During her "Twenty-Four Steps: One, Two, Three, Four" concert on Dec. 3 and 4, IU looked back and talked about her album "Chat-shire," which previously put her in hot water.
The idol said it was her dream to produce an album that speaks about herself, and "Chat-shire" was her first attempt. However, things did not go well for IU's self-inspired album contrary to what she expected.
"I wanted to create an album in which I could be honest. I pressed into it the things I felt as a 23-year-old, the boredom and gravity of life, and my playfulness. The day I finished working on that album, I had a good night's rest," IU said as per Allkpop.
She went on, "It was my first time producing [an album] so there were many weak spots and I felt greatly sorry. I felt regret, thinking I had to create better music for people to listen to, but the album in its state is still who I am. It's my "injured finger.""
It can be remembered that IU drew backlash for her fourth mini-album "Chat-shire" specifically for a track titled "Zeze," Inquirer noted. Reports stated the album was inspired by a five-year old boy Zeze from the story "My Sweet Orange Tree."
However, IU's song was accused of promoting pedophilia because of its lyrics which read, "Zeze, hurry and climb up the tree / kiss the leaves," "If you hurt the tree, bad, bad," "Take the youngest leaf here / Pick the only flower / Climb up me / Climb up me."
Amid controversy, IU explained her song and described the character of Zeze as "charming and sexy." She said although the young boy appears to be innocent, there are instances Zeze becomes cruel.
Despite that, critics slammed the Korean idol for allegedly depicting Zeze as a sexual subject.
