So Special

"So Special" is a song recorded by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai and Japanese singer-songwriter Atsushi of Exile. It was released on September 10, 2008 alongside "Okuribito" as a double A-side single, by Island Records and Universal Sigma. The song and "Okuribito" served as the lead singles for Ai's seventh studio album, Viva Ai.

"So Special"
CD-only cover
Single by Ai and Atsushi
from the album Viva Ai
Language	Japanese English
A-side	"Okuribito"
Released	September 10, 2008 (2008-09-10)
Recorded	2008
Genre	R&B J-pop
Length	4:13
Label	Island Universal Sigma
Songwriter(s)	Ai Uemura Atsushi Satō
Producer(s)	Uta
Ai singles chronology
"Taisetsu na Mono" (2008) "So Special" / "Okuribito" (2008) "Broken Strings" (2008)
Music video
"So Special (Version Ai)" on YouTube

Background

"So Special" was written by Ai and Atsushi as a duet. Two versions of the song were recorded, a "Version Ai" and a "Version EX". In July 2008, Avex Group announced the "Version EX" of the song was to be included on Exile's greatest hits album, Exile Entertainment Best [ja].^[1] The band's greatest hits album was initially announced in June 2008.^[2] In August, Universal Japan announced Ai's version of the song was to be included on the physical release of "Okuribito", a song she recorded for Departures, as a double A-side single.^[3][4]

Promotion and live performances

"So Special" was used as the Music Fighter power play song.^[5] Ai performed "So Special" with Atsushi on Music Station on September 12.^[6]

Charts

Chart (2008)	Peak position
Japan Singles Chart (Oricon)[7]	15
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard Japan)[8]	14

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "So Special"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[9] Digital Download	Gold	100,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone.