25th The Best - Alive
25th The Best - Alive | ||||
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Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | February 26, 2025 | |||
Recorded | 2003–2023 | |||
Label | EMI | |||
Ai chronology | ||||
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25th The Best - Alive (stylized 25th THE BEST - ALIVE) is the fifth greatest hits album by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai, scheduled for release on February 26, 2025, via EMI Records.
Background
[edit]Ai released her thirteenth studio album Respect All on August 23, 2023. After completing her tour of the same name, she released the promotional single "Whatever".[1] In 2024, Ai was featured on a series of albums, including Ringo Sheena's Carnival and Mori Calliope's Phantomime. In July, she released "Untitled" featuring Pushim and Dabo, a mashup of Ai's song "Whatever" and the remix version of Pushim's "I Wanna Know You" featuring Dabo.[2] In November, Ai made a series of posts regarding her 25th anniversary of her debut on social media.[3]
Release and promotion
[edit]On November 2, 2024, Universal Music Japan launched a website for Ai's 25th anniversary with the message "We are Alive!!!". On November 29, the website was updated, unveiling the Alive Tour, which will begin in May 2025.[4] Alongside the tour announcement, Ai shared on social media she would be releasing a greatest hits album, 25th The Best - Alive.[5][6] Universal Japan announced limited copies of "Story" and "Happiness" on 7-inch single vinyls, which will be released the same day as 25th The Best - Alive.[7][8]
Various editions of the album were announced with limited first press goods. The standard edition features 17 tracks while the deluxe version includes 33 tracks split on two discs. A limited three disc version of the album includes live footage from Ai's Respect All Tour alongside tracks from the deluxe version.[9]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Story" | Ai Carina Uemura | Mic-a-holic Ai | |
2. | "Aldebaran" | Naotarō Moriyama | Dream | |
3. | "Happiness" | Uemura | Independent | |
4. | "Minna ga Minna Eiyū" | Makoto Shinohara | ||
5. | "Dear Mama" | Uemura | Moriagaro | |
6. | "Kira Kira" (featuring Naomi Watanabe) | Uemura | Wa to Yo | |
7. | "My Friend" |
| Original Ai | |
8. | "The Moment" (featuring Yellow Bucks) |
| Dream | |
9. | "Life" |
| Original Ai | |
10. | "Last Words" | Uemura | Original Ai | |
11. | "I Wanna Know" | Uemura | What's Goin' On Ai | |
12. | "Voice" | Uemura | Moriagaro | |
13. | "Not So Different" (remix) (featuring Awich) |
| It's All Me, Vol. 2 | |
14. | "You Are My Star" |
| Viva Ai | |
15. | "Nemurenai Machi" | Uemura | The Last Ai | |
16. | "Believe" | Uemura | What's Goin' On Ai | |
17. | "Music Is My Life" | Uemura | Wa to Yo |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original Album | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Story" | Uemura | Mic-a-holic Ai | |
2. | "Aldebaran" | Moriyama | Dream | |
3. | "Happiness" | Uemura | Independent | |
4. | "Minna ga Minna Eiyū" | Shinohara | ||
5. | "Dear Mama" | Uemura | Moriagaro | |
6. | "Kira Kira" (featuring Naomi Watanabe) | Uemura | Wa to Yo | |
7. | "Hanabi" | Uemura | Moriagaro | |
8. | "My Friend" |
| Original Ai | |
9. | "The Moment" (featuring Yellow Bucks) |
| Dream | |
10. | "Fake" (featuring Namie Amuro) | Uemura | The Last Ai | |
11. | "Life" |
| Original Ai | |
12. | "Independent Woman" | Uemura | Independent | |
13. | "World Dance" (featuring Chanmina) |
| Respect All | |
14. | "In the Middle" (featuring Daichi Miura) |
| Dream | |
15. | "Last Words" | Uemura | Original Ai | |
16. | "I Wanna Know" | Uemura | What's Goin' On Ai | |
17. | "E.O" |
| 2004 Ai | |
18. | "Voice" | Uemura | Moriagaro | |
19. | "Not So Different" (remix) (featuring Awich) |
| It's All Me, Vol. 2 | |
20. | "Respect All" |
| Respect All | |
21. | "Thank U" |
| Original Ai | |
22. | "Music" |
| What's Goin' On Ai | |
23. | "Sunshine" |
| Mic-a-holic Ai | |
24. | "Be with You" |
| Dream | |
25. | "Whatever" |
| ||
26. | "You Are My Star" |
| Viva Ai | |
27. | "Nemurenai Machi" | Uemura | The Last Ai | |
28. | "Family" |
| The Last Ai | |
29. | "So Special" (Version Ai) (with Atsushi) |
| Viva Ai | |
30. | "Wavin' Flag (Coca Cola Celebration Mix)" (Version Ai) |
| The Last Ai | |
31. | "I'll Remember You" |
| Don't Stop Ai | |
32. | "Believe" | Uemura | What's Goin' On Ai | |
33. | "Music Is My Life" | Uemura | Wa to Yo |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Opening" | |
2. | "Respect All" | |
3. | "Moriagaro" | |
4. | "Hanabi" | |
5. | "The Moment" (featuring Yellow Bucks) | |
6. | "Start Again" | |
7. | "Wavin' Flag" | |
8. | "Be with You" | |
9. | "Dear Mama" | |
10. | "Beautiful Things" | |
11. | "Life Goes On" | |
12. | "Little Hands" | |
13. | "Nemurenai Machi" | |
14. | "Be Brave" | |
15. | "Story" | |
16. | "Aldebaran" | |
17. | "I Wanna Know" | |
18. | "Voice" | |
19. | "Not So Different" (remix) | |
20. | "World Dance" | |
21. | "Lasting Peace Song" (encore) | |
22. | "Whatever" (encore) | |
23. | "Minna ga Minna Eiyū" (encore) | |
24. | "Happiness" (encore) |
Notes
- The album's limited edition CD+DVD release consists of three discs.
- "Respect All" interpolates Bob James' 1982 instrumental song "Shamboozie" written by James.
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | February 26, 2025 | Standard | [10] | ||
Japan | CD |
|
[11] | ||
Deluxe | |||||
|
Limited | ||||
| |||||
CD (Amazon exclusive) | Standard | [12] | |||
Deluxe | |||||
|
Limited | ||||
| |||||
CD (Universal Japan exclusive) | Standard | Universal Japan | [13] | ||
Deluxe | |||||
|
Limited | ||||
|
References
[edit]- ^ "ネスレ日本「キットカット」受験生応援CMで流れる曲は?" [What song plays in Nestlé Japan's "Kit Kat" exam support commercial?]. CDJournal (in Japanese). Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "AIがPUSHIMとDABO迎え新曲リリース、"とにかく大好き"な「I Wanna Know You」サンプリング(コメントあり)" [Ai releases new song with Pushim and Dabo, sampling "I Wanna Know You" which she "just loves"]. Natalie (in Japanese). July 16, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "AI、デビュー25周年イヤーの新ビジュアルとロゴ公開(コメントあり)". Natalie (in Japanese). November 2, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "AI デビュー25周年イヤー<25の『アイ』を届けます>企画スタート!,2025年2/26(水)に25周年記念ベストアルバム発売&ベストツアーが決定!" [Ai's 25th anniversary year "25 of Ai" project has started! 25th anniversary best album release on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 & best tour decided!]. Encore (in Japanese). December 1, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "AI、<25の『アイ』を届けます>企画スタート。25周年記念ベストアルバム発売+全国ツアーなど数々の企画発表も" [Ai launches "25 of Ai" project. 25th anniversary best album release + national tour and other project announcements]. Barks (in Japanese). November 29, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ Atkinson, Katie (December 16, 2024). "AI Talks Collaborating With Zedd for 'Dragonball DAIMA' Ending Theme & Plans for 25th Anniversary". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ "AI、デビュー25周年イヤー企画「25の『アイ』を届けます」スタート" [Ai launches 25th anniversary project "Delivering 25 'Ai' "]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). November 29, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "AI、デビュー25周年イヤー記念し"25の『アイ』を届けます"企画始動 ベスト盤&全国ツアー開催も" [Ai to celebrate 25 years since debut with project "Delivering 25 versions of 'Ai'" and holding best album and nationwide tour]. Real Sound (in Japanese). November 29, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^ "AI 25周年記念ベストアルバム『25th THE BEST - ALIVE』2025年2月26日発売!タワレコ先着特典「ステッカーシート」" [Ai's 25th Anniversary Best Album "25th The Best - Alive" to be released on February 26, 2025! Tower Records first-come-first-served bonus "Sticker Sheet"]. Tower Records. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^
- "25th The Best - Alive [Regular Edition] AI CD Album". CDJapan. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "25th The Best - Alive [Deluxe Edition] AI CD Album". CDJapan. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "25th The Best - Alive [2CD + DVD / Limited Edition] AI CD Album". CDJapan. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "25th The Best - Alive [2CD + Blu-ray / Limited Edition] AI CD Album". CDJapan. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^
- "Amazon.co.jp限定】25th THE BEST - ALIVE (通常盤)(特典:メガジャケ付)". Amazon. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "【Amazon.co.jp限定】25th THE BEST - ALIVE (DELUXE EDITION)(2枚組)(特典:メガジャケ付)". Amazon. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "【Amazon.co.jp限定】25th THE BEST - ALIVE (初回限定盤)(2枚組)(DVD付)(特典:メガジャケ付)". Amazon. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "【Amazon.co.jp限定】25th THE BEST - ALIVE (初回限定盤)(2枚組)(Blu-Ray付)(特典:メガジャケ付)". Amazon. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- ^
- "25th THE BEST - ALIVE【CD】【+GOODS】 | AI". Universal Music Store (in Japanese). Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "25th THE BEST - ALIVE【CD】【+GOODS】 | AI". Universal Music Store (in Japanese). Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "25th THE BEST - ALIVE【CD】【+DVD】【+GOODS】 | AI". Universal Music Store (in Japanese). Retrieved December 2, 2024.
- "25th THE BEST - ALIVE【CD】【+Blu-ray】【+GOODS】 | AI". Universal Music Store (in Japanese). Retrieved December 2, 2024.