Lemon (Kenshi Yonezu song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Lemon
| cover = Kenshi Yonezu - Lemon.png
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Kenshi Yonezu
| album = Stray Sheep
| language = Japanese
| B-side = "Cranberry & Pancake"
"Paper Flower"
| released = {{Start date|2018|3|14}}
| recorded = 2017
| studio =
| genre = * J-pop
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=16}}
| label = Sony Japan
| writer = Kenshi Yonezu
| producer =
| prev_title = Dune
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = Flamingo/Teenage Riot
| next_year = 2018
| misc = {{External music video|1={{YouTube|SX_ViT4Ra7k|"Lemon"}}}}
}}
"Lemon" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu, released as a single through Sony Music Entertainment Japan on March 14, 2018. It is the theme song for the TV series Unnatural. It has sold more than 500,000 physical copies and 3,000,000 digital copies in Japan.{{cite web |title=第51回オリコン年間ランキング 2018 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/confidence/special/52268/2/ |website=Oricon|date=30 November 2018 }}{{cite web |title=オリコン年間ランキング 2019 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/confidence/special/54091/3/ |website=Oricon|date=20 December 2018 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=000000301.000010908&g=prt|title=9月度有料音楽配信認定}}
Background
Kenshi accepted several interviews about "Lemon", talked about the background of "Lemon" and others. The temporary title was "Memento." He said, "I think it came from somewhere in my memory, but I can't really explain it well either." Even the day before recording, he was still writing the lyrics, the last two sentences "Like one half of a fruit sliced in two, even now, you are my light" suddenly appeared in his brain and he said, "Ahh, so this song really was "Lemon."" He also did the cover illustration himself. He focused on liveliness and freshness of a lemon, giving it an image quite unlike what's typically associated with death.{{Cite web|first=Haruna|last=Yamazaki|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jp/harunayamazaki/kenshi-yonezu|title=米津玄師さん、「売れる」ことへの欲はありますか？|language=ja|work=BuzzFeed Japan|date=2018-06-30|access-date=2019-06-05}} For the song, he wanted to go for a ballad, but a simple ballad is not very interesting for him, and he did not want it to be purely gloomy. As a result, he made a hybrid of sorts, with sad words over a dancing, skipping rhythm.{{Cite web|url=http://vgperson.com/vocalinterview.php?view=hachitsite|title=Kenshi Yonezu/Hachi Interview: Lemon - vgperson's Interview Translations|website=vgperson.com|access-date=2019-06-05}} He made the song while on his nationwide tour, during which his grandfather passed away. He agonized over it a lot, so it took even longer to finish than usual.{{Cite web|url=http://vgperson.com/vocalinterview.php?view=hachioricon|title=Kenshi Yonezu/Hachi Interview: Lemon - vgperson's Interview Translations|website=vgperson.com|access-date=2019-06-05}}
Music video
On February 27, 2018, the music video was published on YouTube.{{cite web|author=米津玄師|title=米津玄師 MV「Lemon」|website=YouTube |date=2018-02-26|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX_ViT4Ra7k|access-date=2019-03-23}} It was filmed in a church and has over 900 million views, making it the most-viewed Japanese music video.{{Cite web|title=YouTube - Most Viewed Music Videos by Japanese Artists|url=https://kworb.net/youtube/topvideos_japanese.html|access-date=2022-02-05|website=kworb.net}}
Live performances
On December 31, 2018, Yonezu gave his first performance on television, singing the track on 69th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.{{cite magazine|date=2018-12-27 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/8491664/kenshi-yonezu-japan-tv-debut-new-years-eve-Kohaku-Uta-Gassen |title=Kenshi Yonezu Will Make TV Debut on Prestigious New Year's Eve Music Program |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=2019-03-26}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing = Kenshi Yonezu
| all_music = Kenshi Yonezu
| title1 = Lemon
| length1 = 4:16
| title2 = Cranberry & Pancake
| length2 = 3:30
| title3 = Paper Flower
| length3 = 4:35
| total_length = 12:21
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes.
- Kenshi Yonezu - production, arrangement, vocal, guitar
- Koichiro Muroya - string arrangement, strings
- Yu Suto - bass
- Masaki Huri - drums
- Ichiyo Izawa - piano
- Tatsuya Mochizuki - guitar technician
- Koji Imamura - drum technician
- Akira Miyake - vocal direction
- Masahito Komori - recording, mixing
- Ted Jensen - mastering
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
= Weekly charts =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| Japan (Hot 100){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2018&month=04&day=02|title= Billboard Japan Hot 100 2018/4/2|website=Billboard Japan|language=Japanese|accessdate=March 26, 2019}}
| 1 |
| scope="row"| Japan (Oricon){{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2018-03-26/|title=オリコン年間 シングルランキング 2018年度 11～20位|trans-title=Annual Single Ranking 2018 (11–20)|work=Oricon|accessdate=March 26, 2019|language=Japanese}}
| 2 |
| scope="row"| Japan (Oricon Combined){{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2127102/full/|title=米津玄師「Lemon」、合算シングルで1位に浮上 デジタルSG史上初の200万DL突破|work=Oricon|accessdate=March 28, 2019|language=Japanese}}
| 1 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2023)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| South Korea (Circle){{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=11&hitYear=2023&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|title=2023 Week 11 Digital Chart|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|date=March 12–18, 2023|access-date=March 23, 2023}}
| 113 |
{{col-2}}
= Year-end charts =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Japan (Hot 100){{Cite web|url=https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001288.000013546.html|title=米津玄師『Lemon』オリコンデジタル6週連続1位で、記録更新中!中国版、台湾版シングルCDリリース決定!|website=プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES|date=27 March 2018 |access-date=2019-03-23}}
| 1 |
| scope="row"| Japan (Oricon){{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/y/2018/|title=オリコン年間 シングルランキング 2018年度 11～20位|trans-title=Annual Single Ranking 2018 (11–20)|work=Oricon|accessdate=March 29, 2019|language=Japanese}}
| 18 |
| scope="row"| Taiwan (Hito Radio){{cite web|url=https://www.hitoradio.com/newweb/chart_2.php?ch_year=2018|title=年度百首單曲: 2018|publisher=Hit FM. Voice of Taipei Broadcasting|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190210044426/https://www.hitoradio.com/newweb/chart_2.php?ch_year=2018|language=zh|access-date=January 25, 2025|archive-date=February 10, 2019}}
| 6 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2019)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Japan (Hot 100){{Cite web|url=https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20191206-12050278-sph-ent|title=米津玄師「Ｌｅｍｏｎ」日米通じ史上初のビルボード連覇「作ったのが遠い昔のことのよう」|website=Yahoo!ニュース|access-date=2019-12-06}}
| 1 |
| scope="row"| Japan (Oricon){{cite web |title=oricon 2019 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/y/2019/p/4/}}
|34 |
| scope="row"| Japan (Oricon Combined){{cite web |title=oricon combined singles 2019 |date=20 December 2018 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/confidence/special/54091/14/}}
|10 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2020) !Position |
| scope="row"| Japan Hot 100{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100_year&year=2020|title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year End 2020|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=2021-04-11}}
|17 |
|---|
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2021) !Position |
| scope="row"| Japan Hot 100{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100_year&year=2021|title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year End 2021|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=2023-12-15}}
|47 |
|---|
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2022) !Position |
| scope="row"| Japan Hot 100{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100_year&year=2022|title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year End 2022|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=2023-12-15}}
|73 |
|---|
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2023) !Position |
| scope="row"| Japan Hot 100{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100_year&year=2023|title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 Year End 2023|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=2023-12-15}}
|73 |
|---|
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2024) !Position |
| scope="row"| Japan Hot 100{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100_year&year=2024|title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 – 2024 Year-End|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=December 6, 2024}}
|63 |
|---|
=All-time charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (2008–2022) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| Japan (Japan Hot 100){{cite news |title="JAPAN HOT 100"15周年を記念したオールタイムTOP50発表 1位は米津玄師「Lemon」 |url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/122903/2 |access-date=December 30, 2023 |work=Billboard Japan |date=March 31, 2023 |language=ja}}
| 1 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=Yonezu Kenshi|title=Lemon|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2018|certmonth=12|accessdate=January 5, 2020|note=physical sales}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=Kenshi Yonezu |title=Lemon|award=Million|number=3|digital=true|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2019|certmonth=9|accessdate=December 21, 2019|note=digital sales}}
{{Certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=Kenshi Yonezu |title=Lemon|award=Platinum|number=3|streamsonly=true|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|certmonth=8|access-date=September 26, 2024|refname="JpnStreamCert"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streamsonly=true}}
Accolades
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Ceremony ! Award ! Result |
|---|
| rowspan="5" |2018
| rowspan="2" |MTV Video Music Awards Japan |{{won}} |
| Best Male Video
|{{won}} |
| 96th Television Drama Academy Awards
| Best Theme Song | {{won}} |
| International Drama Festival in Tokyo
|Theme Song Award |{{won}} |
| rowspan="2" |Billboard Japan Music Awards
|rowspan="2" |Hot 100 of the Year |{{won}} |
| rowspan="2" |2019
|{{won}} |
| Space Shower Music Awards
|Song of the Year |{{won}} |
| 2020
|JASRAC Award{{cite web |title=2020 JASRAC |url=https://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/2020.html}} |Gold Award |{{won}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Kenshi Yonezu}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lemon}}
Category:Billboard Japan Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Sony Music Entertainment Japan singles
Category:Japanese television drama theme songs