| "17-sai" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Saori Minami | ||||
| from the album 17-sai | ||||
| Language | Japanese | |||
| English title | 17 Years Old | |||
| B-side | "Shima no Densetsu" | |||
| Released | June 1, 1971 | |||
| Recorded | 1971 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:46 | |||
| Label | CBS Sony | |||
| Composer(s) | Kyōhei Tsutsumi | |||
| Lyricist(s) | Mieko Arima | |||
| Producer(s) | Masatoshi Sakai | |||
| Saori Minami singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"17-sai" (17才 (じゅうななさい), Jūnana-sai, lit. "17 Years Old") (also known as "Seventeen") is the debut single by Japanese singer Saori Minami. Composed by Kyōhei Tsutsumi with lyrics by Mieko Arima, the single was released by CBS Sony on June 1, 1971. Tsutsumi based the song on "Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson when he learned it was Minami's favorite song. Arima, who was 40 years old at the time, surprised her close friends when she was able to express the feelings of a 17-year-old girl in the song's lyrics.[1][2]
The jacket cover features Minami wearing a shirt that has a drawing of a crab, which symbolizes Cancer as her zodiac sign. Stickers of a crab mascot were distributed in the campaign promoting the single.[1]
The song peaked at No. 2 on Oricon's singles chart and was the 11th best selling single of 1971 in Japan, catapulting her into stardom as an idol.[1][3][4] It also earned Minami numerous awards such as the Best New Artist at the 1971 Japan Music Awards and the Gold Prize at the 1971 Shinjuku Music Festival. Minami was also nominated for Best New Artist at the 13th Japan Record Awards, but lost to Rumiko Koyanagi. The song gave Minami the top spot in the red team on the 22nd Kōhaku Uta Gassen.[5]
- ^ a b c "TBT: "17 Sai" by Minami Saori". Kawaii Kakkoii Sugoi. 2015-10-08. Archived from the original on 2016-12-27. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
- ^ デビュー30周年記念メモリアル特別企画CD-BOX『 CYNTHIA ANTHOLOGY 』（2000.6.7、ソニーレコード）封入解説書参照。
- ^ 長田美穂「スターに愛されたガサコの編集者人生」『新潮45』2008年2月号、新潮社。
- ^ Kase, Kimio (2005). Transformational CEOs: Leadership and Management Success in Japan. Edward Elgar. p. 163. ISBN 1-84542-046-2.
- ^ "22nd Kōhaku Uta Gassen History". NHK. Retrieved 2020-03-23.