Rainbow-Colored History
The EP's cover. It features the four members of Strawberry Prince (clockwise from top right: Satomi, Colon, Rinu, and Root), dressed in white suits decorated with gold and their respective representative colors. In front of them is the rainbow-colored title of the song, and behind them is a light blue and pink-colored background, decorated with various white symbols and lines.
EP by
Strawberry Prince
ReleasedJuly 31, 2023 (2023-07-31)
GenreJ-pop
Length28:19
LanguageJapanese
LabelSTPR
Strawberry Prince chronology
Here We Go!!
(2022)		 Rainbow-Colored History
(2023)
Singles from Rainbow-Colored History
  1. "Chocolate Love"
    Released: February 5, 2023
  2. "The Happiest Memory"
    Released: March 5, 2023
  3. "Hanamirai"
    Released: April 2, 2023

Rainbow-Colored History (Japanese: ニジイロヒストリー, Hepburn: Niji-iro Hisutorī, lit. Rainbow-Colored History) is a digital-exclusive extended play (EP) by J-pop group Strawberry Prince, released on July 31, 2023, to celebrate the group's seventh anniversary. The EP is opened by the titular track "Rainbow-Colored History", which lyrically expresses gratitude to fans. The track list consists of theme songs recorded by Strawberry Prince for different projects, songs from their Here We Go!! tour in early 2023, and new tracks. The EP was primarily composed and written by group member Root and features guest appearances from TeddyLoid and HoneyWorks.

Rainbow-Colored History opened at first place on Japanese digital album charts in August, with over 1,400 downloads. The EP was supported by three singles – "Chocolate Love", "The Happiest Memory", and "Hanamirai" – which were premiered throughout the Here We Go!! tour. The EP's release was promoted by three music videos, released from early June to late July.

Background and contents

Strawberry Prince – in 2023 consisting of Satomi, Colon, Rinu, and Root[lower-alpha 1] – was formed in June 2016. Rainbow-Colored History commemorates the group's seventh anniversary. The opening titular track heads the celebration: it depicts seven rainbow colors, representing the group's seven years, as the group sings of gratitude towards listeners.[1] Rinu described Rainbow-Colored History as filled with songs and memories from their Here We Go!! tour in early 2023, new songs intended to make listeners joy, and "sparkly and fun" tracks relating to the group's new challenges.[2]

"STPRQuest" is the opening to the group's own TV show, SutoPuri Quest, which had been renewed and renamed on Strawberry Prince's anniversary.[2][3] The theme is a pop song set in the world of a role-playing game and features "chattering" among the singers on certain lines. "Re STARt" is an insert song for the anime film Re:Stars: Mirai e Tsunagu Futatsu no Kiraboshi, which stars Rinu in a lead role. Rinu expressed happiness to perform the song as a member of Strawberry Prince, as he had initially felt nervous, despite excitement, following his casting.[2] "The Happiest Memory" is the group's first graduation-themed song; it aims to encourage listeners to run towards the future whilst remembering the joys and sorrows they have shared with friends.[4] "Hanamirai" (lit. Flower Future) is a "warm", mid-tempo ballad song intended to relax listeners during the Autumn enrollment season, described by Rinu as "a time of expectation and uncertainty."[5]

Many tracks on the EP, including the lead track, were created by Root, like the previous year's anniversary single "Strawberry Smile Magic".[1] Root created the songs with lyricist Toku and composer Matsu;[6] on "STPRQuest" they were joined on the lyrics by Rinu, who penned the song's chattering.[2] Music producer TeddyLoid served as composer and lyricist on the "summer night" song "Yura Yura" (lit. Swaying), marking his third collaboration with Strawberry Prince.[7] "Chocolate Love" is the theme to Strawberry Prince's second candy collaboration with food company Meiji. It and "The Happiest Memory" were composed and written by music duo HoneyWorks, who had previously tackled "Seishun Chocolate", the theme to Strawberry Prince's first collaboration with Meiji, in 2022.[8][4]

Promotion and release

STPR Records logo
STPR Records logo

Before the EP's release, "Chocolate Love", "The Happiest Memory", and "Hanamirai" were made available as singles.[9] The songs' music videos had been unveiled throughout the Here We Go!! tour: "Chocolate Love" was shown at the Pia Arena MM in late January; "The Happiest Memory" at the Yokohama Arena in March; and "Hanamirai" at the Saitama Super Arena in April.[8][10][5]

On July 23, Strawberry Prince uploaded a preview video for the album to their YouTube channel. It was announced that the next day, four songs – the titular track, "STPRQuest", "Yura Yura", and "ReSTARt" – would release early, alongside a campaign presenting a special phone wallpaper to listeners who pre-save the EP on Apple Music or Spotify.[7] Two days before the release of the EP, Strawberry Prince gave a debut performance of "Yura Yura" on the NHK music program Venue101 Presents.[11] Rainbow-Colored History was released as a digital EP on July 31, 2023.[2] The release was handled by STPR Records,[12] the label managing Strawberry Prince and related artists. The EP opened at first place on the weekly Billboard Japan and Oricon download charts dated August 9 and 14, respectively, reaching over 1,400 downloads.[13][14] It dropped out of the Oricon chart's 50 spots after two consecutive weeks,[15] but stayed within Billboard Japan's 100 spots for three weeks.[16]

A music video for the "Rainbow-Colored History" song was released on June 4, alongside other anniversary-related announcements.[17] It was followed by a music video for "STPRQuest" – handled by returning director Eruī – on July 2,[18] and a video for "Yura Yura" on July 30. According to music news websites, the video for "Yura Yura" was conceptualized with the idea of "summer memories": it features the four members of Strawberry Prince spending a summer night in a real-life town, performing a choreographed dance, before the video ends with a fireworks show.[11][19]

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Rainbow-Colored History" (ニジイロヒストリー, Niji-iro Hisutorī)
  • Root
  • Matsu
Matsu3:15
2."STPRQuest"
  • Root
  • Matsu
Matsu2:38
3."FF&Flapping"
  • Root
  • Toku
  • Root
  • Matsu
Matsu3:20
4."Yura Yura" (ゆらゆら, Yura Yura)TeddyLoidTeddyLoidTeddyLoid3:55
5."Re STARt" (Re☆STARt)
  • Root
  • Toku
  • Root
  • Matsu
Matsu4:42
6."Chocolate Love" (チョコレートはんぶんこ, Chokorēto Hanbunko)HoneyWorksHoneyWorksHoneyWorks3:40
7."Hanamirai" (ハナミライ, Hanamirai)
  • Root
  • Toku
  • Root
  • Matsu
Matsu3:10
8."The Happiest Memory" (最幸の宝物, Saikō no Takaramono)HoneyWorksHoneyWorksHoneyWorks3:39
Total length:28:19

Charts

Chart performance for Rainbow-Colored History
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Japan Download Albums (Billboard Japan)[20] 1
Japan Digital Albums (Oricon)[21] 1

Notes

  1. ↑ Nanamori and Jel are named inactive – but not former – members of Strawberry Prince since 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 "すとぷり結成7周年記念サイト開設! 初ファンミーティングツアーや謎解きイベント開催決定" [SutoPuri 7th Anniversary site opened! First fan meeting tour and puzzle event announced]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). June 4, 2023. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "結成7周年すとぷり、配信EP「ニジイロヒストリー」リリース" [SutoPuri releases digital EP Rainbow-Colored History for 7th anniversary]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). July 2, 2023. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  3. ↑ "すとぷり6月4日デビュー7周年に冠番組リニューアル" [SutoPuri to renew TV program on June 4, 7th anniversary of their debut]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). May 21, 2023. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "すとぷり、初の卒業ソング「最幸の宝物」MV公開" [SutoPuri releases MV for first graduation song "Saikō no Takaramono"]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). March 5, 2023. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "すとぷり、るぅと作詞作曲の「ハナミライ」MV公開" [SutoPuri releases MV for new song "Hanamirai", written and composed by Root]. Barks (in Japanese). Japan Music Network. April 2, 2023. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  6. ↑ 【XFD】ニジイロヒストリー / すとぷり【配信限定EP試聴動画】 [(XFD) Rainbow-Colored History / SutoPuri (Digital EP Preview Video)] (Media notes) (in Japanese). SutoPuri Channel. July 23, 2023. Video description. Retrieved September 9, 2023 – via YouTube.
  7. 1 2 "すとぷり、配信EP『ニジイロヒストリー』クロスフェード公開＋4曲を先行配信へ" [SutoPuri releases cross-fade video for digital EP Rainbow-Colored History + 4 songs to be released early]. Barks (in Japanese). Japan Music Network. July 23, 2023. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "すとぷり、新曲「チョコレートはんぶんこ」MV公開" [SutoPuri releases MV for new song "Chocolate Hanbunko"]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). February 6, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Discography". Strawberry Prince. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  10. ↑ "すとぷり、春に「卒業」するすべての人に贈る新オリジナル曲　「最幸の宝物」ミュージックビデオを公開" [SutoPuri releases music video for new original song "Saikō no Takaramono" to all people graduating this spring]. Spice (in Japanese). ePlus. March 6, 2023. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  11. 1 2 "すとぷり、新作配信EPより「ゆらゆら」MV公開" [SutoPuri releases MV for "Yura Yura" from new digital EP]. Barks (in Japanese). Japan Music Network. July 30, 2023. Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  12. ↑ "ニジイロヒストリー: すとぷり" [Rainbow-Colored History: SutoPuri] (in Japanese). Amazon Music. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  13. ↑ "【ビルボード】すとぷり『ニジイロヒストリー』がDLアルバム首位、サザン『海のYeah!!』が再浮上" [(Billboard) SutoPuri's Rainbow-Colored History takes first place on Download Albums, as Sazan's Umi no Yeah!! resurfaces]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  14. ↑ "2023/08/14付・週間デジタルアルバム" [2023/08/14 - Weekly Digital Albums] (in Japanese). Oricon. August 14, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  15. ↑ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service "You Taiju"] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Billboard Japan Top Download Albums". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  17. ↑ "すとぷり、結成7周年！ 記念特別サイトのオープン、初のファンミーティング、オフィシャルグッズ、初の謎解きイベントなど一挙解禁" [SutoPuri's 7th anniversary! Special commemorative site opened, fan meeting, official merchandise, first puzzle solving event, and more all announced at once!]. Spice (in Japanese). ePlus. June 4, 2023. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  18. ↑ "すとぷり、EP『ニジイロヒストリー』配信リリース　小ネタ満載の新曲「STPRQUEST」MV公開" [SutoPuri's EP Rainbow-Colored History for digital release. MV for new joke-filled song "STPRQuest" unveiled]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). July 2, 2023. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  19. ↑ "すとぷり、4人の"夏の想い出"描いた「ゆらゆら」MV公開" [MV for SutoPuri's "Yura Yura" released, illustrating the four members' "summer memories"]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). July 30, 2023. Archived from the original on August 2, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Billboard Japan Top Download Albums". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  21. ↑ "週間　デジタルアルバムランキング　2023年08月14日付" [Weekly Digital Albums Ranking - August 14, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. August 14, 2023. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
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