Palette (Korean: 팔레트; RR: Palleteu) is the fourth studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released on April 21, 2017, by LOEN Entertainment under its imprint FAVE Entertainment. Palette is IU's first album since Chat-Shire (2015), and her first full-length release since Modern Times (2013).[1]
The album was successful both commercially and critically. It spawned three singles; "Through the Night" was released as the album's lead single on March 24, 2017, followed by "Can't Love You Anymore" on April 7, and the title track, "Palette", released on April 21.[2][3] All three singles from Palette reached number one on South Korean Gaon Digital Chart, becoming only one of the few albums to contain three or more number-one singles.
Palette was met with critical acclaim upon its release. Billboard magazine listed the album at number one on their list of the best K-pop albums of 2017, and was named amongst the 100 best Korean albums since 2004 by EBS. The album earned IU a Melon Music Award for Album of the Year, and a nomination for Artist of the Year and won Best Album Award in the 27th Seoul Music Awards. Palette also won "Best Pop Album" award at the 15th Korean Music Awards.[4]
While IU's previous album, Chat-Shire, deliberated the confusion and anxieties of a twenty-three year old, Palette offers the perspective of someone at a more mature stage in life. A body of work that tells the story of self-actualization, the album reads similarly to the final chapters of a bildungsroman where the main character embraces adulthood.[5] In a Naver V-Live, IU stated that:
"The reason why it's titled 'Palette' is that palette caught my attention more than the art itself during art class. It contains various colors and it's beautifully packed in its own unique ways and that became the start of this album."
"Palette is considered as a tool but I believe it could be an art itself. Palette is also similar to me right now. That's also why I put the most effort in the title track 'Palette'."[citation needed]
As such, Palette can be taken to refer to the various people in life that one comes across, and their different aspects—appreciating them in a celebratory way. It also refers to the flaws, the accomplishments and the feelings of oneself—and how despite their various "colors" on a palette, they are a work of art all in their own right. This is mentioned in her JTBC interview, where she explains that despite talking about herself, she is also talking about people in general.[6]
The shooting for the album jacket was an extensive process, with IU stating that she had "15 sets" of clothing in one day of shooting.[7] For some of the photos, IU decided to have her in similar poses and shots were taken to that of her previous album Last Fantasy, to highlight the differences in maturity that have developed. Mok Jungwook was the main photographer for the album jacket. He also worked on her previous albums Modern Times and Chat-Shire. Longtime stylist Noh Juhee was also involved, as well as hair stylist Seo Yun, and makeup artist Shin Ae—all of whom have worked with IU since her debut.[8]
Palette received acclaim from music critics. Billboard's Jeff Benjamin wrote, "Since her 2008 debut EP Lost and Found that was fully written and composed by hit producers, IU has been on a gradual mission to taking full artistic control of her music. Plus, Palette is proving to be not only a creative accomplishment with it almost entirely written by the young star, but a body of work that reveals what's going on in her head and has rewarded her with new levels of success."[12]
The album topped Billboard's "20 Best K-Pop Albums 2017" list. Billboard branded the album "the year's shining example of the power in personal K-pop with a release that employed loads of different sounds and stories to share insight about the star beneath the gorgeous gowns and pristine makeup", and furthermore praises IU for "showcas[ing] the moments of self-doubt, worry and gloom, and then explain[ing] them in the music styles and genres she sees most appropriate."[5]
Fuse also listed Palette at number 9 on their list of the "20 Best Albums of 2017", becoming the only Korean release to make the list, and praising her stunning album as making a "major case for the power of personal K-pop".[13] In a review for The 405, Chase McMullen declared, "...the best moments here are when she unburdens the music of others, and simply allows her quest for self-actualization to shine through. This is very much an album of a young adult finding herself, former doubts cast aside for a newfound comfort."[9]
^"2000년대 한국 대중음악 명반 100 (2004–2023)" [Top 100 Korean pop music albums of the 2000s (2004–2023)] (in Korean). Educational Broadcasting System. April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
^아이유·방탄소년단·레드벨벳, 한국대중음악상 후보 노미네이트(종합) [IU, BTS, Red Velvet, Korean Music Awards Nominations]. The Korea Herald (in Korean). February 6, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
^"Five-Music Korea-Japan Album Chart" (in Chinese). Five-Music. 2017 [17th Week]. Retrieved May 5, 2017. To access, select the indicated week and year in the bottom-left corner
