Wa to Yo

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Wa to Yo
Wa To Yo Album.jpg
Studio album by
Ai
ReleasedJune 7, 2017 (2017-06-07)
Recorded
  • 2012-2013
  • 2016-2017
Genre
Length
  • 64:13
  • 92:40 (deluxe)
Language
Label
Producer
  • Ai Uemura
  • Uta
  • Julian Le
  • Gakushi
  • Black The Beast
  • Don City
  • Derrick D. Beck
  • D.Clax
  • Vakseen[3]
Ai chronology
The Feat Best
(2016) 		Wa to Yo
(2017) 		Kansha!!!!! - Thank You for 20 Years New and Best
(2019)
Singles from Wa to Yo
  1. "Justice Will Prevail at Last"
    Released: May 9, 2017
  2. "Kira Kira"
    Released: August 1, 2017

Wa to Yo (Japanese: 和と洋, lit. Japanese and Western) is the eleventh studio album by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai. It was released on June 7, 2017 through EMI Records and Universal Music Group. It consists of two discs, the Wa disc recorded in Japanese while the Yo disc was recorded in English. The album features guest appearances and collaborations from Kodō, Jinmenusagi, Himekami, Jamaican musician Junior Reid, American singer-songwriter Eric Bellinger, and American singer-songwriter Chris Brown. Wa to Yo is primarily a J-pop, R&B, soul and hip hop album.

Two singles were released from Wa to Yo, "Justice Will Prevail at Last" and "Kira Kira" featuring Naomi Watanabe.

Background[]

After the release of Moriagaro in 2013, Ai was engaged to Hiro, the leader and vocalist of the rock band Kaikigesshoku. The pair had been dating for 10 years, and wed in January 2014.[4] In August 2015, Ai gave birth to her first child.[5]

The album was first teased on Ai's YouTube channel on April 20, 2017.[6][7]

Development[]

Wanting to "convey the goodness of Japan" to the rest of the world and "the goodness of the overseas to Japanese people", Ai collaborated with several producers, artists and songwriters from both Japan and the west.[8] The album combines traditional Japanese instruments with modern J-pop and western genres.[8]

In an interview with her label, Ai stated majority of the English songs from the Yo disc were recorded during her Atlantic City session, originally intended for her tenth studio album, Moriagaro.[9]

Track listing[]

All tracks written by Ai Uemura except where noted.

Wa – disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wa Interlude" (featuring Kodō & Jinmenusagi)
2:46
2."Wonderful World" (featuring Himekami)
  • Uemura
  • Yoshiaki Hoshi
3:55
3."From Zero" 4:22
4."Justice Will Prevail at Last" (最後は必ず正義が勝つ) 4:05
5."Feel it" 3:11
6."I Can Pretend" 4:00
7."Gui Gui" (グイグイ) 3:02
8."Home" 3:59
9."It's Gonna Be All Right" 4:34
10."Music Is My Life" 6:07
Total length:38:41
Yo – disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Yo Interlude" 2:00
12."Welcome To My City" (featuring Junior Reid & Eric Bellinger)
  • Uemura
  • Eric Bellinger
  • Issa
  • Junior Reid
  • Tyrone Wright
  • Victoria Kimani
3:22
13."Right Now" (featuring Chris Brown)
  • Uemura
  • Arin Ray
  • Chris Brown
  • Derrick D. Beck
  • Donameche Jackson
  • Jamal Gaines
  • Joshua Berry
  • Vincent Berry
2:56
14."What I Want" (featuring Jinmenusagi)
3:00
15."Sweet Nothing's"
  • Alex Geringas
  • Samantha Nelson
4:03
16."The One You Need"
  • Uemura
  • Latisha Hyman
  • Wright
4:14
17."Crazy Love"
  • Uemura
  • David Claxton
  • Kimani
4:15
Total length:23:10

Deluxe edition[]

Wa – disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wa Interlude" (featuring Kodō & Jinmenusagi)
  • Ai Uemura
  • Riou Tomiyama
2:46
2."Wonderful World" (featuring Himekami)
  • Uemura
  • Yoshiaki Hoshi
3:55
3."From Zero" 4:22
4."Justice Will Prevail at Last" (最後は必ず正義が勝つ) 4:05
5."Feel it" 3:11
6."I Can Pretend" 4:00
7."Gui Gui" (グイグイ) 3:02
8."Home" 3:59
9."It's Gonna Be All Right" 4:34
10."Music Is My Life" 6:07
11."Heiwa"
  • Carlos Jenkins
  • Matthew Quinney
  • Obi Eble
  • Uche Eble
  • Uemura
3:54
12."Miracle" (ミラクル) 3:38
13."I'm The Champion" 4:08
14."Run To The Sun" 3:38
15."Kira Kira" (キラキラ featuring Naomi Watanabe) 3:39
16."Happy Christmas" (ハッピークリスマス) 5:24
Total length:61:42
Yo – disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Yo Interlude" 2:00
2."Welcome To My City" (featuring Junior Reid & Eric Bellinger)
  • Uemura
  • Eric Bellinger
  • Issa
  • Junior Reid
  • Tyrone Wright
  • Victoria Kimani
3:22
3."Right Now" (featuring Chris Brown)
  • Uemura
  • Arin Ray
  • Chris Brown
  • Derrick D. Beck
  • Donameche Jackson
  • Jamal Gaines
  • Joshua Berry
  • Vincent Berry
2:56
4."What I Want" (featuring Jinmenusagi)
  • Uemura
  • Anthony Charles Williams II
  • Jinmenusagi
  • Ty Steez
  • Vakseen
3:00
5."Sweet Nothing's"
  • Alex Geringas
  • Samantha Nelson
4:03
6."The One You Need"
  • Uemura
  • Latisha Hyman
  • Wright
4:14
7."Crazy Love"
  • Uemura
  • David Claxton
  • Kimani
4:15
8."Little Hero" 3:47
Total length:26:57

Chart performance[]

Chart (2017) Peak

position

Sales (JPN)
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[10] 19 10,000
Japanese albums (Oricon)[11] 11

Release history[]

Region Date Format(s) Version Label Ref.
Various June 7, 2017
Standard
[12]
Japan CD Universal Japan [13]
Various October 25, 2017
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Deluxe
[14]
Japan CD Universal Japan [15]

References[]

  1. ^ https://music.apple.com/us/album/wa-to-yo/1440892842
  2. ^ "和と洋[CD] - AI - UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN". AI (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  3. ^ https://open.spotify.com/album/0RNil3fxMfqv8xRhFeYB7t
  4. ^ Inc, Natasha. "AI、カイキゲッショクHIROと年内に結婚". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  5. ^ Inc, Natasha. "AI、第1子を出産「自分が産んだこと信じられない」". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  6. ^ AI NEW Album「和と洋(WAtoYO)」Teaser Part1, retrieved 2020-06-24
  7. ^ AI NEW Album「和と洋(WAtoYO)」Teaser Part2, retrieved 2020-06-24
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "AI、「最後は必ず正義が勝つ」をMステ披露 新作『和と洋』に表れた"横断する"アーティスト性". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  9. ^ "AI「和と洋」スペシャルサイト". sp.universal-music.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  10. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2017/06/14".
  11. ^ "和と洋と。DELUXE EDITION | AI". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  12. ^ Inc, Natasha. "AIニューアルバムは和洋折衷の2枚組、ライブBD/DVDも同時発売決定". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  13. ^ "和と洋 | AI". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  14. ^ Inc, Natasha. "AI、最新アルバム曲で構成したメドレーMV（動画あり）". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  15. ^ "和と洋と。DELUXE EDITION | AI". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
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