Beautiful Things (Ai song)

"Beautiful Things" (ウツクシキモノ, Utsukushiki Mono) is a song recorded by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai, released on February 4, 2012, by EMI Music Japan as a promotional single from her ninth studio album, Independent. Written by Ai with additional writing credits from producer Rykeyz and composer Redd Stylez, the song served as the closing theme song for Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I: The Egg of the King.

"Beautiful Things"
Promotional single by Ai
from the album Independent
Language
ReleasedFebruary 4, 2012 (2012-02-04)
Recorded2011
GenreOrchestral
Length4:45
LabelEMI Music
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rykeyz
Music video
"Beautiful Things" on YouTube

Background

In October 2011, it was revealed that an unreleased song by Ai, titled "Beautiful Things" would serve as the closing theme song for Berserk: The Golden Age Arc I: The Egg of the King.[1][2] The song was Ai's first to be featured in a dark fantasy anime film and second in general to be featured in an anime, the first being her 2005 single "Crayon Beats" for Crayon Shin-chan.[1][3] In order to properly write the song, Ai read the Berserk manga. She stated she was skeptical in reading the manga at first, but by volume 4, she "fell in love with it".[2] While recording the song, Ai stated the song was the most challenging song she had recorded.[4]

Live performances and promotion

On January 19, 2012, Ai performed "Beautiful Things" at the completion event for the Berserk movie.[5] Kendo Kobayashi, who was the voice of the main character, Bazuso, appeared with Ai dressed in medieval attire at the event.[6][7] To further promote the song, Ai announced a karaoke event for the song on January 25, 2012, titled Sing Beautiful Things Championship. The winner of the event would be rewarded ¥100k and a chance to perform the song with Ai live at her Independent Tour 2012.[8] The winner of the challenge was Akane Kiyose.[9] Additionally with the Independent Tour 2012, Ai has performed the song at her The Best Tour (2016).[10]

Charts
Chart performance for "Beautiful Things"
Chart (2012) Peak
position
Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay (Billboard Japan)[11] 67
Digital Track Chart (RIAJ)[lower-alpha 1][12] 46
Japan Hot Airplay (Billboard Japan)[13] 83

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[14]

  • Ai Uemura – vocals, songwriter
  • Ryan "RyKeyz" Williamson – producer, composer, programming
  • Sean "Redd Stylez" Fenton – composer

Release history
Release history and formats for "Beautiful Things"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Japan January 2012 Radio airplay EMI Music Japan [15]
February 4, 2012
[2]

Notes
  1. The RIAJ Digital Track Chart is a depreciated chart that ran from 2009 until early 2012 and tracked full-length cellphone downloads.

References
  1. "『ベルセルク 覇王の卵I 黄金時代篇』エンディングテーマはAI". Barks (in Japanese). Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  2. "AI、劇場版「ベルセルク」エンディングテーマを書き下ろし". Music Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  3. "Ai Commercial Tieups - CDJournal". CDJournal (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 6, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  4. "ケンドーコバヤシ、AIの生歌に唸る!" [Howling live performance by Kendo Kobayashi, Ai] (in Japanese). CDJournal. January 20, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  5. "AI、『ベルセルク 黄金時代篇I 覇王の卵』完成披露イベントで生歌披露～ケンドーコバヤシも「仕上げてきたなぁ」とコメント!!". PR Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  6. "ケンコバ、30キロの甲ちゅうに身を包み「拘束感が心地よい」 : 映画ニュース". Eiga (in Japanese). Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  7. "ケンコバ、重さ30kgの甲冑姿で「脱水症状」". Oricon News. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  8. "AI 「ウツクシキモノ」、この超難題曲の「歌ってみろ選手権」開催、挑戦者求ム！優勝者には「AIと一緒に歌える権」を進呈". PR Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  9. "AI、＜「ウツクシキモノ」歌ってみろ選手権＞でファンの歌唱を絶賛". Barks (in Japanese). Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  10. "AI、2016年開催の『THE BEST TOUR』日本武道館公演をYouTubeで全編期間限定公開 「ハピネス」や「Story」など28曲". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  11. "Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard (in Japanese). January 11, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  12. "レコード協会調べ 2012年01月25日～2012年01月31日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞" [Record Association report: 2012.01.25~2012.01.31 <abb. Reco-kyō Chart 'Chaku-uta Full'>] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. February 3, 2012. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  13. "Hot Top Airplay". Billboard (in Japanese). January 11, 2012. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  14. "Independent / Credits / AI". Tidal. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  15. "Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay Chart: 2012/01/11". Billboard Japan. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014.
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