is the fourth single from the

J-pop J-pop (often stylized in all caps; an abbreviated form of "Japanese popular music"), natively known simply as , is the name for a form of popular music that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in trad ...

idol group

Morning Musume , formerly and commonly known as and colloquially referred to as , is a Japanese girl group, holding the second highest overall single sales (of a female group) on the Oricon, Oricon charts as of February 2012, with the Oricon record of most to ...

, released on February 10, 1999 as an 8 cm CD. It sold a total of 410,850 copies, and reached number two on the Oricon Charts. In 2004, it was re-released as part of the '' Early Single Box'' and again in 2005 as a 12 cm CD. Lead vocals of this single were

Natsumi Abe is a Japanese singer and actress, a former member of Morning Musume, and a member of Dream Morning Musume. Biography She was born in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan. Career On August 13, 2003, she released her first single, "22 Sai no Watash ...

and

Asuka Fukuda (born December 17, 1984) is a Japanese pop singer, and she was a member of Japanese girl group Morning Musume from 1997 until April 18, 1999. Her only album with the group is the 1998 release '' First Time''. She was the first ever Hello! Pro ...

. Prior to this single's release, on January 17, 1999, Fukuda shocked viewers of the television show ''

Asayan ''Asayan'', originally known as was a talent search variety show that aired on TV Tokyo from 1995 to 2002. Some idols that were originally discovered through Asayan auditions produced by Tsunku, formed groups that worked under the umbrella group ...

'' with her decision to "graduate" from Morning Musume and continue with her studies. "Never Forget", one of the coupling tracks on the single, is often traditionally sung by band members at their graduation concerts and/or final TV appearances with the group, prior to embarking on solo careers or new groups.

Track listing

All songs written by

Tsunku , known professionally as , is a Japanese singer, record producer, and songwriter. He was the lead singer of the rock band Sharam Q. As a songwriter, Tsunku is the primary producer for Morning Musume and other Hello! Project acts, such as Co ...

8 cm CD

# – 5:05 # "Happy Night" – 5:13 # "Never Forget" – 4:35 # "Memory Seishun no Hikari (Instrumental)" – 5:04

12 cm CD (''Early Single Box'' and individual release)

# "Memory Seishun no Hikari" – 5:05 # "Happy Night" – 5:12 # "Never Forget" – 4:37 # "Memory Seishun no Hikari (Instrumental)" – 5:05 # "Memory Seishun no Hikari (Instrumental)" – 5:10

Members at the time of single

* 1st generation:

Yuko Nakazawa is a Japanese pop and enka singer, and actress, best known as one of the original members of the all-female J-pop group Morning Musume. She is also a member of Japanese pop group Dream Morning Musume. Biography Yuko Nakazawa was born in Ky ...

Aya Ishiguro This page consists of all current and former members of the Japanese girl group Morning Musume. The group is known for their ever-fluctuating line-up, with "graduations" and auditions held nearly every year. Current members 9th generation (201 ...

Kaori Iida is a Japanese pop singer and actress, associated with Hello! Project and best known as a founding member of the girl band Morning Musume. She has also recorded with the Morning Musume side project band Tanpopo and is currently a solo artist. ...

* 2nd generation: Kei Yasuda, Mari Yaguchi, Sayaka Ichii

External links

Memory Seishun no Hikari
entry on the Up-Front Works official website

References

1999 singles Morning Musume songs Zetima Records singles Songs written by Tsunku Song recordings produced by Tsunku 1999 songs Torch songs Pop ballads 1990s ballads {{Hello!Project-stub