:Ai no Uta (Words of Love)

{{Infobox song

| name = Ai no Uta (Words of Love)

| cover = ainoutawordsoflove.png

| alt = An image of recording artist Haruka Chisuga, sitting down next to a flamingo sculpture.

| type = single

| artist = Haruka Chisuga

| album = Try!

| B-side = {{hlist|"Lonely Feather"|"Ai no Taiyou"}}

| released = {{start date|2016|04|27}}

| recorded = 2016

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = EDM

| length = 4:26

| label = {{hlist|Flying Dog|Victor Entertainment}}

| writer = Yamada Toshiaki, Rasmus Faber

| producer = Rasmus Faber

| prev_title = Je Je T'aime Communication

| prev_year = 2015

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

{{nihongo|"Ai no Uta (Words of Love)"|愛の詩 (words of love)||"Love Poem (words of love)"|lead=yes}} is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Haruka Chisuga, taken from her debut studio album Try! (2016). It was released as the fifth single from the album by Victor Entertainment and their subsidiary label Flying Dog on April 27, 2016. The lyrics were written by Yamada Toshiaki and the music was composed and produced by Swedish electronic dance musician Rasmus Faber. Musically, "Ai no Uta (Words of Love)" is an electronic dance song with a four on the floor beat that features synthesizers and string arrangements in its instrumentation.

Upon its release, it received positive reviews from music critics. Some complimented the composition, noting a departure from her previous J-pop influenced music, and commended the songwriting. Commercially, the song fared better in Japan than her previous releases, peaking at number 47 on the Oricon Singles Chart. An accompanying music video was directed by Nozomi Tanaka, which featured Chisuga in a large aquarium surrounded by bright lights. To promote the single, Chisuga appeared on radio stations throughout Japan including Rajira Sunday and Hiroshi Kamiya's All Night, and was used as the closing theme song for the second season of Japanese anime television series, The Asterisk War.

Background and release

On October 4, 2015, it was confirmed through Anime News Network that Chisuga was to voice over the character Sylvia Lyyneheym for the second season of Japanese anime television series, The Asterisk War.{{cite news|author=Anime News Network Staff|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-10-04/the-asterisk-war-casts-mai-nakahara-haruka-chisuga/.93542|title=The Asterisk War Casts Mai Nakahara, Haruka Chisuga|work=Anime News Network|date=October 4, 2015|access-date=June 24, 2016}} However, Chisuga did not comment about a potential theme song recording for the show. Then in February 2016, Chisuga confirmed that a new song, titled "Ai no Uta (Words of Love)", would serve as the show's ending theme song.{{cite news|author=Koi Nya Staff|url=http://www.koi-nya.net/2016/02/15/haruka-chisuga-interpretara-el-ending-de-la-segunda-temporada-de-gakusen-toshi-asterisk/|title=Haruka Chisuga interpretará el ending de la segunda temporada de Gakusen Toshi Asterisk|work=Koi Nya|date=February 15, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Spanish}}{{cite news|author=Anime News Network Staff|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-03-23/the-asterisk-war-2nd-season-anime-trailer-english-subtitled/.100147|title=The Asterisk War 2nd Season Anime's Trailer English-Subtitled|work=Anime News Network|date=March 23, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016}} "Ai no Uta (Words of Love)" was written by Yamada Toshiaki and produced by Swedish electronic dance musician Rasmus Faber.{{cite AV media notes |title=Ai no Uta (Words of Love)|others=Chisuga, Haruka|first=Haruka|last=Chisuga|year=2016|type=CD Single; Liner notes|publisher=Flying Dog, Victor Entertainment|id=VTCL-35225|location=Japan}} Musically, it is an electronic dance song with a four on the floor beat, and it incorporates an "elegant" string section, as described by a staff member at CD Journal.{{cite news|author=CD Journal Staff|url=http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/words-of-love/4116021851|title=Haruka Chisuga / Ai no Uta (Words of Love) (single review)|work=CD Journal|date=April 27, 2015|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}}

The single was released as the album's fifth single by Flying Dog, a subsidiary label owned by Victor Entertainment, on April 27, 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.amazon.com/Haruka-Chisuga-Words-Love-VTCL-35225/dp/B01C7LH88G|title=Haruka Chisuga – Ai no Uta (Words of Love)|work=Amazon|date=April 27, 2015|access-date=June 24, 2016}} It was released on a CD single in Japan, which included the track, two B-side songs "Lonely Feather" and "Ai no Taiyou", and an a cappella version of "Lonely Feather". It also included the instrumental versions of the first three tracks. The digital EP included the four recordings but omitted the instrumental versions.{{cite news|url=https://music.apple.com/jp/album/aino-shi-words-of-love-ep/1101637148|title=Ai no Uta (Words of Love) – EP – by Haruka Chisuga|work=iTunes Store (Japan)|date=April 27, 2015|access-date=June 24, 2016}} Through CDJapan.com, pre-ordered versions of the CD single included a large B2-sized poster and a scanned hand-written letter by Chisuga herself, which was then signed.{{cite news|url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/tokuten/anime_VTCL-35225|title=Haruka Chisuga new single with Exclusive Bonus!|work=CDJapan.com|date=March 16, 2015|access-date=June 24, 2016}}

Reception

Upon its release, it received positive reviews from music critics. A staff member at Amazon.com complimented Faber's production and arrangement, who believed he was able to "expand" Chisuga's sound outside of J-pop. The reviewer also complimented the songwriting and her vocal performance.{{cite news|author=Amazon Japan Staff|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/Haruka-Chisuga-Words-Love-VTCL-35225/dp/B01C7LH88G|title=Haruka Chisuga – Ai no Uta (Words of Love) (single review)|work=Amazon Japan|date=April 27, 2015|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}} In a similar review, a CD Journal staff member praised Chisuga's "free" and "vigorous" vocal performance, alongside its "glossy" production. The review concluded with the reviewer calling it "highly polished".

Commercially, the song fared better in Japan than her previous releases.{{cite news|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/582021/|title=Haruka Chisuga Profile|work=Oricon Style|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}} It debuted at number 47 on the Oricon Singles Chart, her highest selling entry and first top 50 single since "Planet Cradle" / "Wandering" in 2013; it sold 1,462 units.{{cite news|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2016-05-09/p/5/|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week May 5, 2016|work=Oricon Style|date=May 5, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}}{{cite news|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2013-03-11/|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week March 11, 2013|work=Oricon Style|date=March 11, 2013|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}} Despite falling outside of the top 50 the following week, it lasted eight weeks inside the top 200.{{cite news|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/582021/products/1173301/1/|title=Haruka Chisuga – Ai no Uta (Words of Love)|work=Oricon Style|date=April 27, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}} As of June 2016, "Ai no Uta (Words of Love)" is her second best selling single according to Oricon Style.{{cite news|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/582021/rank/single/|title=Highest rankings of Haruka Chisuga|work=Oricon Style|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}}

Promotion

To promote the single, Chisuga appeared on several radio stations in Japan including Rajira Sunday and Hiroshi Kamiya's All Night radio show through Nippon Broadcasting System.{{cite news|author=Chisuga, Haruka|url=http://ameblo.jp/chisuga-haruka/page-26.html#main|title=らじらー！|work=Haruka Chisuga's official blog|date=April 24, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}}{{cite news|author=Chisuga, Haruka|url=http://ameblo.jp/chisuga-haruka/page-25.html#main|title=ラジオのラジオ|work=Haruka Chisuga's official blog|date=April 25, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}} She also held a live event to promote the single in Osaka, Japan, May 2015.{{cite news|author=Chisuga, Haruka|url=http://ameblo.jp/chisuga-haruka/page-19.html#main|title=リリースイベント in 大阪|work=Haruka Chisuga's official blog|date=May 8, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}} Then throughout early-mid May 2016, Chisuga visited the Japanese music store Animate in cities Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Sannomiya, and Osaka, and signed autographs.Below is a list of updates through Haruka Chisuga's official Twitter account.

{{cite news|author=Chisuga, Haruka|url=https://twitter.com/chisugaofficial/status/726701283684454400|title=「愛の詩 -words of love-」初・ミニライブはアニメイト横浜さんにて！|work=Haruka Chisuga's official Twitter|date=May 1, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}}
{{cite news|author=Chisuga, Haruka|url=https://twitter.com/chisugaofficial/status/728800865239191553|title=ありがとうございました (ダンデ5号)|work=Haruka Chisuga's official Twitter|date=May 6, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}}
{{cite news|author=Chisuga, Haruka|url=https://twitter.com/chisugaofficial/status/728825866013147137|title=続きまして、アニメイト京都店にお邪魔させて頂きました（＾∇＾） (ダンデ5号)|work=Haruka Chisuga's official Twitter|date=May 6, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}}
{{cite news|author=Chisuga, Haruka|url=https://twitter.com/chisugaofficial/status/728863980941254656|title=最後にアニメイト三宮店にお伺いさせて頂きました（＾∇＾） (ダンデ5号)|work=Haruka Chisuga's official Twitter|date=May 7, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}} She then followed up by visiting stores Namba Shop and Akiba Sofmap in Japan.Below is a list of updates through Haruka Chisuga's official Twitter account.
{{cite news|author=Chisuga, Haruka|url=https://twitter.com/chisugaofficial/status/731709145695420417|title=アキバ☆ソフマップ1号店にて「愛の詩-words of love-」発売記念イベントでした！|work=Haruka Chisuga's official Twitter|date=May 14, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}}
{{cite news|author=Chisuga, Haruka|url=https://twitter.com/chisugaofficial/status/731770234089000961|title=AKIHABARAゲーマーズ本店でのストアイベントが終了しました(・ω・)ノお越し頂いた皆様、ありがとうございました❗️(ダンデ7号)|work=Haruka Chisuga's official Twitter|date=May 15, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}} On July 9, Chisuga will perform "Ai no Uta (Words of Love)" for the first time, in order to promote the single.{{cite news|author=Chisuga, Haruka|url=http://ameblo.jp/chisuga-haruka/page-33.html#main|title=夏に向けて|work=Haruka Chisuga's official blog|date=April 9, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2016|language=Japanese}} An accompanying music video was directed by Nozomi Tanaka. It was shot in an aquarium, and included Chisuga sitting down and observing several fishes. Along with this, she was surrounded by several glow lights and spot lights. It was released on YouTube by Victor Entertainment, Chisuga's parent label, and premiered through Japanese music television on April 8, 2016.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the CD liner notes of "Ai no Uta (Words of Love)".

;Recording and management

Recorded in 2016. Management and record label Flying Dog and Victor Entertainment.

;Credits

Haruka Chisuga – vocals, background vocals
Yamada Toshiaki – songwriting (track 1)
Yūho Iwasato – songwriting (track 3)
Rasmus Faber – songwriting (track 2), production, arranging, composing
Nozomi Tanaka – music video director

Track listings and formats

{{tracklist

| headline = CD single / digital download

| extra_column = Arrangement

| total_length = 12:25

| title1 = Ai no Uta (Words of Love)

| note1 = 愛の詩 (words of love)

| length1 = 4:26

| lyrics1 = Yamada Toshiaki

| music1 = Rasmus Faber

| extra1 = Faber

| title2 = Lonely Feather

| length2 = 1:45

| lyrics2 = Faber

| music2 = Faber

| extra2 = Faber

| title3 = Ai no Taiyou

| note3 = 愛の太陽

| length3 = 4:12

| lyrics3 = Yūho Iwasato

| music3 = Faber

| extra3 = Faber

| title4 = Lonely Feather

| note4 = Acapella version

| length4 = 2:01

| lyrics4 = Faber

| music4 = Faber

| extra4 = Faber

| title5 = Ai no Uta (Words of Love)

| note5 = 愛の詩 (words of love) [Instrumental]

| length5 = 4:26

| lyrics5 = Toshiaki

| music5 = Faber

| extra5 = Faber

| title6 = Lonely Feather

| note6 = Instrumental

| length6 = 1:45

| lyrics6 = Faber

| music6 = Faber

| extra6 = Faber

| title7 = Ai no Taiyou

| note7 = 愛の太陽 [Instrumental]

| length7 = 4:12

| lyrics7 = Iwasato

| music7 = Faber

| extra7 = Faber

}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !Chart (2016) !Peak position
scope="row"\|Japan Weekly Chart (Oricon) \| style="text-align:center;"\|47

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!Chart (2016)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Japan Weekly Chart (Oricon)

| style="text-align:center;"|47

=Rankings chart=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !Chart (2016) !Peak position
scope="row"\|Japan Profile (Oricon) \| style="text-align:center;"\|2

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!Chart (2016)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Japan Profile (Oricon)

| style="text-align:center;"|2

=Sales=

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan (RIAJ)|nocert=true|salesamount=1,462|salesref={{cite web | title=オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 |trans-title=Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree' | url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp | work=Oricon |url-access=subscription | access-date=August 26, 2014}}}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"\|Region !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Format !scope="col"\|Label
rowspan="2"\|Japan \|rowspan="2"\|April 27, 2016 \|CD \|rowspan="2"\|{{hlist\|Flying Dog\|Victor Entertainment}}
Digital download

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format

!scope="col"|Label

rowspan="2"|Japan

|rowspan="2"|April 27, 2016

|CD

|rowspan="2"|{{hlist|Flying Dog|Victor Entertainment}}

Digital download

References

External links

[http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/582021/products/1173301/1/ "Ai no Uta (Words of Love)"] at Oricon Style. {{in lang|ja}}
[http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/582021/lyrics/I206720/ "Ai no Uta (Words of Love)"] lyrics at Oricon Style. {{in lang|ja}}

Category:2016 singles

Category:2016 songs

Category:Songs in Japanese