Chihiro (song)

"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 released to Italian contemporary hit radio stations on January 17, 2025, via EMI. 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).[1] The song's title is a reference to Chihiro Ogino, the main character of the 2001 Studio Ghibli animated film Spirited Away.[2] In an interview with Angie Martoccio of Rolling Stone, Eilish said:[3]

"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 [brother-and-frequent-collaborator] Finneas had made that beat. I love that movie. I’ve seen it so many times.[3]"

"Chihiro" was written by Eilish and Finneas; the latter also produced the song.[4] It was recorded in Los Angeles, California, United States.[5]

"Chihiro" was previewed with "Lunch" and "L'Amour de Ma Vie" at Coachella 2024.[6] 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.[7] "Chihiro" is the third song on Hit Me Hard and Soft;[8] it was released with the studio album on May 17, 2024,[9] 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.[10] On May 15 at the Barclays Center, "Chihiro" garnered some of the evening's most-enthusiastic crowd response.[11]

"Chihiro" was released as a single in Italy on January 16, 2025, through EMI.[12]

Composition and lyrics

"Chihiro" is a mid-tempo song[13] that incorporates dance-pop,[14] funk,[15] techno-house,[16] R&B,[17] and progressive R&B.[18] In the lyrics, Eilish sings of feelings of being lost and found that are reminiscent of the Spirited Away character Ogino Chihiro.[3]

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.[19] It debuted at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100[20] and at number three on the US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.[21] Additionally, the song debuted at number seven on the UK Top 10.[22]

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.[23][24] After negotiations, Eilish's team allowed Duda Beat to record the remixed version.[25] It combines the track with Brazilian funk elements and gained significant popularity on social media platforms, particularly TikTok,[26] where it became the soundtrack for the "passinho Chihiro" dance.[27]

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.[31] Eilish directed the music video and stars in it alongside Nat Wolff.[32]

Accolades

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

External links