Stronger (Ai song)
Encyclopedia
"Stronger" is a song by Japanese R&B singer Ai
, featuring fellow R&B singer Miliyah Kato, released on October 27, 2010. The single was her fourth single released in 2010 for her 10th anniversary, and the leading single from her 8th studio album, The Last Ai. The B-side of the single was a collaboration with American rapper Snoop Dogg
.
" featuring Namie Amuro
, "Still..." feat. AK-69 and "Wavin' Flag
(Coca Cola Celebration Mix) (Sekai ni Hitotsu no Hata)" with K'naan
. When the collaboration single offer was presented to Miliyah Kato, who is good friends with Ai, her reaction was "Finally! I feel so honoured. It's like a dream I've been imagining has become real." The song was written by Ai and Kato together, with both deciding such things as the lyrics, music, and which parts to sing.
The song is a contemporary R&B
dance pop song. The lyrics are a message song, instructing the listener to survive through "any kind of future," and talks about the limits of a person. In news articles, the song is described as being about "The strength to keep going forward, even when hurt."
Jeans Shape What's to Come event at Ebisu, Shibuya on October 26, Ai performed the song with Kato appearing as an unannounced guest for the event. Ai performed the song solo at a secret live event for fashion magazine Glamorous, 2010 Glamorous Night Evolution on November 2.
The song was performed at Music Station
on October 29, alongside Kato. Ai appeared on an episode of King's Brunch on October 30. Two MTV Japan
shows aired to promote the single: a Making the Video
episode for the song's music video, aired on October 31, and a show called MTV A Class AI on November 20.
To promote the single, Ai featured in magazines such as Blenda, Glamorous, Hanachu, Nikkei Entertainment, Ori Star
, Ranzuki
, S-Cawaii and Woofin.
graphics. The video features Ai and Kato in a white room, as black rings form and tear apart around them. The rings are meant to represent beats of people's heartbeats.
The music video debuted on MTV Japan
on October 27, 2010.
AI (singer)
Ai , born November 2, 1981 as , is a Japanese R&B singer and rapper. She is currently under EMI Music Japan.-Early life:...
, featuring fellow R&B singer Miliyah Kato, released on October 27, 2010. The single was her fourth single released in 2010 for her 10th anniversary, and the leading single from her 8th studio album, The Last Ai. The B-side of the single was a collaboration with American rapper Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
.
Composition and inspiration
As a part of Ai's 10th anniversary, she had been collaborating with many artists, such as "FakeFake (Ai song)
"Fake" is Japanese R&B singer Ai's 20th single, featuring pop/R&B musician Namie Amuro. It was released on March 31, 2010.-Background:...
" featuring Namie Amuro
Namie Amuro
is a Japanese R&B and pop singer, entertainer, and former actress who at the height of her popularity was referred to as the "Teen Queen" and the title "Queen of Japanese Pop Music". Born in Naha, Okinawa, Amuro debuted at the age of 14 as an idol in the girl group Super Monkey's...
, "Still..." feat. AK-69 and "Wavin' Flag
Wavin' Flag
"Wavin' Flag" is a song by Somali-Canadian artist K'naan from his album Troubadour. The song was a global hit, reaching the top ten in 19 charts around the world and was chosen as Coca-Cola's promotional anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, hosted by South Africa. The English version was released as...
(Coca Cola Celebration Mix) (Sekai ni Hitotsu no Hata)" with K'naan
K'naan
K'naan , born Keinan Abdi Warsame in 1978, is a Somali Canadian poet, rapper, singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.-Biography:Born in Somalia, K'naan spent his childhood in Mogadishu and lived there during the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991. His aunt, Magool, was one of Somalia's most...
. When the collaboration single offer was presented to Miliyah Kato, who is good friends with Ai, her reaction was "Finally! I feel so honoured. It's like a dream I've been imagining has become real." The song was written by Ai and Kato together, with both deciding such things as the lyrics, music, and which parts to sing.
The song is a contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
dance pop song. The lyrics are a message song, instructing the listener to survive through "any kind of future," and talks about the limits of a person. In news articles, the song is described as being about "The strength to keep going forward, even when hurt."
Promotion
The song was performed twice at promotional events. At the Levi'sLevi Strauss & Co.
Levi Strauss & Co. is a privately held American clothing company known worldwide for its Levi's brand of denim jeans. It was founded in 1853 when Levi Strauss came from Buttenheim, Franconia, to San Francisco, California to open a west coast branch of his brothers' New York dry goods business...
Jeans Shape What's to Come event at Ebisu, Shibuya on October 26, Ai performed the song with Kato appearing as an unannounced guest for the event. Ai performed the song solo at a secret live event for fashion magazine Glamorous, 2010 Glamorous Night Evolution on November 2.
The song was performed at Music Station
Music Station
is a Japanese music television program. It began broadcasting on October 24, 1986 and continues to be broadcast weekly in High-definition from 8PM-9PM on tv asahi...
on October 29, alongside Kato. Ai appeared on an episode of King's Brunch on October 30. Two MTV Japan
MTV Japan
MTV Japan is the Japanese version of the cable television network based in Japan. It is a subsidiary of MTV Networks, and was launched on December 24, 1992. It can be viewed on cable television, SKY PerfecTV!, SKY PerfecTV! e2 and IPTV.-History:MTV originally was a music block on JORX-TV from 1989...
shows aired to promote the single: a Making the Video
Making the Video
Making the Video is an MTV show, consisting of half-hour episodes, which chronicles the process of filming various music videos. Usually the director outlines the concept of the video and the show often includes light-hearted and humorous moments. It always concludes with a premiere of the...
episode for the song's music video, aired on October 31, and a show called MTV A Class AI on November 20.
To promote the single, Ai featured in magazines such as Blenda, Glamorous, Hanachu, Nikkei Entertainment, Ori Star
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
, Ranzuki
Ranzuki
Ranzuki is a fashion magazine published monthly in Japan by Bunka-sha Publishing & Co.. A gal magazine, Ranzuki mainly targets women in their teens and shows its preference for dark-skin and 109 items.-History:...
, S-Cawaii and Woofin.
Music video
The music video was directed by Tatsuaki, and produced by Yahman. It is Ai's first video to feature CGIComputer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
graphics. The video features Ai and Kato in a white room, as black rings form and tear apart around them. The rings are meant to represent beats of people's heartbeats.
The music video debuted on MTV Japan
MTV Japan
MTV Japan is the Japanese version of the cable television network based in Japan. It is a subsidiary of MTV Networks, and was launched on December 24, 1992. It can be viewed on cable television, SKY PerfecTV!, SKY PerfecTV! e2 and IPTV.-History:MTV originally was a music block on JORX-TV from 1989...
on October 27, 2010.
Track listing
Chart rankings
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Adult Contemporary Airplay |
42 |
| Billboard Japan Hot 100 Japan Hot 100 The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com .... |
30 |
| Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... weekly singles |
26 |
| RIAJ Digital Track Chart RIAJ Digital Track Chart The is chart ranks the best selling digital singles in Japan, provided by the Recording Industry Association of Japan since April 2009. The chart measures cellphone downloads .... Top 100 |
4 |
Reported sales
| Chart | Amount |
|---|---|
| Oricon physical sales | 6,800 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Ringtone | |
| CD single, CD+DVD single, digital download, rental CD |