Welcome Rain
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}{{Infobox song
| name = Welcome Rain
| cover = Ai - Welcome Rain (From the First Take).jpg
| caption = The First Take cover
| type = song
| artist = Ai
| album = Dream
| language = {{hlist|Japanese|English}}
| released = {{start date|2022|02|23}}
| recorded = 2021
| studio =
| genre = R&B
| length = 4:31
| label = EMI
| writer = Naoki Yamata
| producer = Nao'ymt
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|VebLI0Ix_yE|"Welcome Rain"}}|header=Live performance video|type=song}}
}}
"Welcome Rain" is a song recorded by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai from her twelfth studio album, Dream. Written and produced by Nao'ymt, the song has been used in web commercials for Asahi Breweries. Lyrically, the song is about communication through a difficult situation. Critics have compared the song to "Aldebaran".{{Cite web |title=【コラム】AI、アルバム『DREAM』に込めた願いとメッセージとは？ |url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000215671 |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=BARKS |language=ja}}
Background
"Welcome Rain" was included on Ai's twelfth studio album Dream as its fourth track. Although not released as a single, Ai teamed up with Asahi Breweries to promote the song. In March 2022, The First Take revealed they would be releasing a live recording of Ai performing the song on their official YouTube channel.{{Cite web |title=AI、「THE FIRST TAKE」で新曲「Welcome Rain」初披露 |url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000215980 |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=BARKS |language=ja}}{{Cite web |title=AI、新曲「Welcome Rain」を『THE FIRST TAKE』にて初披露 |url=https://www.thefirsttimes.jp/news/0000084908/ |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=THE FIRST TIMES |language=ja}} The performance would serve as her second appearance on the channel, her first previous appearance was a week prior performing "Aldebaran".{{Cite web |title=AIが今夜「THE FIRST TAKE」初登場、朝ドラ主題歌「アルデバラン」披露｜ウーマンエキサイト |url=https://woman.excite.co.jp/article/lifestyle/rid_LP_P_PIA_f1807962_f659_471a_a025_73fc3f4269fc/ |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=ウーマンエキサイト |language=ja}} The performance premiered on March 2.{{Cite web |title=AI、アルバムより新曲「Welcome Rain」を 『THE FIRST TAKE』にて初披露 |url=https://realsound.jp/2022/03/post-979244.html |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=Real Sound｜リアルサウンド |language=ja}} On March 6, EMI Records announced Ai's First Take version of "Welcome Rain" would impact digital stores on March 25.{{Cite web |title=AI、「アルデバラン」「Welcome Rain」の「THE FIRST TAKE」バージョンをリリース |url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000216149 |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=BARKS |language=ja}}{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2022 |title=AI、THE FIRST TAKEバージョン「アルデバラン」「Welcome Rain」配信リリース |url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/109576/2 |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=Billboard Japan}} In promotion of the live performance, Asahi Breweries released a limited version of their beer with the design of The First Take logo on the can, along with a QR code to watch the performance on YouTube.{{Cite web |title=AI、「アルデバラン」「Welcome Rain」の『THE FIRST TAKE』バージョン配信リリース |url=https://realsound.jp/2022/03/post-981652.html |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=Real Sound｜リアルサウンド |language=ja}}{{Cite web |title=AI「アルデバラン」の「THE FIRST TAKE」バージョンを配信リリース（動画あり） |url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/468290 |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=音楽ナタリー |publisher=Natalie Music |language=ja}}
Music and lyrics
Live performances
Ai performed "Welcome Rain" live for The First Take. Ai additionally performed the song at her Dream Tour.{{Cite web |title=AIとまやりんがコラボ、"大切な人"を描く「アルデバラン」動画公開 |url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000213376 |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=BARKS |language=ja}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from Dream liner notes and Tidal.Dream (CD). Ai. EMI Records/Universal/Def Jam Recordings. 2022. UPCH-20614.{{Cite web |title=AI / Dream (Credits TIDAL US) |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/216885153/credits |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=listen.tidal.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=AI / Welcome Rain (From the First Take) (Credits TIDAL US) |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/221529551/credits |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=listen.tidal.com |language=en}}
Original version
- Ai Uemura – lead vocals
- Naoaki Yamata – production, songwriting
- D.O.I – mixing
- Randy Merrill – mastering
The First Take version
- Ai Uemura – lead vocals
- Naoaki Yamata – production, songwriting
- Taji Okuda – vocal engineering, mastering
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Release history and formats for "Welcome Rain" ! scope="col" |Region ! scope="col" |Date ! scope="col" |Format !Version ! scope="col" |Label ! scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| rowspan="2" scope="row" |Various
|February 23, 2022 | rowspan="2" |{{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} |Original |
|---|
| March 25, 2022
|First Take |