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Ai Scream!

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"Ai Scream!"
Cover artwork showing Ayumu Uehara (left), Ruby Kurosawa (center), and Shiki Wakana (right)
Single by AiScReam
LanguageJapanese
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2025 (2025-01-22)
GenreCharacter song, anime song
Length4:22
LabelLantis
Songwriter(s)Aim, DJ Chika aka Inherit, Hayato Yamamoto
Producer(s)Ryuichi Okubo
Lyric video
"Ai Scream!" on YouTube

"Ai Scream!"[1] (愛♡スクリ〜ム!, Ai Sukurīmu) is a song by AiScReam, a Japanese voice actress unit formed by Ai Furihata, Aguri Ōnishi, and Wakana Ōkuma, as part of the Love Live! media franchise.[2]

Released as the group's debut single on January 22, 2025, by Lantis,[3] the song gained significant popularity both in Japan and internationally, driven by its viral spread on social media platforms, particularly on TikTok.[2]

Background and release

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AiScReam is a cross-franchise unit originating from the Nippon Broadcasting System radio program Love Live! Series no All Night Nippon Gold (ラブライブ!シリーズのオールナイトニッポンGOLD).[2] The group brings together voice actresses from different sub-groups from the Love Live! franchise: Ruby Kurosawa (voiced by Ai Furihata) from Aqours, Ayumu Uehara (voiced by Aguri Onishi) from Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, and Shiki Wakana (voiced by Wakana Okuma) from Liella!. This marks the first time a Love Live! unit has featured members from multiple generations of the franchise.[2]

"Ai Scream!" was released as the group's first single on January 22, 2025, and was first performed live at a Love Live! series joint concert held on February 1 and 2, 2025, in Yokohama.[2] A short video from the performance showing the song’s call-and-response segment, was posted on the official Love Live! TikTok account on March 6, 2025. Shortly after, it sparked widespread attention, leading to a surge in user-generated content such as lip-sync videos, dance covers, fan animations, and tribute videos across social media platforms.[2]

Chart performance

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"Ai Scream!" debuted at number seven on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart for the week of February 3, 2025.[4] Additionally, it entered the Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales chart at number eight for the week of January 29, 2025.[5]

On the Billboard Japan Heatseekers Songs Chart, "Ai Scream!" peaked at number one for the week of May 14, 2025 (tracking period: May 5–11, 2025).[6] For the week of May 28, 2025 (tracking period: May 19–25, 2025), it reclaimed the number one spot, climbing from number two the previous week. This was believed to be influenced by the group's first TV appearance on NHK's program Venue101, which aired on May 24, 2025.[7]

Internationally, the song peaked at number three on the Billboard Japan Global Japan Songs Excl. Japan chart.[2]

Global impact

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"Ai Scream!" snippet
The song's call-and-response segment became the subject of viral success on social media platforms, particularly on short-form video sharing sites like TikTok.[8]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The song’s popularity extended far beyond Japan, driven by its viral spread on short-form video platforms. On the Billboard Japan Global Japan Songs Excl. Japan chart, "Ai Scream!" peaked at number 3 by May 2025. According to Luminate’s music analysis tool Connect, the song saw significant streaming growth in Asia, particularly in South Korea and Thailand, where the Love Live! franchise already had a strong fanbase prior to the song’s viral success.[2]

By Week 10 (March 7–13, 2025), streaming numbers increased in countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Mexico, and Brazil. The song’s "memeification" accelerated in Week 12 (March 21–27, 2025), with notable streaming growth in North America and Europe. A key driver of its global success was its adoption by K-pop artists, starting with Ive on March 29, 2025, followed by groups such as Kep1er, BoyNextDoor, Tomorrow X Together, Twice, and Aespa. These artists posted videos featuring the song or performed parts of it live, significantly boosting its visibility. South Korea emerged as the top country for streaming outside Japan by Week 14 (April 4–10, 2025), maintaining high streaming numbers for approximately a month.[2]

Reception

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In analyzing the reasons behind the viral success of the title track, music critic Aone Komachi compared "Ai Scream!" to "Shikairo Days," the opening theme of the TV anime series My Deer Friend Nokotan, Noa’s "Zenhoui Bishoujo," and M!LK’s "Ii Jan," identifying a common trait: a melody and phrase that stick in the listener’s mind, creating a loop that leads to repeated playback. Komachi identified the combination of "loop × cute × surreal" as a key factor in their viral spread on social media.[2]

Track listing

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All lyrics are written by Aim.

"Ai Scream!" - Digital release[1]
No.TitleMusic & ArrangementLength
1."Ai Scream!" (愛♡スクリ～ム!)
  • DJ Chika a.k.a. Inherit
  • Hayato Yamamoto
4:22
2."Ice Limit"Hayato Yamamoto3:44
3."Ai Scream!" (Off Vocal) 4:22
4."Ice Limit" (Off Vocal) 3:44
Total length:16:13
"Ai Scream!" - CD single[9]
No.TitleLength
1."Ai Scream!"4:22
2."Amakute Tanoshii AiScReam Radio!" (あまくてたのしい♡AiScReamラジオ!)14:47
3."Ice Limit"3:46
4."Ai Scream!" (Off Vocal)4:22
5."Ice Limit" (Off Vocal)3:45
Total length:31:02

References

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  1. ^ a b "‎AI SCREAM! - EP - Album by AiScReam". Apple Music (in Japanese). Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "＜コラム＞TikTok時代のバズる条件とは――「ループ×可愛い×シュール」をキーワードに紐解く". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). April 11, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  3. ^ "‎AiScReam デビューシングル 「愛♡スクリ～ム！」". Lantis (in Japanese). Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  4. ^ "Oricon Weekly Singles Chart – February 3, 2025". Oricon. February 3, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  5. ^ "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales – January 29, 2025". Billboard Japan. January 29, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  6. ^ "【Heatseekers Songs】AiScReam「愛スクリ～ム！」首位獲得　原宿ヒーローズ／Ayumu Imazuら初登場". Billboard Japan. May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  7. ^ "【Heatseekers Songs】AiScReam「愛スクリ～ム！」2度目の首位獲得　離婚伝説の2曲がトップ10入り". Billboard Japan. May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  8. ^ Kreuzer, Arden (26 May 2025). "Ruby-chan! Hai! Nani ga suki? Trend Explained". Metropolis Japan. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  9. ^ Ai Scream! (CD single booklet). Japan: Lantis. 2025. LACM-24620.
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