What memory does that motorboat take you back to? Share your "Last Summer" story below. 🚤🍃
This song is a rite of passage for Vietnamese students. Here is a blog post capturing the bittersweet nostalgia of that era. If you were a 90s kid (or early 2000s) growing up in Vietnam, there is a specific sound that triggers instant nostalgia. It isn't a Vietnamese pop song. It is the opening riff of a Japanese song by a duo called Yuzu. Bai hoc Natsuiro- Mua he cuoi cung Tai xuong mi...
We will always close our eyes and see the green rice fields, the old school gates, and the faces of friends we promised to keep in touch with. What memory does that motorboat take you back to
We called it The "Motorboat" that sailed into our hearts Technically, the song "Natsuiro" (夏色) means "Summer Color." The original Japanese lyrics are happy, folksy, and about the joy of summer. But the version that circulated on Vietnamese forums and Nokia ringtones was different. Here is a blog post capturing the bittersweet
It was slow. It was sad. It was the soundtrack to every graduation ceremony you never wanted to attend.
The Vietnamese lyrics painted a picture: The last summer. Sitting on a motorboat. Looking for old memories. Watching the leaves fall in a season that isn't supposed to have falling leaves.