Minna ga Minna Eiyū

"Minna ga Minna Eiyū"
Single by Ai
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2016 (2016-02-19)
GenreJ-pop
Length1:40 (Promotional 100-second version)
3:01 (Full version)
Label
Songwriter(s)Makoto Shinohara
Producer(s)Uta
Ai singles chronology
"Be Brave"
(2015) 		"Minna ga Minna Eiyū"
(2016) 		"No More"
(2016)

"Minna ga Minna Eiyū" (みんながみんな英雄, lit. Absolutely, Everyone's a Hero) is a song recorded by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai. It was originally released on January 5, 2016, by EMI Records, as a promotional single.

Upon its release, the original 100-second version of the song was a sleeper hit, peaking at number 4 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, receiving a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). A full version was later released, which received a Gold certification from the RIAJ. The song was later included in a deluxe reissue of Ai's second greatest hits album, The Best.[1]

Background and release

[edit]

Written by Makoto Shinohara, "Minna ga Minna Eiyū" was originally planned to only be used in a promotional campaign for au, a Japanese mobile phone operator.[2] A 100-second version of the song was exclusively released on au's music services in January 2016, and a few weeks later was released to other digital stores due to demand.[3] In February 2016, Universal Japan announced the full version of the song was to be released to digital stores.[4][5][6]

Composition and lyrics

[edit]

A J-pop song, "Minna ga Minna Eiyū" samples the melody of "Do Your Ears Hang Low?", a children's song often sung in schools and camps.[7] Lyrically, the song is about being a hero. Real Sound Japan described the song as an "uplifting J-pop song" with "soulful singing" from Ai.[7]

Live performances

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Ai performed "Minna ga Minna Eiyū" at the 67th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Track listing

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All tracks written by Makoto Shinohara and produced by Uta.

  • Digital download and streaming (100-second version)
    1. "Minna ga Minna Eiyū" — 1:40
  • Digital download and streaming
    1. Minna ga Minna Eiyū" — 3:02

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Minna ga Minna Eiyū"
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard Japan)[8] 4

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[9]

Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "Minna ga Minna Eiyū"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[10] Gold 100,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[11]
100 second version 		Platinum 250,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release history and formats for "Minna ga Minna Eiyū"
Region Date Format Version Label
Japan January 5, 2016
100 Second EMI Records
January 16, 2016
February 19, 2016 Full
February 26, 2016
Radio airplay
Various November 6, 2019
  • Digital download
  • streaming

"Minna ga Minna Eiyū 2024"

[edit]
"Minna ga Minna Eiyū 2024"
Promotional single by Ai
ReleasedJanuary 1, 2024 (2024-01-01)
Length3:01
LabelEMI
Songwriter(s)Makoto Shinohara
Producer(s)
Lyric video
"Minna ga Minna Eiyū 2024" on YouTube

On January 1, 2024, au aired a new commercial in Japan to celebrate ten years of their Santaro series.[12] A new version of Ai's "Minna ga Minna Eiyū" with new lyrics was used in the commercial.[13] Artificial intelligence art based on works by Bokkuri Matsumoto are entirely used to illustrate the commercial.[14]

Similar to the original song, Shinohara provided lyrics while the melody samples the children's dong "Do Your Ears Hang Low?". In an interview, Shinohara discussed that he originally planned to use the original 2016 version of the song, however he went on to modify the lyrics to fit the theme of the commercial.[15] A 100-second version lyric video for "Minna ga Minna Eiyū 2024" was released on Ai's YouTube channel.[16] Alongside original producer Uta, Ai also co-produced the song.

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Minna ga Minna Eiyū 2024"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Japan Top Download Songs (Billboard Japan)[17] 69

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[18]

  • Ai Carina Uemura – vocals, producer
  • Uta – producer, arrangement
  • Makota Shinohara – songwriter

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "au三太郎で40万DLの大ヒット！AI『みんながみんな英雄』がついにCD化". ドワンゴジェイピーnews. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  2. ^ "au三太郎CM曲 AIが歌う『みんながみんな英雄』 が首位を独占！初登場1位 15冠を達成". ドワンゴジェイピーnews. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "AI歌う三太郎シリーズ最新CMソング、本日よりフル尺配信". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "AI「みんながみんな英雄」フルバージョンをMステで初公開！". ドワンゴジェイピーnews. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  5. ^ "AI"英雄"CMソング大反響でフルVer.制作、Mステで初披露". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "【朗報】auのCM『三太郎シリーズ』からAIさんが歌う「みんながみんな英雄」フルバージョン公開！". ロケットニュース24 (in Japanese). February 26, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "AI『みんながみんな英雄』なぜ配信で大ヒット？ その理由をカバーの変遷から読み解く". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  8. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). January 27, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  9. ^ "Credits / Kansha!!!!! Thank You for 20 Years New and Best". Tidal. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  10. ^ "Japanese digital single certifications – Ai – Minna ga Minna ga Eiyū (Full Version)" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved December 16, 2021. Select 2016年4月 on the drop-down menu
  11. ^ "Japanese digital single certifications – Ai – Minna ga Minna ga Eiyū" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 24, 2022. Select 2016年3月 on the drop-down menu
  12. ^ "10年目となる"三太郎"新CM放映開始！ AIが歌う「みんながみんな英雄 2024」も配信スタート" ["Santaro" new commercial begins airing for its 10th year! "Minna ga Minna ga Eiyū 2024" sung by Ai has also been released]. The First Times (in Japanese). Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  13. ^ "AIがau三太郎シリーズ新CMソング担当、歌詞を一新した「みんながみんな英雄2024」（動画あり）" [AI is in charge of the new au Santaro series commercial song, "Minna ga Minna ga Eiyū 2024" with new lyrics]. Natalie Music (in Japanese). Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  14. ^ "8年ぶりにAIさんが歌う！お正月の三太郎CMオリジナルソング 「みんながみんな英雄2024」フルバージョン、2024年1月1日から「auスマートパスプレミアム」で配信開始" [AI sings for the first time in 8 years! New Year's Santaro CM original song "Minna ga Minna ga Eiyū" full version will be distributed on "au Smart Pass Premium" from January 1, 2024]. PR Times (in Japanese). January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  15. ^ "AIが歌う！au三太郎「さぁ、何やる？」篇CMソング「みんながみんな英雄2024」配信スタート！リリックビデオも公開！ | USENの音楽情報サイト「encore（アンコール）」" [AI sings! au Santaro "So, what are we going to do?" CM song "Minna ga Minna ga Eiyū 2024" has started distribution! Lyric video also released!]. Encore (in Japanese). Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  16. ^ "AIが歌う、au三太郎『さぁ、何やる？』篇CMソング「みんながみんな英雄2024」配信＋リリックビデオ公開" [AI sings au Santaro "Now, what are we going to do?" CM song "Minna ga Minna ga Eiyū 2024" released + lyric video released]. Barks (in Japanese). January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  17. ^ "Billboard Japan Top Download Songs: Week of January 10, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  18. ^ "Credits / Minnaga Minna au 2024 / AI". Tidal. January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
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