credits by Jonghoon Lee and Lee Chae-gyu.
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