Ai o Tomenaide

"Ai o Tomenaide" (愛を止めないで / Don't Stop the Love) is the 51st single by pop/R&B singer/songwriter Koda Kumi. It was released on September 21, 2011 in three separate editions: CD only, CD only [Second Virgin Edition] and CD+DVD. The single peaked at #6 on the Oricon Singles Charts. The "Second Virgin Edition" remained on the charts for fourteen weeks, while the standard edition remained on the charts for eight weeks.

"Ai o Tomenaide"
Single by Koda Kumi
from the album Japonesque
ReleasedSeptember 21, 2011
Recorded2011
GenreJ-pop, ballad
LabelRhythm Zone
Composer(s)Naohisa Taniguchi
Lyricist(s)Koda Kumi
Koda Kumi singles chronology
"4 Times"
(2011)		 "Ai o Tomenaide"
(2011)		 "Love Me Back"
(2011)

The title track was used as the theme song to the film Second Virgin.

Background information

Ai o Tomenaide (愛を止めないで / Don't Stop the Love) is the fifty-first single by Japanese artist Koda Kumi and was used as the theme song to the film Second Virgin. The single was released in three editions on September 21. The single debuted at #6 on Oricon. The standard editions stayed on the charts for two months, while the "Second Virgin Edition" remained on the charts for fourteen weeks.[1][2]

Each edition carried a different track list on the CD portion. The "Second Virgin Edition" carried the strings and music box versions of "Anata Dake ga", while the standard editions contained the track "You are not alone," the latter of which garnered a music video on the DVD. The strings version of "Anata Dake ga" was composed by writer and composer Masaki Iehara, who had previously worked with Kumi for her songs "To be one" (2003), "Unmei" (2006), "Aishou" (2007), "Ai no Kotoba" (2009) and "Universe" (2010).[3][4]

The single was the number one digital single during the weeks of September 14 through September 20, and September 21 through September 27.[5][6] It was certified platinum for 250,000 downloads in January 2014.[7]

"You are not alone," which was released on the standard edition, was written by Kumi. She described the song to be a "national theme" or "hymn" to represent hope, and a way for her to reach out to her fans and those who were affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[8]

Packaging

Ai o Tomenaide was released in various editions: CD, CD+DVD and CD [Second Virgin Edition].

There were only two tracks released on the standard CD and CD+DVD editions: "Ai o Tomenaide" and "You are not alone." Neither track received an instrumental or a remix on the single. On the limited editions, there was the making video of "Ai o Tomenaide."[9]

On the "Second Virgin Editions," the track "You are not alone" was omitted and was replaced with two different renditions of "Anata Dake ga" from her single Suki de, Suki de, Suki de. - a strings version composed by Masaki Iehara and a music box version composed by YU.

Music video

The music video for "Ai o Tomenaide" carried a very soft and sensual theme, with much of the imagery being inspired by her 2006 video "Unmei." Much of the camera work and angles closely resembled the prior music video. In the video, Kumi is seen both alone and embraced by a man.

The video for "You are not alone" was compiled of clips from Kumi during a live performance, along with clips of her during rehearsals and in the writing and composing process for the song. The overall theme was to show support to her fans and for every to realize that "no matter the trifles in life, you are not alone."

Track list
CD
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Ai o Tomenaide" (愛を止めないで / Don't Stop the Love)Koda KumiNaohisa TaniguchiHitoshi Munakata5:29
2."You are not alone"Koda KumiTakuya HaradaTakuya Harada3:51
Total length:9:20
DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Ai o Tomenaide" (Music Video)5:35
2."You are not alone" (Music Video)2:56
3."Ai o Tomenaide" (Making Video) 

Second Virgin Edition
CD: Second Virgin Edition
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Ai o Tomenaide"Koda KumiNaohisa TaniguchiHitoshi Munakata5:29
2."Anata Dake ga" (Strings Version)Koda KumiMARKIE • SiZK from ★STAR GUiTARMasaki Iehara4:45
3."Anata Dake ga" (Music Box Version) YUYU3:48
Total length:13:22

*Making video of "Ai o Tomenaide" only available on limited editions

Chart rankings

Oricon Sales Chart
Release Chart Peak position First day/week sales
September 21, 2011 Oricon Daily Charts 5
Oricon Weekly Charts 6 30,828
Oricon Monthly Charts 19 43,969
Oricon Yearly Charts 177

All figures pertain to "Ai o Tomenaide" or the single as a whole, unless stated.

Charts (2011) Peak
position
Chaku-Uta Full (Digital Single) Monthly top 100 3
Chaku-Uta (Ringtone) Monthly top 100 1
Chaku-Uta Music Video Monthly top 100 3
RIAJ Digital Track Chart weekly top 100 1
Recochoku 2011 most downloaded full songs overall 45
Most downloaded chaku uta 2011 49
Most downloaded melody call/RBT 2011 9
Most downloaded full Videoclips 2011 42
Most downloaded Chaku movies 2011 38

Certifications
Chart Number
RIAJ downloads[7] Platinum (250,000+)

Alternate Versions

Ai o Tomenaide

  1. Ai o Tomenaide: Found on the single (2011) and corresponding album Japonesque (2012)
  2. Ai o Tomenaide [World Sketch Remix]: Found on Koda Kumi Driving Hit's 4 (2012)

You are not alone

  1. You are not alone: Found on the single (2011)
  2. You are not alone [Acoustic Version]: Found on Japonesque (2012)
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References
  1. "Ai wo Tomenaide (Second Virgin Edition) / KODA KUMI / ORICON STYLE". Oricon. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  2. "Ai wo Tomenaide (with DVD) / KODA KUMI / ORICON STYLE". Oricon. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  3. "Masaki Iehara: creators: obelisk inc". Obelisk Inc. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  4. "Relationships of Masaki Iehara". MusicBrainz. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  5. "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue September 20, 2011" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on 2012-04-30. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  6. "RIAJ Digital Track Chart: Chart issue September 27, 2011" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on 2012-05-07. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  7. レコード協会調べ　1月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: January Digital Music Download Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  8. "Ayumi Hamasaki & Koda Kumi leave messages for Japan". Tokyo Hive. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  9. "Ai wo Tomenaide (SINGLE+DVD)(Hong Kong Version)(Out of print)". YesAsia. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
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