Respect All

''Respect All'' is the thirteenth studio album by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai, released on August 23, 2023, by EMI Records. Announced in June 2023, the album includes Nestlé Japan's Kit Kat campaign song, " Start Again", as well as " Life Goes On", the image song for the Japanese film ''Haru ni Chiru''.

Background

Ai released her twelfth studio album, ''Dream'', on February 23, 2022. Featuring nine tracks, the studio album was her first in five years since ''Wa to Yo'' (2017), and also was her shortest length studio album.

Speculation of Ai's thirteenth studio album began after a teaser of an unreleased song was included on the " Respect All" music video. Within a few weeks, Universal Music Japan announced the title of Ai's thirteenth studio album. Five of ten songs were announced on June 9, including a cover of Bill Wither's " Lean on Me", which Ai performed live at the 49th G7 summit. On social media, Ai announced the album would include "Start Again", "Respect All" and " Life Goes On". On July 19, the full track listing and artwork was revealed.

Cover artwork

The standard cover of ''Respect All'' bears resemblance to Ai's second studio album, ''Original Ai'' (2003). The limited physical edition of the album features a different cover artwork.

Release and promotion

''Respect All'' was released on August 23, 2023. Prior to its release, Universal Japan revealed the Universal Music Store would feature limited first press bonus goods, as well as an application lottery ticket for a chance to see Ai live. Additional limited bonus goods were later announced on July 26, including a keychain, postcard, poster and coin bag.

In promotion of the album, Ai will embark on her fourteenth headlining tour titled after the album.

Commercial performance

''Respect All'' debuted at number 9 on the Oricon Daily Albums chart for August 22, 2023. The album later fell to number 12 on August 23. On the weekly Oricon charts, ''Respect All'' debuted and peaked at number 17 on both the Albums and Digital Albums chart. The album debuted and peaked at number 30 on the Combined Albums chart. ''Respect All'' currently is Ai's 18th best-selling album of twenty ranked, selling less units than her previous studio album, ''Dream''.

On the ''Billboard Japan'' charts, ''Respect All'' debuted and peaked at number 17 on the Hot Albums chart. The album later fell down to number 89 on the chart for the week of September 6.

Track listing

Notes
* "Respect All" is alternatively titled as in Asia.
* "Respect All" interpolates Bob James' 1982 instrumental song "Shamboozie" written by James.
* "World Dance" and "We Are Alive" are stylized in all upper cased letters.
* The album's limited edition CD+DVD package consists of three discs.

Personnel

Credits adapted from album's liner notes and Tidal.

Musicians
* Ai Carina Uemura – vocals
*Heiwa – additional vocals (1)
*Yuki Kishida – keyboards (1, 5)
*DJ Hirakatsu – turntable (1)
*Mina Otomonai – vocals (3)
*Robert "Bubby" Lewis – synth bass (2)
*Azumi Takahashi – additional vocals (10)
*Tohsuke Uematsu – additional vocals (10)
*Takeshi Iwasaki – violin, viola (7)
* Mina Otomonai – vocals (3)

Technical

*D.O.I – mixing (1, 2, 5, 6, 8)
*Masahito Komori – mixing (3)
*Taji Okuda – mixing (10), vocal recording
*John Davis – mastering (1, 4–6, 8)
*Andrew Baldwin – mastering (2, 3, 7, 9, 10)
*Uta – recording arrangement (8)
*Tomoko Ida – recording arrangement (1, 5)
*Yaffle – recording arrangement (3)
*TeeFlii – recording arrangement (2)
*Julian Le – recording arrangement (4)
*C3prod – recording arrangement (6)
*Rinzo – recording arrangement (7)
*Tenyu Fukaya – recording arrangement (7)
*Don Kim – recording arrangement (9)
*Yuki Kishida – recording arrangement (10)
*Keisuke Fujimaki – vocal recording
*Shiori Maruoka – vocal recording
*Shohei Ishikawa – vocal recording
*Jigg – vocal recording (3)

Visuals and imagery

* Toshiya Ohno – art direction
* Sachi Uemura – photographer
* Shoji Uchiyama – design
* Akemi Ono – hair, makeup
* Noriko Goto – stylist
* Hiroki Hisajima – CGI
* Miyuyim – calligraphy

Charts

Release history

References

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2023 albums
Ai (singer) albums
EMI Records albums
Def Jam Recordings albums
Universal Music Japan albums
Albums produced by Ai (singer)