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The Best
The Best
Greatest hits album by Ai
Released	November 25, 2015
Language	Japanese; English;
Label	EMI
Ai chronology

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The Best, 2015 greatest hits album by Ai.

The Best[edit]

The Best is the second greatest hits album by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai, released on November 25, 2015, by EMI Records. It primarily features songs that were released as singles from her studio albums, including "Story" from Mic-a-holic Ai (2005), "Happiness" from Independent (2012), "Dear Mama" from Moriagaro (2013), and a solo cover version of K'naan's "Wavin' Flag (Coca-Cola Celebration Mix)". A deluxe version of the album was released in May 2016, which included "Minna ga Minna Eiyū" and other previously released songs from 2004 Ai (2004) and What's Goin' On Ai (2006).

The album sold over 121,000 copies since its release, receiving a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). On the Oricon charts, the album debuted at number 3, charting for 118 weeks. On the Billboard Japan charts, the album debuted and peaked at number 2.

Background and release[edit]

In early 2015, Ai posted on Twitter revealing she was pregnant with her first child. Later that year in September, Ai shared the birth announcement of her child, a baby girl. She revealed she would be releasing a greatest hits album alongside a concert tour, The Best Tour.^[1] In October, the album cover was shared online along with a special website created by Universal Music Japan.^[2] Subsequently, a release date was revealed alongside the full track listing.^[3]

Commercial performance[edit]

Commercially, The Best charted strongly upon release in Japan. Selling over 121,000 copies, the album sold more copies than her previous two studio albums, Independent (2012), and Moriagaro (2013) combined. The album debuted and peaked at number 3 on the Oricon Albums Chart and number 2 on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart.

Track listing[edit]

*The Best* track listing
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Happiness"
2.	"Voice"
3.	"Dear Mama"
4.	"Independent Woman"
5.	"Wavin' Flag" (Coca-Cola Celebration Mix) (Version Ai)
6.	"You Are My Star"
7.	"One Love"
8.	"Letter in the Sky" (featuring The Jacksons)
9.	"I'll Remember You"
10.	"After the Storm" (featuring Che'Nelle)
11.	"Stronger" (featuring Miliyah Kato)
12.	"Fake" (featuring Namie Amuro)
13.	"Sogood"
14.	"Hanabi"
15.	"My Friend"
16.	"Believe"
17.	"Story"
18.	"Story" (English Version)
19.	"Beautiful Things"
20.	"Beautiful Life"
21.	"Nemurenai Machi"
22.	"Taisetsu na Mono"
23.	"So Special" (Version Ai) (with Atsushi)

References[edit]

^ "AI、第1子を出産「自分が産んだこと信じられない」" [AI gives birth to her first child: "I can't believe I gave birth"]. Natalie Music (in Japanese). September 4, 2015. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
^ "AI、イラストレーター Chocomooによるポップなベスト盤ジャケット" [Pop best album jacket by AI and illustrator Chocomoo]. BARKS (in Japanese). 2015-10-07. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
^ "AI、Chocomoo手がけるベストアルバムのジャケ公開" [AI releases cover art for best album, with illustrations by Chocomoo]. Spice (in Japanese). October 7, 2015. Retrieved 2024-05-11.

[1] "AI、第1子を出産「自分が産んだこと信じられない」" [AI gives birth to her first child: "I can't believe I gave birth"]. Natalie Music (in Japanese). September 4, 2015. Retrieved 2024-05-11.

[2] "AI、イラストレーター Chocomooによるポップなベスト盤ジャケット" [Pop best album jacket by AI and illustrator Chocomoo]. BARKS (in Japanese). 2015-10-07. Retrieved 2024-05-11.

[3] "AI、Chocomoo手がけるベストアルバムのジャケ公開" [AI releases cover art for best album, with illustrations by Chocomoo]. Spice (in Japanese). October 7, 2015. Retrieved 2024-05-11.

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