25th The Best - Alive (stylized 25th THE BEST - ALIVE) is the fifth greatest hits album by Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai, scheduled for release on February 26, 2025, via EMI Records.
Ai released her thirteenth studio album Respect All on August 23, 2023. After completing her tour of the same name, she released the promotional single "Whatever".[1] In 2024, Ai was featured on a series of albums, including Ringo Sheena's Carnival and Mori Calliope's Phantomime. In July, she released "Untitled" featuring Pushim and Dabo, a mashup of Ai's song "Whatever" and the remix version of Pushim's "I Wanna Know You" featuring Dabo.[2] In November, Ai made a series of posts regarding her 25th anniversary of her debut on social media.[3]
On November 2, 2024, Universal Music Japan launched a website for Ai's 25th anniversary with the message "We are Alive!!!". On November 29, the website was updated, unveiling the Alive Tour, which will begin in May 2025.[4] Alongside the tour announcement, Ai shared on social media she would be releasing a greatest hits album, 25th The Best - Alive.[5] Universal Japan announced limited copies of "Story" and "Happiness" on 7-inch single vinyls, which will be released the same day as 25th The Best - Alive.[6][7]
Various editions of the album were announced with limited first press goods. The standard edition features 17 tracks while the deluxe version includes 33 tracks split on two discs. A limited three disc version of the album includes live footage from Ai's Respect All Tour alongside tracks from the deluxe version.[8]
^"ネスレ日本「キットカット」受験生応援CMで流れる曲は?" [What song plays in Nestlé Japan's "Kit Kat" exam support commercial?]. CDJournal (in Japanese). Retrieved December 2, 2024.
^"AI、<25の『アイ』を届けます>企画スタート。25周年記念ベストアルバム発売+全国ツアーなど数々の企画発表も" [Ai launches "25 of Ai" project. 25th anniversary best album release + national tour and other project announcements]. Barks (in Japanese). November 29, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
^"AI、デビュー25周年イヤー記念し"25の『アイ』を届けます"企画始動 ベスト盤&全国ツアー開催も" [Ai to celebrate 25 years since debut with project "Delivering 25 versions of 'Ai'" and holding best album and nationwide tour]. Real Sound (in Japanese). November 29, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.