The Winning is the ninth extended play by South Korean singer-songwriter IU, released on February 20, 2024, through Edam Entertainment. It is her first release since the EP Pieces in December 2021.[1] The EP was preceded by the single "Love Wins All" on January 24, 2024. The follow-up "Holssi" was released on February 16, while "Shopper" was released alongside the EP on February 20, 2024.
| The Winning | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Digital cover | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | February 20, 2024 | |||
| Length | 18:14 | |||
| Language | Korean | |||
| Label | Edam | |||
| IU chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Winning | ||||
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Background
editAfter the release of Lilac, IU began working on her next album. In February 2023, she said that the album would be about the feeling of wandering,[2] but later in September she stated that the direction of the project had significantly changed and that the album's main theme would be desire.[3]
IU appeared on BTS member Suga's talk show Suchwita in December 2023, where she hinted that her then-upcoming EP would contain songs about her age.[4]
Promotion
editThe lead single "Love Wins All" was issued on January 24, 2024, along with its music video.[5] IU officially announced the EP on January 29, 2024, posting a 21-second teaser clip containing close-ups of the singer "accompanied by sombre music",[6] showing her with bleached blonde hair and wearing a red outfit.[5] She is also shown spraying a red-colored spray at the camera before appearing in front of a green background.[4] The track listing of The Winning was revealed on February 5, confirming "Shopper" and "Holssi" as the EP's second and third singles, and guest appearances from NewJeans' Hyein, Wonsun Joe, and an undisclosed narrator on the third track "Shh..".[7]
Accolades
editListicles
edit| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard | 2024 | The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2024 (So Far): Staff Picks | 2nd | [8] |
Track listing
editAll lyrics are written by IU.
| No. | Title | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Shopper" |
|
| 3:35 |
| 2. | "Holssi" (홀씨) |
|
| 3:10 |
| 3. | "Shh.." (featuring Hyein and Wonsun Joe; narration by Patti Kim) |
|
| 3:46 |
| 4. | "Love Wins All" | Seo Dong-hwan | Seo | 4:31 |
| 5. | "I Stan U" (관객이 될게) |
| Jehwi | 3:12 |
| Total length: | 18:14 | |||
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Monthly chartsedit
|
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea (KMCA)[15] | Platinum | 250,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "IU to release new album next month". The Korea Times. January 30, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Son, Anna (February 22, 2023). 아이유와 이지은 [IU and Lee Ji-eun]. Harper's Bazaar (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Shin, Hyo-ryeong (September 15, 2023). 아이유 "다음 앨범은 '욕망'에 대한 이야기"[화보] [IU "The next album is a story about 'desire'" [Pictorial]]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ a b Hong, Yoo (January 30, 2024). "IU to unveil 6th EP The Winning next month". The Korea Herald. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "IU to release new album The Winning this February". GMA Network. January 30, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Ziwei, Puah (January 30, 2024). "IU announces highly anticipated sixth mini-album, The Winning". NME. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Park, Dong-sun (February 5, 2024). 아이유, Shopper·홀씨 등 더블타이틀 확정...뉴진스 혜인 피처링곡 수록 [IU confirms double titles including Shopper and Holssi... NewJeans' Hyein-featuring song included]. ETNews (in Korean). Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ Benjamin, Jeff (July 8, 2024). "The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2024 (So Far): Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-03-11/p/3" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2024-03-11" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of February 29, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Official Top 100 Albums: February 23rd, 2024 - February 29th, 2024". TurnTable. Archived from the original on March 10, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
- ^ "Circle Album Chart – Week 8, 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Circle Album Chart – February 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- ^ "South Korean album certifications – IU – The Winning" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved April 11, 2024.