K-pop’s IU took on BTS and Blackpink and won, claiming the Golden Disc Awards’ grand prize for single Blueming

Jan 11 , 2021

K-pop star IU took home the digital song of the year (grand prize) and best digital song awards at the Golden Disc Awards 2021. Photo: @dlwlrma/Instragram

She collaborated with BTS member Suga and Big Bang’s G-Dragon, topped charts with Good Day and Nagging, appeared in K-dramas Dream High and Hotel Del Luna and has won plenty of awards – now adding two more to the list

IU has once again etched her name into K-pop history.

The singer, whose real name is Lee Ji-eun, became the first female soloist to clinch two grand prizes at the Golden Disc Awards, one of South Korea’s most prestigious music prizes.

The 27-year-old Edam Entertainment star won the digital song of the year (grand prize) and best digital song award with her hit Blueming after going head-to-head with big-name stars including BTS and Blackpink.

IU at the Golden Disc Awards 2021. Photo: @GoldenDisc_en/Twitter

Blueming is the lead track off her fifth EP “Love Poem” that dropped in November 2019. The electro pop-rock song swept multiple music streaming charts immediately after its release and is still ranked 30th on Melon’s daily chart as of January 9.

“I am truly honoured to receive two prizes in three years. Thank you for showing your ongoing support for Blueming for more than a year,” IU said as she accepted the award at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi province. “I would also like to express my appreciation to the song’s composers, all the other musicians and industry insiders who have contributed to making music amid this tough time.”

She also hinted at her upcoming release, saying, “My new album, which might be able to energise listeners, will come out soon. One of the songs might be unveiled in January.”

The singer took home her first grand prize at the Golden Discs in 2018 with Through the Night, a nostalgia-evoking release from her fourth studio album “Palette”.

IU, renowned for her inimitable velvety voice and music producing skills, debuted with the ballad Mia in 2008 at the age of 15. In the beginning, she did not find instant stardom – but she still won the hearts of acclaimed musicians such as Yoo Hee-yeol and Jung Jae-hyung for being a young but talented singer-songwriter with much potential.

Since then, IU has released a string of bubbly and vibrant pieces including Boo (2009) and Marshmallow (2009), gradually carving out a presence on the music scene. The singer marked a turning point in her career only a year later with Nagging and Good Day. The former track, in which she teamed up with Seulong of K-pop act 2AM, reigned atop Melon’s daily chart for 18 days and led IU to win music shows in Korea for the first time since her debut.