[ANALYSIS] IU X SUGA - EIGHT
At a first listen the song seems to be upbeat but once you hear the lyrics you realize how sad it is. I invite you to read the lyrics below (Cr twt doyou_bangtan & 0613cafes) and watch the MV HERE to undersrand this analysis better.
The melody, lyrics and the music video will help you understand the song better and the message IU and Suga wanted to portray. If you listen to the song alone, you might think it is about two lovers who shared beautiful memories but life didn't turn as good when they parted ways or at least for onr of them so because there is no way they can get back together, they will just live forever young by going back to the good memories. However, when you add the MV into consideration, it is more complex than a simple love and breakup song.
The song portrays a girl (IU) that is not as happy as she thought she would be. Wet hair, white clothes and shipped nail polish. She decides to travel to a place where she was happier. All of us might have had this realisation where we wish we could revive some memories. That those moments we took for granted will become our treasure. The future is not always holding a happy ending. So she turn that device, sleeps and goes back to a time where all she did was smile.
There are many symbolism that we can't ignore and I will just go through the most important ones:
THE LIZARD: From the start you can see a small lizard in the music video that will turn later into a dragon. To many they are a symbol of resurrection, rebirth, and regeneration thanks to their ability of many lizard species to regrow their tails and also their ability to molt (shed their skins). The ability of the lizard to drop its tail, and grow it back has led to it being a symbol of growth, regeneration, and survival. Not only that, because lizards can molt and come out looking new, many cultures see them as a symbol that represents the cycle of death, and rebirth.
THE ISLAND: The lyrics tell how that person goes back to an island. An island is a refuge, a place distanced from crowds and noisy civilization. It mightrepresent a lost paradise, or the center of the personality where "My soul and my conscious, that is what my Self is, and I am part of it like an island in the midst of the waves, like a star in the sky" (Julien, 214). So the person goes back there to find themselves. NO SHADOW: In the lyrics, when the person travels back or go to that world they end up with no shadow even under the brightest sun. A character who is only visiting that world hasno shadow. If they gain one, it means that their body has died in their world and they are stuck there.Â
THE RAIN: It rains many times during the music video. Many might think that rain equals sadness which is not untrue. But in this situation because the rain is a common natural occurrence vital for life, rainfall can also represent rebirth and emotional cleansing. The person is washing their pain away.
THE PLANE: In the music video a girl is riding a plane that seems that is going through turbulence. Planes are a representation of life and financial security.
THE WHITE CLOTHES: IU is seen wearing white clothes or dresses. White. In Western cultures, white symbolizes purity, elegance, peace, and cleanliness; brides traditionally wear white dresses at their weddings. But in China, Korea, and some other Asian countries white represents death, mourning, and bad luck, and is traditionally worn at funerals.
To summarise this song is somewhat sad but that many can relate to. The future is not always as bright as they tell us to believe and the simple past we were told to forget seems now like a treasured paradise. There is failure and there is ending. Some people leave and sometimes only our thoughts and regrets keep us company. We ask where did it go wrong and where did things change. Time flows faster than we can grasp and after some days we are already old. People we called friends have now other friends. People we called family are leaving one by one and you ask when will it be your turn. The future that you once wished for is no more something you ask to come. when you think "Why did nothing go as planned?" It is very depressing when you realize all of this but this song is telling us that it is ok. This is life and as humans we keep memories for a reason. You can click replay whenever you want and in that happy island that only you can travel to, nothing will change, time will not flow and you will stay happy and forever young.
One more thing. The song is called EIGHT because if turned around it becomes the symbol of infinity and it is to say "Forever young." IU and SUGA are both 28 (korean age) now. IU said this song is like a short novel that confessed her 28 feelings. Where we long for that bright island, where we can be happy and free. Find IU's full statement below (Cr twt iuteamstarcandy)
Pls if you decide to post this elsewhere or translate it. It is ok but credit me. A simple "Credit to mimibtsghost on Tumblr is fine"
I hope you liked this post ^^
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