IU 'eight' (Prod.&Feat. SUGA of BTS), 2020

What is Eight (IU Song)?

Eight is a digital single recorded by South Korean singer-songwriter IU featuring South Korean rapper Suga of BTS, released on May 6, 2020 by EDAM Entertainment. The song marks IU's first single following her fifth EP Love Poem (2019). Written by IU, Suga, and El Capitxn, the track was produced by Suga, who also contributed rap verses.

The song's title derives from the last digit of the Korean age "twenty-eight," which both IU and Suga were at the time of release. Musically, Eight has been described as a pop rock song that fuses acoustic EDM and trendy rock sounds with delicate and emotional vocals and soothing rapping. The track is composed in the key of C♯ major with a tempo of 120 beats per minute and runs for two minutes and forty-seven seconds. The production incorporates piano and guitar instrumentation alongside Suga's characteristic airy synths, creating nostalgic and feel-good vibes.

The lyrics function as a confession of a twenty-eight year old using a virtual figure and various metaphors, addressing themes of self-reflection. IU described the track as a short novel of confession to a fictional character, expressing recurring helplessness and fatigue while longing for an "Orange Island" where freedom from sadness exists.

Eight lyrics meaning and themes

The concept of being 28 years old

The song addresses the experience of adults forgetting their past, dreams, and childhood memories while becoming swept away by life's demands. Both IU and Suga channeled their experiences as twenty-eight-year-old musicians into the composition. IU described her twenty-eighth year as marked by recurring helplessness, fatigue, and longing for an "Orange Island" where freedom exists without sadness. The lyrics function as a confession using virtual figures and metaphors to explore self-reflection.

Nostalgia and youth

The recurring phrase "forever young" represents memories that remain unchanged in their original form, preserving moments exactly as they occurred. The orange sun imagery evokes warmth and happiness, symbolizing a time when dancers cast no shadows and existed without predetermined farewells. This metaphor captures youth as a state where experiences feel boundless and eternal.

Memories and letting go

Suga's verse introduces the sandcastle metaphor, illustrating how memories remain impermanent and impossible to recreate identically. The lyrics acknowledge that forgetting even a handful of memories proves difficult, with certain moments maintaining their grip despite time passing. The song addresses grief without establishing time limits for the healing process, recognizing that each experience differs. Memories function as vessels preserving love, laughter, and treasured moments.

IU and Suga collaboration process

EDAM Entertainment announced the collaboration on April 27, 2020, revealing that IU proposed the partnership to Suga, who accepted the project due to his respect for her work. Both artists shared the same Korean age of twenty-eight, which became a foundational element in their creative approach. IU initially considered collaborating with BTS member RM for a more serious-toned project but ultimately decided that working with someone her own age held greater significance for the song's concept.

The production process proved exceptionally efficient and natural. IU described the creative process as comfortable and relaxed, noting it was the most laid-back collaboration among her recent work. The melody and lyrics materialized without significant effort, allowing her to complete the composition quickly. Similarly, Suga characterized the workflow as smooth, with minimal back-and-forth exchanges. He sent the beats to IU, who promptly returned them with the completed melody.

Both artists contributed to the song's composition, arrangement, and lyrical content. Suga served dual roles as producer and featured artist, performing the rap verse that appears in the track. IU expressed that she sought to deliver music different from her previous style through this partnership. The collaboration allowed both musicians to share their thoughts and create unique synergy, drawing from their shared experiences as twenty-eight-year-old artists navigating similar emotional landscapes.

Commercial success and chart performance

Following its release on May 6, 2020 at 6 p.m. KST, the track debuted at number one on major Korean realtime charts including Melon, Genie, Bugs, and Soribada. The song broke Melon's record for most unique listeners in the first hour with 199,327 users, surpassing BTS's "ON" which recorded 123,489 listeners. The track hit the "roof" of both Melon and Genie, indicating stream and download volumes that exceeded standard measurement graphs.

Internationally, Eight topped iTunes singles charts in 59 countries and territories, setting a new record for Korean female soloists. The song reached number one in the United States, France, Singapore, New Zealand, Finland, Malaysia, and the Philippines. IU became only the second female Korean soloist to top a US iTunes chart. The music video accumulated over 12 million YouTube views within 24 hours of release.

Eight debuted atop Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart with 7,000 downloads sold, marking both IU and Suga's first solo number one on the ranking. The track entered the all-genre Digital Song Sales chart at number 13. On South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart, Eight debuted at number one and topped monthly digital charts for both May and June. Six months after release, the Korea Music Content Association certified the song Platinum for surpassing 100 million domestic streams. Eight finished 2020 as the sixth most-downloaded and streamed song in South Korea.