The "xuồng máy" (motorboat) is time. And you can't park it. Today, you can find the real Yuzu on Spotify. You can listen to the upbeat original. But for the 8x and 9x generation, we will always skip to the "slow remix" version.
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.
But we didn't know Yuzu back then. We knew the ringtone. We knew the lyric: "Mùa hè cuối cùng, ngồi trên xuồng máy, đi tìm lại những kỷ niệm xưa..." Bai hoc Natsuiro- Mua he cuoi cung Tai xuong mi...
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.
We realized that "Mùa hè cuối cùng" (The last summer) isn't actually a date on the calendar. It is the moment you realize your friends are becoming strangers, your childhood home feels smaller, and the carefree days are gone. The "xuồng máy" (motorboat) is time
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.
It was slow. It was sad. It was the soundtrack to every graduation ceremony you never wanted to attend. You can listen to the upbeat original
What memory does that motorboat take you back to? Share your "Last Summer" story below. 🚤🍃