My Name Is Ai

My Name Is Ai (stylized my name is AI) is the debut studio album by Japanese–American singer-songwriter Ai, released on November 2, 2001, by RCA Records and BMG Fun House.

My Name Is Ai
Studio album by
Ai
ReleasedNovember 2, 2001 (2001-11-02)
Recorded2000–2001
StudioFlash Light (Tokyo, Japan)
Genre
Length67:11
Language
Label
Producer
Ai chronology
My Name Is Ai
(2001)		 Original Ai
(2003)
Singles from My Name Is Ai
  1. "Cry, Just Cry"
    Released: November 22, 2000
  2. "U Can Do"
    Released: May 23, 2001
  3. "Shining Star"
    Released: September 5, 2001

Three singles were released from My Name Is Ai, "Cry, Just Cry", "U Can Do" and "Shining Star". Although the latter of the two did not chart, "Shining Star" charted and peaked at number 98 on the Oricon Singles Chart.[1]

Although not commercially successful, My Name Is Ai peaked at number 86 on the Oricon albums chart.[2]

Background

Ai developed an interest to become a singer in her early adolescence.[3][4] After graduating from junior high school in Japan, Ai returned to her hometown, Los Angeles, California, to attend high school. Initially attending Glendale High School, Ai later switched to Los Angeles Count High School for the Arts, majoring in ballet. In 1998, she appeared as a dancer in Janet Jackson's song "Go Deep".[5][4]

In 1999, Ai joined an Asian girl group called SX4. While on holiday in Kagoshima, she performed Monica's "For You I Will", which led to her being scouted by BMG.[6][4] Deciding to take the offer, Ai left SX4 and moved to Tokyo after graduating high school in 2000, signing to BMG Japan's RCA Records label.[3][7]

Track listing
My Name Is Ai
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Born to Sing" (Introduction)Ai Carina Uemura 0:47
2."Inori"
  • Uemura
  • Takuya Harada
Shinnosuke4:47
3."Triangle"
  • Uemura
  • Shinnosuke
Shinnosuke4:22
4."U Can Do"
  • Uemura
  • Diggy-Mo
  • Shinnosukue
Shinnosuke3:57
5."Shining Star" (R&B Version)
  • Uemura
  • Harada
Junkoo5:12
6."Protect You"
  • Uemura
  • Yukio Mitsui
  • Genki Hibino
Shinnosuke4:38
7."Memory"HaradaArs Wizard C-VE4:22
8."Depend On Me"
  • Uemura
  • Junkoo
Junkoo5:33
9."Thank You Lord" (Interlude)Uemura 0:47
10."Shut Out" (featuring Diggy-Mo of Soul'd Out)
  • Uemura
  • Diggy-Mo
  • Takashi Shimizu
Ars Wizard C-VE5:07
11."Why U Trippin?"
  • Uemura
  • Shimizu
Ars Wizard C-VE4:53
12."I Wish"
  • Uemura
  • Junkoo
Junkoo6:23
13."Hold On"
  • Uemura
  • Junkoo
Junkoo4:41
14."Cry, Just Cry"
  • Uemura
  • Junkoo
Junkoo5:12
15."Show Off!!"
  • Uemura
  • Masaaki Iwami
Junkoo3:19
16."Love" (Interlude)Uemura 0:29
17."My Destiny"
  • Uemura
  • Shimizu
Ars Wizard C-VE6:02
Total length:67:11

Notes
  • Tracks 2–4, 6, 10, 12, and 15–16 are stylized in all capitals.
  • Track 14 is stylized as "Cry, just Cry"

Personnel

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.[8]

Musicians
  • Ai Carina Uemura – lead vocals, songwriting
  • Takuya Harada – songwriting
  • Shinnosukue – arrangement, songwriting, production
  • Junkoo – arrangement, songwriting, production, piano
  • Genki Hibino – songwriting
  • Yukiko Mitsui – songwriting
  • Ars Wizard C-VE – arrangement, songwriting, production
  • Diggy-Mo – songwriting, vocals
  • Takao Sugiyama – piano
  • Masahiko Rokukawa – bass
  • Ichiro Hada – guitar
  • Kazu Minamisawa – guitar
  • Kouyo Murakami – trombone
  • Kazuo Kamata – sax
  • Mikio Saito – trumpet
  • To-Go – guitar
  • Aogu – DJ
  • Dave Fromm – background vocals
  • Jun – background vocals
  • Tsuyoshi – background vocals
  • Peco – background vocals
  • Masaaki Iwami – songwriting

Technical
  • Masaaki Iwami –mixing
  • T. Takizawaa – mixing
  • T. Kobayashi – mixing
  • Don Katsumoto – sound production
  • Ars Wizard CV-E – direction
  • Junkoo – assistant direction
  • Shinnosuke – assistant direction
  • Yukihiro Yahagi – mastering

Visuals and imagery
  • Anthony Nishikawa – art direction
  • Yoshihiro Sugawara – design
  • Kazuya Morishima – photographer
  • Ai Carina Uemura – photographer
  • Rie Inada – hair, makeup
  • Shuhei Yomo – styling
  • Mika Itagaki – styling

Charts
Chart performance for My Name Is Ai
Chart (2001) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[2] 86

Aftermath

Following BMG selling its 50% share of Sony BMG in 2008 to the Sony Corporation of America, RCA's Japan division was rebranded as Ariola Japan. Subsequently, the ownership of the masters of My Name Is Ai was transferred to Sony Music Japan. Though physical copies are still manufactured by Sony Japan under their Ariola Japan label,[9] the album was never formerly released to digital stores.

Release history
Release history and formats for My Name Is Ai
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Japan November 2, 2001 CD
[9]

References
  1. "AIのシングル作品". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  2. "AIのリリース一覧" [List of Ai's Releases]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  3. "Biography" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  4. "Special Interview Vol. 5 – Ai talks about Boombox" (in Japanese). TDK. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  5. "AI-Soul Profile in English". BMG Japan. Archived from the original on April 8, 2001. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  6. "Special Interview Vol. 5 – Ai talks about Boombox" (in Japanese). TDK. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  7. "She, herself and AI". Robert Michael Poole. The Japan Times. September 12, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  8. My Name Is Ai (CD). Ai. RCA/BMG. 2001. BVCR-11034.
  9. "My Name Is Ai". Sony Music Shop. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
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