IU has gifted fans a special surprise at the close of summer.
At 7 AM on September 10th KST, IU released her new digital single ‘Bye, Summer’ on major music platforms without any prior teaser or promotional campaign. The release was meant as a heartfelt gift for fans as the season draws to a close and the cool breeze of early autumn sets in.
‘Bye, Summer’ first captured public attention when it was performed during the ‘2024 IU H.E.R. WORLD TOUR CONCERT ENCORE : THE WINNING’ held at Seoul World Cup Stadium last September. The song was written during IU’s world tour, and during the performance, she shared: “This summer felt unusually long to me. But because I spent it with all of you, I want to say it was the best summer ever. It was long and filled with love, so I wanted to play this song for you.”
On stage, IU accompanied herself on guitar, receiving an enthusiastic response from the audience. As if orchestrated, a light drizzle that had begun before the performance stopped just as the song ended, creating a stunning and unforgettable scene. The live clip, released afterward, quickly climbed YouTube’s trending videos list, and fans have continuously requested an official release ever since.
‘Bye, Summer’ was written and composed by IU, with co-composition by producer Seo Dong Hwan, who previously worked with her on ‘Love wins all’. The track combines IU’s signature lyrical vocals with a breezy band sound and gentle, melodic lines—perfectly evoking the wistfulness of summer’s end.
A lyric video was also released on IU’s official YouTube channel. The animation follows a boy and girl building memories during summer, eventually parting ways as the season fades, like a page from a short, poignant fairy tale.
IU recently received Best Actress and Popular Star Award at the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards for her performance in the Netflix series ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’. The drama also took home the Grand Prize (Daesang). Additionally, she was honored with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award at the 7th Newsis Korean Wave Expo.
On September 13th and 14th, IU will hold a two-day fan meetup titled ‘Bye, Summer’ at KSPO DOME. She is currently filming her upcoming drama ‘21st Century Grand Prince’s Wife’.
The new single ‘Bye, Summer’ is now available on major streaming platforms and IU’s official YouTube channel.
SEE ALSO: IU to open ‘Found at Eight’ pop-up store for fans at The Hyundai Seoul
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