IU Drops New Track ‘EIGHT’ Featuring BTS's Suga!

Uaena and A.R.M.Y, the wait is finally over! On May 6 at 6 p.m. KST, IU released her new single produced by and featuring BTS’s Suga. Perhaps one of the most anticipated collaborations of the year so far, IU’s track 'Eight' with BTS’s Suga is equal parts heart wrenching and comforting.

Photo from Soompi

At 7 p.m. KST, IU's track immediately took the top spot on many major real time charts -including Melon, Soribada, Genie, Naver and Bugs.

Photo from Pinterest

The emotional single which is about growing up and turning 28. IU explained that the self-reflective song continues the legacy of her age-themed songs such as 'Twenty-three' and 'Palette'. "If the previous songs used to take a form of an ‘essay’ through which I directly talked to listeners, ‘Eight’ is like a short novel that confesses my life as a 28-years-old by using a virtual figure and various metaphors,” wrote the singer in an introduction for 'Eight'.  

IU Digital Single
eight (Prod. & Feat. SUGA of BTS) - Album Introduction

“eight is like a short story where I use an imaginary “you” and other figures of speech to confess [my feelings about] my twenty eighth year.” #IUxSUGA #아이유 #eight #에잇 pic.twitter.com/Z21txR8eU0

— Team ?? (@IUteamstarcandy) May 6, 2020

Despite the freeing, upbeat tempo and catchy melody, the song’s lyrics are heart wrenching. Many fans also believed that 'Eight' could be a letter to her late friends, SHINee‘s Jonghyun and Sulli. 

This song may also pertain to her memories with her friends such as Jonghyun & Sulli..

Jonghyun as the lizard who became a dragon (since he loves charmander), and Sulli as the girl in white who is now soaring high w/ him#EIGHTTODAY#IUxSUGA#아이유_6시_안들으면_에잇 pic.twitter.com/LvYGZ8nAnH

— EL ❁ (@jieunlwlrma) May 6, 2020

Photo from Pinterest

The music video for 'Eight' switches between animation and scenes featuring IU, where she walks into a futuristic room and travel to various phases of her life. The whimsical colour grading of the video and the animated scenes provided beautiful cinematography. This added to the song’s overall nostalgic appeal. Similar to the song itself, the music video brought fans on a dreamy journey.

Watch the 'Eight' music video here:

Click here for the lyrics!

One of the most popular singer-actors, IU has scored multiple chart-toppers throughout her over a decade-long career, carving out her niche in the small-screen as well. Most recently, she dropped 'Give You My Heart' for the soundtrack of Korean hit drama 'Crash Landing On You'.

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Text by: GirlStyle SG