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Why (Gen Hoshino song)

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"Why"
The double A-side cover to "Why" / "Life". It shows a blurry Hoshino in a dark blue hoodie and light gray T-shirt, above a green forest background.
Double A-side cover
Single by Gen Hoshino
LanguageJapanese
A-side"Life" (double A-side)
B-side
ReleasedDecember 27, 2023 (2023-12-27)
Studio808 (home studio)
Genre
Length4:10
LabelSpeedstar
Songwriter(s)Gen Hoshino
Producer(s)Gen Hoshino
Gen Hoshino singles chronology
"I Wanna Be Your Ghost"
(2022) 		"Why" / "Life"
(2023)
Music video
"Why" on YouTube

"Why" (Japanese: 光の跡, Hepburn: Hikari no Ato, lit. 'Traces of Light') (Japanese pronunciation: [çi̥kaɾiꜜ no aꜜto]) is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter and musician Gen Hoshino. The song was written and produced by Hoshino, who co-arranged and programmed it with Mabanua. The song was released by Speedstar Records on December 27, 2023, as a double A-sided single with "Life". It was used as the ending theme to the anime film Spy × Family Code: White (2023) and follows the song "Comedy" (2022) that Hoshino wrote for the film's preceding TV-series. Musically, it is a mid-tempo J-pop ballad with a nostalgic-like sound that lyrically questions why people make memories despite the fragility of life.

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. Themed around the word kōseki (光跡)—meaning traces of a moving light—he began to write about his current worries and struggles, which he believed started to match with the plot of Spy × Family. "Why" was envisioned as a follow-up to the lyrics of "Comedy", but the musical roots go backwards and take inspiration from 1980s R&B and 90s hip-hop.

"Why" was surprise revealed as the ending theme to Spy × Family Code: White on the day of the film's premiere. A pouch with illustrations of Spy × Family characters drawn by Hoshino were shipped with the single to promote its release; first edition discs contain footage of live performances. The song was received positively by music critics for both its lyrics and music. Commercially, it reached number three on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and took first place on Plantech's Japanese airplay chart, while the double A-sided CD single entered at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart and Billboard Japan's Top Singles Sales chart. An accompanying music video, directed by Kyōtarō Hayashi [ja], was released with the single and intersects shots of scenery 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 something similar to what Hoshino believed had been represented by the Forger family in the Spy × Family manga: a family that cares for each other without regard to connection by blood.[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 one hundred million streams after "Fushigi" (2021),[5] and marked his debut on the Billboard Global 200.[6]

Hoshino's song "Life"—theme song for the broadcast of the 2022 Asian Games and 2023 World Athletics Championships on TBS Television channels—was released as a digital-exclusive single in August 2023.[7] Hoshino announced in November 2023 that "Life" would be released as a double A-sided single,[8] and later unveiled the Japanese title "Traces of Light" (光の跡, Hikari no Ato) for its partner track, but did not elaborate on further details.[9] On December 22, 2023, it was surprise-revealed that "Traces of Light" ("Why" in English) had been written as the ending theme to the Spy × Family film continuation Code: White (2023), which premiered the same day as the announcement.[10] Official Hige Dandism were also brought back for the film and recorded the main theme "Soulsoup".[10]

Writing and inspiration

[edit]
The Water Mirror Garden of the D. T. Suzuki Museum in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, as photographed during the spring of 2015.
To write, "Why", Hoshino traveled to Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, where he was inspired by scenery such as the water at the D. T. Suzuki Museum (pictured).
A photograph of purple-tinted sun glitter, taken in the summer of 2020.
The song's motif is based on the word kōseki (光跡)—traces of a moving light. An occurrence such as the one pictured was filmed for the song's music video.

Hoshino wrote "Why" to be a continuation of "Comedy"; he thought the lyrics to "Why" should follow upon its predecessor, but sought to go backwards for the musical era of the sound. Unlike the 2000s hip-hop influences on "Comedy", Hoshino looked at 1980s R&B and 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): "The opener ["Makafushigi Adventure!"] is energetic and easy for kids to understand, but out of nowhere the ending theme is a grownup love song that suddenly throws you off. But that wistfulness stays with you and when you grow up, you get what the lyrics are saying. That sort of thing [is what I wanted]".[1][2] However, Hoshino was reluctant to directly replicate genres. He told Real Sound that production mostly involved trying to "drag out the feelings [of that time's music] from the heart".[2]

Before writing "Why", Hoshino traveled to Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, to put himself into the film's plot that inolves the Forger family going on a trip. During his trip, Hoshino was inspired by sights such as sunsets, or the ripples of water at the D. T. Suzuki Museum.[1][2] 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 internal backlash after he had worked for three years during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] Hoshino decided to ignore the song's tie-up to Spy × Family and tried to write a song based on his current worries: despite life's fragility, why do 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.[1] The word kōseki (光跡)—meaning traces of a moving light—was adopted for the song's motif.[note 1] Hoshino had viewed a kōseki trail on the sea in Kanazawa and a similar sunset was filmed for the song's music video.[2] Upon the quick completion of the first verse with the new writing approach, Hoshino believed that his own situation and troubles began to naturally connect to the film.[1][2] The theming inspired the song's release with "Life"; Hoshino had not initially planned to release the songs together, but chose to do so after the completion of "Why" since he thought that their themes connected.[2]

Composition and lyrics

[edit]
"Why"
A sample to the first chorus. "Why" is a pop ballad with a nostalgic-like sound, inspired by 1980s R&B and 90s hip-hop.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Why" was written and produced by Hoshino from his home studio nicknamed 808;[11] he co-arranged and programmed it with Mabanua. Hoshino performs on vocals, synthesizer, and Rhodes piano; Mabanua plays Rhodes and synth; long-time collaborator Ryosuke Nagaoka features on electric guitar and backing vocals; Hirotaka Sakurada plays piano, upright piano, and Rhodes.[12] Musically, "Why" is a mid-tempo warm pop ballad above programmed beats,[13] with a runtime of four minutes and ten seconds (4:10).[14] The song features a nostalgic-like sound created by its synths and piano, as noted by Emi Sugiura at Rockin'On Japan,[15] and is a modern rendition of 1980s R&B and 90s hip-hop genres according to Real Sound's Tomoyuki Mori.[16] A writer for Drums & Rhythm Magazine called the drum sounds on "Why" reminiscent to sampled music; in comparison to the laid-back "Comedy", they thought it was more musically straightforward.[13]

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][note 2] The lyrics are not a lament for life but do not seek out meaning, similar to "Life" which urges listeners to start running before seeking meaning.[15] According to Mori, "Why" is an attempt by Hoshino to straighforwardly express his emotions. He described it as a song tied to fundamental questions about life and the human nature of seeking light.[16]

Promotion and release

[edit]
The exterior of the Marine Messe Fukuoka, as pictured in October 2016.
Live footage featured on the single's limited editions includes Hoshino performing at the Marine Messe Fukuoka (pictured) during the Live the Speedstar festival.

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 by the Victor Entertainment sub-label Speedstar Records on December 27, 2023, marking Hoshino's first CD single in almost two years following "Fushigi" / "Create" in 2021.[15][17] 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.[18] To promote the release, it was announced that copies of the single would be shipped with illustrations of Spy × Family characters drawn by Hoshino. A late year release, the drawings were to be delivered in pochibukuro  [ja] bags—pouches that are typically used by adults to give gift money to kids during Japanese New Year. At Tower Records, HMV, and Tsutaya record stores, the release was commemorated by the printing of special receipts and with displays of comments written onto cards by Hoshino.[19] Hoshino gave a debut performance of "Why" during a two-hour special of CDTV Live! Live! on January 22, 2024.[20]

First editions of the single were released in DVD and Blu-ray editions. They feature live footage from March 2023 of 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.[18] Enkai Hōō-hen was a part of his online Enkai concert series, livestreamed to subscribers of Hoshino's Yellow Magazine when physical venues were closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[21] 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 [ja]" (1961).[22] Two thousand people who purchased the first edition received tickets to the exclusive event "Nama" Commentary ("生"コメンタリー, "Nama" Komentarī, "Live" Commentary), hosted by Hoshino with director Santa Yamagishi [ja] in Tokyo and Osaka. Hoshino announced plans to hold similar events in the future, and temporarily released the Tokyo show via his Yellow Magazine+ website.[23][24]

Kyōtarō Hayashi [ja] 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 viewers despite the fragility of life, intersected by scenes of Hoshino singing.[25] It was promoted with a teaser video and a livestream featuring Hoshino; the latter hosted half an hour before the full premiere.[24] A behind-the-scenes video was released on January 24, 2024, in which Hoshino discusses with Hayashi during the music video's creation.[26]

Reception

[edit]

Japanese critics' opinions on "Why" were generally positive; some reviewers praised the song for its lyrics. Tomoyuki Mori at Real Sound wrote that it "certainly" reflects Hoshino's thoughts and called it a successful attempt at straight-forwardly conveying his emotions.[16] Emi Sugiura, a reviewer for Rockin'On Japan, called "Why" an honorable song for not seeking meaning. She wrote that it "embraces [her] with a warmth and loneliness" and reminded of the lives that have passed on.[15] A couple of critics also gave positive commentary to the music production. A writer for Drums & Rhythm Magazine described the song's drumming as lively.[13] Mori described Hoshino's vocals as fragile, elegant, and appealing when layered above the R&B and hip-hop composition.[16]

Commercially, "Why" / "Life" sold 48,122 physical copies in Japan upon release and opened as the eight best-selling single of December 2023 on Oricon's monthly chart.[27] 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.[28][29] As an individual song, "Why" peaked at number three on the Billboard Japan Hot 100—one spot ahead of "Schrödinger" but behind the long-time charting songs "Idol" by Yoasobi and "Show" by Ado.[30] An anime song, it reached second place on Billboard's Hot Animation chart, behind only "Idol" which served as the opening theme to Oshi no Ko (2023).[31] However, it surpassed "Idol" in physical sales and secured first place on Oricon's CD-only Anime Singles Chart.[32] "Why" was successful on Japanese radio and entered at first place on Plantech's weekly airplay chart; a reporter for the chart described "Why" as a "landslide victory" for Hoshino and noted airplay of the song on both FM and AM channels, spanning several regions.[33] As of March 2024, Oricon reports 54,651 lifetime physical sales for "Why" / "Life".[34]

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Hoshino's website.[12]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Gen Hoshino expect where otherwise noted.

"Why" / "Life" — Regular edition[14]
No.TitleLength
1."Why" (光の跡, Hikari no Ato, lit. 'Traces of Light')4:10
2."Life" (生命体, Seimeitai)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
"Why" / "Life" — Limited edition (DVD/Blu-ray – YP Live Streaming Enkai Hōō-hen)[35]
No.TitleLength
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 Then')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" (不思議, lit. 'Strange')5:00
12."Gag" (ギャグ, Gyagu)4:48
13."Hello Song"4:58
14."Documentary" 
"Why" / "Life" — Limited edition (DVD/Blu-ray – Live the Speedstar)[35]
No.TitleLength
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 [ja]" (スーダラ節, lit. 'Melody of Smooth Trickling'; writers: Yukio Aoshima, Hiroaki Hagiwara; original artist: Crazy Cats)3:55
19."Koi" (恋, lit. 'Love')5:35
20."Bakemono" (化物, lit. 'Monster')3:01
21."Why Don't You Play in Hell?" (地獄でなぜ悪い, Jigoku de Naze Warui, lit. 'What's Bad About Hell?')4:17
22."Kuse no Uta" (くせのうた, lit. 'Habit Song')5:10
23."Kudaranai no Naka ni" (くだらないの中に, lit. 'In the Nonsense')5:19
Total length:2:07:00

Charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Why" (2024)
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Japan (Billboard Japan Hot 100)[30] 3
Japanese Hot Animation (Billboard Japan)[31] 2
Weekly chart performance for "Why" / "Life" (2024)
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Japanese Top Singles Sales (Billboard Japan)[28] 2
Japan (Oricon)[36] 2
Japanese Combined Singles (Oricon)[37] 2
Japanese Anime Singles (Oricon)[32] 1

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Why" and "Why" / "Life"
Region Date Edition Format(s) Label Catalogue code Ref(s).
Japan December 22, 2023 — Radio airplay Un­known — [10]
December 27, 2023 Standard CD Speedstar Records VICL-37718 [17]
Limited
  • VIZL-2282 (A)
  • VIZL-2283 (B)
 [38][39]
Various Standard
— [14]
South Korea J-Box Entertainment — [40]
Japan January 13, 2024 Rental CD Victor Entertainment VICL-37718R [41]

Notes

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  1. ^ The song's Japanese title (光の跡) includes both kanji used in 光跡: 光 (hikari, 'light') and 跡 (ato, 'trace/trail').
  2. ^ English lyrics adapted from Hoshino's website[12]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g 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.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 [ja] (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Takahashi, Yoshiaki. Archived from the original on January 6, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation Year-End - 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2022. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Gen Hoshino Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  7. ^ "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 [ja] (in Japanese). August 7, 2023. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  8. ^ "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 [ja] (in Japanese). November 10, 2023. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Hoshino, Gen (December 27, 2023). 星野源「光の跡」MV公開直前 YouTube Live ["Why" Music Video Premiere Livestream] (livestream archive). Event occurs at 1:37. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ a b c "Why / Life". HoshinoGen.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  13. ^ 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 [ja]. December 29, 2023. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c Citations regarding the digital release of "Why" / "Life":
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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 [ja]. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "星野 源 - 光の跡 / 生命体" [Gen Hoshino - Why / Life]. CDJournal [ja] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "星野源×劇場版「Spy×Family」コラボムービー公開、本人手描きのフォージャー家がポチ袋に" [Gen Hoshino and Spy × Family Collaboration Movie Released, Drawings of the Forger Family By Hoshino to Be Delivered in Pouches]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). December 22, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  20. ^ "「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.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ "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 [ja] (in Japanese). March 1, 2024. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ "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.
  34. ^ "光の跡/生命体 — 星野源 (ランキングデータ)" ["Why" / "Life" — Gen Hoshino (Ranking Data)] (in Japanese). Oricon. n.d. Retrieved September 29, 2024 – via the You Taiju service.
  35. ^ 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.
  36. ^ "光の跡/生命体" [Why / Life] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  37. ^ "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.
  38. ^ "星野 源 - 光の跡 / 生命体 [Blu-ray+CD] [限定]" [Gen Hoshino - Why / Life (Blu-ray+CD) (Limited)]. CDJournal [ja] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  39. ^ "星野 源 - 光の跡 / 生命体 [DVD+CD] [限定]" [Gen Hoshino - Why / Life (DVD+CD) (Limited)]. CDJournal [ja] (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  40. ^ "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.
  41. ^ "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.
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