Album Review: IU - Love Poem EP
For as much ground as K-pop broke in the Western mainstream during 2019, it cannot be said that all of the recognition it has garnered is for positive reasons. Despite the immense fanbases accumulated by groups like BTS and BLACKPINK outside of Asia, the portion of the public still unexposed to the actual music likely associates the genre more with the tragic string of K-pop stars who passed away in recent months. The deaths of singers Sulli (25), Goo Hara (28), and Cha In-ha (27), all three suspected to be due to suicide, have sparked an intense discussion on both sides of the world as to the strains placed on K-pop idols by obsessive fanbases, and the lack of support provided by an industry with already demanding standards. It remains to be seen whether these events will motivate any true change in the way the K-pop industry and its fans treat their stars, but it can be difficult to remain optimistic in the wake of so much anguish.
One person who no doubt felt the impact of these tragedies more than most is IU, a South Korean singer-songwriter and close friend of Sulli before the latter's unfortunate passing. If there were any artist with the talent and creativity to challenge the West's stereotypes surrounding K-pop, it would be IU; the limits of language might leave her music to be grouped alongside acts like BLACKPINK and LOONA, but her magnum opus, 2013's Modern Times, is less a sanitized, marketable pop record and more a expertly crafted throwback to the glory days of bossa nova, swing, and jazz. Unlike many K-pop idols, she is heavily involved in crafting her lyrics and instrumentals, a fact made poignantly clear across the tracklist of her latest EP, Love Poem. Its release delayed as a result of Sulli's sudden passing, the late K-pop idol's presence is palpable throughout, and though it remains unclear whether any of its songs were written specifically for Sulli, IU's blatant grief still manifests in some of her most emotionally powerful material yet.
As melancholic as the backstory behind this EP is, the opening track Unlucky takes great pains to hide IU's feelings behind an incredibly bright and upbeat piano melody. Her voice, bouncing between jaunty verses and a beautiful, lilted chorus, contrasts quite well with her uncertain, turbulent words that hold even more weight given the aforementioned context. Allusions to feeling like she is going in circles, questioning her past choices, or else suffering a general malaise culminate in a simple declaration to keep moving forward and doing one's best ("I know that life is sometimes so mean/It is true/So I'm trying"), even if IU's personal life (and much of the rest of this EP) would cast doubt on her ability to do just that. That said, Blueming is every bit as optimistic and lighthearted as a mainstream pop song, the lone synth-heavy cut on Love Poem that details a relationship through the extended metaphor of a texting conversation, emojis and all. The effort put into such an unusual poetic device is endearing, even many of the lyrics and the generic dance-pop beat are a little below what one would expect of an artist so inventive.
The rest of Love Poem is filled with softer ballads that highlight IU's vocal expertise, despite the imperfections within tracks like The Visitor and Lullaby preventing them from being entirely satisfying. The former is still an instrumental highlight even in its simplicity, the sole track driven by an acoustic guitar melody in lieu of the piano lines which dominate much of the EP. Her staccato delivery of the former's chorus is quite stilted, but her vocals during the verses flow gracefully with an expressive cadence, and IU bemoans her inability to get over a past romance with a straightforward yet touching elegance: "Why do I still love you?/Why do I sing about you?/Why do I still wait for you?". Lullaby, meanwhile, suffers from a desperate lack of individuality; despite IU's singing being as fascinating as always, the predictable melodic lines and melodramatic lyrics are too basic to generate much interest.
The highlight of the EP, for reasons both good and tragic, is its title track, easily the most melancholic and moving song IU has ever written. Accompanied only by the familiar striking of piano notes, she opens : "I think I can softly hear/A love poem that was silently written". Her voice, more delicate here than in any of the comparably dour ballads preceding, soon builds to a still delicate crescendo before suddenly shifting into an emphatic declaration of resolve, soaring as she croons "I'll be there, behind you when you walk alone/Singing 'til the end, this song will be endless". The lyrical connections between this song and Unlucky bring everything full circle in an incredibly satisfying fashion, and the addition of multiple guitar lines, driving percussion, and powerful backing vocals as the track reaches its emotional climax etch IU's intent into the listener's mind: "On the day when your long night ends/I will be there when you raise your head and look". Even if the song's words were not originally written in reference IU's relationship with Sulli, in light of the latter's passing they take on a whole new (and deeply affecting) meaning.
While the title track dominates IU's latest EP both thematically and instrumentally, the material alongside it still proves to be an effective showcase of the singer's lyrical range and vocal talent. The approach she takes with regard to the lyrics and compositions of Love Poem is quite minimalist compared to much of her recent work, yet it cannot be said that her work in this softer, ballad-heavy style come off as lacking or ineffectual. Rather, the imperfections of this EP lie within its subtler details, IU's thematic depth and the production underscoring her voice too often lacking in comparison to the musical innovation fans are used to hearing. Still, considering the context of its release, the emotional potency of Love Poem is not to be underestimated, and the talent hidden within is too captivating to ignore.
7/10
Favourite Tracks: Unlucky, Above the Time, Love Poem
A/N: Any factual errors in the description of IU's background are a result of a lack of information due to me being Canadian. All lyrical translations, assumed to be at least mostly accurate, are taken from here.