IU’s “Never Ending Story” is the title track from her third remake album, ‘A Flower Bookmark 3,’ released on May 27, 2025. This song is a reinterpretation of the beloved classic of the same name, originally released by the band Boohwal in 2002, brought to life with IU’s unique sensibility.
IU – Never Ending Story
Song Description and Overview:
- Original Song: “Never Ending Story” is a signature song by the rock band Boohwal, composed and written by Kim Tae-won. With Lee Seung-chul’s vocals, its grand and melancholic atmosphere has long been cherished by many.
- IU’s Reinterpretation: IU has delicately reinterpreted this song with her own emotional touch. Seo Dong-hwan, who composed IU’s “Love wins all,” handled the arrangement. While preserving the grand and lyrical feel of the original, he added new charm to match IU’s dreamy and emotional vocals.
- Album ‘A Flower Bookmark 3’: ‘A Flower Bookmark 3’ is IU’s third remake album, following those released in 2014 and 2017. It aims to reintroduce timeless classics with IU’s distinct style, offering both nostalgia and new emotional experiences to the public. In addition to “Never Ending Story,” the album includes six other tracks: Park Hye-kyung’s “Red Sneakers,” Seo Taiji’s “October 4th,” Roller Coaster’s “Last Scene (Feat. Wonstein),” Shin Joong-hyun’s “Beauty (Feat. Balming Tiger),” and White’s “Dream of a Square.”
- Music Video: The music video for “Never Ending Story” drew significant attention for its homage to the film ‘Christmas in August.’ Actors Heo Nam-jun and IU themselves appeared, conveying cinematic, lyrical emotions. Lee Rae-kyung, who directed IU’s previous music videos like “Through the Night” and “Palette,” was at the helm.
- Public Reception: Upon its release, IU’s “Never Ending Story” topped major music charts, receiving an enthusiastic response. The music video also garnered immense popularity, surpassing 1 million views just 7 hours after its release. This is attributed to the synergy between the original song’s high recognition and IU’s exceptional interpretation.
IU’s “Never Ending Story” maintains the emotion of the original while adding IU’s distinct musical color, resonating deeply with listeners across generations.