Memory Seishun no Hikari (MV)
Memory Seishun no Hikari (Memory 青春の光; Memory The Light of Youth) is Morning Musume's fourth single. It was released on February 10, 1999, as an 8 cm CD. First press came with a different cover (the girls wearing gray coats in front of the skyscrapers in Singapore). This is the last single to feature first generation member Fukuda Asuka until the release of Ai no Tane (20th Anniversary Ver.) in 2017.
The single sold 195.720 copies in it’s first week, and a total of 410.850 copies charting for 12 weeks, earning them #2 on the Oricon charts. It ranked as the #51 single for 1999.
In 2004, it was re-released as part of the Morning Musume Early Single Box, a limited edition box set containing their first eight singles reissued on 12cm CDs. In 2005 the singles were released individually, and first press editions of these singles came with a photo card. All the 12 cm cds contain an extra track for each single.
The 5th track on the re-release is a live version, recorded at Asuka Fukuda’s Graduation Concert held at Tokyo Kosei Nenkin Kaikan Hall on April 18 , 1999. The song starts off with an extended and emotional intro, which symbolizes Asuka’s final live. Abe and Fukuda are main vocalists, and the members create complex mixture of groove. It’s quite impressive. The sound from the same concert DVD/Video was used as a main source. The mixing was later applied before the release of this version.[1]
Tracklist
Original Edition
- Memory Seishun no Hikari
- Happy Night
- Never Forget - Fukuda Asuka
- Memory Seishun no Hikari (Instrumental)
Re-release Edition
- Memory Seishun no Hikari
- Happy Night
- Never Forget - Fukuda Asuka
- Memory Seishun no Hikari (Instrumental)
- Memory Seishun no Hikari (99.4.18 Live Version)
Featured Members
- 1st Gen: Nakazawa Yuko, Ishiguro Aya, Iida Kaori, Abe Natsumi, Fukuda Asuka (last single)
- 2nd Gen: Yasuda Kei, Yaguchi Mari, Ichii Sayaka
TV Performances
- [1999-02-07] ASAYAN
- [1999-02-12] Music Station
- [1999-02-16] Utaban
- [1999-02-26] Music Station
- [1999-03-23] Utaban
- [1999-04-02] Music Station
- [1999-04-18] ASAYAN
- [2006-08-04] Hello! Pro Hour - by Matsuura Aya & Goto Maki
Concert Performances
- Memory Seishun no Hikari
- Morning Musume '99 Memory Seishun no Hikari Tour
- Morning Musume Summer Event '99
- Hello! Project '99
- Morning Musume Summer-Autumn Event '99
- Hello! Project Happy New Year 2000
- Live Revolution 21 Haru ~Osaka Jou Hall Saishuu Bi~
- Abe Natsumi First Concert Tour 2004 ~Anata Iro~
- Morning Musume Concert Tour "The BEST of Japan Natsu ~ Aki '04"
- Morning Musume Concert Tour 2005 Natsu Aki "Baribari Kyoushitsu ~Koharu-chan Irasshai!~"
- Morning Musume Concert Tour 2008 Haru ~Single Daizenshuu!!~
- Hello! Project 2011 WINTER ~Kangei Shinsen Matsuri~ B kkuri Live - Suzuki Airi
- Dream Morning Musume Special LIVE 2012 Nippon Budokan ~Dai Isshou Shuumaku "Yuusha Tachi, Shuugou Seyo"~
- Hello Pro Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2014 ~Haru no Koukai Jitsuryoku Shindan Test~ - Dambara Ruru / Murota Mizuki
- Hello Pro Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2014 ~6gatsu no Nama Tamago Show!~ - Dambara Ruru / Murota Mizuki
- Morning Musume '15 Concert Tour Haru ~GRADATION~ - Sato Masaki, Oda Sakura (with Ogata Haruna, Nonaka Miki, Makino Maria, Haga Akane as chorus) (part of a medley)
- Juice=Juice LIVE MISSION 220 ~Code3→Growing!~ - Miyamoto Karin
- Hello! Project Kenshuusei Happyoukai 2017 9gatsu ~Go NEXT!~ - Ichioka Reina, Horie Kizuki, Takase Kurumi, Yamazaki Yuhane, Nishida Shiori, Shimakura Rika, Doi Rena, Okamura Minami
- Morning Musume Tanjou 20 Shuunen Kinen Concert Tour 2018 Haru ~We are MORNING MUSUME~ - Sato Masaki, Ogata Haruna, Nonaka Miki, Makino Maria, Haga Akane, Morito Chisaki
- Happy Night
- Morning Musume '99 Memory Seishun no Hikari Tour
- Morning Musume Summer Event '99
- Hello! Project '99
- Morning Musume Summer-Autumn Event '99
- Morning Musume Concert Tour "The BEST of Japan Natsu ~ Aki '04"
- Morning Musume Yomiuri Land EAST LIVE 2009
- Morning Musume Concert Tour 2012 Haru ~Ultra Smart~ Niigaki Risa Mitsui Aika Sotsugyou Special
- Morning Musume Tanjou 20 Shuunen Kinen Concert Tour 2017 Aki ~We are MORNING MUSUME~
- Hello! Project 20th Anniversary!! Morning Musume '19 Dinner Show "Happy Night"
- Never Forget
- Morning Musume '99 Memory Seishun no Hikari Tour
- Hello! Project 2009 Winter Elder Club Kouen ~Thank you for your LOVE!~ - Elder Club
- Morning Musume Concert Tour 2012 Haru ~Ultra Smart~ Niigaki Risa Mitsui Aika Sotsugyou Special- Niigaki Risa
- Morning Musume '16 Concert Tour Haru ~EMOTION IN MOTION~ Suzuki Kanon Sotsugyou Special - Suzuki Kanon
Single Information
Lyrics & Composition: Tsunku
- Memory Seishun no Hikari
- Arrangement: Maejima Yasuaki
- Rap: L Da Headtoucha
- Dance Choreographer: Natsu Mayumi
- Happy Night
- Arrangement: Konishi Takao
- Never Forget
- Arrangement: Konishi Takao
Oricon Chart Positions
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Week Rank | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 195,720 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | 78,870 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 13 | 56,080 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 20 | 28,210 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 26 | 15,570 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 36 | 8,430 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 38 | 9,430 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 37 | 8,320 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 32 | 9,670 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 47 | 3,790 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 54 | 3,270 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 74 | 3,160 |
Total Reported Sales: 410,850
Cover Versions
- An English cover was recorded by Tonya Kelly as "Memories" for the album Cover Morning Musume!
- Abe Natsumi recorded a solo cover of the song on her debut album Hitoribocchi.
- Tsunku sang his own version for his album TYPE2.
Trivia
- An application form for the 1st Heike Michiyo & Morning Musume Protegee Audition was also included in this single (which would spawn solo artist Miyoshi Chinatsu).
- Male Backup Vocals for the song is done by 7HOUSE. (Another music project by Tsunku; Iida Kaori would marry the band’s vocalist ten years later, in 2008).
- 2nd generation member Yasuda Kei gives a comment about the single on YouTube.
- Never Forget is a solo song by Fukuda Asuka for her graduation. Yasuda Kei later covered a rock version of this song for her graduation on the B-side of AS FOR ONE DAY.
- Prior to this single’s release, on January 17, 1999, Fukuda shocked fans and viewers of the television show ASAYAN with her decision to graduate from Morning Musume to continue her studies. Her last appearance with Morning Musume was at her farewell concert in April. Her last song performed was Never Forget, the B-side to this single. She was the only one not crying during her graduation concert, and later stated that she thought they were alle fake for crying and the only one being honest was Nakazawa Yuko. She also said in later interviews that she was treated poorly by management and fellow band mates, being their scape goat, which was the real reason for her leaving the group.
Interviews
Commentary by Tsunku
During the year of 1998, the girls of Morning Musume had a very busy year. They had done a variety of things, so much so that it was hard to believe for me to think their next single was only the 4 one. I think everyday event had made them grow stronger, more beautifully matured, sharper and cooler. I’m sure they were strongly encouraged by the support from the fans. The 4 single has incorporated the mixture of the latest digital sound equipment as well as the best musicians’ live session. Combined with beautiful harmony created by the 8 girls, I think we’ve created the most powerful sound in the world. I am very proud of this work.
P.S. I am very happy by the girls’ improved skills and how much soul they are able to put into a song nowadays!—
Tsunku said in an interview, regarding Fukuda’s departure (2000):
Tsunku: When Fukuda told me she wanted to quit, I thought it was a very gutsy move. “Daite Hold on Me” landed 1 place, and Tanpopo was on 2 place, so to general public, everything was going smoothly. So I couldn’t believe why she wanted to quit right in the middle of a great phase. I actually thought her decision was immature too.
Interviewer: Even though it was her own intention, I’m sure you tried to convince her to stay.
Tsunku: Yes, we all sat down with her and had a talk, partly because she was way too calm about the situation. I felt strange to convince her to stay but knew it was necessary. Regrets like “I should’ve left that time” and “I should’ve told her to stay” might’ve come up later on, so I wanted to talk till both parties came to the mutual understanding.
Interviewer: This might sounds strange, but did you think it would ruin the unit’s image? I apologize if I sound too vulgar, but the unit is ultimately, your creation, your product. She was one of the main girls, and you were going to lose her.
Tsunku: I thought about it too. But my first thought was, it’s unhealthy to let her stay in the same unit and make her feel trapped and miserable.
External Links
- Discography: Hello! Project, UP-FRONT WORKS, Tsunku.net
- Wikipedia: Japanese, English
- Lyrics: Memory Seishun no Hikari, Happy Night, Never Forget