Moriagaro

Moriagaro (stylized as MORIAGARO) (Japanese pronunciation: [moɾiaɡaɾoː], "Let's Get Down") is the tenth studio album by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai, released on July 17, 2013 by EMI Records Japan and Universal Music Group.[1] The album marked her first and only release under EMI Records Japan following Universal's purchase of EMI's music operations prior to its rebranding as EMI Records in 2014. Musically, Moriagaro expands on the dance-pop sound found on Ai's previous studio album, Independent, with R&B and hip hop sensibilities. Alongside long-time collaborator Uta, Ai worked with various American producers. On November 20, 2013, the album was reissued as Motto Moriagaro.

Moriagaro
The large golden letters "MORIAGARO" are featured on a chain held at a left angle, taking up most of the image. This is held up on both corners by a woman, whose face you can see behind it. She is wearing a cap with pins in it, her hair is partially shaved and decorative red and white mascara.
Studio album by
Ai
ReleasedJuly 17, 2013 (2013-07-17)
Recorded2012–2013
Studio
Genre
Length46:26
Language
Label
Producer
  • De-Capo
  • Uta
  • Michico
  • D.Clax
  • C3prod
  • Jerry Duplessis
  • Fifty1 Fifty
  • Ai Uemura
Ai chronology
Independent
(2012)		 Moriagaro
(2013)		 Motto Moriagaro
(2013)
Singles from Moriagaro
  1. "Voice"
    Released: February 13, 2013
  2. "Dear Mama"
    Released: April 12, 2013

Writing and production

The album was written by Ai, collaborating with American and Japanese producers. Ai collaborated with four singers: American R&B singers Jeremih, Lloyd and Bridget Kelly, as well as Malaysian Australian R&B singer Che'Nelle, who has based her career in Japan since 2011. Five of the songs are sung in Japanese, and three entirely in English. "Moriagaro," "Don't Turn Me Off" and "Gotta Get Mine" are sung in a mix of English and Japanese.

Album recording took place mostly in Tokyo, as well as in West Hollywood, Atlanta and New York City.[2]

Ai worked mostly with Japanese producer Uta (who she has worked with since Viva Ai (2009)) on the songs "Hanabi," "My Place," "Sogood" and "Voice." This is the first time that Ai only worked with a single Japanese producer on an album. Ai worked with five American producers on the remaining songs. Fifty 1 Fifty produced three songs, "For You," "Top of the World" and "After the Storm." De-Capo Music Group worked on "Moriagaro," C3prod on "Dear Mama" and Wonda Music on "Gotta Get Mine." Ai worked together with producer D.Clax and The Exclusives on the song "My Baby."[2]

Promotion and release

The first single released from the album was "Voice" in February 2013. The song was used as the theme song for the drama Yakō Kanransha, starring Kyōka Suzuki and Yuriko Ishida.[3] The single became a big hit, being certified by the RIAJ as a gold single a month after release.[4] It is currently her fourth most sold physical single since her debut.[5] It is also her last release under the then-independent EMI Music Japan.

Ai followed up the single with two digital singles. The first was "Mama e," used in a Lotte chocolate commercial campaign for Mother's Day, and "After the Storm," used as the theme for the Japanese release of the Hong Kong martial arts film The Grandmaster.[3] Three other songs were used for TV commercials. "Sogood" was used for KFC Japan commercials, "For You" for Kubota commercials, and "My Place" for Japan Rail in promotion of the Kyushu Shinkansen.[3] "Gotta Get Mine" was also used as the July opening theme for the TV Tokyo R&B/dance program Chōryūha.[3][6] "Top of the World" was later used as the opening theme for the TBS drama Higanjima in October 2013.[6]

Music videos were produced for the album songs "Gotta Get Mine," "Hanabi," "My Place," and "Sogood."[7][8][9][10]

Tours

Ai's Moriagaro Tour began in October in Kanagawa, Japan, and included 33 dates. The final concert was held on December 18, 2013, at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.[3]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Moriagaro and Tidal.[2][11]

Moriagaro track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Moriagaro" (featuring Jeremih)
  • Uemura
  • De-Capo
3:22
2."Don't Turn Me Off"
  • Michico
  • Scoopbop
  • Michico
  • Uta
3:46
3."Voice"Uemura
  • Uta
  • Uemura
5:13
4."Hanabi"Uemura
  • Uta
  • Uemura
4:01
5."My Baby" (featuring Lloyd)
  • Victoria Mwangi
  • Asia Bryant
  • Lloyd Polite Jr.
  • Sean "Pen" McMillion
  • Ralph "Vintage" Jeanty
D.Clax3:36
6."Dear Mama" (ママへ "Mama e")Uemura
  • C3prod
  • Uemura
4:00
7."Sogood"Uemura
  • Uta
  • Uemura
3:18
8."Gotta Get Mine" (featuring Bridget Kelly)
Duplessis3:29
9."After the Storm" (featuring Che'Nelle)
  • Matthew "Damario" Quinney
  • Joseph Macklin
  • Carlos "Los" Jenkins, David "Davix" Foreman
  • Dashawn "Happie" White
  • Thomas "Tom Jack" Jackson
Fifty1 Fifty3:40
10."For You" (Piano Version)UemuraFifty1 Fifty4:28
11."My Place"Uemura
  • Uta
  • Uemura
4:00
12."Top of the World"
  • Quinney
  • Macklin
  • Derrick Curtis Vines
  • Jenkins
  • Foreman
  • White
Fifty1 Fifty3:33
Total length:46:26

Notes

  • Tracks 1, 3–4, 8, and 10–12 are stylized in all capitals.
  • Track 6 is titled in Japanese
  • Track 7 is stylized in all lower case.

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from Moriagaro's liner notes booklet.[2]

Performance credits

Visuals and imagery

Technical and production

Charts

Sales
Sales figures for Moriagaro
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan
Physical 		— 49,010[14]

Release history
Release history and formats for Moriagaro
Region Date Format(s) Version Label Ref.
Japan July 17, 2013
Standard
[1]
  • CD
 Limited [15]
Taiwan August 9, 2023
  • CD
 Standard
  • Universal Taiwan
 [1]

References
  1. "MORIAGARO (初回生産限定盤:もりあがろうプライス) [Limited Edition]". Amazon Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  2. Moriagaro (Media notes) (in Japanese). Ai. Tokyo, Japan: EMI Music Japan. 2013.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. "AI 、新作アルバム『MORIAGARO』7/17発売、初回限定 "もりあがろうプライス"2,500円！全国ツアーでAIと一緒にステージに立てる券など豪華抽選特典も封入！" [Ai, new album Moriagaro 7/17 release, first press "Get Down Price" of 2,500 yen! Featuring lottery ticket to go onstage with Ai on her all Japan tour!]. PR Times (in Japanese). Barks. July 4, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  4. レコード協会調べ 3月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: March Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). April 19, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  5. ＡＩのシングル売り上げランキング [Ai's single sales ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  6. "最新アルバム「MORIAGARO」が更に盛り上がる豪華2枚組となって「MOTTO MORIAGARO」発売決定!!" [Ai's new album Moriagaro to be released again as a super moriagaru 2CD set Motto Moriagaro] (in Japanese). Ai Music. September 26, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  7. "GOTTA GET MINE feat.BRIDGET KELLY（JP/Short Ver.）" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  8. "HANABI" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  9. "MY PLACE（Short Ver.）" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  10. "sogood（AI Ver.）" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  11. "Moriagaro / AI - TIDAL (US)". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  12. "Moriagaro". Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  13. "CDアルバム月間ランキング" [CD albums Monthly Ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  14. "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service "You Big Tree"]. Oricon. Retrieved November 26, 2013. (subscription only)
  15. "MORIAGARO(初回限定盤)" [Moriagaro (Limited Edition)]. Oricon. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
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