Let’s Check Out IU’s Latest Journey!
Have you listened to IU’s comeback song? On May 6th, 2020, at 6 p.m. KST, IU released her new single, together with BTS’ Suga, she managed to dominate various international song charts after the release of their song titled “Eight.” Her achievement is a record for a Korean female solo singer. She also has become the second Korean solo singer to rule iTunes in the US after Younha who released the song “Winter Flower” featuring BTS’ RM that became a hit in January. So, are you curious about the story behind IU’s comeback hit “Eight?” In this article, Channel-Korea will discuss IU’s journey on her comeback hit song. So, stay tuned!
IU’s Latest Digital Single “Eight“
The music release of “Eight” perhaps is one of the most anticipated collaborations of the year. One of the reasons that her latest release was so highly anticipated is BTS’ Suga had a hand in producing the song and also took part in throwing some rap lines in the song. It could be seen when the news about their collaboration broke, the fans could not wait to hear the masterpiece that IU and Suga were working on. IU’s agency, EDAM Entertainment hinted that the track was born from both of the artists’ relation to one another as same-age musicians, so they managed to form a mutually synergetic groom of their shared opinions. Finally, on May 6th, 2020, at 6 p.m. KST, IU released the awaited comeback song, “Eight.” The song definitely pulled at the heartstrings of fans and listeners from all around the world. At 7 p.m. KST, her song immediately took the top spot on many major real-time charts including Melon, Soribada, Genie, Naver, and Bugs.
The song begins as IU tenderly sings, “So are you happy now? Finally happy now?” starting the track. Through the song, we can hear IU’s bold stunning voice supported by the nostalgic and bright instrumental. Its melody also leads to the upbeat chorus in which IU repeats a hopeful line of “Forever we young.” IU explained that the song is a self-reflection that continues the legacy of her age-themed songs such as “Twenty-three” and “Palette.” The 28-year-old female singer also wrote an introduction for her latest release, “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-year-old using a virtual figure and various metaphors.” You can listen to the full journey of the song in the clip below!
Music Video & The Conspiracy Theory
The accompanying music video for the song “Eight” fits the song’s atmosphere quite well. The MV is similar to a kind of mini-film because of the blend of realism and animation. In the music video, we can see IU in the galactic laboratory where she plans to store all of her memories. Before it is done, they are all set on repeat over and over again for the last time. IU embarked on a journey through her past. She went through some good and bad memories. Considering the upheaval of life, she realized that this was her journey. All likes and dislikes to spend. According to her in the making of the video, she tells the story of her having lost her memories and going into a slumber to “download” her memories back. As IU sleeps, her memories fill the rest of the music video. She looks back at the wonderful memories of her carefree youth to her darker moments of grief and loss. As memories are the central theme of the music video, one cannot be complete without including the good and the bad. There are underlying themes of reflection and growth expressed in the music video. Although IU is seen crying at one point in the music video, it’s something beautiful and real that gives fans and viewers reassurance that it is okay to cry and feel grief in the moment of reflection but in the end, everything will be okay. At the end of the MV, IU silently smiles at the camera. Rather than being hurt, she found happiness through this memory. The high-level videos and animated scenes provide beautiful cinematography. Just like how the song makes the listeners feel, the music video also takes fans on a dreamy journey.
Lyrics Meaning
Despite the catchy melody and upbeat tempo, the song’s lyrics are heart-wrenching. There is a deep meaning inside the song that IU and Suga wrote. A story from someone who is 28 years old accepting themselves as a new person and becoming a different person from the previous years. Becoming an adult means forgetting their dreams and memories from their childhood to adolescence because they are being chased by the reality of life. As grown-up adults, they try to start accepting themselves as they are. “Eight” talks about the lives of IU and Suga who are both 28 years old (Korean age) in 2020. IU was born on May 16th, 1993, while Suga was born on March 9th, 1993. Through the lyrics that were made, IU wants to tell a lot of things that just come and go in life. She doesn’t want this to happen just like that and only memories to be left.
Special Videos
After releasing the music video for her song “Eight,” IU continued to release a live video of her singing her latest comeback song in an acoustic version. With her gentle voice and deep singing techniques, IU managed to sing the song so well with the accompaniment of live band music. Check out her cool yet warming performance in the clip below!
Chart Performance
On Friday, May 8th, 2020 at 7.30 a.m. KST, the 28-year-old-story song won the All-kill certificate. The digital single released on May 6th swept the domestic real-time charts and the iTunes international charts. An hour after “Eight” was released, the song showed its debut at No. 1 on Melon, Genie, Bugs, and more charts, and went up to No. 1 on Soribada (that gets updated every 10 minutes). The song also crashed into the “roof” of Melon and Genie on its debut, which meant that it recorded so many streams and downloads that went beyond the standard charts on music sites. In addition, “Eight” has broken the record of the most unique listener in the first hour on Korea’s biggest music site, Melon. The single “Eight” was heard by 199,327 users in the first hour after it was released. At 9:11 a.m. KST on May 7th, “Eight” reached No. 1 on the iTunes Top charts in at least 59 regions, a new record for Korean female solo artist. The 59 regions include the United States, France, Singapore, New Zealand, Finland, Malaysia, the Philippines, and many more. That’s all about the journey of IU for the song “Eight” that became a good collaboration of two popular South Korean idols. The sound colors of IU and Suga are both very prominent in this song. They created their own unique synergy, which is reflected in their song. Can’t wait for another surprise from her with a great masterpiece that awaits! Hwaiting, IU! So, what do you think about the collaboration song that IU and BTS’ Suga worked on? Do you like it? Don’t forget to kindly share your thoughts in the comment section below!
