Aimer
Japanese singer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aimer (エメ, Eme; [eme]) is a Japanese pop singer and lyricist signed to Sacra Music and managed by Agehasprings.[6] Her stage name comes from the French verb aimer 'to love'.[7] Aimer uses the name aimerrhythm for lyrics credits.[1]
Aimer エメ | |
|---|---|
Aimer performing the song "StarRingChild" in a concert with composer Hiroyuki Sawano in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | aimerrhythm[1] |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels |
|
Spouse |
Masahiro Tobinai (m. 2023) |
| Website | www |
Debuting in 2011, she has released seven studio albums, all of which made it into the top 20 of the Oricon Albums Chart, with fourth album Daydream being certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Her 2021 song "Zankyōsanka" became her first song to reach the top of the Japan Hot 100 chart, selling 87,649 downloads in its first week.[8] It also charted at number 37 on the Billboard Global 200, marking her first appearance on the chart.[9]
Early life
Aimer's father was a bassist in a band, so music surrounded her from a very young age. She started violin study in elementary school and admired the music of Ringo Sheena and Hikaru Utada. In junior high school, the music of Avril Lavigne inspired her to take up guitar and began writing lyrics in English. At the age of 15, Aimer lost her voice due to vocal cord overuse and underwent silence therapy for treatment. After she recovered, she acquired her distinctive husky voice.[7][10]
Career
Aimer teamed up with the "nonami" group, which has worked with, produced, or provided music for various artists, including Yuki, Mika Nakashima, Flumpool, Superfly, Yuzu, and Genki Rockets.[11] In 2011, her musical career began in earnest. In May 2011, they released the concept album Your favorite things. It covered numerous popular works, including works in various genre such as jazz and country western music. The number 1 record cover was based on Lady Gaga's "Poker Face", and was the first song to appear in the lead album chart for the jazz category in the iTunes Store. The album reached number 2.
On September 7, 2011, Aimer debuted for Defstar Records, with the song "Rokutousei no Yoru", which was selected by Fuji TV as the ending theme of the 2011 anime series No. 6.[12] "Rokutousei no Yoru" recorded its highest ranking at number 9 on the Recochoku music distribution chart.[13] The second single was released on December 14, 2011. "Re:pray/ Sabishikute Nemurenai Yoru wa" reached number 1 in the Mora music download charts site.[14] The song "Re: pray" was chosen as the 29th ending theme for the anime Bleach.[15] The single also includes the cover of "Poker Face" from Your Favorite Things.
On February 22, 2012, she released her third single, "Yuki no Furumachi/Fuyu no Diamond", which had the theme of "winter" on all tracks. On May 11, 2012, Aimer released a digital single called "Hoshikuzu Venus". This single was intended to be the theme song and background music for Sasaki Nozomi's drama, Koi nante Zeitaku ga Watashi ni Ochite Kuru no daro ka?. This drama aired on April 16, 2012. On August 15, Aimer released her fourth single, "Anata ni Deawanakereba: Kasetsu Toka / Hoshikuzu Venus", which included a cover of Neil Sedaka's "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do". The first track of this single "Anata ni Deawanakereba: Kasetsu Toka" is an ending song of Fuji TV's anime series Natsuyuki Rendezvous.[16]
On March 20, 2013, Aimer released the single "Re: I Am", which was used as the ending theme for the penultimate episode of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.[17] According to an interview, the song title "is an anagram of [her] name (Aimer), and has the meaning of breaking down a word and constructing it into another."[18] Aimer's eighth single, "Brave Shine", was used as the second opening theme to the Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works anime, and was released on June 3, 2015.[19] Another song, "Last Stardust", which was also a candidate for the opening, appears as an insert song in episode No. 20.[20]
On August 18, 2016, Aimer announced her special 4th studio album Daydream would be released on September 21 featuring collaboration songs between her and popular artists such as Taka (One Ok Rock), Yojiro Noda (Radwimps), TK (Ling Tosite Sigure), chelly (Egoist), Takahito Uchisawa (androp), Hiroyuki Sawano, Sukima Switch, and Mao Abe. Taka additionally produced four new songs for this album, while TK provided two. Also includes the ending theme of Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (anime) made in collaboration with chelly (Egoist) and Hiroyuki Sawano and more for 13 tracks total. The album was released in three versions: a limited CD+Blu-ray (Type-A), a limited CD+DVD edition (Type-B), and a regular CD only edition. The song "Falling Alone" was used as lead track and was previously released as her 10th digital single as advance of the album.[21][22]
On August 20, 2016, Aimer revealed her face for the first time on Music Station with the song "Chouchou Musubi".[23] Following the announcement of her 4th album Daydream, Aimer performed the ending song to the Season 5 of anime series Natsume's Book of Friends, "Akane Sasu".[24] On January 5, 2017, it was announced that Aimer wrote a song for the Japanese culinary exhibition "Tabegamisama no Fushigina Resutoranten" directed by the multimedia entertainment studio Moment Factory.[25] A day after it was revealed on Aimer's official Twitter profile that the name of the song for the exhibition would be "Kachō Fūgetsu".[26] Later, it was also revealed another single, which would be used as opening theme for the Japanese drama Ubai ai, fuyu, titled "Kogoesōna Kisetsu Kara", and would be released on February 10, 2017.[27] The compilation albums Best Selection "blanc" and Best Selection "noir" were released on May 3, 2017. On November 11, Aimer released the single "One", which peaked at No. 2 on both Oricon and Billboard Japan charts.[28][29]
Her single "Ref:rain" was released digitally on February 18, 2018, and received a physical release on February 21, 2018. The song is used as the ending theme to the 2018 anime television series After the Rain.[30] On September 7, 2018, Aimer released the single "Black Bird", which was used as the theme song for the Japanese live-action film adaptation of the manga Kasane.[31] On January 8, 2019, Aimer released the single "I beg you" for the anime film Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel II. lost butterfly. The song became her first No. 1 single on Oricon's chart.[32][33] She released two simultaneous albums, Sun Dance and Penny Rain, on April 10, 2019.[34] She recorded the ending theme song "Torches" for the anime adaptation of the manga series Vinland Saga.[35][36] She released her 18th single "Haru wa Yuku" on March 25, 2020. The song serves as the main theme of the anime film Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel III. spring song.[37] Aimer's song, "Spark-Again" has become the opening theme to the season 2 of the hit series Fire Force. In 2021, Aimer's song "Zankyōsanka" was used for season two of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.[38] In 2022, her song "Deep Down" also featured as one of the 12 ending theme songs for the anime Chainsaw Man, which was used in the 9th episode.[39][40] In early 2023, Aimer's song "Escalate" was featured as the opening theme for the anime Nier: Automata Ver1.1a, that aired on January 8, 2023.[41] She will perform the ending theme "Atemonaku" (Aimlessly) for the anime Ranking of Kings: The Treasure Chest of Courage.[42] Aimer's single “Zankyosanka” has officially surpassed 500 million cumulative streams on the Oricon Weekly Streaming Ranking, according to the latest chart released on August 27. This marks the first time one of Aimer's songs has crossed the 500 million milestone.[43]
Personal life
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [46] |
JPN Comb [A][47] |
KOR [B] | ||||
| Sleepless Nights |
|
11 | — | — | N/a | |
| Midnight Sun |
|
9 | — | — |
|
|
| Dawn |
|
4 | — | 3 | ||
| Daydream |
|
2 | — | 3 | ||
| Sun Dance & Penny Rain (Limited edition) |
|
— | — | — | ||
| Sun Dance |
|
3 | 3 | 66 |
|
|
| Penny Rain |
|
2 | 2 | 67 |
|
|
| Walpurgis[57] |
|
2 | 2 | — |
|
|
| Open α Door |
|
3 | 4 | — |
|
|
Compilation albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [46] |
JPN Comb [C][47] |
KOR [D] | ||||
| Best Selection "Blanc" |
|
3 | — | 4 |
| |
| Best Selection "Noir" |
|
4 | — | 5 |
| |
| Hoshi no Kieta Yoru ni (B-side collection) |
|
3 | 3 | — |
|
|
Mini albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [46] |
JPN Comb [E][47] | ||
| After Dark |
|
23 | — |
| Dare ka, Umi wo. (誰か、海を。) |
|
18 | — |
| 花の唄/I beg you/春はゆく |
|
4 | 4 |
| Deep Down |
|
3 | 3 |
| Haruka / 800 / End of All / Ref:rain (3 nuits ver.) |
|
11 | 14 |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN [66] |
JPN Comb [F][67] |
JPN Hot [68] |
WW | |||||
| "Rokutosei no Yoru" (六等星の夜) | 2011 | 28 | — | 20 | — | Sleepless Nights | ||
| "Kanashimi wa Aurora ni" (悲しみはオーロラに) | — | — | ||||||
| "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" | — | — | ||||||
| "Re:pray" | 41 | — | 35 | — | ||||
| "Sabishikute Nemurenai Yoru wa" (寂しくて眠れない夜は) | — | — | ||||||
| "Yuki no Furumachi" (雪の降る街) | 2012 | 72 | — | — | — | |||
| "Fuyu no Diamond" (冬のダイヤモンド) | — | — | ||||||
| "Anata ni Deawanakereba ～Kasetsu Toka～" (あなたに出会わなければ～夏雪冬花～) | 26 | — | 93 | — |
| |||
| "Hoshikuzu Venus" (星屑ビーナス) | — | — | — |
| ||||
| "Re: I Am" | 2013 | 6 | — | 27 | — |
|
Midnight Sun | |
| "Nemuri no Mori" (眠りの森) |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| "StarRingChild" | 2014 | 3 | — | 17 | — |
| ||
| "Dare ka, Umi wo." (誰か、海を。) | — | — | 41 | — | Dawn | |||
| "Broken Night" | — | — | 34 | — | ||||
| "Hollow World" | — | — | ||||||
| "Kimi wo Matsu" (君を待つ) |
2015 | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Brave Shine" | 4 | — | 4 | — |
| |||
| "Ninelie" (with Chelly of Egoist) |
2016 | 9 | — | 4 | — |
|
Daydream | |
| "Insane Dream" | 13 | — | 17 | — | ||||
| "Us" | — | — | ||||||
| "Chouchou Musubi" (蝶々結び) |
10 | — | 8 | — | ||||
| "Akanesasu" (茜さす) | 8 | — | 8 | — |
|
Best Selection "Blanc" | ||
| "Everlasting Snow" | 49 | — | ||||||
| "One" | 2017 | 2 | 36 | 2 | — | Sun Dance & Penny Rain | ||
| "Hana no Uta" (花の唄) | 6 | — |
| |||||
| "Rokutosei no Yoru Magic Blue ver." (六等星の夜 Magic Blue ver.) | — | — | ||||||
| "Ref:rain" | 2018 | 6 | — | 6 | — | |||
| "Mabayui Bakari" (眩いばかり) | — | — | ||||||
| "Black Bird" | 5 | — | 3[71] | — | ||||
| "Tiny Dancers" | 85 | — | ||||||
| "Omoide wa Kireide" (思い出は奇麗で) | — | — | ||||||
| "I Beg You" | 2019 | 1 | 1 | 2[72] | — |
| ||
| "Hanabiratachi no March" (花びらたちのマーチ) | 58 | — | ||||||
| "Sailing" | 38 | — | ||||||
| "Stand-Alone" | — | 20 | 19 | — |
|
Walpurgis | ||
| "Torches" | 6 | 6 | 26 | — | ||||
| "Haru wa Yuku" (春はゆく) | 2020 | 3[73] | 2 | 4[74] | — |
| ||
| "Marie" | — | — | ||||||
| "Spark-Again" | 3 | 7 | 20 | — |
| |||
| "Gracenote" (グレースノート) |
2021 | — | — | — | — | Hoshi no Kieta Yoruni | ||
| "One and Last" | — | — | 85 | — | ||||
| "Zankyōsanka" (残響散歌) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 37 | Open α Door | |||
| "Asa ga Kuru" (朝が来る) | 6 | — | ||||||
| "Omokage" (おもかげ) (with Milet and Lilas Ikuta) |
— | 27 | 11 | — |
|
Non-album single | ||
| "Wavy Flow" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | Deep Down | ||
| "Oaiko" (オアイコ) | — | — | 77 | — | Open α Door | |||
| "Deep Down" | — | — | 66 | — | ||||
| "Escalate" | 2023 | 7 | 16 | 77 | — | |||
| "Atemonaku" (あてもなく) | 16 | 45 | — | — | ||||
| "Resonantia" | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Shiroiro Kagerō" (白色蜉蝣) | 6 | 39 | — | — | Non-album single | |||
| "800" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | Haruka / 800 / End of All / Ref:rain -3 nuits ver.- | ||
| "Haruka" (遥か) | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "Sign" | 11 | — | — | — |
|
Non-album singles | ||
| "Scope" | 2025 | 3 | 30 | — | — |
|
||
| "A World Where the Sun Never Rises" (太陽が昇らない世界) | 8 | 9 | 8 | — |
|
|||
| "Little Bouquet" | 9 | — | — | — |
|
|||
| "Pastoral" | — | — | — | |||||
| "Live to Survive" | 2026 | — | — | — | — | |||
Other charted and certified songs
Cover albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN [46] | ||
| Your Favorite Things |
|
— |
| Bitter & Sweet |
|
53 |
Live videos
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN | ||
| Aimer Live in Budokan "blanc et noir"[79] |
|
5 |
| Aimer Special Concert with Slovak National Radio Symphony Orchestra "Aria Strings" |
|
1 |
Collaboration albums
| Title | Album details | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| UnChild |
|
SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Aimer |
| Another Me |
|
Fukui Mai x Aimer |
Guest appearances
| Song | Year | Album | Album artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Bananafish to Hamabe to Kuroi Niji" (with Aimer) |
2014 | See More Glass | Galileo Galilei |
| "Song of ..<AM>" | 2015 | o1 | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] |
| "S-ave" | |||
| "Bed / Love Song" (featuring Aimer) |
2016 | Sea and the Darkness | Galileo Galilei |
| "bL∞dy f8 -eUC-" | Into the Sky EP | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | |
| "Told U So" | P.Y.L | Illion | |
| "Bright Stars" (featuring Aimer) |
Kings of the Playground | Grown Kids | |
| "Listen" (featuring Avril Lavigne); (Aimer as background vocal) |
2017 | Ambitions | One Ok Rock |
| "Ninelie <Cry-v>" | 2V-ALK | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] | |
| "Memento Mori" (featuring Aimer) |
2018 | Cocoon | Androp |
| "I-mage" (featuring Aimer) |
2019 | R∃/MEMBER | SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] |
| "Prologue" (featuring Aimer) |
2021 | Hope | Shota Shimizu |
| "The Road Not Taken" (featuring Aimer) |
2024 | Non-album single | HOYO-MiX |
Filmography
Music videos
| Song | Year | Director(s)[80] | Production |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Anata ni Deawanakereba ~Kasetsutouka~"
(あなたに出会わなければ～夏雪冬花～) |
2012 | Tatsuya Murakami | Unknown |
| "Re:pray" | Takahiro Miki | ||
| "Yuki no Furu Machi" (雪の降る街) | Takeshi Matsuda Masakazu Fukatsu | ||
| "Re: I Am" | 2013 | Tsuyoshi Araki | |
| "StarRingChild" | Masakazu Fukatsu | factory1994 | |
| "Nemuri no Mori" (眠りの森) | Gaku Kinoshita | Unknown | |
| "Polaris" (ポラリス) | 2014 | ||
| "Kyoukara Omoide" (今日から思い出) | |||
| "Dare ka, Umi wo" (誰か、海を。)[81] | maxilla | ||
| "broKen NIGHT"[81] | 2015 | Tatsunori Sato | 19-juke- |
| "Brave Shine"[81] | Ryohei Shingu | ||
| "Believe Be:leave" [81] | Tatsunori Sato | ||
| "Kimi wo Matsu" (君を待つ)[81] | Gaku Kinoshita | Unknown | |
| "ninelie"[82] | 2016 | biogon pictures inc. | |
| "insane dream"[83] | Stephen Wayne Mallet | Green Glow Films | |
| "us"[84] | Masakazu Fukatsu | Unknown | |
| "Chouchou Musubi" (蝶々結び)[85] | Shunji Iwai | Tamai Emi | |
| "Stars in the rain"[86] | Tani Satoshi | c.Ray | |
| "Falling Alone"[82] | bait | Unknown | |
| "Kataomoi" (カタオモイ) | 2017 | Unknown | Unknown |
| "Akanesasu" (茜さす) | |||
| "everlasting snow" | |||
| "Kogoesuna Kisetsu Kara" (凍えそうな季節から) | 19-juke- | ||
| "ONE"[87] | Takeshi Maruyama | SEP | |
| "Ref:rain" | 2018 | Yūki Yamato | Unknown |
| "Mabayui Bakari"(眩いばかり) | Masakazu Fukatsu | ||
| "Omoide wa Kireide"(思い出は奇麗で) | Gaku Kinoshita | ||
| "Hana no Uta"(花の唄)[88] | Takahiro Miki | ||
| "I Beg You"[88] | 2019 | ||
| "3min"[89] | Unknown | ||
| "Torches" | |||
| "Haru wa Yuku"(春はゆく)[90] | 2020 | ||
| "Skylight"[91] | 2023 | Shintaro Sakai | 19-juke- New Black |
| "Shiroiro Kagerou"[92] | Hidejin Kato | ||
Kōhaku Uta Gassen appearances
Tours
- Aimer Live Tour "Maiden Voyage"[93]
- Aimer Live Tour "DAWN" [94]
- Aimer Hall Tour 2016 "like a daydream" [95]
- Aimer LIVE TOUR 17/18 "hiver" [96]
- Aimer Fan Club Tour ”été" [97]
- Aimer Hall Tour 18/19 "soleil et pluie" [98]
- Aimer "soleil et pluie" Asia Tour (2019)[99]
- Aimer Hall Tour 19/20 "rouge de bleu" [100]
- Aimer Hall Tour 2022 "Walpurgisnacht" [101]
- Aimer Arena Tour 2023 -nuit immersive- [102]
- Aimer 3 nuits tour 2024 [103]
- Aimer Hall Tour 2024-25 "lune blanche"[104]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee/work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Billboard Japan Music Awards | Animation Artist of the Year | Aimer | Nominated[105] |
| 2013 | CD Shop Awards | Grand Prix | Sleepless Nights | Nominated[106] |
| 2015 | Music Jacket Awards | Second Prize | Dare ka, Umi wo. | Won[107] |
| Newtype Anime Awards | Best Theme Song | "Brave Shine" (from anime Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works) |
Won[108] | |
| 2016 | Music Jacket Awards | Grand Prize | Dawn | Nominated[109] |
| 2017 | CD Shop Awards | Sub-Grand Prix | Daydream | Won[110] |
| Space Shower Music Awards | Best Female Artist | Aimer | Nominated[111] | |
| 2018 | Space Shower Music Awards | Best Female Artist | Aimer | Nominated[112] |
| Newtype Anime Awards | Best Theme Song | "Hana no Uta" (from anime film Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. presage flower) |
4th place[113] | |
| 2019 | Newtype Anime Awards | Best Theme Song | "I Beg You" (from anime film Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel II. lost butterfly) |
5th place[114] |
| 2020 | Space Shower Music Awards | Best Female Artist | Aimer | Nominated |
| 2022 | Billboard Japan Music Awards | Hot 100 of the Year | "Zankyosanka" | Won[115] |
| MTV Video Music Awards Japan | Best Solo Artist Video – Japan | Won[116] | ||
| 64th Japan Record Awards | Special Prize | Aimer | Won[117] |
Notes
- The Oricon Combined Albums Chart was established on December 24, 2018.
- The Oricon Combined Albums Chart was established on December 24, 2018.
- The Oricon Combined Albums Chart was established on December 24, 2018.
- The Oricon Combined Singles Chart was established on December 24, 2018.
- The Oricon Combined Singles Chart was established on December 24, 2018.