IU Welcomes Spring With Nostalgic Pop Single ‘Lilac’

Offering a dreamy concept, breathy vocals and wistful lyrics, South Korea’s most celebrated soloist, IU, taps into the whimsical emotions of love and romance in her latest track, “Lilac.”

Part of her fifth studio album of the same name, the single offers listeners a blend of retro-pop sounds and electronic beats. With Spring just around the corner, IU embodies the highs and lows of the season with lyricism hinting towards a love affair she hopes would be the highlight of her Spring.

The song opens with a catchy guitar riff and strong references to the season, as IU sings, “Carried pollen tingling my eyes (itchy)/ I’ll bear my tears/ It’s the moment I’ll keep in my secret orgel box/ And rewind it forever.” As the song proceeds, the singer adds, “Tell me I look pretty like the day we first met/ Could this last good-bye be any sweeter? / Love resembles a misty dream.”

The music video exhibits various striking visuals; IU jumps from a party to a power-packed martial-arts sequence, all executed within the tight isles of a train. With recurring shots of the vocalist performing choreography to the beats of the chorus in a train station, “Lilac” is the perfect track for the season of short yet strong romances.

With an impressive lineup of 10 self-written tracks–each inspired by a different genre–Lilac is IU’s heartfelt gratitude to everyone who witnessed her grow through her twenties.The singer also expressed her inspiration behind the thematics of the album, stating, “I wanted to include a farewell with the message ‘I’m now going onward to my next chapter’ while also greeting my upcoming 30s at the same time.” The LP features a collaboration with Korean R&B artist Dean on “Troll,” plus tracks produced by artists like Penomeco, Junny and Woogie.