"Minna ga Minna Eiyū" (みんながみんな英雄, lit. Absolutely, Everyone's a Hero) is a song recorded by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai. It was originally released on January 5, 2016, by EMI Records, as a promotional single.
Upon its release, the original 100-second version of the song was a sleeper hit, peaking at number 4 on the Billboard JapanHot 100, receiving a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). A full version was later released, which received a Gold certification from the RIAJ. The song was later included in a deluxe reissue of Ai's second greatest hits album, The Best.[1]
Written by Makoto Shinohara,『Minna ga Minna Eiyū』was originally planned to only be used in a promotional campaign for au, a Japanese mobile phone operator.[2] A 100-second version of the song was exclusively released on au's music services in January 2016, and a few weeks later was released to other digital stores due to demand.[3] In February 2016, Universal Japan announced the full version of the song was to be released to digital stores.[4][5][6]
A J-pop song,『Minna ga Minna Eiyū』samples the melody of "Do Your Ears Hang Low?", a children's song often sung in schools and camps.[7] Lyrically, the song is about being a hero. Real Sound Japan described the song as an "uplifting J-pop song" with "soulful singing" from Ai.[7]
On January 1, 2024, au aired a new commercial in Japan to celebrate ten years of their Santaro series.[12] A new version of Ai's『Minna ga Minna Eiyū』with new lyrics was used in the commercial.[13] Artificial intelligence art based on works by Bokkuri Matsumoto are entirely used to illustrate the commercial.[14]
Similar to the original song, Shinohara provided lyrics while the melody samples the children's dong "Do Your Ears Hang Low?". In an interview, Shinohara discussed that he originally planned to use the original 2016 version of the song, however he went on to modify the lyrics to fit the theme of the commercial.[15] A 100-second version lyric video for『Minna ga Minna Eiyū 2024』was released on Ai's YouTube channel.[16] Alongside original producer Uta, Ai also co-produced the song.
^"10年目となる"三太郎"新CM放映開始！AIが歌う「みんながみんな英雄 2024」も配信スタート" ["Santaro" new commercial begins airing for its 10th year!『Minna ga Minna ga Eiyū 2024』sung by Ai has also been released]. The First Times (in Japanese). Retrieved January 1, 2024.
^"AIがau三太郎シリーズ新CMソング担当、歌詞を一新した「みんながみんな英雄2024」（動画あり）" [AI is in charge of the new au Santaro series commercial song,『Minna ga Minna ga Eiyū 2024』with new lyrics]. Natalie Music (in Japanese). Retrieved January 1, 2024.
^"AIが歌う、au三太郎『さぁ、何やる？』篇CMソング「みんながみんな英雄2024」配信＋リリックビデオ公開" [AI sings au Santaro "Now, what are we going to do?" CM song『Minna ga Minna ga Eiyū 2024』released + lyric video released]. Barks (in Japanese). January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
