IU

IU—one of K-pop’s most beloved vocalists—sings for every lovelorn listener. The singer-songwriter and actress has long captured the heart of whirlwind romantic fantasies, heard in orchestral centerpieces like “Good Day,” which launched her to fame in 2010 by highlighting her satiny vocals in its now-famous three-high-note climax. Born Lee Ji-eun in Seoul in 1993, IU used her passion for the arts to push herself through a difficult home life, debuting in 2008 with the dramatic ballad “Lost Child” to a tepid public reception. Her tenacity eventually paid off; with the success of “Good Day” and the whimsical singles “너랑 나 (YOU&I)” and “The Red Shoes,” IU’s homespun charm found a place in the group-heavy K-pop industry. Later on, she shifted from lovestruck naïveté into wise discernment, commenting on her growing age and fame through the jazzy, self-penned CHAT-SHIRE album in 2015, as well as in 2017’s light-pop Palette. But the drama of love has never left IU’s career—2024’s “Love wins all” is a daring waltz that embraces her melodies with a magical flourish.