Digital music queen IU is making a highly anticipated return with her third remake album, A Flower Bookmark 3, set to release on May 27.
This album marks IU’s comeback to the beloved A Flower Bookmark series after an eight-year hiatus. Known for transforming classic Korean songs with her unique voice and emotional depth, IU’s previous albums in the series have been major hits. The first album, released in 2014, featured successful remakes like Meaning of You and My Old Story. She continued to dominate the charts with A Flower Bookmark 2 (2017), highlighted by the popular track Autumn Morning, further cementing her reputation as a skilled remake artist.
A Flower Bookmark 3 continues this tradition with six tracks, including the title song Never Ending Story, originally by the legendary rock band Boohwal. While the album aims to blend nostalgia with a fresh artistic touch, the title track’s remake has sparked widespread criticism, especially from longtime fans. The original Never Ending Story is celebrated for its powerful vocals and emotional intensity, an iconic anthem in Korean music history. IU’s version takes a softer approach, replacing the original’s dynamic rock instrumentation with piano and string arrangements to create a dreamlike, cinematic mood.
Accompanying the song is a music video starring rising actor Heo Nam-jun, inspired by the 1998 classic film Christmas in August. Despite the artistic effort, many listeners feel that IU’s remake lacks the emotional weight and raw energy of the original.
The controversy quickly spread on the Korean forum TheQoo, where a post about the song and video went viral, gathering over 25,000 views and hundreds of comments—mostly expressing disappointment.
- The song is good, but I think it would have been different and better if she had used a rougher, more rock-style voice.
- Isn’t it Christmas in August? The music video and the song don’t match, and they feel disconnected from each other.
- The song didn’t suit her as well as expected… The highlight part feels too much like a children’s song, which is disappointing.
- Maybe it’s because I liked IU’s old singing style and vocal techniques, but since You & I, all her changed styles don’t seem to be my type. I wish she’d sometimes do powerful songs like before.
- Lee Seung-chul is on a whole different level. Still, IU is precious as a singer who can even pull off acting.
For IU, an artist renowned for her emotive delivery and musical sensitivity, this reaction is particularly striking and marks a rare moment of widespread critique in her career. As IU’s A Flower Bookmark 3 generates buzz, fans and industry watchers are closely following how she will respond to the mixed reception and whether the album will regain favor with audiences.
