The legendary IU became a hot topic in a community forum.
On June 19, netizens gathered in an online post, titled, "IU Is The Last Nation's Singer In The Pop Music Industry."
The author uploaded a screenshot from a K-media report, which wrote about IU's long-lasting relevance, artistry, timeless music, and impact across K-pop generations.
Here's what OP relayed:
"IU is a singer-songwriter who simultaneously implemented auteurism and industrial strategies in the fragmented Korean pop music market.
After earning the title of the "Nation's Little Sister" with her hit song "Good Day," she did not stop even for a moment and continued to hone her skills through collaborations with outstanding composers and singers in the pop industry, creating a world of unique music.
As a result, IU achieved the status of a nation's singer that spans across generations. By expressing the process of growing up in your 20s with the language of youth, she earned the hearts of all generations.
Refusing to be influenced by the agency's management and capital logic, establishing EDAM Entertainment in 2019 to lay the foundation for a one-person company, and actively utilizing new social media to solidify fandom culture are also important contributions of IU to music's independence.
IU, who became the first Korean female solo singer to successfully complete a performance at the Olympic Stadium, is undisputedly a representative singer of the 2010s, and may be the last nation's singer that the Korean pop music industry can produce."
K-Uaenas agreed with the claims and pointed out IU's popularity. Some mentioned her commendable longevity, while others think that IU might not be the last nation's singer and that someone in the future might also deliver the same impact.
- "Yup, I totally agree."
- "If you look at the Gallup's results this time, you know it looks like it."
- "From teens to adults, this is true for all. We don't even ask people "Do you know IU?" but rather "Which song do you know about IU?"
- "Yeah, She's been promoting for 17 years. It's hard to have a star factor that runs for this long."
- "Yup, nobody would disagree."
- "If you look at the teens, the 20s and the 30s, they all think like that."
- "She's really a generation's icon."
- "I like IU but I don't know if she'll be the last one, you never know someone new might appear."
Meanwhile, international fans expressed sentiments regarding IU's prominence in the music industry. Some claimed that sibling duo AKMU may be the last artist from the "TV Generation" in Korea, while others expressed awe at IU's growth through the years.
They shared that IU's other activities outside her music career also established her relevance as a top star in South Korea.
- "I'd say AKMU is perhaps the last from that TV era to successfully transition to the streaming era, which means they're also one of the last to be considered a "nation singer" in every sense of the word."
- "IU and AKMU have continuously released music that resonates widely across different age groups."
- "They have cemented their place as contemporary and trendy musicians whilst remaining relevant across generations."
- "I wonder if a really talented solo artist will ever blow up the way IU did. She had a very organic growth too."
- "She is generational after all for a solo artist."
- "I personally think that her relevancy as a top singer is also backed by her doing other projects and also being hit on that."
- "Her dramas mostly became a buzz in Korea, also her appearance in variety, people know her because she is fun to watch, and that she still maintains to produce songs that people like."
Which songs from IU's discography are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!
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Written by Israel Monte
