Overview "One" is a single by Japanese singer Aimer, released on October 11, 2017, under the label SME Records. It serves as the thirteenth single in her discography and is included in her fifth studio album, Sun Dance. The single was released in multiple editions, including a CD-only version and limited editions containing a DVD with music videos. The release features the title track "One" alongside three other songs: "Hana no Uta," "Rokutosei no Yoru Magic Blue ver.," and "Ito."
Etymology and Origin The title "One" signifies a concept of unity and new beginnings. Aimer debuted the song during her concert at the Nippon Budokan on August 29, 2017, describing it as her "first dance song." She contextualized the track as the start of a new chapter in her career, noting that her previous compilation album, Best Selection "noir," concluded with the song "zero," thereby creating a numerical and thematic progression from zero to one. The songwriters are credited to Aimer (using her pen name "aimerrhythm") and Rui Momota.
Characteristics Musically, "One" blends J-pop and rock elements, characterized by an upbeat tempo and an inspirational tone. The lyrics emphasize positivity and the act of starting over, using the imagery of raising a "flag" as a central metaphor for moving forward. The music video, directed by Takeshi Maruyama, does not feature Aimer herself; instead, it depicts schoolgirls engaging in synchronized flag dancing, playing musical instruments, and performing dynamic routines.
The single includes significant tracks beyond the title song:
- "Hana no Uta": Served as the ending theme for the anime film Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. presage flower. It achieved high commercial success, peaking at number 4 on the Billboard Japan Top Download Songs chart.
- "Rokutosei no Yoru Magic Blue ver.": A re-recorded version of Aimer's debut single "Rokutosei no Yoru" (Night of the Sixth Magnitude Star).
- "Ito": A cover of the song by renowned singer-songwriter Miyuki Nakajima.
Commercially, the single performed well, reaching number 2 on the Oricon Singles Chart and number 3 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
Related Topics
- Aimer: The Japanese singer and songwriter who performed and co-wrote the track.
- "Hana no Uta": The anime theme song included on the single, closely associated with the Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel trilogy.
- Japan Airlines (JAL) Commercials: The song "One" was utilized in JAL's corporate advertising campaign supporting the Japanese men's and women's curling teams during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
- Billboard Japan and Oricon: The primary music charts in Japan where the single achieved its peak positions.