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
Released July 20, 1998
Format CD single
Recorded 1997
Genre Hip hop, R&B
Length 5:15 (album version)
4:19 (radio edit)
Label Columbia
Writer(s) Will Smith, Grover Washington, Jr., Bill Withers, Ralph MacDonald, William Salter
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 Will Smith. It was released as the fourth single from his debut solo studio album, Big Willie Style (1997). 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 reached number 20 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as number six on the Hot 100 Airplay. It was also a Top 5 hit in the UK, reaching number two. "Just the Two of Us" was one of Smith's biggest solo hits. Smith originally wrote a children's book with the same title and lyrics. For his album, he performed it in rap form. Instrumentation was provided by "Sauce" from the R&B group "Somethin' for the People". The song was parodied by Dr. Evil in the 1999 film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

The accompanying music video features Smith playing with his son, Trey, as well as numerous clips of several other famous men with their children.

Music video

The music video, directed by Bob Giraldi, begins with Smith playing with his son, Trey. 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, Nas, James Lassiter, Damon Wayans, Magic Johnson, and Muhammad Ali (whom Smith later played in a 2001 biopic). The video also features Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith pregnant with the couple's first child Jaden, and also features Will's father, younger brother, and two sisters.

Track listings

  1. "Just the Two of Us" (radio edit)
  2. "Just the Two of Us" (Rodney Jerkins Remix) featuring Brian Mcknight
  3. "Just the Two of Us" (Spanish version) featuring DLG
  4. "Just the Two of Us" (Korean version) featuring Turbo
  5. "Just the Two of Us" (instrumental)

Charts

Chart (1998) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[1] 27
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[2] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[3] 40
Germany (Official German Charts)[4] 87
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[5] 46
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] 6
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[7] 53
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 20

References

  1. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  2. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  3. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  4. ↑ "Musicline.de – Will Smith Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  5. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  6. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". Top 40 Singles.
  7. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Will Smith – Just the Two of Us". Singles Top 60.
  8. ↑ "Will Smith: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
  9. ↑ "Will Smith – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Will Smith.
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