IU singer

Career

Music career

IU debuted on September 24, 2008 with her first mini-album,Lost and Found, in which she was praised by various Korean artists and critics for her strong vocals portrayed in the title track, "Missing Child".However, the album was not commercially successful. It wasn't until her comeback that she succeeded on breaking into the mainstream. On April 16, 2009, IU launched her first full album, titledGrowing Up,with the lead promotional number, "Boo."Within three weeks, "Boo" went up to the #1 contenders for SBS Inkigayo , and her name also went up twice on Take 7 together with other notable artists like SG Wannabe and Younha . The song also did well on KBS Music Bank K-Chart, on Mnet M!Countdown chart, and on various online music charts.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009, IU sang the ending title song, "Araro" for the acclaimed MBC drama,Queen Seon Duk, where she was recommended by the music director of the drama, citing her "clear tone and her lyrical sensibility."She was also featured on Mighty Mouth 's albumLove Classin the song "희망사항." In late 2009, IU recorded "Love Letter For You (Noyegae Shineun Pyeonji)," featuring SHINee 's Key as a rapper in the song.

IU recorded the song "잔소리" (Nagging / Scolded) with 2AM 's Seulong for the TV show We Got Married . On June 27, 2010, IU won her first award since her debut on SBS Inkigayo for "Nagging." On July 2, 2010, she won another award for that song on KBS Music Bank K-Chart. Soon after, IU was chosen to sing the main OST song for the MBC drama Road No.1 titled "여자라서" (Because I'm A Woman). IU's other collaborations include duets with Yoo Seung Ho ("Believe in Love"), Sung Shi Kyung ("It’s You"), and Big Bang 's Seungri ("I Know").^{[citation needed]}

IU worked with some of South Korea's most famous musicians and producers for her third mini-album, “REAL,“ released in December 2010.Lee Min Soo and Kim Lee Na, the creators of IU's previous hit, ‘Nagging‘, helped produce her award-winning song "좋은 날" (‘A Good Day‘), together with Shin Sa Dong Tiger and lyricist Choi Gab Won.^{[citation needed]}IU received three SBS Inkigayo Mutizen awards for her performances of the song (on December 18 and December 26, 2010, and January 2, 2011), three awards from KBS Music Bank K-Chart (on December 24 and December 31, 2010, and January 7, 2011), and one award from Mnet M!Countdown on December 23, 2010.^{[citation needed]}

IU often covers other pop artists' songs with her guitar and her friend Thunder, most notably renditions of SHINee "Juliette", Big Bang "Lies", Super Junior " Sorry, Sorry " and Girls' Generation " Gee ".^{[citation needed]}

Solo activities

In August 2009, IU became a host for the new programGom Music Charton GomTV, a weekly show, where South Korean netizens vote for their favorite songs on the charts.^{[citation needed]}For a time, IU became a fixed guest onSuper Junior's Kiss the Radio,Maybee's Raise the Volume, and MBC'sStarry Night(hosted by Park Kyung-lim and Shin Young) andChin Chin Radio(hosted by Taeyeon ). Upon Taeyon's departure, she was chosen as a temporary DJ for two weeks together with B2ST member Doojoon.^{[citation needed]}IU is currently the VJ for MBC Game’sStar for You, as well as for GomTV’sStarcraft 2 Open Season 2, on which she introduces competing players.^{[citation needed]}IU is also one of twelve original female cast members chosen for the SBS variety showHeroes.

IU has secured a number of endorsement deals,including the 2011 UNIONBAY clothing line (with Seo In-Kook),MyChew candy, and the action-riding game "The Story of My Horse and I, Alicia." In 2011, IU became the next pop star spokesmodel for Mexicana Chicken.Samsung selected IU to represent their Anycall brand, previously endorsed by such stars as Lee Hyori, BoA , and Junki, stating "we believe that [IU] has the potential to create a big bang within the industry."

Most recently, viewers have been captivated by IU’s acting abilities^{[citation needed]}as ‘Miss Sushi’ in the KBS 2TV teen drama seriesDream High.

Awards

Mini-albums

Albums

Singles

1. 아이유(IU) on nate people
2. IU in KBS WORLD
3. "IU Back with Cutesy Image". All K-pop. 2009-04-20. http://www.allkpop.com/2009/04/iu_back_with_cutesy_image. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
4. "IU sings for Queen Seon Duk OST". All K-pop. 2009-09-09. http://www.allkpop.com/2009/09/iu_sings_for_queen_seon_duk_ost. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
5. "IU had famous helpers for her upcoming mini-album, “REAL”". All K-pop. 2010-12-03. http://www.allkpop.com/2010/12/iu-had-famous-helpers-for-her-upcoming-mini-album-real. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
6. "SBS finalizes the 12 member female cast for new variety show Heroes". All K-Pop. 2010-07-02. http://www.allkpop.com/2010/07/sbs-finalizes-the-12-member-female-cast-for-new-variety-show-heroes. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
7. "IU may have earned over 4 million dollars in 2010". All K-pop. 2010-12-29. http://www.allkpop.com/2010/12/iu-may-have-earned-over-4-million-dollars-in-2010. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
8. "IU and Seo In Kook model for UNIONBAY". http://www.allkpop.com/2011/01/iu-and-seo-in-kook-model-for-unionbay. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
9. "IU chosen as new model for “Mexicana Chicken”". http://www.allkpop.com/2011/01/iu-chosen-as-new-model-for-mexicana-chicken. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
10. "Samsung Anycall picks up ‘almighty’ IU to be their model". http://www.allkpop.com/2011/01/samsung-anycall-picks-up-almighty-iu-to-be-their-model. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
11. "http://www.allkpop.com/2010/12/iu-transforms-into-an-ugly-girl-for-dream-high". All K-pop. 2010-12-27. http://www.allkpop.com/2010/12/iu-transforms-into-an-ugly-girl-for-dream-high. Retrieved 2011-01-24. 
12. Winners from the 25th Golden Disk Awards
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