Yiruma

Lee Ru-ma (Korean: 이루마; born 15 February 1978), better known by his stage name Yiruma (Korean: 이루마), is a South Korean contemporary pianist and composer.

Yiruma
이루마
Yiruma in 2017
Born
Lee Ru-ma

(1978-02-15) 15 February 1978
Seoul, South Korea
NationalitySouth Korean
Alma materKing's College, London
OccupationComposer and pianist
Years active2001–present
EmployerMind Tailor Music
Spouse(s)
Son Hye-Im
(m. 2007)
Korean name
Hangul
이루마
Revised RomanizationI Ru-ma
McCune–ReischauerI Ruma
WebsiteMind Tailor Music

Biography

Yiruma was born in Seoul to a pastor. He began learning the piano at age five and moved to the United Kingdom, where he attended the Purcell School for Young Musicians[1] and graduated from King's College London.[2]

After graduation, Yiruma returned to South Korea and released his debut album Love Scene in 2001. He gained wider public recognition for performing the piano versions of the soundtracks from the popular 2006 drama Spring Waltz.[3] On 1 January 2009, he became a DJ for KBS1FM Yiruma's Music from All Around the World.[4]

Yiruma's 2011 compilation album The Best: Reminiscent, 10th Anniversary debuted at number 3 in the Billboard Classical charts in July 2020 and reached number 1 just two weeks later; Billboard's Classical charts had done away with its rules of only counting albums sold in the United States and recognizing albums released in the last 18 months.[5] His music has seen a resurgence in popularity due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020 and a number of videos of his compositions posted on YouTube and other social media platforms have garnered millions of views.[6]

Personal life

Yiruma previously held British citizenship, which he voluntarily renounced in order to enlist for mandatory military service.[7][8] He enlisted in the Republic of Korea Navy in July 2006 and was assigned to public relations duties.[9][10] He was discharged in August 2008.[11]

In April 2007, while on leave, Yiruma married his girlfriend Son Hye-im, the older sister of actress and former Miss Korea contestant Son Tae-young.[12][10] They have a daughter (born in 2008).[13][14]

His composition 'River Flows in You' was selected by fans of The Twilight Saga to serve as 'Edward's Lullaby' prior to the release of the first film. Fan pressure was so strong that the piece was included in the soundtrack of the later film, Eclipse. The piece is still heavily circulated, and has seen a surge in popularity with the release of the fifth book in the saga, Midnight Sun.[15]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[16]
US
Class-
ical

[17]
US
New Age

[17]
Love Scene
First Love
  • Released: December 4, 2001 (KOR)
  • Repackaged: May 19, 2005 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
67 3 4
From the Yellow Room
  • Released: October 22, 2003 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
11
Poemusic
  • Released: November 29, 2005 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
97
H.I.S. Monologue
  • Released: November 2, 2006 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
P.N.O.N.I.
  • Released: October 21, 2008 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
Stay in Memory
  • Released: May 24, 2012 (KOR)
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
11
Blind Film
  • Released: October 8, 2013 (KOR)
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
15
Piano
  • Released: September 23, 2015 (KOR)
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
23
Frame
  • Released: November 1, 2017 (KOR)
  • Repackaged: December 19, 2019
  • Label: Mind Tailor Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
36
"—" denotes release did not chart
Note: The South Korean Gaon Music Chart was established in 2010.

Compilation and special albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
AUT
[25]
GER
[26]
KOR
[16]
SWI
[27]
US
Class-
ical

[17]
US
New Age

[17]
Piano Museum
Destiny of Love
  • Released: April 19, 2005 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
Ribbonized
  • Released: April 28, 2010 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: 6-CD box set
14
The Best: Reminiscent 10th Anniversary
  • Released: November 24, 2011 (KOR)
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
8 1 1
The Very Best Of Yiruma: Yiruma & Piano
  • Released: November 30, 2011 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
8
The Very Best of Yiruma: River Flows In You
  • Released: December 2, 2011 (EU)
  • Label: Stomp Music, B1
  • Format: CD, digital download
72 29 84
Healing Piano
  • Released: November 6, 2013 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
28
Atmosfera
  • Released: June 25, 2014 (KOR)
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
19
Piano Serenade
(너에게 보내는 피아노)
  • Released: November 27, 2014 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
The First Special Moment With Your Baby
(아기와 나누는 첫 교감)
  • Released: March 12, 2015 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
34
Yiruma: The Best Winter
  • Released: November 10, 2016 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
"—" denotes release did not chart
Note: The South Korean Gaon Music Chart was established in 2010.

Movie soundtracks

Live albums

  • Yiruma: Live at HOAM Art Hall (2005)

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[16]
Nocturnal Lights... They Scatter
Movement On A Theme By Yiruma
  • Released: October 13, 2009 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
Movement On A Theme By Yiruma: 2nd Movement
  • Released: December 2, 2009 (KOR)
  • Label: Stomp Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
Room With A View
  • Released: May 22, 2020 (KOR)
  • Label: Mind Tailor Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
90
"—" denotes release did not chart
Note: The South Korean Gaon Music Chart was established in 2010.

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Album
AUT
[25]
FRA
[34]
GER
[26]
KOR
[35]
SWI
[27]
"Un Homme Et Une Femme" (남(男) & 여(女)) 2001 Love Scene
"River Flows In You" 11 62 20 24 41 First Love / River Flows in You single album (2011)
"Kiss The Rain" 2003 From the Yellow Room
"Nocturnal Lights... They Scatter" 2004 Nocturnal Lights... They Scatter
"Wonder Boy" (가을과 겨울이 만났다) 2005 Poemusic
"Lord... Hold My Hand" 2006 H.I.S. Monologue
"Loanna" 2008 P.N.O.N.I.
"River Flows In You" (with Ruvin) 2009 91 Movement On A Theme By Yiruma
"To My Heart" (나에게로) (with Swin) Movement On A Theme By Yiruma: 2nd Movement
"Kiss The Rain"
(with Shin Yong-jae of 4Men, MIIII, Bigtone)
2012 9 Non-album single
"Stay In Memory" (기억에 머무르다) Stay in Memory
"Blind Film" 2013 Blind Film
"Dance" 2015 Piano
"Sick Of You" (해로운 너)
(with Li Gyu-hwan)
2017 Non-album single
"Flower" Frame
"Framed (String Version)"
"Couldn't Put In Words" (못다한 내 마음을)
(with Danny Jung)
2018 The Way You Keep Friendship - SSaW Tribute Vol.5
"Room With A View" 2020 Room With A View
"Sunset Bird"
"Darling" (달링) (with 2FACE, feat. Shallyn) Non-album single
"—" denotes release did not chart
Note: The South Korean Gaon Music Chart was established in 2010.

References

  1. "About Us — Alumni". Purcell School for Young Musicians. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. "Yiruma's River Flows in You: from its meaning to its starring role in the Twilight saga". Classic FM. 27 February 2019.
  3. "이루마·러브홀릭, 드라마 '봄의 왈츠' OST 참여". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). 13 March 2006.
  4. ay_link (2 January 2009). "KBS1 93.1FM new radio DJ, Yiruma | JAZZHOLIC". Jazzholic.com. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  5. "How Yiruma Made It to the Top of the Classical Albums Chart For 17 Weeks". Billboard. 7 July 2020.
  6. "[e글중심] "K-뉴에이지의 시작?" … 이루마 빌보드 클래식 부문 1위". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 22 May 2020.
  7. "이루마, 英 시민권 포기하고 5월 입대" (in Korean). Korean Broadcasting System. 26 January 2006.
  8. "피아니스트 이루마 "영국 시민권 포기 … 입대"". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 27 January 2006.
  9. "이루마, 해군 군악대와 송년 공연" (in Korean). Korean Broadcasting System. 27 December 2006.
  10. "군복무 이루마,손혜임과 결혼 "딸 하나만 낳고 싶어요"". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 27 May 2007.
  11. "해군 이루마 제대 연주회". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 23 August 2008.
  12. "이루마-손태영 언니 미스코리아 결혼". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 18 April 2007.
  13. "손혜임 결혼 이루마 "처제 손태영 보다 아내가 더 예뻐"". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 12 December 2013.
  14. "이루마, 붕어빵 딸 공개 '깜찍해'". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 26 November 2011.
  15. ay_link (27 February 2019). "Yiruma's River Flows in You: from its meaning to its starring role in the Twilight saga". classicfm.com. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  16. "Album Chart "이루마" Search". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  17. "Yiruma Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  18. Cumulative sales of First Love:
  19. Cumulative sales of From the Yellow Room:
  20. "2005년 POP 총결산 음반 판매량" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  21. "2012년 05월 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  22. Cumulative sales of Blind Film:
  23. "2015년 10월 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  24. "2017년 11월 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  25. "Discographie Yiruma". Austrian Charts (in German). Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  26. "Suchen nach "Yiruma"". Offizielle Deutsche Charts (in German). Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  27. "Discographie Yiruma". Swiss Hitparade (in German). Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  28. "2005년 POP 총결산 음반 판매량" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  29. Cumulative sales of The Best: Reminiscent 10th Anniversary:
  30. Cumulative sales of The Very Best Of Yiruma: Yiruma & Piano:
  31. "2013년 11월 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  32. "2014년 06월 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  33. "2004년 총결산 POP음반 판매량" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  34. "Yiruma". Les Charts (in French). Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  35. "Digital Chart "이루마" Search". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  36. "Yiruma - River Flows In You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  37. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank". Bundesverband Musikindustrie (in German). Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  38. Cumulative sales of "Kiss The Rain":
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