Ai (singer)

Ai
Birth name Ai Carina Uemura
Born (1981-11-02) November 2, 1981[1]
Los Angeles, California, United States
Origin Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
Genres R&B, pop, hip hop, dance
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, rapper, spokesperson
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2000–present
Labels RCA Japan (2000–2001)
Def Jam Japan (2002–2011)
Universal Sigma/Island (2004–2011)
EMI Music Japan (2011–)
Associated acts Namie Amuro, Exile Atsushi, Michico, Sphere of Influence, SX4, Anna Tsuchiya, Verbal, Zeebra
Website aimusic-ai.tv
who-is-ai.com

Ai Carina Uemura (植村 愛 カリーナ Uemura Ai Karīna, born November 2, 1981), known mononymously as Ai (Japanese pronunciation: [ai], stylized as AI or A.I. /eɪaɪ/) is a Japanese-American singer and songwriter. Born in Los Angeles in 1981, Ai spent her childhood in both Kagoshima, Japan and Los Angeles. She debuted as a singer in 2000, later moving to Def Jam Japan and rising to fame with her album 2004 Ai. Her single "Story" (2005) became one of the biggest singles of the 2000s in Japan, and was the sixth single in history to receive a triple million digital certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

Biography

1981–2000: Early life, SX4

Ai was born in Los Angeles in 1981.[1] Her father was Japanese, and her mother was American of Japanese and Italian descent.[2] She moved to Kagoshima in Japan when she was 4, and went to elementary school and junior high school in Japan.[2][3]

Ai was motivated to become a singer in her early teens, after singing at a cousin's wedding, having many people ask her if she wanted to be a professional singer, and hearing a gospel performance at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles in 1993.[3][4] After graduating from junior high school in Japan, Ai returned to Los Angeles for high school, enrolling at Glendale High School, however found high school difficult due to never formally studying English.[5] After making it through the audition process, she switched to the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, majoring in ballet.[5] She became a member of the school's gospel choir.[3] In 1998, she performed in a gospel choir at a Mary J. Blige concert at the Universal Amphitheatre, performing of "A Dream."[2][3] In the same year, she appeared as a dancer in the music video for Janet Jackson's song "Go Deep."[2][3]

In 1999, she joined an Asian girl group called SX4, who were produced by George Brown of Kool & the Gang. Ai was a member of the group for two years, and later in 1999 the group were offered a record label deal.[5] While on her summer holiday in Kagoshima, she performed Monica's "For You I Will" on a local radio station, which lead to her being scouted by BMG Japan.[4][5] She decided to take the offer, and after leaving SX4 and graduating from high school in June 2000, moved to Tokyo and debuted as a musician later in 2000.[2][5]

2000–2004: BMG Japan, move to Universal

Ai debuted under BMG Japan with the single "Cry, Just Cry" in November 2000.[1] Between then and November 2001, she released three singles, culminating in her debut album, My Name Is Ai. However, the releases were not very commercially successful, and the album debuted at number 86.[6]

In 2002 she moved to Def Jam Japan as the first female artist signed to the label.[1][3] Ai has said that she felt more at home under Def Jam, as many of her co-workers shared her musical tastes.[4] Her first album under the label in 2003 Original Ai debuted at 15 on Oricon's album charts, and her second, 2004 Ai, debuted at number three.[6] In 2004, she won the Space Shower Music Video Awards' award for Best R&B Video, with her song "Thank U."[3]

After moving to Def Jam, Ai increasingly began collaborating with musicians, especially Japanese hip-hop and rap artists (though under BMG Japan, Ai had collaborated with Mao Denda, and Soul'd Out rapper Diggy-Mo'). She was featured as a rapper on the Suite Chic single "Uh Uh,,,,,," a collaboration between Namie Amuro, Verbal of M-Flo, and music producer Ryōsuke Imai in 2003. Other musicians Ai collaborated with in this period were Afra, Boy-Ken, Joe Budden, Dabo, Deli, Double, Heartsdales, Ken Hirai, M-Flo, Sphere of Influence and Zeebra. Ai's collaborations featured her either as a rapper or a singer.

2005–2010: "Story," rise in fame

"Story"
The ballad "Story" is currently the biggest hit of Ai's career.
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In 2005, Ai released the ballad single "Story," which became the biggest hit of her career. It was a sleeper hit, charting for 20 weeks in the top 30 in 2005 and 2006, however went on to sell over three million ringtones, one million cellphone downloads, and 270,000 physical copies.[7][8][9] Ai later performed "Story" at the prestigious 56th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen New Years music concert.[10] Her next studio album, Mic-a-holic Ai, was the best selling album of her career, being certified double platinum by the RIAJ.[11]

Ai's first single of 2006, the ballad "Believe," was also a success: it debuted at number two,[6] and sold more than one million ringtones.[12] The song was used as the theme song of the Kenji Sakaguchi starring medical drama, Team Medical Dragon. Her next two albums, What's Goin' On Ai (2006) and Don't Stop Ai (2007) were also greatly commercially successful, being certified platinum and gold respectively.[11][13]

In 2009, Ai released her greatest hits album, Best Ai. It was the first number one record of her career.[6] In 2010, Ai collaborated with many artists such as Namie Amuro, Miliyah Kato, Chaka Khan and Boyz II Men on her 10th anniversary album, The Last Ai.

To the end of Ai's career with Universal, her album sales began to decrease. Viva Ai (2009) debuted at number 10, and The Last Ai (2010) at 14 (despite her gold hit from the album, "Fake" featuring Namie Amuro).[6][14]

2011–present: EMI, global debut

In June 2011, Ai signed with EMI Music Japan.[15] She collaborated with The Jacksons on December 13 and 14, 2011, at the Michael Jackson Tribute Live tribute concerts held in Tokyo. She performed the vocals in the third act for Michael Jackson's songs. She also performed and released the theme song for the event, "Letter in the Sky" featuring the Jacksons.[16][17] In November 2011, Ai released the song "Happiness," a collaboration with Coca Cola for their winter 2011 campaign. The song was a hit, being certified gold in two different mediums.[18][19] The song revitalised the sales of her ninth studio album, Independent, which has sold morre than 60,000 copies.[9]

In August 2012, Ai travelled to Los Angeles to work on her next studio album, as well as her American debut.[20] To promote the debut, Ai released a promotional music video, for a new song called "Put You On (Remix)" that featured American musicians Chris Brown and Diggy Simmons. Ai performed her second concert in Los Angeles on August 24, at Club Nokia.[21]

On April 1, 2013, EMI Music Japan was completely merged into Universal Music Japan as a sublabel by the name EMI Records Japan as a result of Universal Music's purchase of EMI in September 2012. All the artists from EMI Music Japan will continue releasing material at Universal Music Japan while still maintaining the catalogue code (TOCT).[22]

Other ventures

In April 2011, Ai presented a music documentary, Ai Miss Michael Jackson: King of Pop no Kiseki, that was recorded for Music On! TV. In the documentary, she travelled to the USA and interviewed members of the Jackson family in their home.

For the American musical comedy Glee's season two episode Britney/Brittany, Ai dubbed the voice of Britney Spears in the Japanese release.

Products and endorsements

As is standard for Japanese musicians, Ai has featured as a spokesperson, or has her music featured, for many products. Ai's songs have been used as TV commercial songs, drama theme songs, film theme songs and TV show ending theme songs.[23]

Ai has worked on four major Coca Cola TV commercial campaigns, two featuring her own songs ("You Are My Star" (2009), "Happiness" (2011)) and two featuring collaborations (K'naan's "Wavin' Flag" (2009), Namie Amuro's "Wonder Woman" (2011)). She has also been featured in two Audio-Technica campaigns (using "My Friend (Live Version)" and "I'll Remember You," a campaign for Japan Airlines ("Brand New Day") and Pepsi Nex with "I Wanna Know."[23]

Ai's most high profile work for a TV drama was the theme song for 2006's primetime drama Team Medical Dragon, "Believe," which was one of her greatest hits, selling over one million ringtones.[12] Ai also sung the theme song for the drama's second series, "One." Ai also worked on the theme song for the 2010 primetime drama Keishichō Keizoku Sōsahan, "Nemurenai Machi." Other program theme songs include the Japanese theme song for the American drama Heroes ("Taisetsu na Mono"), and the 15th ending theme for the children's animation Crayon Shin-chan, "Crayon Beats").[23] In 2005, Ai's song "Alive (English Version)" was used as an insert song for the South Korean drama Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang.

Many of Ai's songs have been used in films. Her "Story" song was remade (also with its English version) for Disney`s box office Big Hero 6 in 2014. She performed the theme song for Departures (2008), the winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009. She has also sung the theme songs for Crayon Shin-chan: The Legend Called Buri Buri 3 Minutes Charge (2005), Pray (2005), Lalapipo (2009) and Berserk Golden Age Arc I: The Egg of the High King (2012).[23] Her music has been featured on the soundtracks of TKO Hiphop (2005), the musical film Memories of Matsuko (2006), in which Ai cameoed to perform the song, and Heat Island (2007).[23]

Personal life

On March 6, 2013, Ai announced her engagement to Hiro, the leader and vocalist of the rock band Kaikigesshoku. The pair had been dating for 10 years, and wed in January 2014.[24][25] On August 28, 2015, Ai gave birth to her first child, a baby girl.[26]

Discography

Main article: Ai discography

Awards and nominations

Year Result Award Category Nominated work
2004 Won Space Shower Music Video Awards Best R&B Video "Thank U"
Nominated 2004 MTV Video Music Awards Japan Best Buzz Asia - Japan "After the Rain"
2005 Nominated 2005 MTV Video Music Awards Japan Best R&B Video "EO"
Nominated Best Collaboration "Watch Out" (featuring Afra, Tucker)
2005 Won Space Shower Music Video Awards Best Female Video "Watch Out" (featuring Afra, Tucker)
2006 Won 2006 MTV Video Music Awards Japan Best R&B Video "Story"
2007 Won Space Shower Music Video Awards Best Female Video "I Wanna Know"
Won 2007 MTV Video Music Awards Japan Best R&B Video "Believe"
2008 Nominated 2008 MTV Video Music Awards Japan Best R&B Video "I'll Remember You"
Won Best Buzz Asia - Japan
Nominated Space Shower Music Video Awards Best Female Video "Brand New Day"
Won MTV Student Voice Awards Respect Award general award
2009 Nominated 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Japan Best Video from a Film "Okuribito"
Nominated Best Collaboration Anna Tsuchiya featuring Ai - "Crazy World"
Nominated Billboard Japan Music Awards 2009 Artist of the Year 2009 general award
2010 Won Billboard Japan Music Awards 2010 International Collaboration Artists of the Year Ai, Chaka Khan - "One More Try," "Through the Fire"
2011 Nominated 2011 MTV Video Music Aid Japan Best R&B Video "Nemurenai Machi"
Nominated Best Collaboration Ai featuring Namie Amuro - "Fake"
2012 Nominated 2012 MTV Video Music Awards Japan Best R&B Video "Independent Woman"

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "AIアーティスト・プロフィール" [Ai Artist Profile] (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "AI-Soul Profile in English". BMG Japan. Archived from the original on April 8, 2001. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Biography" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 "Special Interview Vol. 5 - Ai talks about Boombox" (in Japanese). TDK. Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "She, herself and AI". Robert Michael Poole. The Japan Times. September 12, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "ＡＩのリリース一覧" [A Look at Ai's Releases]. Oricon. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  7. ↑ レコード協会調べ　2月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: February Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). March 25, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  8. ↑ レコード協会調べ　4月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: April Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). May 20, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  9. 1 2 "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 August 10, 2012. (subscription only)
  10. ↑ "紅白出場も決定、AIのライヴDVD!" [Appearing at Kohaku, AI's live DVD!]. CDJournal (in Japanese). December 2, 2005. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  11. 1 2 ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2006年10月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (October 2006)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). November 10, 2006. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  12. 1 2 レコード協会調べ　8月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: August Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). September 20, 2006. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  13. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2007年12月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (December 2007)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). January 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  14. ↑ レコード協会調べ　5月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: May Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). June 20, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  15. ↑ "AIがEMIミュージック・ジャパンに移籍" [Ai moves to EMI Music Japan] (in Japanese). Natalie.mu. June 7, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  16. ↑ ジャクソンズ来日！＜マイケル・ジャクソン・トリビュート・ライヴ＞に1万人が熱狂！ [The Jacksons come to Japan! 10,000 excited people at the Michael Jackson Tribute Live] (in Japanese). CDJournal. December 14, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  17. ↑ Robert Michael Poole (November 29, 2010). "The Jacksons to reform for Michael Jackson tribute show with A.I.". CNN. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  18. ↑ 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 20, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  19. ↑ レコード協会調べ　2月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: February Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). March 19, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  20. ↑ "海外プロモーション向けPV「Put You On」公開!!" [Unveiling of "Put You On" video, for overseas promotion] (in Japanese). Two Face. August 15, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  21. ↑ "AI「INDEPENDENT」TOUR LA公演のCMとAIからのメッセージを公開！" [Ai Independent Tour LA Showcase commercial and a message from Ai] (in Japanese). EMI Music Japan. July 2, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  22. ↑ UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 "AI - タイアップ" [Ai - tie-ups]. CDJournal. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  24. ↑ "AI、カイキゲッショクHIROと年内に結婚" [Ai and Kaikigesshoku's Hiro to marry in this year]. Natalie. March 6, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  25. ↑ "AIが妊娠報告「世界中にハピネス!!!」". Natalie. April 1, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  26. ↑ "AI、第1子を出産「自分が産んだこと信じられない」". Natalie. September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2015.

External links

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