The Winning is the ninth extended play by South Korean singer-songwriter IU, released on February 20, 2024, through Edam Entertainment. It is her first release since the EP Pieces in December 2021.[1] The EP was preceded by the single "Love Wins All" on January 24, 2024. The follow-up "Holssi" was released on February 16, while "Shopper" was released alongside the EP on February 20, 2024.
After the release of Lilac, IU began working on her next album. In February 2023, she said that the album would be about the feeling of wandering,[2] but later in September she stated that the direction of the project had significantly changed and that the album's main theme would be desire.[3]
IU appeared on BTS member Suga's talk show Suchwita in December 2023, where she hinted that her then-upcoming EP would contain songs about her age.[4]
Promotion
The lead single "Love Wins All" was issued on January 24, 2024, along with its music video.[5] IU officially announced the EP on January 29, 2024, posting a 21-second teaser clip containing close-ups of the singer "accompanied by sombre music",[6] showing her with bleached blonde hair and wearing a red outfit.[5] She is also shown spraying a red-colored spray at the camera before appearing in front of a green background.[4] The track listing of The Winning was revealed on February 5, confirming "Shopper" and "Holssi" as the EP's second and third singles, and guest appearances from NewJeans' Hyein, Wonsun Joe, and an undisclosed narrator on the third track "Shh..".[7]
NME's Rhian Daily wrote that, "Minor stylistic faults aside – and with a gigantic year ahead for one of Korea's foremost talents – on her first document of a new decade, IU soars high and free and stays winning.[8]
Accolades
Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
↑ Son, Anna (February 22, 2023). 아이유와 이지은[IU and Lee Ji-eun]. Harper's Bazaar (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
↑ Shin, Hyo-ryeong (September 15, 2023). 아이유 "다음 앨범은 '욕망'에 대한 이야기"[화보][IU "The next album is a story about 'desire'" [Pictorial]]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
↑ Park, Dong-sun (February 5, 2024). 아이유, Shopper·홀씨 등 더블타이틀 확정...뉴진스 혜인 피처링곡 수록[IU confirms double titles including Shopper and Holssi... NewJeans' Hyein-featuring song included]. ETNews (in Korean). Retrieved February 9, 2024.
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