Not So Different

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Not So Different"
Ai - Not So Different.jpg
Single by Ai
from the EP It's All Me, Vol. 2
Language
ReleasedNovember 25, 2020 (2020-11-25)
Genre
Length3:42
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Avedon
  • Storch
  • Uemura
Ai singles chronology
"Gift"
(2020) 		"Not So Different"
(2020) 		"The Moment"
(2021)
Awich singles chronology
"Aligator / FND Airlines"
(2020) 		"Not So Different"
(2020) 		"Happy X-mas (War Is Over)"
(2020)
Music video
"Not So Different" on YouTube

"Not So Different" is a song recorded by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai. It was released on November 25, 2020. The song was written by Ai and Rachel West with additional songwriting credits from producers Avedon and Scott Storch and was included on It's All Me, Vol. 2 (2021).

On December 11, 2020, a remix featuring Japanese rapper Awich was released and later included on It's All Me, Vol. 2. A J-pop and pop rap song, "Not So Different" lyrically is about equality and world peace. The song has been compared to Ai's 2006 single "I Wanna Know".

Background[]

When I [wrote Not So Different], I hadn't decided to put this song on "Volume two" [...] At that time, the Black Lives Matter movement expanded, and [I] decided to put [it] out now. I always want[ed] to send a message like this, but often I can't put out a song unless the timing is right.

— Ai reflecting on including "Not So Different" on It's All Me, Vol. 2[1]

Ai originally wrote and recorded the song during her 2019 recording session in Los Angeles, California. She originally performed the song in June 2020 amidst the George Floyd protests in an interview with Salesforce.[2][3] In October 2020, Ai announced she would be participating in the One Young World summit to take place in Tokyo in May 2021.[4][5] "Not So Different" originally was not planned for release as a single nor planned to be included on Ai's It's All Me EP's until November 2020.[6] In an interview with Oricon regarding the lyric "...a peace sign instead of a middle finger", Ai stated she normally does not express herself directly in her songs and that she "...wanted to express such a part in an easy-to-understand manner."[7]

Awich remix[]

A remix of Not So Different featuring Awich was announced a few days after the release of the solo version.[8] Regarding the remix, Ai stated it originally was not planned until she discussed it with her manager.[9] It was released on December 11, 2020.[10]

Music video[]

A music video for the solo version was released on November 25, 2020.[11] A One Young World Japan version was released in December 2020.[12][13]

In February 2021, a music video for the remix version featuring Awich was released.

Live performances[]

Ai previously performed the song before its release in June 2020.[14] She performed the song with Awich in November 2020.[15]

Credits and personnel[]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[16]

Solo version[]

Musicians[]

Technical[]

Awich remix[]

Musicians[]

  • Ai Uemura – vocals, production, songwriting
  • Akiko Urasaki – vocals, songwriting
  • Rachel West – songwriting
  • Vincent Van den Ende – songwriting, production
  • Scott Storch –songwriting, production

Technical[]

  • Randy Merrill – mastering engineer
  • D.O.I – mixer
  • Keisuke Fujimaki – recording engineer
  • Keisuke Suwa – recording engineer
  • Shiori Maruoka – recording engineer

Track listing[]

Digital download

  1. Not So Different – 3:42

Awich remix

  1. Not So Different (feat. Awich) – 3:41

Release history[]

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various November 25, 2020
[6]
December 11, 2020
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 [17]

References[]

  1. ^ Inc, Natasha. "AI「IT'S ALL ME - Vol.2」インタビュー｜今この世界で掲げる、ずっと歌い続けてきた"ラブ＆ピース" - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  2. ^ "AI、新曲「Not So Different」＆「ハピネス」アコースティックver.をパフォーマン". Billboard Japan. Retrieved 2021-12-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "AI、新曲「Not So Different」パフォーマンス映像公開「みんな同じHuman」". BARKS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  4. ^ "AI、青年版ダボス会議「One Young World Japan」初のオフィシャル・アーティストに就任 - CDJournal ニュース". www.cdjournal.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  5. ^ "The One Young World Summit Tokyo 2022 | One Young World". www.oneyoungworld.com. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  6. ^ a b "AI「IT'S ALL ME - Vol.2」インタビュー｜今この世界で掲げる、ずっと歌い続けてきた"ラブ＆ピース" - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Natalie Inc. Retrieved 2021-04-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "平和を歌うアーティスト・AI 「私にできるのは音楽を通してメッセージを届けること」". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  8. ^ "AIがAwichを迎えた新曲「Not So Different Remix」をリリース". block.fm (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  9. ^ "【対談】AI × Awich | 私たちはそんなに違わない". FNMNL (フェノメナル). 2021-02-19. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  10. ^ "AI announces new song "Not So Different" MV release & new mini album release". Billboard Japan. Retrieved 2021-08-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ "A remix of "Not So Different" by AI and Awich to be released". Billboard Japan. Retrieved 2021-08-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "AI、「Not So Different」の新作MVで次世代を担う世界14ヵ国15名の若きリーダーたちとコラボ (2020年12月2日)". エキサイトニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  13. ^ "NOT SO DIFFERENT – OYWJ Version – – One Young World Japan". Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  14. ^ "AI、新曲「Not So Different」パフォーマンス映像＆「ハピネス」アコースティックVer.公開（動画あり）". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Natalie Inc. Retrieved 2021-08-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ "AI、Awichとコラボ「かっこよくなりすぎました」". BARKS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  16. ^ "Credits / It's All Me, Vol. 2 / Tidal". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved 2021-08-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Inc, Natasha. "AIとAwichのコラボが実現、来週CDTVに出演（コメントあり）". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-08-20.
Retrieved from ""