My Name Is Ai Explained

My Name Is Ai
Type:	studio
Artist:	Ai
Cover:	My Name is Ai album cover.jpg
Recorded:	2000–2001
Studio:	Flash Light (Tokyo, Japan)
Length:	67:11
Next Title:	Original Ai
Next Year:	2003

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.

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.

Background

Ai developed an interest to become a singer in her early adolescence.^{[2] [3]} 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".^[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.^[5] 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.^[6]

Track listing

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.^[7]

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)!Peakposition

Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[8]

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

Region! scope="col"

Date	Format(s)	Label
Japan	November 2, 2001	CD

Notes and References

1. Web site: AIのシングル作品 . May 4, 2021 . ORICON NEWS.
2. Web site: Biography. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20120813003053/http://www.universal-music.co.jp/ai/biography. August 13, 2012. August 18, 2012. Universal Music Japan. ja.
3. Web site: Special Interview Vol. 5 – Ai talks about Boombox. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120418072948/http://www.tdk-media.jp/audio/speaker/xapremium/interview/int00510.html. April 18, 2012. August 19, 2012. TDK. ja.
4. Web site: AI-Soul Profile in English. https://web.archive.org/web/20010408020128/http://www.ai-soul.com/e_profile.html. April 8, 2001. August 17, 2012. BMG Japan.
5. Web site: Special Interview Vol. 5 – Ai talks about Boombox. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120418072948/http://www.tdk-media.jp/audio/speaker/xapremium/interview/int00510.html. April 18, 2012. August 19, 2012. TDK. ja.
6. Web site: September 12, 2008 . She, herself and AI . August 17, 2012 . Robert Michael Poole . The Japan Times.
7. My Name Is Ai (CD). Ai. RCA/BMG. 2001. BVCR-11034.
8. Web site: AIのリリース一覧. List of Ai's Releases. Oricon. Japanese. October 9, 2014.
9. Web site: My Name Is Ai . July 4, 2022 . Sony Music Shop.