Moriagaro

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Moriagaro
The large golden letters "MORIAGARO" are featured on a chain held at a left angle, taking up most of the image. This is held up on both corners by a woman, whose face you can see behind it. She is wearing a cap with pins in it, her hair is partially shaved and decorative red and white mascara.
Studio album by
Ai
ReleasedJuly 17, 2013 (2013-07-17)
Recorded2012–2013
Studio
  • Studio MSR (Tokyo)
  • Studioforesta (Tokyo)
  • The Studio (West Hollywood)
  • Wink2 Studio (Tokyo)
  • Da Co-op Studios (Atlanta)
  • Platinum Sound Recording Studio (New York City)
  • Area 51 (NYC)
Genre
Length46:26
Language
Label
Ai chronology
Independent
(2012) 		Moriagaro
(2013) 		The Best
(2015)
Singles from Moriagaro
  1. "Voice"
    Released: February 1, 2013
  2. "Dear Mama"
    Released: April 12, 2013

Moriagaro (stylized as MORIAGARO) (Japanese pronunciation: [moɾiaɡaɾoː], "Let's Get Down") is the 10th studio album by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai, released on July 17, 2013 by EMI Records Japan and Universal Music Group.[1] It marks her first release under EMI Records Japan following Universal's purchase of EMI's music operations.

Writing and production[]

The album was written by Ai, collaborating with American and Japanese producers. Ai collaborated with four singers: American R&B singers Jeremih, Lloyd and Bridget Kelly, as well as Malaysian Australian R&B singer Che'Nelle, who has based her career in Japan since 2011. Five of the songs are sung in Japanese, and three entirely in English. "Moriagaro," "Don't Turn Me Off" and "Gotta Get Mine" are sung in a mix of English and Japanese.

Album recording took place mostly in Tokyo, as well as in West Hollywood, Atlanta and New York City.[2]

Ai worked mostly with Japanese producer Uta (who she has worked with since Viva Ai (2009)) on the songs "Hanabi," "My Place," "Sogood" and "Voice." This is the first time that Ai only worked with a single Japanese producer on an album. Ai worked with five American producers on the remaining songs. Fifty 1 Fifty produced three songs, "For You," "Top of the World" and "After the Storm." De-Capo Music Group worked on "Moriagaro," C3prod on "Mama e" and Wonda Music on "Gotta Get Mine." Ai worked together with producer D.Clax and The Exclusives on the song "My Baby."[2]

Promotion and release[]

The first single released from the album was "" in February 2013. The song was used as the theme song for the drama Yakō Kanransha, starring Kyōka Suzuki and Yuriko Ishida.[3] The single became a big hit, being certified by the RIAJ as a gold single a month after release.[4] It is currently her fourth most sold physical single since her debut.[5] It is also her last release under the then-independent EMI Music Japan.

Ai followed up the single with two digital singles. The first was "Mama e," used in a Lotte chocolate commercial campaign for Mother's Day, and "After the Storm," used as the theme for the Japanese release of the Hong Kong martial arts film The Grandmaster.[3] Three other songs were used for TV commercials. "Sogood" was used for KFC Japan commercials, "For You" for Kubota commercials, and "My Place" for Japan Rail in promotion of the Kyushu Shinkansen.[3] "Gotta Get Mine" was also used as the July opening theme for the TV Tokyo R&B/dance program Chōryūha.[3][6] "Top of the World" was later used as the opening theme for the TBS drama Higanjima in October 2013.[6]

Music videos were produced for the album songs "Gotta Get Mine," "Hanabi," "My Place," and "Sogood."[7][8][9][10]

The album was re-released on November 20, 2013, as Motto Moriagaro, featuring five additional tracks and a DJ mix CD by DJ Hirakatsu.[6] Two of the five tracks are unpublished songs that received TV commercial tie-ups. "Get Your Hands Up" was used as the Ya-man Dancing EMS CM song and "Run Free" was used as a song promoting Reebok Reebok Classic.[6]

Tours[]

Ai's Moriagaro Tour began in October in Kanagawa, Japan, and included 33 dates. The final concert will be held on December 18, 2013, at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.[3]

Track listing[]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Moriagaro.[2]

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Moriagaro" (featuring Jeremih)Ai, Oretha LeeAi, Lee, De-Capo3:22
2."Don't Turn Me Off"Michico, ScoopBopUta, Michico, ScoopBop3:46
3."Voice"AiAi, Uta5:13
4."Hanabi" ("Fireworks")AiAi, Uta4:01
5."My Baby" (featuring Lloyd)Victoria Mwangi, Asia Bryant, Lloyd, The ExclusivesDavid "D.Clax" Claxton, Lloyd, The Exclusives, Mwangi, Bryant3:36
6."Mama e" (ママへ "Dear Mama")AiAi, C3prod, Ben-E4:00
7."Sogood"AiAi, Uta3:18
8."Gotta Get Mine" (featuring Bridget Kelly)Blush, AiJerry Duplessis, Arden Altino, Akene Dunkley, Blush3:29
9."After the Storm" (featuring Che'Nelle)Matthew "Damario" Quinney, Joseph Macklin, Carlos "Los" Jenkins, David "Davix" Foreman, Dashawn "Happie" White, Thomas "Tom Jack" JacksonQuinney, Macklin, Jenkins, Foreman, White, Jackson3:40
10."For You (Piano Version)"AiQuinney, Macklin, Jenkins, Foreman, White4:28
11."My Place"AiAi, Uta4:00
12."Top of the World"Quinney, Macklin, Derrick Curtis Vines, Jenkins, Foreman, WhiteQuinney, Macklin, Vines, Jenkins, Foreman, White3:33
Total length:46:26
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
13."Get Your Hands Up"Jenkins, MacklinJenkins, Macklin1:24
14."Run Free" (featuring Miliyah Kato, Verbal)Ai, Miliyah, VerbalAi, Miliyah, Verbal, Lucas Valentine, H.SU4:48
15."Gotta Get Mine (English Version)" (featuring Bridget Kelly)Blush, AiDuplessis, Arden Altino, Akene Dunkley, Blush3:32
16."Mama e (Piano Version)"AiAi, C3prod, Ben-E4:03
17."Happiness (Ageyō Version)" (ハピネス - あげようバージョン Hapinesu Ageyō Bājon, "'Let's Give' Version")AiAi, Uta4:13
Total length:64:26
Max Moriagaro: Special DJ Mix by DJ Hirakatsu
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Moriagaro Tour Intro"  1:17
2."Show It Off" (DJ Lead featuring Jim Jones & Ai)Ai, DJ LeadAi, DJ Lead, Nao the Laiza1:17
3."Don't Turn Me Off"Michico, ScoopBopUta, Michico, ScoopBop2:00
4."Moriagaro"Ai, Oretha LeeAi, Lee, De-Capo2:20
5."I Wanna Know"AiAi, DJ Watarai, Jin2:11
6."EO"Ai2Soul2:03
7."Like a Bird" (featuring Corn Head)Ai, Corn HeadUta, Ai2:53
8."Happiness (Reggae Summer Remix by Mighty Crown)"AiAi, Uta2:16
9.""Ai, Jonas Jeberg, Anders Bagge, Sylvia Bennett-Smith, Marc SmithJeberg, Ai2:07
10."Mama e"AiAi, C3prod, Ben-E2:17
11."Life"Ai, Stephanie Fountain StokesAi, Stokes1:05
12."Music"AiT. Kura, Ai2:36
13."Get Up" (featuring Sphere of Influence)Ai, Sphere of InfluenceBach Logic, Ai2:15
14."365" (featuring Deli)Ai, DeliAquarius, Ai2:26
15."Still..." (featuring AK-69)Ai, AK-69Ai, AK-69, Jin, DJ Watarai1:36
16."Independent Woman"AiAi, Elliot Washington2:12
17."Dance Together"AiAi, TeeFlii2:30
18."Top of the World"Quinney, Macklin, Vines, Jenkins, Foreman, WhiteQuinney, Macklin, Vines, Jenkins, Foreman, White2:08
19."You Are My Star"AiUta, Ai1:23
20."Hanabi"AiAi, Uta2:21
21."Sogood"AiAi, Uta2:55
22."Wavin' Flag (Coca-Cola Celebration Mix) (Version Ai)", Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Jean Daval, AiWarsame, Mars, Lawrence, Daval2:55
Total length:48:54

Chart rankings[]

Charts (2013) Peak
position
Japan Oricon daily albums[11] 3
Japan Oricon weekly albums[12] 5
Japan Oricon monthly albums[13] 18

Sales and certifications[]

Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[12] 49,000

Personnel[]

Personnel details were sourced from Moriagaro's liner notes booklet.[2]

Managerial

Performance credits

Visuals and imagery

Technical and production

Release history[]

Region Date Format Distributing Label Catalogue codes
Japan July 17, 2013 (2013-07-17)[1] CD, digital download EMI Records Japan TOCT-29178, TOCT-29179
Taiwan August 9, 2013 (2013-08-09)[1] CD Universal Music Taiwan 0634723
Japan August 13, 2013 (2013-08-13)[14] Rental CD EMI Records Japan TOCT-29178
November 20, 2013 (2013-11-20)[6] 2CD deluxe edition TYCT-60016/7

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "MORIAGARO (初回生産限定盤:もりあがろうプライス) [Limited Edition]". Amazon Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Moriagaro (Media notes) (in Japanese). Ai. Tokyo, Japan: EMI Music Japan. 2013.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "AI 、新作アルバム『MORIAGARO』7/17発売、初回限定 "もりあがろうプライス"2,500円！全国ツアーでAIと一緒にステージに立てる券など豪華抽選特典も封入！" [Ai, new album Moriagaro 7/17 release, first press "Get Down Price" of 2,500 yen! Featuring lottery ticket to go onstage with Ai on her all Japan tour!]. PR Times (in Japanese). Barks. July 4, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  4. ^ 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 19, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  5. ^ ＡＩのシングル売り上げランキング [Ai's single sales ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "最新アルバム「MORIAGARO」が更に盛り上がる豪華2枚組となって「MOTTO MORIAGARO」発売決定!!" [Ai's new album Moriagaro to be released again as a super moriagaru 2CD set Motto Moriagaro] (in Japanese). Ai Music. September 26, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
  7. ^ "GOTTA GET MINE feat.BRIDGET KELLY（JP/Short Ver.）" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  8. ^ "HANABI" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  9. ^ "MY PLACE（Short Ver.）" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  10. ^ "sogood（AI Ver.）" (in Japanese). Space Shower. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  11. ^ "2013年07月17日のCDアルバムデイリーランキング" [July 17, 2013 CD Album Daily Ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. July 19, 2013. Archived from the original on July 19, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "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 November 26, 2013. (subscription only)
  13. ^ "CDアルバム月間ランキング" [CD albums Monthly Ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  14. ^ "MORIAGARO/Ai" (in Japanese). Tsutaya. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
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