Maps of Music

Last Fantasy (2011)

Where the lyrics of Last Fantasy take you, and where it was really made.

The album sold almost seven million digital tracks in its first week, yet its physical copies stopped at about 117,000.

Place unknown

Do you know where this album was recorded, or where its cover was shot? Tell us and we will add it to the map.

Last Fantasy: second studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter IU
Released on November 29, 2011 by LOEN Entertainment
Thirteen tracks, with the lead single "You & I"
The lead single's music video went online one day before the album reached stores
Album credits list eight recording studios, including LOEN Studio and T Studio

The album was meant to reflect the period when IU bids farewell to her childhood and prepares to meet maturity
IU collaborated with singer-songwriters Yoon Sang, Kim Kwang-jin, Lee Juck, Kim Hyeon-cheol, and Ra.D
Some songs were composed and written by IU herself, with help from Lee Juck, Kim Hyeon-cheol, Yoon Sang, Yoon Jong-shin, G. Gorilla, and Corinne Bailey Rae
LOEN said the album had been worked on for a long time and that its special limited edition lets fans better understand the production process
Promotions began on December 3, 2011 on SBS's Inkigayo, where IU performed "A Child Searching for Stars" and "You & I"

Credits list the following studios: LOEN Studio, T Studio, Realcollabo Studio, Music Cabal Studio, Jun Studio, Antenna Music Studio, W Sound Studio, and Sonic Korea Studio

Lee Ji-eun (born May 16, 1993), known by stage name IU, is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress.
Signed with LOEN Entertainment (now Kakao Entertainment) in 2007 as a trainee.
Debuted as a singer in 2008 at age fifteen with the EP Lost and Found.
Achieved national stardom with "Good Day" from the 2010 EP Real.

"Good Day" spent five consecutive weeks at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart.
Her 2011 albums Real+ and Last Fantasy established her as a major force in South Korean music.
Her musical style matured over time, moving beyond mainstream K-pop and increasing her creative control as lyricist and producer.
Her 2020 single "Eight" (prod. by Suga) was her first to reach number one on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart.
Has released five studio albums and twelve EPs, with thirty-one number-one singles.
Gained acting recognition with roles in Dream High (2011), My Mister (2018), and When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025).
Held a solo concert, The Golden Hour, at Seoul Olympic Stadium in September 2022, the first Korean female artist to do so.
Known as the "Queen of K-pop" by NME and Billboard in 2024.

Upon release the album became a huge commercial success
Almost seven million digital tracks sold in the first week
Digital sales passed 10 million the following week
The lead single "You & I" debuted at the top of the Gaon Singles Chart
The single sold 1,129,761 digital units in its first week and stayed at number one for two more weeks

The album's physical sales exceeded 117,000 copies
The physical album ranked 15th among the best-selling Korean albums of 2011
"You & I" held the top spot on the Billboard Korea K-Pop Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks
It was IU's first Korea K-Pop Hot 100 chart-topper
The single was the longest-running number-one song on that chart at the time
The record was later tied by Psy's "Gangnam Style" and then broken by Lee Seung-gi's "Return", which held the top spot for six weeks from December 2012 to January 2013

The album's first track is listed as a cover of "Halo" song with the same title, originally performed by the South Korean pop duo Halo on their 1997 album
The title of track 13 means "The Lover" in French
The Discogs release note says the "2" on the front means it is her second album
The "You & I" music video starred actor Lee Hyun-woo and blends fantasy elements with a well-crafted story
A music video for the title song "Last Fantasy" appeared on February 9, 2012, with footage from IU's Japanese debut showcase at Bunkamura Orchard Hall