Aimer (エメ, Eme, [eme]) is a Japanese pop singer and lyricist signed to SACRA MUSIC and managed by agehasprings.[6] Her name comes from the verb "Aimer" in French, which means "to love".[7] Aimer uses the name aimerrhythm for lyrics credits.[1]
Aimer エメ | |
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![]() Aimer in 2015 | |
Background information | |
Also known as | aimerrhythm[1] |
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 2011–present |
Labels |
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Website | www |
Debuted in 2011, she has released six 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 "Zankyosanka" 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]
Aimer's father was a bassist in a band, so music surrounded her from a very young age. She started piano 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]
Aimer teamed up with the "Agehasprings" 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", appeared 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 #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 #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 #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 "Zankyou Sanka" was used for season two of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.[38] Her song "Deep Down" will be featured as one of the 12 ending theme songs for the anime Chainsaw Man.[39]
Title | Album details | Peak positions | Sales | Certifications | |
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JPN [40] |
KOR [upper-alpha 1] | ||||
Sleepless Nights |
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11 | — | — | |
Midnight Sun |
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9 | — |
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Dawn |
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4 | 3 | ||
Daydream |
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2 | 3 |
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Sun Dance & Penny Rain (Limited edition) |
|
3 | — | ||
Sun Dance |
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3 | 66 |
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Penny Rain |
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2 | 67 |
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Walpurgis[50] |
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2 | — |
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Title | Album Details | Peak positions | Sales | Certifications | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
JPN [40] |
KOR [upper-alpha 2] | ||||
Best Selection "Blanc" |
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3 | 4 |
| |
Best Selection "Noir" |
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4 | 5 |
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Hoshi no Kieta Yoru ni (B-side collection) |
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3 | — |
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Title | Album Details | Peak position |
---|---|---|
JPN [40] | ||
After Dark |
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23 |
Dare ka, Umi wo. (誰か、海を。) |
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18 |
Title | Year | Peak chart position | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPN Oricon [60] |
JPN Billboard [61] | |||
"Rokutosei no Yoru" / "Kanashimi wa Aurora ni" / "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" (六等星の夜 / 悲しみはオーロラに) |
2011 | 28 | — | Sleepless Nights |
"Re:pray" / "Sabishikute Nemurenai Yoru wa" (寂しくて眠れない夜は) |
41 | — | ||
"Yuki no Furumachi" / "Fuyu no Diamond" (雪の降る街 / 冬のダイヤモンド) |
2012 | 72 | — | |
"Anata ni Deawanakereba -Kasetsu Toka-" / "Hoshikuzu Venus" (あなたに出会わなければ~夏雪冬花~/星屑ビーナス) |
26 | — | ||
"L-O-V-E" | — | — | Bitter & Sweet | |
"Refrain ga Sakenderu" (リフレインが叫んでる) |
— | — | ||
"Re: I Am" | 2013 | 6 | 27 | Midnight Sun |
"Nemuri no Mori" (眠りの森) |
— | — | ||
"StarRingChild" | 2014 | 3 | 17 | |
"Broken Night" / "Hollow World" | 9 | 34 | DAWN | |
"Brave Shine" | 2015 | 4 | 4 | |
"Kimi wo Matsu" (君を待つ) |
— | — | ||
"Ninelie" | 2016 | 9 | 4 | Daydream |
"Insane Dream" / "Us" | 13 | 17 | ||
"Chouchou Musubi" (蝶々結び) |
10 | 8 | ||
"Falling Alone" | — | — | ||
"Akanesasu" / "everlasting snow" (茜さす / everlasting snow) |
8 | 8 | Best Selection "Blanc" | |
"ONE" / "Hana no Uta" / "Rokutosei no Yoru Magic Blue ver." (ONE / 花の唄 / 六等星の夜 Magic Blue ver.) |
2017 | 2 | 2 | Sun Dance & Penny Rain |
"Ref:rain" / "Mabayui bakari" (Ref:rain / 眩いばかり) |
2018 | 6 | 6 | |
"Black Bird / Tiny Dancers / Omoide wa Kireide" (Black Bird / Tiny Dancers / 思い出は奇麗で) |
5 | 3[62] | ||
"I Beg You / Hanabiratachi no March / Sailing" (I Beg You / 花びらたちのマーチ / Sailing) |
2019 | 1 | 2[63] | |
"Stand-Alone" | — | 19 | Walpurgis | |
"Torches" | 6 | — | ||
"Haru wa Yuku / Marie" (春はゆく / marie) |
2020 | 3[64] | 4[65] | |
"Spark-Again" | 3 | 51 | ||
"Gracenote" (グレースノート) |
2021 | — | — | Hoshi no Kieta Yoruni |
"One and Last" | — | — | ||
"Zankyosanka/Asa ga Kuru" (残響散歌/朝が来る) | 1 | 1 | Non-album singles | |
"wavy flow" | 2022 | — | — | |
"Oaiko" (オアイコ) | — | 77 |
Title | Album Details | Peak position |
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JPN [40] | ||
Your Favorite Things |
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— |
Bitter & Sweet |
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53 |
Title | Album Details | Peak position |
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JPN | ||
Aimer Live in Budokan "blanc et noir"[66] |
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5 |
Aimer Special Concert with Slovak National Radio Symphony Orchestra "ARIA STRINGS" |
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1 |
Title | Album Details | Artist(s) |
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UnChild |
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SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Aimer |
Another Me |
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Fukui Mai x Aimer |
Song | Year | Album | Album Artist |
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"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 |
Song | Year | Director(s)[67] | Production |
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"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 | ||
"Polaris" (ポラリス) | 2014 | Gaku Kinoshita | |
"Kyoukara Omoide" (今日から思い出) | Gaku Kinoshita | ||
"Dare ka, Umi wo" (誰か、海を。)[68] | maxilla | ||
"broKen NIGHT" [68] | 2015 | Tatsunori Sato | 19-juke- |
"Brave Shine" [68] | Ryohei Shingu | 19-juke- | |
"Believe Be:leave" [68] | Tatsunori Sato | 19-juke- | |
"Kimi wo Matsu" (君を待つ)[68] | Gaku Kinoshita | ||
"ninelie" [69] | 2016 | biogon pictures inc. | |
"insane dream" [70] | Stephen Wayne Mallet | Green Glow Films | |
"us" [71] | Masakazu Fukatsu | ||
"Chouchou Musubi" (蝶々結び)[72] | Shunji Iwai | Tamai Emi | |
"Stars in the rain" [73] | Tani Satoshi | c.Ray | |
"Falling Alone" [69] | bait | ||
"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"[74] | 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)[75] | Takahiro Miki | ||
"I Beg You"[75] | 2019 | Takahiro Miki | |
"3min"[76] | Unknown | ||
"Torches" | |||
"Haru wa Yuku"(春はゆく)[77] | 2020 | Takahiro Miki |
Year | Award | Category | Nominee/work | Result |
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2011 | Billboard Japan Music Awards | Animation Artist of the Year | Aimer | Nominated[79] |
2013 | CD Shop Awards | Grand Prix | Sleepless Nights | Nominated[80] |
2015 | Music Jacket Awards | Second Prize | Dare ka, Umi wo. | Won[81] |
Newtype Anime Awards | Best Theme Song | “Brave Shine” (from anime Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works) |
Won[82] | |
2016 | Music Jacket Awards | Grand Prize | Dawn | Nominated[83] |
2017 | CD Shop Awards | Sub-Grand Prix | Daydream | Won[84] |
Space Shower Music Awards | Best Female Artist | Aimer | Nominated[85] | |
2018 | Space Shower Music Awards | Best Female Artist | Aimer | Nominated[86] |
Newtype Anime Awards | Best Theme Song | “Hana no Uta” (from anime film Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. presage flower) |
4th place[87] | |
2019 | Newtype Anime Awards | Best Theme Song | “I Beg You” (from anime film Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel II. lost butterfly) |
5th place[88] |
2020 | Space Shower Music Awards | Best Female Artist | Aimer | Nominated |
Aimer's new song "Kachō Fūgetsu" will be used for the culinary exhibition "Tabegamisama no Fushigina Resutoranten"
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Studio albums | |
Compilation albums | |
Collaboration albums | |
Live videos |
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Singles |
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Related articles |
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