Last Words (Ai song)

2003 single by Ai

"Last Words"

Single by Ai
from the album  Original Ai
Language|

* Japanese
* English

B-side| "Last Words (featuring Joe Budden)"
Released| January 29, 2003 (2003-01-29)
Recorded| 2002
Studio| Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer's home studio
(New York City, New York)
Genre|

* R&B
* hip-hop

Length| 3:23 (Solo version)
4:24 (Joe Budden version)
Label| Def Jam Japan
Songwriter(s)| Ai Uemura
Producer(s)|

* Desert Storm
* Lofey
* Skane

Ai singles chronology
| "Shining Star"
(2001)  | "Last Words"
(2003)  | "Thank U"
(2003)

|
|

Joe Budden singles chronology
| "Focus"
(2002)  | "Last Words"
(2003)  | "Pump It Up"
(2003)

|
|

Music video
"Last Words (Solo version)" on YouTube

"Last Words" (最終宣告, Saishū Senkoku) is a song written and recorded by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai. It was released on January 29, 2003, as her first single under Def Jam Japan. The song served as the lead single for her second studio album, Original Ai.[1]

Upon its release, "Last Words" was a commercial success, scoring Ai her first top 30 single on the Oricon Japan Singles chart. It is her 8th best selling single on Oricon.[2]

## Background

[edit]

After the release of her debut studio album under BMG, My Name Is Ai, Ai left the label due to the commercial failure of the album and its singles. In 2002, she signed to Universal Music Japan sublabel Def Jam Japan, becoming the first woman signed to the label.[3][4] In an interview, Ai stated she felt more at home with Def Jam, as many of her co-workers shared her musical tastes.[5]

In an interview with Barks Japan regarding the English version featuring Joe Budden, Ai said she was "happy to work with Joe" as she and Budden both were new to the Def Jam label.[6]

## Music video

[edit]

A music video for the solo version of "Last Words" was released in 2003. Various scenes show Ai performing on a stage, a dressing room and her watching the video on a CRT TV.

Ai re-released the music video to YouTube on her official channel on January 27, 2021 in part of her twentieth anniversary in the music industry as it previously was not on the service.

## Live performances

[edit]

A live performance of the song was included on Ai's 2007 live album, Live Ai.

## Charts

[edit]

"Last Words" peaked at number 29 on the Oricon Singles chart, which became Ai's best performing single on the chart at the time until the release of her 2005 single, "365", which peaked at number 20. The single was Budden's first appearance on the chart.

Chart (2005)  | Peak
position

|

Japan Singles Chart (Oricon)[7] | 29

## Track listing

[edit]

All tracks produced by Desert Storm, Lofey and Skane.

"Last Words" – Maxi singleNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Last Words"| Ai Uemura| 3:23
2.| "Last Words" (featuring Joe Budden)|

* Uemura
* Joseph Budden

| 4:24
3.| "Last Words" (Instrumental)|  | 3:23
4.| "Last Words" (Instrumental featuring Joe Budden)|  | 4:24

### Notes

[edit]

* Tracks 1 and 3 are titled in Japanese

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 株式会社ローソンエンタテインメント. "最終宣告". HMV&BOOKS online (in Japanese). Retrieved November 23, 2021.
2. ^ "AIのシングル売上ランキング". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
3. ^ "Biography" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
4. ^ "AIアーティスト・プロフィール" [Ai Artist Profile] (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
5. ^ "Special Interview Vol. 5 – Ai talks about Boombox" (in Japanese). TDK. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
6. ^ "心に染み入る歌声を持つヒップホップ・ソウル・シンガーAI". BARKS (in Japanese). January 31, 2003. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
7. ^ "最終宣告 | AI". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved November 23, 2021.

* v
* t
* e

* Albums discography
* Singles discography

Studio albums|

* My Name Is Ai
* Original Ai
* 2004 Ai
* Mic-a-holic Ai
* What's Goin' On Ai
* Don't Stop Ai
* Viva Ai
* The Last Ai
* Independent
* Moriagaro
* Wa to Yo
* Dream
* Respect All

Compilation albums|

* Flashback to Ai
* Feat. Ai
* Best Ai
* The Best
* The Feat. Best
* Kansha!!!!! – Thank You for 20 Years New and Best
* 25th the Best – Alive

Live albums|

* Live Ai

Reissues|

* Motto Moriagaro

Extended plays|

* It's All Me, Vol. 1
* It's All Me, Vol. 2

Singles|

* "Last Words"
* "Story"
* "Believe"
* "I Wanna Know"
* "I'll Remember You"
* "Taisetsu na Mono"
* "So Special"
* "Okuribito"
* "Fake"
* "Still..."
* "Nemurenai Machi"
* "Stronger"
* "Letter in the Sky"
* "Happiness"
* "Voice"
* "Dear Mama"
* "Minna ga Minna Eiyū"
* "Happy Christmas" / "Heiwa" / "Miracle"
* "Justice Will Prevail at Last"
* "Kira Kira"
* "Summer Magic"
* "You Never Know"
* "Baby You Can Cry"
* "I'm Coming Home"
* "Good as Gold"
* "Gift"
* "Not So Different"
* "The Moment"
* "In the Middle"
* "Aldebaran"
* "Start Again"
* "Respect All"
* "Life Goes On"
* "Rise Together"
* "My Wish"

Featured singles|

* "Broken Strings"
* "Wavin' Flag"
* "Wonder Woman"
* "Magnetic"
* "Bad Bitch Bigaku (Remix)"
* "Nakama"

Promotional singles|

* "Beautiful Things"
* "After the Storm"
* "First Time"
* "World Dance"
* "Whatever"

Other songs|

* "All You Need Is Love"
* "Through the Fire"
* "Final Distance"
* "Crime and Punishment"
* "Yūsha Tachi"
* "Welcome Rain"

Concert tours|

* Dream Tour

* v
* t
* e

Joe Budden

Discography

Studio albums|

* Joe Budden
* Mood Muzik 3: The Album
* Halfway House
* Padded Room
* Escape Route
* No Love Lost
* All Love Lost
* Rage & The Machine

Mixtapes|

* Mood Muzik 2: Can It Get Any Worse?
* Mood Muzik 3: For Better or for Worse
* Mood Muzik 4: A Turn 4 the Worst
* A Loose Quarter

Extended plays|

* Some Love Lost

Singles|

* "Pump It Up"
* "Fire (Yes, Yes Y'all)"
* "Gangsta Party"
* "She Don't Put It Down"

Featured singles|

* "Last Words"
* "Clubbin'"
* "Whatever U Want"

Related articles|

* Slaughterhouse
* The Joe Budden Podcast
* State of the Culture

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