It was a week of IU. Her song "You&I," the title track to her second studio release "Last Fantasy" which went on sale on November 29, swept the top spots of all major online music charts for the fifth week of November. And several other songs to the album ranked within the top 10 slots of those music charts as well.

IU [Loen Entertainment]

The Single: IU - "You&I"
A fine array of singer-songwriters scrambled to give a song to IU, befitting her image of being somewhere between an idol star and aspiring musician. Yet this mix makes the album closer to the expanded version of her last album "Real." And therefore, fans who expected to see this girl have become more of a musician, may have been disappointed from how "You&I" reminds one of "Good Day." But "You&I" is not just like "Good Day 2." In "Good Day," fancy sounds that come from strings instruments, brass instruments and the guitar on top of an elaborate beat have their respective busy roles. In comparison, the string instruments lead the overall fairytale-like atmosphere to "You&I." It also has a more refined beat and limited brass sound, making IU's singing skills stand out even more. Hence "You&I" may not be groundbreaking but has improved and is refreshing enough to rise to the top of music charts.

IU [Loen Entertainment]

That’s Hot: IU - "Secret"
Having A-list composers take part in a singer's album does not mean that album will be a masterpiece. That is why it has been said that there were probably too many great boatmen to IU's "Last Fantasy." So although the album may not have met up to people's heightened expectations, it still probably contains songs that are what IU needs as a singer on the boundary of being an idol star and musician. "Secret," which placed second on several weekly music charts, strives to be a typical Jung Suk-won ballad but the melody, lyrics and grandiose chorus have been rearranged well to not overpower the singer's vocals. Hence, it is important to note that IU's presence did not get lost in such a song. "Secret" is like a barometer of IU's abilities, showing what she can do best right now.

Coming Soon
On December 8, Yim Jae-beum will release a remake album which is raising anticipation for his version of "My Ear's Candy," Baek Ji-young and 2PM member Taecyeon's duet song. He has said he sang the remake with Brown Eyed Girls member Ga-in. Yoon Jong-shin, active in both entertainment shows while also staying loyal to his original job as a musician, will release an album two days ahead of Yim's.

Check Point
- It will be interesting to see the showdown between the girl group with Kim Eun-bi from cable music channel "Superstar K2" versus the girl group with Kwon Ri-se of MBC's "MBC Star Audition: The Great Birth."
- The year started with IU and will end with IU. Who will be hot in 2012?

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10 아시아 Reporter : Kim Myung-Hyun eighteen@
10 아시아 Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@
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