Stronger (Ai song)

"Stronger" (stylized in caps) is a song by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai featuring Japanese singer Miliyah Kato. The song was released on October 27, 2010, by Island Records and Universal Sigma, serving as the fourth and final single for Ai's eighth studio album, The Last Ai.[1]

"Stronger"
Standard cover
Single by Ai featuring Miliyah Kato
from the album The Last Ai
B-side"Let It Go"
ReleasedOctober 27, 2010 (2010-10-27)
Genre
Length5:03
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)
  • Ai Uemura
  • Miliyah Kato
  • T. Kura
Producer(s)T. Kura
Ai singles chronology
"Nemurenai Machi"
(2010)		 "Stronger"
(2010)		 "Letter in the Sky" / "Happiness"
(2011)
Miliyah Kato singles chronology
"Last Love"
(2010)		 "Stronger"
(2010)		 "Yūsha Tachi"
(2011)
Music video
"Stronger" on YouTube

Composition and inspiration

As a part of Ai's 10th anniversary, she had been collaborating with many artists, such as "Fake" featuring Namie Amuro, "Still..." feat. AK-69 and "Wavin' Flag (Coca Cola Celebration Mix) (Sekai ni Hitotsu no Hata)" with K'naan.[2] When the collaboration single offer was presented to Miliyah Kato, who is good friends with Ai,[2][3] her reaction was "Finally! I feel so honoured. It's like a dream I've been imagining has become real."[2] The song was written by Ai and Kato together, with both deciding such things as the lyrics, music, and which parts to sing.[3]

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.[4] In news articles, the song is described as being about "The strength to keep going forward, even when hurt."[2]

Promotion

The song was performed twice at promotional events. At the Levi's 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.[5] Ai performed the song solo at a secret live event for fashion magazine Glamorous, 2010 Glamorous Night Evolution on November 2.[6]

The song was performed at Music Station on October 29, alongside Kato.[7] Ai appeared on an episode of King's Brunch on October 30.[8] 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.[9]

To promote the single, Ai featured in magazines such as Blenda, Glamorous, Hanachu, Nikkei Entertainment, Ori Star, Ranzuki, S-Cawaii and Woofin'.[10][11]

Music video

The music video was directed by Tatsuaki,[12] and produced by Yahman.[13] It is Ai's first video to feature CGI graphics.[14] 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.[14]

The music video debuted on MTV Japan on October 27, 2010.[9]

Track listing
"Stronger" track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Stronger" (featuring Miliyah Kato)
  • Uemura
  • Miho Katō
  • T. Kura
T. Kura5:03
2."Let It Go" (featuring Snoop Dogg)
  • Uemura
  • Cordell Broadus
  • DJ2High
  • Uta
  • Tynice Hinton
  • DJ 2 High
  • Uta
3:37
3."Stronger" (featuring Milyah Kato) (Instrumental)  5:03
4."Let It Go" (featuring Snoop Dogg) (Instrumental)  3:36
Total length:17:19
"Stronger" – Limited edition
No.TitleDirectorLength
1."Stronger" (featuring Miliyah Kato) (music video)Tatsuaki5:13

Charts
Chart Peak
position
Adult Contemporary Radio (Billboard Japan)[15] 42
RIAJ Digital Track Chart Top 100[16] 4
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard Japan)[17] 30
Japan Singles Chart (Oricon)[18] 26

Reported sales
Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[19] 7,000

Release history
Region Date Format
Japan October 13, 2010 (2010-10-13)[20] Ringtone
October 27, 2010 (2010-10-27)[9][21] CD single, CD+DVD single, digital download, rental CD

References
  1. "[CD] STRONGER feat.加藤ミリヤ [DVD付初回限定盤] / AI". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  2. "AI新シングルで加藤ミリヤ、スヌープ・ドッグと強力コラボ". Natalie (in Japanese). September 30, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  3. "インタビュー/レビュー「かなりSTRONGでしょう！ｗ」". Recochoku (in Japanese). October 15, 2010. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  4. "STRONGER feat. 加藤ミリヤ - AI". Goo Music (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  5. リーバイス 女性のためのコミュニティサイトを開設. Fashion Snap (in Japanese). October 27, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  6. "AI、長谷川潤にバースデーを祝福され、涙". MDPR (in Japanese). November 3, 2010. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  7. 「Ｍステ」にスピッツ、ポルノ、ＡＩ×ミリヤ、ＡＫＢ４８ら登場. Searchina (in Japanese). October 25, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  8. "本日｢MUSIC STATION｣生出演!!". Ai's Official Blog (in Japanese). October 29, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  9. "本日『STRONGER feat.加藤ミリヤ』発売!!". Ai's Official Blog (in Japanese). October 27, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  10. "10月Magazine". Ai Music (in Japanese). October 1, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  11. "11月Magazine". Ai Music (in Japanese). November 1, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  12. "AI 楽曲名 STRONGER feat.加藤ミリヤ". Space Shower (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  13. "AI / STRONGER feat.加藤ミリヤ" (in Japanese). → e noissssssss !!. 2010-11-08. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  14. "AI 加藤ミリヤとの夢のコラボP.Vがついに解禁！！". Vibe-Net (in Japanese). 2010-10-13. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  15. "Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard Japan. November 8, 2010. Archived from the original on May 23, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  16. "レコード協会調べ 2010年10月27日～2010年11月02日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞". RIAJ. November 5, 2010. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  17. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. November 8, 2010. Archived from the original on September 21, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  18. Oricon. ＳＴＲＯＮＧＥＲ ｆｅａｔ．加藤ミリヤ（初回限定盤） - ＡＩ (in Japanese). Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  19. "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 2010-11-25. (subscription only)
  20. "着うた(R)配信スタート!!". Ai's Official Blog (in Japanese). October 13, 2010. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  21. "ＳＴＲＯＮＧＥＲ ｆｅａｔ．加藤ミリヤ/AI 音楽". Tsutaya (in Japanese). Retrieved November 16, 2010.
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