So Special

"So Special"
CD-only cover
Single by Ai and Atsushi
from the album Viva Ai
Language	Japanese English
A-side	"Okuribito"
Released	September 10, 2008 (2008-09-10)
Recorded	2008
Genre	R&B J-pop
Length	4:13
Label	Island Universal Sigma
Songwriter(s)	Ai Uemura Atsushi Satō
Producer(s)	Uta
Ai singles chronology
"Taisetsu na Mono" (2008) "So Special" / "Okuribito" (2008) "Broken Strings" (2008)
Music video
"So Special (Version Ai)" on YouTube

"So Special" is a song recorded by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai and Japanese singer-songwriter Atsushi of Exile. It was released on September 10, 2008 alongside "Okuribito" as a double A-side single, by Island Records and Universal Sigma. The song and "Okuribito" served as the lead singles for Ai's seventh studio album, Viva Ai .

Background

"So Special" was written by Ai and Atsushi as a duet. Two versions of the song were recorded, a "Version Ai" and a "Version EX". In July 2008, Avex Group announced the "Version EX" of the song was to be included on Exile's greatest hits album, Exile Entertainment Best  [ ja ]. ^[1] The band's greatest hits album was initially announced in June 2008. ^[2] In August, Universal Japan announced Ai's version of the song was to be included on the physical release of "Okuribito", a song she recorded for Departures , as a double A-side single. ^{[3] [4]}

Promotion and live performances

"So Special" was used as the Music Fighter power play song. ^[5] Ai performed "So Special" with Atsushi on Music Station on September 12. ^[6]

Charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Japan Singles Chart (Oricon) [7]	15
Japan Hot 100 ( Billboard Japan ) [8]	14

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "So Special"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ) [9] Digital Download	Gold	100,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Inc, Natasha. "EXILEベストにATSUSHIとAIの友情コラボ曲収録". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved January 17, 2022.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
2. Inc, Natasha. "EXILEベスト第2弾は新曲満載＆話題のアニメ収録". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved January 17, 2022.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
3. "AI、感動から生まれた新曲「おくりびと」". BARKS (in Japanese). August 3, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
4. Inc, Natasha. "AIの両A面新作はATSUSHI・久石譲とのＷコラボ". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved January 17, 2022.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
5. "AI - タイアップ" [Ai - tie-ups]. CDJournal. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
6. "ミスチルが「Mステ」スペシャルで新曲テレビ初披露" [Mr. Children debut new song on TV, at M-Ste special]. Natalie (in Japanese). September 12, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
7. "おくりびと/So Special -Version AI- | AI". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
8. "Billboard Japan Hot 100: 2008 September 17". Billboard Japan .
9. "Japanese digital single certifications – Atsushi + Ai – So Special" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved January 17, 2022.Select 2014年12月 on the drop-down menu