Why (Gen Hoshino song)
"Why" | ||||
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![]() Double A-side cover | ||||
Single by Gen Hoshino | ||||
Language | Japanese | |||
A-side | "Life" (double A-side) | |||
B-side |
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Released | December 27, 2023 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:10 | |||
Label | Speedstar | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Gen Hoshino | |||
Gen Hoshino singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Why" (Official Video) on YouTube |
"Why" (Japanese:
Hoshino traveled to Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, to find inspiration for the song. Upon returning home, he fell into a depressed state where he was unable to write the song's lyrics. He decided to attempt to write about his current worries and struggles, which he believed began to match with the plot of Spy × Family. Hoshino wanted "Why" to follow the lyrical content on "Comedy", but decided to go backwards for the sound, seeking inspiration from 1980s rhythm and blues and 90s hip-hop. Stylistically, the song is themed around the word kōseki (
"Why" was surprise revealed as the ending theme to Spy × Family Code: White on the day of the film's premiere. The song was received positively by music critics, who primarily enjoyed its lyrics. Upon release, it reached number three on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and the double A-side single peaked at number two on Oricon's physical singles chart and Billboard Japan's Top Singles Sales ranking. The song was also successful in airplay, taking first place on Plantech's Japanese radio chart. An accompanying music video, directed by Kyōtarō Hayashi , was released on the same day as the song, and intersects various scenes with Hoshino singing.
Background
[edit]In April 2022, Gen Hoshino released the song "Comedy" as the ending theme to the first season of the anime TV-series Spy × Family. The song's sound drew from early 2000s hip-hop influences,[1][2] and lyrically aimed to represent a family that cares for each other without regard to connection by blood, something similar to what Hoshino believed had been represented by the Forger family in the Spy × Family manga.[3] Alongside the opening theme "Mixed Nuts" by Official Hige Dandism, "Comedy" was commercially successful and ranked within the top 15 of Billboard Japan's 2022 year-end anime song chart.[4] It became Hoshino's second song to surpass 100 million streams after "Fushigi" (2021),[5] and debuted Hoshino on the Billboard Global 200.[6]
Hoshino released the song "Life" as a digital-exclusive single in August 2023, used for broadcast of the 2022 Asian Games and 2023 World Athletics Championships on Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) channels.[7] Hoshino announced in November that the song would be released as a double A-side single,[8] and later unveiled the Japanese title of its partner track "Traces of Light" (
Writing and inspiration
[edit]Hoshino wrote "Why" as a continuation of "Comedy"; he thought the lyrics to "Why" should move forward from its predecessor, but decided to instead go backwards for the musical era of the sound. Unlike the 2000s hip-hop influences on "Comedy", Hoshino looked at 1980s rhythm and blues and the 90s hip-hop, which he described as the sound of his youth. He wanted to let these Western influences into the song alike much of the anime music he listened to growing up, such as Ushio Hashimoto's "Romantic Ageru yo" (1986) for Dragon Ball (1986–89). To focus on achieving his own type of sound, Hoshino aimed to have the sound vaguely represent a feeling from a particular point in time, instead of directly recreating genres.[1][2]
Before writing "Why", Hoshino traveled to Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, to put himself into the film's plot of the Forger family going on a trip. During his trip, Hoshino was inspired by sights such as Kanazawa's sunsets or the ripples of water at the D. T. Suzuki Museum. Upon his return home, he had already finished the song's composition and thought to directly write the lyrics. However, he found himself in a depressed state of "nothingness" where everything he wrote felt out of place.[1][2] In an interview with Billboard Japan, Hoshino theorized that the fatigue may have stemmed from a form of personal backlash after he had worked for three years during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
Eventually, Hoshino decided to forget about the song's tie-up to Spy × Family and tried to write a song based on his current worries. He wondered why, despite life's fragility, people make memories they don't want to forget, such as the photos they take on trips, or the rainy town lined with trees he had walked in Kanazawa. He quickly finished the song's first verse, which he felt fit, and found that his own situation and troubles thereafter naturally connected to the film. He based the song's motif on the word kōseki (
Composition and lyrics
[edit]"Why" was written and produced by Hoshino, who co-arranged and programmed it with Mabanua . Hoshino performs on vocals, synthesizer, and Rhodes piano; Mabanua plays Rhodes and synth; Ryosuke Nagaoka features on electric guitar and backing vocals; Hirotaka Sakurada plays piano, upright piano, and Rhodes.[11] Musically, "Why" is a Japanese rock and pop song,[12] with a runtime of four minutes and ten seconds (4:10).[13] It is a warm mid-tempo ballad above programmed beats.[14] The song features a nostalgic-like sound brought out by the synths and piano,[15] and is a modern rendition of 1980s rhythm and blues and 90s hip-hop genres according to Real Sound's Tomoyuki Mori.[16] A writer for Drums & Rhythm Magazine called the sound to "Why" reminiscent to sampled music and more straightforward than the laid-back "Comedy".[14]
Lyrically, "Why" reminisces about the sights that will be forgotten with death and questions why people create memories despite life being fleeting: "Kiete yuku noni naze" / "Tada wasuretakunai omoide o" / "Fuyasu no darō" ("If they're going to fade away" / "Why make memories we just don't want to forget?").[15] Emi Sugiura for Rockin'On Japan wrote that "Why" is not a lament for lack of meaning in life, but instead a song that does not seek out meaning. Despite their different musical styles, Sugiura believed that "Why" continues the story of "Life", which urges listeners to start running before seeking meaning.[15] According to Mori, the lyrics on "Why" are an attempt by Hoshino to express his emotions straighforwardly.[16]
Promotion and release
[edit]![The exterior of the Marine Messe Fukuoka, as pictured in October 2016.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Marine_Messe_Fukuoka_20161006.jpg/220px-Marine_Messe_Fukuoka_20161006.jpg)
The same day of its announcement as the ending theme to Spy × Family Code: White, "Why" was previewed in a video of film snippets released to Toho Animation's YouTube channel, and the song was made available to national radio in Japan.[10] "Why" / "Life" was released via the Victor Entertainment label Speedstar Records on December 27, 2023, marking Hoshino's first CD single in almost two years following "Fushigi" / "Create" in 2021.[12][15] On its B-side, the single features "Odd Couple" – a song written by Hoshino for the comedy duo Audrey's radio festival at the Tokyo Dome – and the instrumental "Beyond the Sequence", used in a commercial for UCC Ueshima Coffee starring Hoshino.[17] Hoshino gave a debut performance of "Why" during a two-hour special of Count Down TV on January 22, 2024.[18]
First editions of the single were released in DVD and Blu-ray editions, featuring live footage from March 2023 comprising Hoshino's one-time online concert YP Live Streaming: Enkai Hōō-hen, a new accompanying documentary, and his appearance at Speedstar Records' Live the Speedstar festival.[17] Enkai Hōō-hen was a part of his online Enkai concert series, livestreamed to subscribers of Hoshino's Yellow Magazine whilst physical venues were closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] Live the Speedstar was a festival at the Marine Messe Fukuoka organized by Speedstar Records to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Hoshino's appearance saw seven acoustic performances of his own songs and a cover of Crazy Cats' "Sūdara Bushi " (1961).[20] Two thousand people who purchased the first edition received tickets to the exclusive event "Nama" Commentary ("
Kyōtarō Hayashi directed the music video to "Why", which was premiered to YouTube on the day of the single's release, at 21:00 JST. The video features footage meant to engrave memories into listeners despite the fragility of life, intersected by scenes of Hoshino singing.[23] It was promoted with a teaser video and a livestream featuring Hoshino, the latter hosted half an hour before the full premiere.[22] A behind-the-scenes video was released on January 24, 2024, showing Hoshino discussing with Hayashi during the music video's creation.[24]
Reception
[edit]"Why" was received positively by Japanese music critics, who praised its lyrics. Mori for Real Sound's wrote that the song "certainly" reflects Hoshino's thoughts and called it a successful attempt at straight-forwardly conveying his emotions.[16] Sugiura, writing for Rockin'On, said it "embraces [her] with a warmth and loneliness" and made her think of the lives that have passed on, praising the song as honorable for not seeking meaning.[15] Mori also enjoyed the musicality, describing Hoshino's vocals as fragile, elegant, and appealing above the R&B and hip-hop composition.[16] A writer for Drums & Rhythm Magazine described the song's drumming as lively.[14]
Commercially, the double A-side single sold 48,122 physical copies in Japan upon release, debuting as the 8th best-selling single of December 2023 on Oricon's monthly chart.[25] Powered by sales from the previous year, the single opened at number two on the weekly Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales and Oricon Singles Charts dated January 8, 2024, behind only KinKi Kids' "Schrödinger", which had outsold it by over 100,000 units.[26][27] As an individual song, "Why" peaked at number three on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, beating "Schrödinger" by one spot but placing behind the long-time charting songs "Idol" by Yoasobi and "Show" by Ado.[28] An anime song, it reached second place on Billboard's Hot Animation chart, behind only "Idol" as the opening theme to Oshi no Ko (2023).[29] The double A-side reached first place on Oricon's Anime Singles Chart, a physical sales-only chart.[30] "Why" was also successful on Japanese radio, peaking at first place on Plantech's weekly airplay chart. A reporter for the chart described "Why" as a "landslide victory" for Hoshino, noting airplay on both FM and AM channels, spanning several regions.[31]
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from Hoshino's website.[11]
- Gen Hoshino – vocals, background vocals, Rhodes piano (MK-80), synthesizer (Minimoog, Matrix-12, 3rd Wave), programming, songwriting, arrangement, producer, recording
- Mabanua – Rhodes piano (MK-80), synthesizer (Minimoog, DX7, Prophet-5), programming, co-arrangement
- Hirotaka Sakurada – Rhodes piano (MK-80), piano, upright piano
- Ryosuke Nagaoka – electric guitar, background vocals, background vocals arrangement
- Shojiro Watanabe – mixing, recording
- Shu Saida – recording
- Takahiro Uchida – mastering
- Satoshi Goto – assistance
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Gen Hoshino expect where otherwise noted.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Why" ( | 4:10 |
2. | "Life" ( | 3:13 |
3. | "Odd Couple" (おともだち, O tomodachi, lit. "Friends") | 3:12 |
4. | "Beyond the Sequence" | 3:25 |
Total length: | 14:00 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Opening" | 2:03 |
2. | "Episode" (エピソード, Episōdo) | 2:28 |
3. | "Sun" | 4:11 |
4. | "Dust" (ダスト, Dasuto) | 4:29 |
5. | "Doraemon" (ドラえもん) | 4:13 |
6. | "Tomato" (そしたら, Soshitara, lit. "And So") | 3:03 |
7. | "Dancer" (ダンサー, Dansā) | 3:17 |
8. | "Stove" (ストーブ, Sutōbu) | 3:37 |
9. | "Nothing" | 5:37 |
10. | "Record Noise" (レコードノイズ, Rekōdo Noizu) | 6:08 |
11. | "Fushigi" ( | 5:00 |
12. | "Gag" (ギャグ, Gyagu) | 4:48 |
13. | "Hello Song" | 4:58 |
14. | "Documentary" |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
15. | "Opening" | 1:04 |
16. | "Hirameki" (ひらめき, lit. "Flash") | 3:19 |
17. | "Barabara" (ばらばら, lit. "Scatter") | 4:05 |
18. | "Sūdara Bushi " (スーダラ | 3:55 |
19. | "Koi" ( | 5:35 |
20. | "Bakemono" ( | 3:01 |
21. | "Why Don't You Play in Hell?" ( | 4:17 |
22. | "Kuse no Uta" (くせのうた, lit. "Habit Song") | 5:10 |
23. | "Kudaranai no Naka ni" (くだらないの | 5:19 |
Total length: | 2:07:00 |
Charts
[edit]Chart (2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
Japan (Billboard Japan Hot 100)[28] | 3 |
Japanese Hot Animation (Billboard Japan)[29] | 2 |
Chart (2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
Japanese Top Singles Sales (Billboard Japan)[26] | 2 |
Japan (Oricon)[33] | 2 |
Japanese Combined Singles (Oricon)[34] | 2 |
Japanese Anime Singles (Oricon)[30] | 1 |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Edition | Format | Label | Catalogue code | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | December 22, 2023 | Sole track | Radio airplay | Unknown | — | [10] |
December 27, 2023 | Standard | CD | Speedstar Records | VICL-37718 | [12] | |
Limited |
|
[35][36] | ||||
Various | Standard | — | [13] | |||
South Korea | J-Box Entertainment | — | [37] | |||
Japan | January 13, 2024 | Rental CD | Victor Entertainment | VICL-37718R | [38] |
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Hoshino, Gen (December 28, 2023). "Gen Hoshino Talks New 'Spy x Family Code: White' Ending Theme 'Why': Interview". Billboard (Interview). Interviewed by Mori, Tomoyuki. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Hoshino, Gen (December 28, 2023). "
星野 源 、感覚 に直結 した言葉 とサウンド 「光 の跡 」は追 い込 まれた先 で自信 を深 めた1曲 に" [The Sound and Emotions of "Why" Is Directly Connected to Gen Hoshino]. Real Sound (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Takahashi, Yoshiaki. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024. - ^ Hoshino, Gen (April 17, 2022). "
星野 源 「理想 の家族 像 はないんです」社会 が掲示 する'普通 の家族 'に抱 いていた居心地 の悪 さ" ["There Is No Ideal Family", Gen Hoshino Discusses Discomfort With Society's View of a "Normal Family"] (Interview) (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024. - ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation Year-End - 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2022. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "
星野 源 「喜劇 」ストリーミング累計 1億 回 再生 突破 " [Gen Hoshino's "Comedy" Surpasses 100 Million Total Streams]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 10, 2023. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024. - ^ "Gen Hoshino Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "
星野 源 の約 1年 ぶりの新曲 "生命 体 "が8月 14日 に配信 リリース。最新 ビジュアル公開 " [Gen Hoshino Announces Digital Release of "Life", First New Song in Almost One Year, for August 14 and Unveils New Visuals]. Cinra (in Japanese). August 7, 2023. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024. - ^ "
星野 源 、約 2年 半 ぶりのシングルを12/27に発売 " [Gen Hoshino to Release First Single in Two and a Half Years on December 27]. Barks (in Japanese). November 10, 2023. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024. - ^ "
星野 源 、12/27発売 のニューシングル詳細 を発表 。『オードリーのオールナイトニッポン in東京 ドーム』主題歌 も収録 " [Gen Hoshino to Feature Audrey no All Night Nippon in Tokyo Dome Theme Song on December 27 Single]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). December 5, 2023. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2024. - ^ a b c d "
星野 源 、ニュー・シングル『光 の跡 /生命 体 』の全貌 が明 らかに。表題 曲 '光 の跡 'が『劇場 版 Spy × Family Code: White』ED主題歌 としてサプライズ発表 、コラボ・ムービー公開 " [Gen Hoshino Reveals "Why" from New Single As Ending Theme to Spy × Family Code: White in Surprise Collaboration Video] (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. December 5, 2023. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024. - ^ a b "Why / Life". HoshinoGen.com. Amuse Inc. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ a b c "
星野 源 -光 の跡 /生命 体 " [Gen Hoshino - Why / Life]. CDJournal (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024. - ^ a b c Citations regarding the digital release of "Why" / "Life":
- "
光 の跡 /生命 体 - EP" [Why / Life - EP] (in Japanese). Apple Music Japan. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024. - "Why / Life - EP". Apple Music US. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- "Why / Life - EP" (in Chinese). Apple Music Taiwan. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- "
- ^ a b c "
星野 源 ニュー・シングル「光 の跡 /生命 体 」はmabanua&石 若 &カースケが参加 !" [Mabanua, Shun Ishiwaka, and Kasuke Feature on New Gen Hoshino Single "Why" / "Life"]. Rhythm & Drums Magazine (in Japanese). Rittor Music . December 29, 2023. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024. - ^ a b c d e Sugiura, Emi (October 2023). "
生 きる意味 ならわからない。けれどとても愛 おしい" [I Don't Understand the Meaning of Life, But It Is Incredibly Dear]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024. - ^ a b c d Ishii, Eriko; Mori, Tomoyuki (January 5, 2024). "
星野 源 , Number_i, Yoasobi, アイナ・ジ・エンド,花 譜 &岸田 繁 、[Alexandros] -注目 新譜 6作 をレビュー" [Gen Hoshino, Number_i, Yoasobi, Aina the End, Kaf & Shigeru Kishida, Alexandros - Six New Releases in Focus]. Real Sound . p. 1. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024. - ^ a b "
星野 源 ニューシングルの全 収録 曲 &ジャケット発表 " [Gen Hoshino Unveils Full Track Listing and Cover Art to New Single]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). December 5, 2023. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2024. - ^ "「CDTV」2
時 間 SPに星野 源 、Fantastics、Epex、藤巻 亮太 " [Two-Hour Special of CDTV to Feature Gen Hoshino, Fantastics, Epex, Ryōta Fujimaki]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). January 19, 2024. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024. - ^ "
星野 源 、1年 ぶりの「宴会 」開催 ! スペシャルアレンジでレア曲 続々 " [Gen Hoshino Hosts New Enkai Concert After a Year, with Several Rare Songs in Special Arrangement]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). March 9, 2023. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024. - ^ Tanaka, Dai (March 20, 2023). "【Live the Speedstar】ライブレポート -
星野 源 " [Live the Speedstar Live Report - Gen Hoshino]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024. - ^ "
星野 源 『'生 'コメンタリー』東京 公演 の映像 が期間 限定 公開 " [Gen Hoshino Releases Tokyo Show of 'Nama' Commentary Event for Limited Viewing]. Cinra (in Japanese). March 1, 2024. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024. - ^ a b "
星野 源 の「光 の跡 」MV今夜 プレミア公開 、本人 登場 の生 配信 も" [Gen Hoshino to Host Livestream Before Tonight's Premiere of "Why" Music Video]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). December 27, 2023. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2024. - ^ "
星野 源 、ニューシングル『光 の跡 /生命 体 』より表題 曲 '光 の跡 'MVをプレミア公開 。YouTube Liveにてトーク生 配信 も実施 " [Gen Hoshino to Premiere Music Video to "Why" from New Single "Why" / "Life", and Host Talk Livestream via YouTube Live]. Rockin'On Japan (in Japanese). December 27, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2024. - ^ "
星野 源 、「光 の跡 」MVメイキング映像 公開 " [Gen Hoshino Shares Making-of Footage to "Why" Music Video]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 24, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024. - ^ "シングル
月間 50 - 2023/12付 " [Monthly Singles Top 50 - December 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. December 2023. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024. - ^ a b "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales - 2024/01/03". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 8, 2024. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ "シングル
週間 200 - 2024/01/08付 " [Weekly Singles Top 200 - January 8, 2024] (in Japanese). Oricon. January 8, 2024. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024. - ^ a b "Billboard Japan Hot 100 - 2024/01/03". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 8, 2024. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ a b "Billboard Japan Hot Animation - 2024/01/03". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). January 8, 2024. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
- ^ a b "アニメシングル
週間 20 - 2024/01/08付 " [Weekly Anime Singles Top 20 - January 8, 2024] (in Japanese). Oricon. January 8, 2024. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024. - ^ "
星野 源 が新曲 で圧勝 /Number_iが2位 初 登場 /ヒゲダン大量 OA続 き3位 " [Landslide Victory for Gen Hoshino With New Song, Number_i Debuts at Number Two, and Official Hige Dandism Holds Third Place]. Plantech (in Japanese). January 10, 2024. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024. - ^ a b "
星野 源 -光 の跡 /生命 体 [CD+DVD] <初回 限定 盤 B>" [Gen Hoshino - Why / Life (CD+DVD) (First Limited Edition B)] (in Japanese). Tower Records Japan. Retrieved May 25, 2024. - ^ "
光 の跡 /生命 体 " [Why / Life] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024. - ^ "
星野 源 の合算 シングル売上 TOP11作品 " [Gen Hoshino's Top 11 Combined Singles by Sales] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2024. - ^ "
星野 源 -光 の跡 /生命 体 [Blu-ray+CD] [限定 ]" [Gen Hoshino - Why / Life (Blu-ray+CD) (Limited)]. CDJournal (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024. - ^ "
星野 源 -光 の跡 /生命 体 [DVD+CD] [限定 ]" [Gen Hoshino - Why / Life (DVD+CD) (Limited)]. CDJournal (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024. - ^ "
光 の跡 /生命 体 (Why / Life)" (in Korean). Bugs!. December 27, 2023. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024. - ^ "
星野 源 -光 の跡 /生命 体 (シングル)" [Gen Hoshino - Why / Life (Single)] (in Japanese). DMM.com. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
External links
[edit]- "Why" / "Life" on Gen Hoshino's official website