Around GMA

Article Inside Page

Korean pop star IU is dominating the charts across the globe with her highly-anticipated single “Eight” in collaboration with BTS's Suga.

On May 6, 5 pm (Philippine Standard Time), IU dropped the music video of her latest single that soon swept the domestic and international music charts.

According to the Melon Charts, “Eight” soared to the top in the first hour of its song release. It eventually hit the No.1 spot on the iTunes Top Song charts in more than 50 countries --- including the Philippines, United States, France, Singapore, Malaysia, and so much more --- proving the collaboration power of the two K-pop talents.

In “Eight,” IU and Suga teamed up to tell the story of youthful experiences through the powerful, breezy collaboration song. Its title was taken from the last digits of their age, which is 28.

Suga also contributed his voice to the recording of the song which added a trendy layer of rap over IU's lovely vocals.

As of press time, “Eight” has already surpassed 10 million views in less than 24 hours.

“Eight” as a tribute to Sulli and Jonghyun

Many fans speculate that IU's new song is a tribute to her friends Sulli and Jonghyun --- members of f(x) and SHINee.

The theory suggests that IU represented her friends as a way to say goodbye to them through music.

Eagle-eyed fans say that some elements of the music video are a direct reference to the late Sulli such as eight being the number of years that two have been friends or the fact that the illustration doesn't show IU's signature mole.

Meanwhile, others argue that Jonghyun is a dragon because he was a fan of Charmander.

If this song is dedicated to Sulli then I won't be able to stop crying. She has no mole on her cheek and the way the animated IU smiled with tears in her eyes is so-
Out of all comebacks of IU, this one is the saddest, I think.#아이유_6시_안들으면_에잇pic.twitter.com/BsKTKB9Bdr

-- (ꜰᴀᴋᴇ ᴜᴀᴇɴᴀ) 𝓐𝓼𝓱 ෆ (@distinct_jieunx) May 6, 2020

I do believe that this song is dedicated to her best friends who already left peacefully. She smiles so hard until it shows that she's not.

Even her stylist for this mv is Sulli's. That's why her wardrobes are quite different compared to prior mvs. pic.twitter.com/npORcsbhNh

-- pororo🐧 (@aphroroo_) May 6, 2020

This scene in IU's MV remind me of Sulli's scene in Real, it made my heart hurt. I will always love them both 💔 pic.twitter.com/LxjUr9XoJ7

-- Somilovesme (@somialltheway) May 6, 2020

If this is dedicated to Sulli, who is not crying.
Sulli is so lucky to have her as a friend and if Sulli could see this she must be so happy.
She also look a bit like Sulli. Ah the makeup artist of Sulli styled her. It suits her. pic.twitter.com/WFxmtrb2v2

-- NuJinGu (@chelseacip) May 6, 2020

iu's eight featuring suga is seems to be dedicated to sulli, jonghyun and hara. #IUxSugaCollab pic.twitter.com/4t80sDj0A5

-- ɢʟᴇᴀɴɴᴇ⁷ (@08Gleanne) May 6, 2020

HOLD THAT, FANS THEORIZED THAT JONGHYUN WAS THE DRAGON LIZARD SINCE HE LOVED CHARMANDER, i think IU is the bestest friend we all couldn't have 😭 pic.twitter.com/xp36mustYF

-- ⟭⟬:𝗝𝗶-𝗦𝘂𝗻⁷|回⁶|𖧵⁵ (@jinsouleils) May 6, 2020

The two theories have yet to be confirmed by IU herself but on her M Cafe she argues that the latest single is part of her age series song that follows two of her previous songs “Twenty Three” and “Palette.”

Adding, “If the songs I showed earlier were in essay format, 'Eight' is like a short novel that confessed me being a twenty-eight-year-old using a fictional character called 'you' and various analogies.”

IU to collaborate with BTS's Suga for May comeback

IU releases first teaser for 'Eight' featuring Suga of BTS