# Not So Different

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Not_So_Different.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_So_Different
> Source revision: 1355973260
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{short description|2020 single by Ai}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}{{Infobox song
| name          = Not So Different
| cover         = Ai_-_Not_So_Different.jpg
| alt           = 
| type          = single
| artist        = [Ai](/source/Ai_(singer))
| EP            = [It's All Me, Vol. 2](/source/It's_All_Me%2C_Vol._2)
| language      = {{hlist|Japanese|English}}
| B-side        = 
| released      = {{start date|2020|11|25}}
| studio        = 
| venue         = 
| genre         = {{hlist|[J-pop](/source/J-pop)|[pop rap](/source/hip_hop_music)}}
| length        = {{Duration|m=3|s=42}}
| label         = [EMI](/source/EMI_Records)
| writer        = {{hlist|[Ai Uemura](/source/Ai_(singer))|Rachel West|[Vincent Van den Ende](/source/Avedon_(record_producer))|[Scott Storch](/source/Scott_Storch)}}
| producer      = {{hlist|Avedon|Scott Storch|Ai}}
| chronology    = [Ai](/source/Ai_(singer))
| prev_title    = [Gift](/source/Gift_(Ai_song))
| prev_year     = 2020
| next_title    = [The Moment](/source/The_Moment_(Ai_song))
| next_year     = 2021
| misc          = {{Extra chronology
 | artist     = [Awich](/source/Awich)
 | type       = single
 | prev_title = Aligator / FND Airlines
 | prev_year  = 2020
 | title      = Not So Different
 | year       = 2020
 |next_title = [Happy X-mas (War Is Over)](/source/Happy_Xmas_(War_Is_Over))
 |next_year = 2020
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|EJST9M-3jfY|"Not So Different"}}<br>{{YouTube|4bZOxCceQ00|"Not So Different Remix feat. Awich"}}}}
}}
"'''Not So Different'''" is a song recorded by Japanese-American singer-songwriter [Ai](/source/Ai_(singer)). It was released on November 25, 2020. The song was written by Ai and Rachel West with additional songwriting credits from producers [Avedon](/source/Avedon_(record_producer)) and [Scott Storch](/source/Scott_Storch) and was included on ''[It's All Me, Vol. 2](/source/It's_All_Me%2C_Vol._2)'' (2021).

On December 11, 2020, a remix featuring Japanese rapper [Awich](/source/Awich) was released and later included on ''It's All Me, Vol. 2''. A J-pop and pop rap song, "Not So Different" lyrically is about equality and world peace. The song has been compared to Ai's 2006 single "[I Wanna Know](/source/I_Wanna_Know_(Ai_song))".

== Background ==
{{Quote|text=When I [wrote Not So Different], I hadn't decided to put this song on "Volume two" [...] At that time, the [Black Lives Matter](/source/Black_Lives_Matter) movement expanded, and [I] decided to put [it] out now. I always want[ed] to send a message like this, but often I can't put out a song unless the timing is right.|author=Ai reflecting on including "Not So Different" on ''It's All Me, Vol. 2''<ref>{{Cite web|title=AI「IT'S ALL ME - Vol.2」インタビュー｜今この世界で掲げる、ずっと歌い続けてきた"ラブ＆ピース" - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー|url=https://natalie.mu/music/pp/ai04|access-date=2021-04-05|website=音楽ナタリー|language=ja}}</ref>|title=|source=}}Ai originally wrote and recorded the song during her 2019 recording session in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), [California](/source/California). She originally performed the song in June 2020 amidst the [George Floyd protests](/source/George_Floyd_protests) in an interview with [Salesforce](/source/Salesforce).<ref>{{Cite web|title=AI、新曲「Not So Different」＆「ハピネス」アコースティックver.をパフォーマン|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/90534/2|access-date=2021-12-22|website=[Billboard Japan](/source/Billboard_Japan)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=AI、新曲「Not So Different」パフォーマンス映像公開「みんな同じHuman」|url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000186398|access-date=2021-08-20|website=BARKS| date=July 28, 2020 |language=ja}}</ref> In October 2020, Ai announced she would be participating in the One Young World summit to take place in Tokyo in May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 19, 2020 |title=AI、青年版ダボス会議「One Young World Japan」初のオフィシャル・アーティストに就任 - CDJournal ニュース |url=https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/ai/88165 |access-date=2021-12-22 |website=www.cdjournal.com |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The One Young World Summit Tokyo 2022 {{!}} One Young World|url=https://www.oneyoungworld.com/summit-2022|access-date=2021-08-20|website=www.oneyoungworld.com}}</ref> "Not So Different" originally was not planned for release as a single nor planned to be included on Ai's ''It's All Me'' [EP](/source/Extended_play)'s until November 2020.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=AI「IT'S ALL ME - Vol.2」インタビュー｜今この世界で掲げる、ずっと歌い続けてきた"ラブ＆ピース" - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー|url=https://natalie.mu/music/pp/ai04|access-date=2021-04-05|website=音楽ナタリー|publisher=Natalie Inc|language=ja}}</ref> In an interview with [Oricon](/source/Oricon) regarding the lyric "...a peace sign instead of a middle finger", Ai stated she normally does not express herself directly in her songs and that she "...wanted to express such a part in an easy-to-understand manner."<ref>{{Cite web|title=平和を歌うアーティスト・AI 「私にできるのは音楽を通してメッセージを届けること」|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/special/55485/|access-date=2021-12-22|website=ORICON NEWS}}</ref> 

=== Awich remix ===
A remix of Not So Different featuring [Awich](/source/Awich) was announced a few days after the release of the solo version.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AIがAwichを迎えた新曲「Not So Different Remix」をリリース|url=https://block.fm/news/null|access-date=2021-12-22|website=block.fm|language=ja-JP|archive-date=December 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222195225/https://block.fm/news/null|url-status=dead}}</ref> Regarding the remix, Ai stated it originally was not planned until she discussed it with her manager.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-02-19|title=【対談】AI × Awich {{!}} 私たちはそんなに違わない|url=https://fnmnl.tv/2021/02/19/118748|access-date=2021-08-20|website=FNMNL (フェノメナル)|language=en-US}}</ref> It was released on December 11, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AI announces new song "Not So Different" MV release & new mini album release|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/94594/2|access-date=2021-08-21|website=Billboard Japan}}</ref>

== Music video ==
A music video for the solo version was released on November 25, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A remix of "Not So Different" by AI and Awich to be released|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/94507/2|access-date=2021-08-21|website=Billboard Japan}}</ref> A One Young World Japan version was released in December 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AI、「Not So Different」の新作MVで次世代を担う世界14ヵ国15名の若きリーダーたちとコラボ (2020年12月2日)|url=https://www.excite.co.jp/news/article/M_on_music_0000447381/|access-date=2021-12-22|website=エキサイトニュース|date=December 2, 2020 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=NOT SO DIFFERENT – OYWJ Version – – One Young World Japan|url=https://oywj.org/news/2020/12/not-so-different-oywj-version/|access-date=2021-08-20|language=en-US}}</ref>

In February 2021, a music video for the remix version featuring Awich was released.

== Live performances ==
Ai previously performed the song before its release in June 2020.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=AI、新曲「Not So Different」パフォーマンス映像＆「ハピネス」アコースティックVer.公開（動画あり）|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/389471|access-date=2021-08-20|website=音楽ナタリー|publisher=Natalie Inc|language=ja}}</ref> She performed the song with Awich in November 2020.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=AI、Awichとコラボ「かっこよくなりすぎました」|url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000192669|access-date=2021-08-20|website=BARKS| date=November 24, 2020 |language=ja}}</ref>

== Charts ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Chart performance for "Not So Different"
!Chart (2020)
!Peak{{break}}position
|-
|Japan Top Download Songs (''[Billboard Japan](/source/Billboard_Japan)'')<ref>{{Cite news |title=Billboard Japan Download Songs chart: Week of December 23, 2020 |url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=dlsongs&year=2020&month=12&day=28 |access-date=April 25, 2024 |work=[Billboard Japan](/source/Billboard_Japan)}}</ref>
| align="center" |79
|}

== Credits and personnel ==
Credits adapted from Tidal.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Credits / It's All Me, Vol. 2 / Tidal|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/173819362/credits|access-date=2021-08-20|website=listen.tidal.com|language=en}}</ref>

=== Solo version ===

==== Musicians ====

* [Ai Uemura](/source/Ai_(singer)) – vocals, production, songwriting
* Rachel West – songwriting
* [Vincent Van den Ende](/source/Avedon_(record_producer)) – songwriting, production
* [Scott Storch](/source/Scott_Storch) –songwriting, production

==== Technical ====

* [Randy Merrill](/source/Randy_Merrill) – mastering engineer
* D.O.I – mixer

=== Awich remix ===

==== Musicians ====

* Ai Uemura – vocals, production, songwriting
* Akiko Urasaki – vocals, songwriting
* Rachel West – songwriting
* Vincent Van den Ende – songwriting, production
* Scott Storch –songwriting, production

==== Technical ====

* Randy Merrill – mastering engineer
* D.O.I – mixer
* Keisuke Fujimaki – recording engineer
* Keisuke Suwa – recording engineer
* Shiori Maruoka – recording engineer

== Track listing ==
'''Digital download'''

# "Not So Different" – 3:42

'''Awich remix'''

# "Not So Different" (remix) – 3:41

== Release history ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Release history and formats for "Not So Different"
! scope="col" |Region
! scope="col" |Date
! scope="col" |Format
!Version
! scope="col" |Label
! scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
! rowspan="3" scope="row" |Various
|November 25, 2020
| rowspan="2" |{{hlist|[Digital download](/source/Music_download)|[streaming](/source/Streaming_media)}}
|Original
| rowspan="2" |{{hlist|[EMI](/source/EMI_Records)|[Universal](/source/Universal_Music_Group)}}
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
|December 11, 2020
|Awich remix
|<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title=AIとAwichのコラボが実現、来週CDTVに出演（コメントあり）|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/405870|access-date=2021-08-20|website=音楽ナタリー|language=ja}}</ref>
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Ai (singer)}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2020 singles
Category:2020 songs
Category:Ai (singer) songs
Category:EMI Records singles
Category:Songs about racism and xenophobia
Category:Songs based on actual events
Category:Song recordings produced by Ai (singer)
Category:Song recordings produced by Scott Storch
Category:Songs written by Ai (singer)
Category:Songs written by Avedon (record producer)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Not So Different](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_So_Different) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_So_Different?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.