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Just the Two of Us (Will Smith song)

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"Just the Two of Us"
Single by Will Smith
from the album Big Willie Style
ReleasedJuly 20, 1998 (1998-07-20)[1]
Recorded1997—1998
Genre
Length
  • 5:15 (album version)
  • 4:19 (radio edit)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Sauce
Will Smith singles chronology
"Gettin' Jiggy wit It"
(1998) 		"Just the Two of Us"
(1998) 		"Miami"
(1998)

"Just the Two of Us" is a song by American rapper & actor Will Smith. It was released as the fourth single from his debut solo studio album, Big Willie Style (1997), on July 20, 1998. The song was inspired by Bill Withers' and Grover Washington, Jr.'s love song of the same title; Smith's version samples and incorporates lyrics from the original. Instead of love between a couple, "Just the Two of Us" focuses on the relationship between a father and son. The song features Fuzzy and Sauce from the R&B group Somethin' for the People with Fuzzy providing the chorus and ad-libs, while Sauce is a credited as a producer on the track.

The song reached number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was also a top-five hit in the UK, reaching number two, and entered the top 20 in Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand. The accompanying music video features Smith playing with his son, Trey, as well as numerous clips of several other famous men with their children. The song was parodied by Eminem in his track "'97 Bonnie & Clyde"[2] and by Dr. Evil in the 1999 film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. It was also sampled in "Pretty Girl Rock" by Keri Hilson.

Music video

[edit]

The music video, directed by Bob Giraldi, begins with Smith playing with his son, Trey.[3] Before the song starts, Trey says, "Now, dad, this is a very sensitive subject." The remainder of the video features clips of fathers with their children, including Smith playing with Trey, and other celebrity fathers, including Babyface, Montell Jordan, James Lassiter, Keenen Wayans, Brian McKnight, Magic Johnson, and Muhammad Ali (whom Smith later played in the 2001 biopic Ali). The video also features Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith pregnant with the couple's first child Jaden; and includes Will's father, younger brother, and two sisters.

Track listings

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[42] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Silver 200,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States May 4, 1998 Urban radio Columbia [44]
May 26, 1998
[45]
United Kingdom July 20, 1998
  • CD
  • cassette
 [1]
United States September 22, 1998
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [46]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. July 18, 1998. p. 29. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  2. ^ "Eminem - '97 Bonnie & Clyde".
  3. ^ Williams, Austin (March 31, 2022). "Will Smith's "Just The Two Of Us," And The Protection That Comes With His Love". Vibe.
  4. ^ Just the Two of Us (US CD single liner notes). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. 44K 79038.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ Just the Two of Us (US 12-inch single sleeve). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. 44 79038.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Just the Two of Us (US cassette single sleeve). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. 44T 79038.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Just the Two of Us (UK CD1 liner notes). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. 666209 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Just the Two of Us (UK CD2 liner notes). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. 666209 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Just the Two of Us (UK cassette single sleeve). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. 666209 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Just the Two of Us (European CD1 liner notes). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. COL 665760 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Just the Two of Us (European CD2 liner notes). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. COL 665760 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Just the Two of Us (Australian CD single liner notes). Will Smith. Columbia Records. 1998. 665541 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ "Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  14. ^ "Will Smith – Just the Two of Us" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  15. ^ "Will Smith – Just the Two of Us" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  16. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7926." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  17. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 32. August 8, 1998. p. 11. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  18. ^ "Will Smith – Just the Two of Us" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  19. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (21.5. – 28.5. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). May 22, 1998. p. 42. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  20. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Just the Two of Us". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 36, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  22. ^ "Will Smith – Just the Two of Us" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  23. ^ "Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". Top 40 Singles.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  25. ^ "Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". Singles Top 100.
  26. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  27. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  28. ^ "Will Smith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  29. ^ "Will Smith Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  30. ^ "Will Smith Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  31. ^ "Will Smith Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  32. ^ "Will Smith Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  33. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998". ARIA. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  34. ^ "RPM's Top 100 Hits of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 68, no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  35. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1999. p. 34. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  36. ^ "End of Year Charts 1998". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  37. ^ "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. January 16, 1999. p. 7.
  38. ^ "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  39. ^ "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Rap Singles". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. December 26, 1998. p. YE-53.
  40. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 45.
  41. ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. December 25, 1998. p. 46.
  42. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  43. ^ "British single certifications – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  44. ^ "AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. No. 1246. May 1, 1998. p. 62.
  45. ^ "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1249. May 22, 1998. pp. 38, 46.
  46. ^ Sandiford-Waller, Theda (September 19, 1998). "Hot 100 Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 38. p. 105. ...Will Smith's "Just The Two Of Us" (Columbia) will arrive in stores. Also due Sept. 22...
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