IU Returns With Highly Anticipated “Eight”
IU has made her long-awaited and highly anticipated return with a new digital single titled “Eight.” After only six months from her last mini album, Love poem, it’s always a delight when IU makes her return to the music industry. But what makes her latest release so highly anticipated is BTS’s SUGA had a hand in not only the production of the song but had a feature as well. When news broke that IU was collaborating with the BTS member, fans could not wait to hear what the two artists were going to bring to the table.
“Eight” is a song that will definitely pull at the heartstrings of fans and listeners from all around. The song is about reflecting and looking back at old memories. Sometimes there are moments in life where we find ourselves looking back at memories that brought us such joy and relief and wanting to return back to those times, but despite life continuing to go on, IU and Suga convey that those memories will always live on in our hearts and our minds in the lyrics of the song. “Eight” is a song that is rich with authenticity, as both IU and Suga are well known to not shy away from topics and feelings that one goes through on a daily basis in their music.
Digging a little deeper into the sound of the song itself, “Eight” definitely has this ethereal quality that is chill and easy-going. It is also a definite switch up in sound and style from IU’s signature sound but still blends so smoothly with Suga’s style of music. They also complement each other so well vocally. As we are in the spring season, “Eight” is a refreshing sound and is a song that will become a spring-themed playlist staple.
The music video for “Eight,” according to IU in the making of the video, 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 to 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.
What makes the video for “Eight” special is the different cuts to seeing IU as herself. The music video focuses on the different versions of IU’s journey as she travels throughout her memories. It’s not often K-Pop fans get to see such different styles being done in a music video and it’s such a joy to witness as it’s such details that really put IU as a powerhouse artist in the industry. If fans and viewers pay closer attention to the airplane scenes, Suga is also represented in the music video as well.
All in all, IU does not disappoint with such a stellar song. There is special praise for Suga as well, as he is the main producer and feature for the song. They both bring a song that fans will enjoy for a long time to come. While the announcement of their collaboration is a pleasant surprise for all, IU and Suga have definitely brought this beautiful masterpiece to life. It also comes as no surprise that “Eight” was quick to reach the number one spot on music charts, trending worldwide on social media and even reached a “Certified All-Kill” on Korean music charts. Many can expect for this song to remain at the top of charts for quite some time. I truly recommend “Eight” and there is hope that one day we may see both IU and Suga perform this song live or that they will collaborate again in the future.