Misplaced Pages

"Chihiro" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish. The third track on her third studio album Hit Me Hard and Soft (2024), it was initially released as a promotional single before it was released as the album's third single in Italy on January 16, 2025. The song was written by Eilish and her brother Finneas O'Connell, who also produced the track for Darkroom and Interscope Records.

Background and release

On April 12, 2024, in an interview with Apple Music's presenter Zane Lowe, Eilish teased a 15-second snippet of "Chihiro", which was released on her third studio album Hit Me Hard and Soft (2024). The song's title is a reference to Chihiro Ogino, the main character of the 2001 Studio Ghibli animated film Spirited Away. In an interview with Angie Martoccio of Rolling Stone, Eilish said:

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 ... 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.

"Chihiro" was written by Eilish and Finneas; the latter also produced the song. It was recorded in Los Angeles, California, United States.

"Chihiro" was previewed with "Lunch" and "L'Amour de Ma Vie" at Coachella 2024. On May 10, 2024, Eilish released a 49-second-long clip of "Chihiro" through Fortnite Festival on the Fortnite Festival channel of the video-sharing platform YouTube because it was confirmed the song would be included as a backing track on the third season of Fortnite Festival. "Chihiro" is the third song on Hit Me Hard and Soft; it was released with the studio album on May 17, 2024, through Darkroom and Interscope Records.

Eilish and Finneas hosted free listening parties prior to the album's release; American Express presented a party on May 15 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and another on May 16 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, in association with Snapchat. On May 15 at the Barclays Center, "Chihiro" garnered some of the evening's most-enthusiastic crowd response.

"Chihiro" was released as a single in Italy on January 16, 2025, through EMI.

Composition and lyrics

"Chihiro" is a mid-tempo song that incorporates elements of techno-house, R&B, and progressive R&B. In the lyrics, Eilish sings of feelings of being lost and found that are reminiscent of the Spirited Away character Ogino Chihiro.

Commercial performance

After the release of Hit Me Hard and Soft on May 17, 2024, "Chihiro" made its debut at number six on the Billboard Global 200 chart. It debuted at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number three on the US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. Additionally, the song debuted at number seven on the UK Top 10.

Despite viral success, a remix named as "MTG CHIHIRO" by Mulú was initially denied permission for releasing on streaming platforms by Billie Eilish's management, including her brother Finneas. After negotiations, Eilish's team allowed Duda Beat to record the remixed version. It combines the track with Brazilian funk elements and gained significant popularity on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, where it became the soundtrack for the "passinho CHIHIRO" dance.

Music video

The music video for "Chihiro" was teased on June 5, 2024, when Eilish shared on social media a short video in which she runs down a hallway. It premiered on Eilish's Vevo channel on YouTube at 09:00 Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on June 6. Eilish directed the music video and stars in it alongside Nat Wolff.

Charts

Certifications

Release history

See also

• List of top 10 singles for 2024 in Australia
• List of Billboard Global 200 top-ten singles in 2024
• List of top 10 singles in 2024 (Ireland)
• List of UK top-ten singles in 2024

References

1. Tassi, Paul (May 10, 2024). "Billie Eilish Teases New Song, Chihiro, In 'Fortnite,' Ahead Of Album Release Date". Forbes. Archived from the original on January 20, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
2. Li, Joyce (April 15, 2024). "Billie Eilish Previews New Songs at Her Coachella DJ Set". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
3. Aniftos, Rania (April 12, 2024). "Billie Eilish Teases 'Spirited Away'-Inspired Track Off Upcoming Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
4. ^ Prance, Sam (May 21, 2024). "Billie Eilish Explains The Deeper Meaning Behind Her 'Chihiro' Lyrics". Capital. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
5. Rossignol, Derrick (May 17, 2024). "Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard And Soft: Here Are The Full Album Credits, Song By Song". Uproxx. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
6. "Billie Eilish - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT Excl. Vinyl". UMG Africa. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
7. Rettig, James (April 14, 2024). "Billie Eilish Previews New Songs In Surprise Coachella DJ Set". Stereogum. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
8. Ben Rogerson (May 10, 2024). "Billie Eilish has released a 49-second clip of new song Chihiro via Fortnite Festival and it confirms that it's a synth-led electronic banger". MusicRadar. Archived from the original on May 12, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
9. "Billie Eilish dominates charts with Hit Me Hard and Soft, a genre-bending exploration (Ed 137)". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. May 30, 2024. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
10. Singh, Surej (April 19, 2024). "Check out the tracklist for Billie Eilish's new album 'Hit Me Hard And Soft'". NME. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
11. ^ Empire, Kitty (May 19, 2024). "Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft review – could have hit even harder". The Observer. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
12. Horowitz, Steven J.; Garcia, Thania (May 7, 2024). "Billie Eilish Announces Additional Hit Me Hard and Soft Listening Events Across North America". Variety. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
13. Ahlgrim, Callie (May 17, 2024). "Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft is a thrilling return to form for pop's leading weirdo". Business Insider. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
14. Vitali, Giacomo (January 13, 2025). "Chihiro – Billie Eilish". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved January 16, 2025.
15. Petridis, Alexis (May 16, 2024). "Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft review – still the great outlier of American pop". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
16. Sherman, Maria (May 17, 2024). "Music Review: Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft is zealous outsider pop in a league of her own". Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
17. Willman, Chris (May 16, 2024). "Billie Eilish Keeps Up Her Winning Streak With the Surprising and Intimate Hit Me Hard and Soft: Album Review". Variety. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
18. "Top 50 Songs of 2024". Beats Per Minute. December 17, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
19. "The 50 Best Songs of 2024". Slant Magazine. December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
20. "The 24 Best Songs of 2024, According to Vogue Editors". Vogue. December 24, 2024. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
21. McIntyre, Hugh. "Billie Eilish Nearly Doubles Her Total Number Of Top 10 Hits On One Chart". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
22. Zellner, Xander (May 28, 2024). "All 10 Songs From Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft Debut in Hot 100's Top 40". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
23. Rutherford, Kevin (May 28, 2024). "'Hit' Record: Billie Eilish Reigns on Top Rock & Alternative Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
24. Brandle, Lars (May 27, 2024). "Billie Eilish Blasts to No. 1 on U.K. Chart With Hit Me Hard And Soft". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
25. todateen. "MTG Chihiro: entenda origem do remix brasileiro de hit de Billie Eilish". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 15, 2025.
26. Brasil, Billboard (June 20, 2024). "Empresário de Billie Eilish nega autorização para remix 'MTG CHIHIRO' - Billboard Brasil". billboard.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 15, 2025.
27. Bastos, Nicoly. ""Chihiro", de Billie Eilish, ganha versão "abrasileirada" na voz de Duda Beat". CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 15, 2025.
28. "Remix de Billie Eilish com funk cresce nas paradas do Brasil em versão 'roubada', diz produtor | Música". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 24, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
29. "A curiosa versão que Billie Eilish autorizou Duda Beat gravar em MTG | O Som e a Fúria". VEJA (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved January 15, 2025.
30. Aniftos, Rania (June 5, 2024). "Billie Eilish Teases 'Chihiro' Music Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
31. Dailey, Hannah (June 6, 2024). "Watch Billie Eilish Wrestle With Nat Wolff in Feverish 'Chihiro' Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
32. "Billie Eilish – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for Billie Eilish. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
33. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
34. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
35. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
36. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
37. "Billie Eilish Chart History (Brasil Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
38. "Billie Eilish Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
39. "Billie Eilish Chart History (Croatia Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
40. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 21. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
41. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro". Tracklisten. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
42. "Billie Eilish: Chihiro" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
43. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
44. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
45. "Billie Eilish Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
46. "Official IFPI Charts — Digital Singles Chart (International) — Εβδομάδα: 21/2024" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
47. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
48. "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
49. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
50. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro". Top Digital Download. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
51. "Straumēšanas TOP 2024 – 21. nedēļa" [Streaming TOP 2024 – Week 21] (in Latvian). LAIPA. June 12, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
52. "OLT20 – English Chart – Week of Sunday July 16th, 2024". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
53. "2024 22-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. May 31, 2024. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
54. "Billie Eilish Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
55. "The Official Mena Chart - This Week's Official MENA Chart Top 20 from 17/05/2024 to 23/05/2024". theofficialmenachart.com. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
56. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
57. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
58. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro". VG-lista. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
59. "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 17.05.2024–23.05.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
60. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
61. "Top All Media Hits Global Weekly Chart May 23, 2024 | TopHit - Highway To Airplay". Tophit. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
62. "The Official Mena Chart - This Week's Official Saudi Arabia Chart Top 20 from 17/05/2024 to 23/05/2024". theofficialmenachart.com. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
63. "RIAS Top Charts Week 21 (17 - 23 May 2024)". RIAS. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
64. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 21. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
65. "Top Release Of The Week: Local & Intl Streaming". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
66. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
67. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
68. "Billie Eilish – Chihiro". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
69. "The Official Mena Chart - This Week's Official UAE Chart Top 20 from 17/05/2024 to 23/05/2024". theofficialmenachart.com. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
70. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
71. "Billie Eilish Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
72. "Billie Eilish Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
73. "Top 50 Streaming – Brasil - Junho de 2024" [Top 50 Streaming – Brazil - June 2024] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
74. "Top All Media Hits Global Monthly Chart | June 2024". Tophit. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
75. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
76. "Top de l'année – Top Singles – 2024" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
77. "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
78. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2024". hitparade.ch. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
79. "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2024". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
80. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2024". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
81. "Canadian single certifications – Billie Eilish – Chihiro". Music Canada. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
82. "French single certifications – Billie Eilish – Chihiro" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
83. "New Zealand single certifications – Billie Eilish – Chihiro". Radioscope. Retrieved January 9, 2025. Type Chihiro in the "Search:" field.
84. "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 9, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Chihiro in the search box.
85. "Portuguese single certifications – Billie Eilish – Chihiro" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
86. "Spanish single certifications – Billie Eilish – Chihiro". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
87. "British single certifications – Billie Eilish – Chihiro". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
88. "American single certifications – Billie Eilish – Chihiro". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
89. "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 44/2024" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
90. Vitali, Giacomo (January 13, 2025). "Billie Eilish -Chihiro (Radio Date: 16-01-2025)". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved January 13, 2025.

External links

• "Chihiro" (Billie by Finneas) on YouTube

• 2024 songs
• 2025 singles
• Interscope Records singles
• Billie Eilish songs
• Songs written by Finneas O'Connell
• Song recordings produced by Finneas O'Connell
• Songs written by Billie Eilish
• American contemporary R&B songs