G-Dragon’s recent appearance on “IU’s Palette,” the YouTube program hosted by singer-actress IU, has set the internet abuzz, not just for the nostalgic reunion between two of K-pop’s most iconic artists, but also for G-Dragon’s emotionally layered new lyrics that many fans believe subtly reference fellow BIGBANG members T.O.P and Seungri.

The episode marks a reunion of sorts for the two stars, who originally collaborated on IU’s 2017 hit “Palette.” As part of their appearance, they performed a special 2025 version of the track, with G-Dragon rapping an entirely new verse written specially for the occasion.

G-DRAGON and IU performing ‘Palette’ together in 2025!#GDRAGON #GD #지드래곤 #IU #아이유 pic.twitter.com/kaw66hGAx4

— ü (@gdpdates) March 27, 2025

While his updated lyrics still conveyed familiar feelings of emotional vulnerability, self-reflection, and support for IU, fans quickly picked up on a notable tonal shift. Now in his mid-thirties, G-Dragon included references to his military enlistment and personal transformation over the years.

G-Dragon’s Original Version in “Palette”

Everything’s hard because we’re young

I’m sick of getting nagged all the time

A shabby child who always got scolded

Barely passed my 20sThe happiness only lasted for a while, oh my

Why do they say that it hurts because we’re young

Hey Jieun [IU], Oppa just turned 30I’m really not, but I suddenly became an adult

Even though I still have a long way to go

I’m only five years older than you

Past twenty, not yet thirty, in between, right there

When I’m not a kid or an adult, when I’m just meI shine the brightest

So don’t get scared when the darkness comes

Because it’s so beautiful, because flowers bloom

You are a child that will always be loved

G-Dragon’s New Version in “Palette”

Jieun, let me tell you I enlisted in the army & turned 30Four seasons split apart,

Three disasters (calamities) came in on a double lease

Still full of fire, so I comprehend

Born in ’88 younger than ever ‘Swagger’ in my frame

Now you’re ‘Baskin Robbins,31’ ice cream Kids & grown-ups, all y’all like that?

IU got this That’s when you shine the most

Even when darkness falls around you, don’t get scared

You’re doing great, hold on, there’s light in the end You will always be loved,

‘YOU.’

What truly caught attention were two specific lines that seemed to extend beyond IU and into the realm of his former group, BIGBANG.

One line referenced “four seasons” that “split apart,” which many interpreted as a nod to BIGBANG’s OT4 lineup, the group’s remaining four members after Seungri’s departure. The next line referenced “three disasters,” which fans believe point directly to the major controversies involving the group’s members:

Seungri’s criminal conviction and imprisonment following the Burning Sun scandal. T.O.P’s marijuana use scandal, which led to public backlash and eventual departure from the group. G-Dragon’s own recent entanglement with drug allegations, though he was ultimately cleared.

These emotionally loaded lyrics have left fans in deep reflection, with many expressing sadness over how the once-unshakable brotherhood of BIGBANG has unraveled in recent years. The mention of the “four seasons” splitting apart especially struck a chord, following T.O.P’s interviews earlier this year, in which he declared he had no plans to return to the group and opened up about his personal struggles.

Though G-Dragon didn’t explicitly name anyone, the lyrical allusions were clear enough for longtime fans to draw connections, and mourn the era of BIGBANG OT5 that once defined K-pop’s golden age.

As G-Dragon prepares for his solo comeback, this rare moment of emotional transparency has reignited conversations around the legacy, loss, and complexities of one of Korea’s most legendary idol groups.