On May 6, South Korean singer-songwriter IU released a new single titled “에잇 (eight)” with BTS member Suga. In addition to rapping on the track, Suga co-wrote and co-produced it. The song immediately became a massive domestic and international hit, making an impact across social media and here on Genius, where the English translation page sat at No. 1 on the Top Songs chart for two consecutive days.
The pop-rock song finds both artists contemplating the hopefulness of turning 28. It talks about forgetting our past and our dreams—as well as the pieces of ourselves that are unique—as we are swept away with our adult lives. All three producers and writers of the song were born in 1993, making them 28 years old in Korean age.
On the first verse, IU sings:
뭐 그대로야 난
다 잃어버린 것 같아
In English, this translates to:
Well, I’m exactly the same
I think I’ve lost everything
Everything comes as it pleases and leaves without a goodbye
Like this, I don’t want to love anything
Where the sun has set, as far as the sun sets
I travel in those memories
Meanwhile, Suga raps:
Yeah, 음, forever young 영원이란 말은 모래성
작별은 마치 재난문자 같지
그리움과 같이 맞이하는 아침
서로가 이 영겁을 지나
꼭 이 섬에서 다시 만나
In English, this translates to:
Yeah, um, forever young, the word ‘forever’ is a sandcastle
A farewell is like a disaster cast
A morning greeted along with yearning
Let us both pass this eternity
Surely meet once more on this island
This isn’t the first time IU has referenced her age in her music. Her past hits, “Twenty-Three” and “Palette” featuring G-Dragon, are also about important age milestones in her life. Through the lyrics and the cinematic, partially-animated music video for “에잇 (eight),” IU hopes to share that the uncertainty of life in difficult times is short-lived, and in the end, only the happy memories will remain.
Considering the popularity of both artists, it wasn’t surprising to see the song’s chart performance. It hit No. 1 on all major South Korean music platforms and broke the record for the most unique listeners in the first hour, accumulating 199,327 unique listeners on the streaming service Melon.
“에잇 (eight)” also topped the iTunes singles charts in 59 different regions, marking a new record for Korean female solo artists. In addition, IU became the second female Korean solo artist to top the US iTunes chart, following singer Younha. In January 2020, Younha achieved the distinction with her song, “Winter Flower,” featuring another BTS member, RM.
The song is on pace for a high debut on weekly charts both in South Korea and worldwide, earning 25 million YouTube views in two days. On Genius, the English translation page for “에잇 (eight)” has racked up well over 100,000 total pageviews.
To help English-speaking fans understand “에잇 (eight),” Genius contributors THRNBE and dindaayu translated its lyrics from Korean to English. Check them out below:
[Verse 1: IU]
So are you happy now?
Finally happy now, are you?
Well, I’m exactly the same
I think I’ve lost everything
Everything comes as it pleases and leaves without a goodbye
Like this, I don’t want to love anything
Where the sun has set, as far as the sun sets
I travel in those memories
[Chorus: IU]
Under an orange sun
We dance with no shadows
There is no such thing as decided farewells
Meet me in that memory that was once beautiful
Forever young
[Post-Chorus: IU]
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Forever we young
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
If it is this kind of nightmare, I won’t ever wake up
[Verse 2: SUGA]
(SUGA)
Island, yeah, here is an island
A small one that we made with each other
Yeah, um, forever young, the word “forever” is a sandcastle
A farewell is like a disaster cast
A morning greeted along with yearning
Let us both pass this eternity
Surely meet once more on this island
[Verse 3: IU]
Like what someone said as they were consoling me, passing
It isn’t that easy to forget a memory merely big as a handspan
Even as time goes by, still
At that place which takes hold of me
[Chorus: IU]
Under an orange sun
We dance with no shadows
There is no such thing as decided goodbyes
Meet me in that memory that was once beautiful
Forever young
[Bridge: IU]
We lie down atop of each other
Share stories that aren’t of sorrow
There is no such thing as gloomy endings
I will forever meet you in this memory
Forever young
[Post-Chorus: IU]
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Forever we young
Oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh
If it is this kind of nightmare, I won’t ever wake up
Watch the video above. Read all of the Korean lyrics to “에잇 (eight)” and the English translation on Genius now.
