# Real (IU EP)

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***Real*** is the third Korean-language extended play (EP) by South Korean singer-songwriter [IU](/source/IU_(entertainer)). It was released and distributed by [LOEN Entertainment](/source/LOEN_Entertainment) on December 9, 2010. The special edition of the album was sold out during pre-order, which revealed the high anticipation for the album. IU collaborated with some of the top vocalists and producers in South Korea such as [Yoon Jong-shin](/source/Yoon_Jong-shin), [Kim Hyeong-seok](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EA%B9%80%ED%98%95%EC%84%9D_(%EC%9D%8C%EC%95%85%EA%B0%80)), [Lee Min-soo](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%9D%B4%EB%AF%BC%EC%88%98_(%EC%9E%91%EA%B3%A1%EA%B0%80)), [Kim Eana](/source/Kim_Eana), [Shinsadong Tiger](/source/Shinsadong_Tiger), and Choi Gap-won to work on the album.[1]

The album's success strengthened the singer's position as the "Nation's little sister" in her native country. In November 2019, [*Billboard*](/source/Billboard_(magazine)) magazine compiled a list of the 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s, with the single "[Good Day](/source/Good_Day_(IU_song))" ranking at number one.[2]

## Background and release

*Real* consists of six songs and an instrumental of the title track, "Good Day". The album came in two different versions, normal and special edition. IU had worked with composers of hit songs such as "[Abracadabra](/source/Abracadabra_(Brown_Eyed_Girls_song))", "[Nagging](/source/Nagging_(song))", and "[Irreversible](/source/Step_2/4)" to develop this album.

## Composition

The album reflected the natural image of IU, as described by the album title. The title track is "Good Day" includes a musical combination of violin, wind instruments, guitar, and piano. It also displays her powerful vocals. The lyrics describe a story of a girl who doesn't have the courage to confess to her [crush](/source/Puppy_love), the sweetness and tension of a first love.

IU also tried out a new music genre, [electronic](/source/Electronic_music), in this album ("This Is Not What I Thought"). Other songs in this album includes "The Night of the First Breakup", a story about the day of a panicking girl who just broke up with her boyfriend; "Alone in the Room", expressed the emotions of an 18-year-old girl as IU co-wrote the lyrics to this song; "The Thing I Do Slowly", a ballad that describes a girl trying to forget her love after a breakup; and "Merry Christmas in Advance", a confession from IU to the fans, which was composed by Shinsadong Tiger. It features rapping from [Thunder](/source/Thunder_(singer)), who has been friends with IU since pre-debut, and the tune is a love song which brings everyone love during Christmas.[3]

## Promotion and reception

IU made her official comeback through [KBS](/source/Korean_Broadcasting_System)'s *[Music Bank](/source/Music_Bank_(TV_program))* on December 10, 2010. As of 2012, the album has sold more than 85,000 copies.[A]

## Credits and personnel

**Recording and mixing**

- Loen Studio – recording studio
- T Studio – recording studio
- Booming Studio – recording studio
- Musicabal Studio – recording studio, mixing studio
- K-Note Studio – recording studio
- Vitamin Studio – mixing studio
- W Studio – mixing studio

**Staff**

- Cho Young-cheol – producer
- Choi Gap-won – producer
- Myung-gap Son – recording engineer
- Young Seon – recording engineer
- Eun-sook Heo – recording engineer
- Young-hee Choi – recording engineer
- Il-ho Kim – recording engineer
- Ji-yeon Park – recording engineer
- Min-hee Kim – recording engineer
- Hyunjeong Ko – mixing engineer
- Junseong Jo – mixing engineer
- Seungwook Ko – mixing engineer
- Jeon Hoon at Sonic Korea – mastering
- Namgoong Chan – management director
- Jo Chun-ho – management director

- Bae Jong-han, Park Jeong-hyeon, Park Joo-won, Park Seong-woo – management assistants
- Kim Jin-myeong – A&R (repertoire)
- [Kim Eana](/source/Kim_Eana) – A&R (repertoire)
- Oh Yu-kyung – A&R (repertoire)
- Hye-sun Park – marketing
- Si-won Park – marketing
- Soo-hyun Ahn – marketing
- Changsu Kim – alliance marketing
- Jeongmin Lee – administration support
- Hwang Soo-ah – visual director
- Choi Hye-ryun – stylist
- Kim Jeong-han – hair
- Goh Gyeong-gyeong – makeup

## Charts

### Weekly charts

Chart (2010) Peak position South Korean Albums (Gaon)[4] 2

### Monthly charts

Chart (2010) Peak position South Korean Albums (Gaon)[5] 3

### Year-end charts

Chart (2011) Position South Korean Albums (Gaon)[6] 33

## Release history

Region Date Format Edition Label South Korea December 9, 2010 CD, digital download Standard Edition LOEN Entertainment CD+DVD Special Limited Edition Worldwide[7] Digital download

## See also

- [List of best-selling singles in South Korea](/source/List_of_best-selling_singles_in_South_Korea)

## Footnotes

1. Sales for both standard and special limited editions are combined.[8]

## References

1. [IU releases her new album, "REAL"](http://www.allkpop.com/2010/12/iu-releases-her-new-album-real). [Allkpop](/source/Allkpop). Retrieved on March 13, 2012.

1. ["The 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s: Staff List"](https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/8544710/best-k-pop-songs-2010s-top-100). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. November 25, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.

1. [Update: IU to release 3rd mini album "Real" on December 9th](http://www.koreaboo.com/index.html/_/comeback/update-iu-to-release-3rd-mini-album-real-r1235) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131202223410/http://www.koreaboo.com/index.html/_/comeback/update-iu-to-release-3rd-mini-album-real-r1235) December 2, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. koreaboo. Retrieved on March 13, 2012.

1. ["South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – December 19, 2010 to December 25, 2010"](http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/album.php?nationGbn=T&current_week=52&current_year=2010&chart_Time=week). *[Gaon Chart](/source/Gaon_Chart)*. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved November 24, 2013.

1. ["South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – December 2010"](http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/album.php?nationGbn=T&current_month=12&current_year=2010&chart_Time=month). *Gaon Chart*. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved November 24, 2013.

1. ["South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – 2011"](http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/album.php?nationGbn=T&current_year=2011&chart_Time=year&current_quarter=3). *Gaon Chart*. Korea Music Content Industry Association. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131024195011/http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/album.php?nationGbn=T&current_year=2011&chart_Time=year&current_quarter=3) October 24, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 24, 2013.

1. ["iTunes - Music - Real by IU"](https://music.apple.com/us/album/real/409076726). [iTunes Store](/source/ITunes_Store). Retrieved November 24, 2013.

1. Sales references for *Real*: *["2010년 가온차트 부문별 Top 100위 ("*2010 Gaon Chart Sectoral Top 100*")"](http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/notice/view.gaon?idx=36) (in Korean). *Gaon Chart*. Korea Music Content Industry Association. February 8, 2011. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110213045903/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/notice/view.gaon?idx=36) February 13, 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 29, 2015. *["South Korean Gaon Chart: Album (Domestic) – 2011"](http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2011&targetTime=3&nationGbn=K). *Gaon Chart*. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 29, 2015. *["South Korean Gaon Chart: Album (Domestic) – May 2012"](http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=month&hitYear=2012&targetTime=05&nationGbn=K). *Gaon Chart*. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 29, 2015.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Real (IU EP)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_(IU_EP)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_(IU_EP)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
