Story (Ai song)

Last updated

"Story"
Ai - Story.png
Single by Ai
from the album Mic-a-holic Ai
Language Japanese
B-side "Passion"
ReleasedMay 18, 2005 (2005-05-18)
Genre
Length4:49
Label
Songwriter(s) Ai Uemura
Producer(s) 2Soul
Ai singles chronology
"Crayon Beats"
(2005)		"Story"
(2005)		"Believe"
(2006)
Music video
"Story" on YouTube

"Story" is a song written and recorded by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai. It was released on May 18, 2005, by Island Records and Universal Sigma. [1] The song served as the second single from Ai's fourth studio album, Mic-a-holic Ai .

Contents

Produced by 2Soul, "Story" became one of the biggest singles of the 2000s in Japan, peaking at number 8 on the Japanese Oricon singles chart, and was the sixth single in history to receive a triple million digital certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). [2]

Background and release

Ai previously released "365", the lead single for her then-upcoming fourth studio album. The song was used for a commercial tie-up in 2005. [3]

"Story" was announced and released in May 2005. [4]

Composition and lyrics

"Story" is a R&B ballad song. Lyrically, the song is about relationships with a significant other. [4]

Commercial performance

Upon its release, "Story" became 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. [5] [6] [7] The single charted for 72 weeks total on the Oricon singles chart. [8] In 2009, the song debuted at number 24 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 with the reborn version included on Ai's greatest hits album, Best Ai . It later peaked at number 7 in its third week on the chart. [9]

Near the end of 2014, "Story" re-entered Japanese charts following the Japanese release of the animated film Big Hero 6 , reaching a new peak on the Japan Hot 100 at number 18.

Live performances

Since the release of "Story" in 2005, Ai has performed the song multiple times live. Ai performed "Story" at the 56th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen music competition on December 31, 2005, her first appearance on the program. In 2008, she performed the song at the El Rey Theatre, which marked her debut live performance in the United States. [10] In 2009, she performed the song at the 3rd Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Story"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ) [15]
Single track 		2× Million2,000,000*
Japan (RIAJ) [16]
Full-length ringtone 		Million1,000,000*
Japan (RIAJ) [17]
PC download 		Platinum250,000*
Japan (RIAJ) [18]
Streaming 		Platinum100,000,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

"Story" has been covered by many Japanese artists on albums and live performances. Most notable covers are Makato Ozone's, Ms. Ooja's and May J.'s. [19] [20]

Track listing

  1. Story – 4:49
  2. Passion – 3:44
  3. Story (instrumental) – 4:49
  4. Passion (instrumental) – 3:44
  1. Story – 4:49
  2. Story (English version) – 4:51

Story (English Version)

"Story (English Version)"
Ai - Story (English Version).png
Single by Ai
from the album Big Hero 6 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
ReleasedOctober 21, 2014 (2014-10-21)
Recorded2005
Genre R&B
Length4:50
Label
Songwriter(s) Ai Uemura
Producer(s) 2Soul
Ai singles chronology
"Dear Mama"
(2013)		"Story (English Version)"
(2014)		"Let It Be"
(2014)
Music video
"Story (English Version)" on YouTube

On October 21, 2014, it was revealed that an unreleased English version of "Story" would be used in Disney's 2014 animated film, Big Hero 6 for the Japanese dub. [21] The song was released digitally as a single from the film's soundtrack on October 22, 2014 by EMI Records and Walt Disney Music in Japan. [22] [23] Regarding the song being included in the movie, Ai commented, "I was very happy to have sung 'Story' instead of a new song. Even if we sometimes feel uneasy or lonely, people always connect with someone." [24] The song was used in the closing credits for the Japanese release. For the single cover photo, Ai is pictured with her sister, Sachi Uemura.

Track listing

Digital download and streaming

  1. "Story (English Version)" — 4:50

Music video

A music video was released on January 27, 2015. Throughout the video, photos of loved ones submitted by fans are shown in the video. [25]

Release history

Release history and formats for "Story"
RegionDateFormat(s)VersionLabelRef.
JapanMay 18, 2005Maxi [4]
October 21, 2014
  • Digital download
  • streaming
English EMI [22]
February 26, 2025 7-inch vinyl Vinyl (+ "Story (English Version)) [26]
VariousFebruary 28, 2025 [27]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "AI/Story". tower.jp. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  2. ↑ "AI: Japan's R&B princess - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  3. ↑ "AI（UNIVERSAL / JPN） - CDJournal". artist.cdjournal.com (in Japanese). Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "AI、『Mステ』で久々の生歌唱 なぜ「Story」は愛され続ける名曲となったのか？". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). April 19, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ 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. Archived from the original on September 15, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  7. ↑ "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)
  8. 1 2 3 "Story | AI". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 "Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart | 2009/9/23". Billboard Japan.
  10. ↑ "Ai's big American dreams". Los Angeles Times. February 19, 2008. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  11. ↑ "週間 CDソフト TOP20". www.phileweb.com. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100: Week of January 7, 2015". Billboard Japan . Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Animation: Week of December 24, 2014". Billboard Japan . Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Hot Shot Songs: Week of December 18, 2024". Billboard Japan . Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Japanese digital single certifications – Ai – Story" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved March 27, 2022.Select 2017年6月 on the drop-down menu
  16. ↑ "Japanese ringtone certifications – Ai – Story" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved March 27, 2022.Select 2011年4月 on the drop-down menu
  17. ↑ "Japanese digital certifications – Ai – Story" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved March 27, 2022.Select 2008年12月 on the drop-down menu
  18. ↑ "Japanese digital single streaming certifications – Ai – Story" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved July 25, 2024.Select 2024年6月 on the drop-down menu
  19. ↑ "Ms.OOJAが宇多田、林檎、鬼束、Coccoらの名曲カバー". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  20. ↑ "May J.カバー第2弾全曲決定、アンジェラ、槇原ら追加". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  21. ↑ "AI「Story」英語版、新ディズニー映画彩る". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  22. 1 2 AIの「Story (English Version) - Single」 (in Japanese), October 22, 2014, retrieved October 4, 2021
  23. ↑ Big Hero 6 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Japan Version), December 17, 2014, retrieved October 4, 2021
  24. ↑ "AI「Story」×ベイマックスPV、ディズニーYouTubeで公開". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  25. ↑ "AI、投稿写真で紡いだ「Story」英語版PV完成". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  26. ↑ "AI『Story』と『ハピネス』7inchアナログレコードが2025年2月26日同時発売" [Ai's "Story" and "Happiness" 7-inch analog records will be released simultaneously on February 26, 2025]. Tower Records.
  27. ↑ "Story by Ai | Vinyl 7" Single". Barnes & Noble . Retrieved January 23, 2025.
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