Lemon

Hi there! Hikari here!

This song needs no introduction! This is “Lemon” by the legendary Kenshi Yonezu. I felt very deeply in love with this beautiful song from the moment I first heard it. This song is so beautiful throughout.

The song starts off with the vocals accompanied by piano, setting the soft sentimental tone right off the bat. Then the light beat of the clapping and the gentle bass joins in, building up the emotion from within. I simply love the way the song begins with the first verse, especially in how it prepares the listener for what’s to come.

I simply love the composition of the pre-choruses. Coming from the verses, the piano accompaniment comes back into prominence, emphasizing the main chords. The clapping that paced the melody returns. The chords for each lines is C#minor (II) which paints an imagery of emotional uneasiness and longing. The pre-chorus ends with the major root, giving closure to the earlier uneasiness. All these blend into a perfectly beautiful melody. What a great build-up to the chorus!

My favourite part is the bridge. After the second chorus, the electric guitar stops and the piano accompaniment takes over. Both the drums and the clapping acts as the heartbeat of the melody. What sets the bridge apart is the key shifting to A♭ major. The melody slowed down, giving more space for emotional expression. Gosh, I love it so much.

Kenshi really delivers in the melancholic yet strong vocals of this song, which really invokes the feelings of tenderness, sadness, longing and even nostalgia. It is no wonder that this record-breaking song has been the top in the J-Pop charts for at least 2 years. (It still is at the time of posting)

The song Lemon sings of the undying love and sorrow of loss, which is like the lingering scent of a lemon. This theme, I believe, is very universal across the globe and that is also why many felt an emotional connection to the masterpiece song. I certainly have.

I'm so glad Hikari chose to transcribe this beautiful song.

It is without doubt a super touching song. I mean.. just feel all the emotions behind the song.

This song is really special because from a technical perspective, you can hear very clearly that the focus is on the vocals, and the emotions in it. Realise that the instruments are very subtle in their presence and yet they are still there, providing great support to the vocals.

I think if there is one thing this song got it right, is that in the end, it's better to have a few main instruments and let the voice and emotions take the spotlight. What a great song indeed!