"Chihiro" is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish from her third studio album Hit Me Hard and Soft. It was released on May 17, 2024, through Darkroom and Interscope Records. Written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also produced the track, it is the third song on the album.
| "Chihiro" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Billie Eilish | |
| from the album Hit Me Hard and Soft | |
| Released | May 17, 2024 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 5:03 |
| Label |
|
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | Finneas O'Connell |
| Music video | |
| "Chihiro" on YouTube | |
Background and release
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On April 12, 2024, in an interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, Eilish teased a 15-seconds snippet of "Chihiro" taken from her third studio album Hit Me Hard and Soft (2024).[1] The song was titled "Chihiro" in reference to the main character of the 2001 animated Studio Ghibli film, Spirited Away.[2] "Chihiro" was previewed together with "Lunch", and "L'Amour de Ma Vie" at the Coachella 2024.[3] On May 10, 2024, Eilish released 49-seconds long clip of "Chihiro" through Fortnite Festival on the Fortnite Festival YouTube channel as it was verified that the song will be included as a backing track on the Fortnite Festival season 3.[4] "Chihiro" is the third song on Hit Me Hard and Soft,[5] released in tandem with the studio album on May 17, 2024,[6] through Darkroom and Interscope Records.[7] It was written by Eilish and her brother and frequent collaborator Finneas, who also produced the song.[8] It was recorded in their hometown of Los Angeles.[9] In an interview with Angie Martoccio of Rolling Stone, Eilish said that:[10]
The song is loosely based off of that movie, which is one of my favorites. It’s kind of from her point of view, mixed with mine. The visuals in that movie are some of the best ever — all that Studio Ghibli shit is unbelievable.
She also went on to say that:[10]
There’s all those visuals of the train in the water after the flood, and it literally looks like an ocean with a train track. I had just watched Spirited Away and Finneas had made that beat. I love that movie. I’ve seen it so many times.
Eilish and Finneas hosted a free listening party ahead of the album release, presented by American Express, on May 15 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and again on May 16 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California in association with Snapchat.[11] On May 15 at the Barclays Center, "Chihiro" garnered some of the evening's most enthusiastic shrieks and shouts.[12]
Composition and lyrics
"Chihiro" is a mid-tempo song[13] incorporating elements of techno-house,[14] R&B,[7] and progressive R&B.[15]
Through the lyrics, Eilish sings of feelings of being lost and found, reminiscent of the Spirited Away character.[10]
Commercial performance
After the album was released on May 17, 2024, "Chihiro" made its debut at number six on the Billboard Global 200 chart.[16] It debuted at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100[17] and at number three on the US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.[18] Additionally, the song debuted at number seven on the UK Top 10.[19]
Music video
The music video for "Chihiro" was teased on June 5, 2024, when Eilish shared a short video on her social media where she is seen running down a hallway. It premiered on Eilish's Vevo channel on YouTube at 09:00 Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on June 6.[20] Eilish directed the music video and stars in it alongside Nat Wolff.[21]
Charts
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[62] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[63] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||