Not So Different

"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).

"Not So Different"
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

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]

Musicians

Technical

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
Release history and formats for "Not So Different"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various November 25, 2020
Original
[6]
December 11, 2020 Awich remix [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 April 5, 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  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 December 22, 2021.
  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). July 28, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  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 December 22, 2021.
  5. "The One Young World Summit Tokyo 2022 | One Young World". www.oneyoungworld.com. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  6. "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 April 5, 2021.
  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 December 22, 2021.
  8. "AIがAwichを迎えた新曲「Not So Different Remix」をリリース". block.fm (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  9. "【対談】AI × Awich | 私たちはそんなに違わない". FNMNL (フェノメナル). February 19, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  10. "AI announces new song "Not So Different" MV release & new mini album release". Billboard Japan. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  11. "A remix of "Not So Different" by AI and Awich to be released". Billboard Japan. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  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). December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  13. "NOT SO DIFFERENT – OYWJ Version – – One Young World Japan". Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  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 August 20, 2021.
  15. "AI、Awichとコラボ「かっこよくなりすぎました」". BARKS (in Japanese). November 24, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  16. "Credits / It's All Me, Vol. 2 / Tidal". listen.tidal.com. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  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 August 20, 2021. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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