"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). 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:
"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 the YouTube channel of the rhythm game Fortnite Festival because it was confirmed the song would be included as a backing track on the third season of the game. "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 dance-pop, funk, and R&B song that incorporates elements of progressive R&B and tech house. 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.
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.
+Critics' year-end rankings of "Chihiro" Publication List Rank Beats Per Minute Top 50 Songs of 202416 Slant Magazine The 50 Best Songs of 202420 Vogue The 24 Best Songs of 2024
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.
Accolades +Awards and nominations for "Chihiro" Year Award Category Result 2025 Music Awards Japan Best International Alternative Song in Japan
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for "Chihiro" Chart (2024–2025) Peakposition Croatia Streaming (Billboard) 18 Greece International (IFPI) 4 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 9 Israel (Mako Hitlist) 41 Latvia Streaming (LaIPA) 3 Lebanon English (Lebanese Top 20) 15 Lithuania (AGATA) 2 Luxembourg (Billboard) 4 MENA (IFPI) 5 Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100) 7 San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50) 21 Saudi Arabia (IFPI) 7 Singapore (RIAS) 18 South Africa (TOSAC) 12 UAE (IFPI) 8
Monthly charts + Monthly chart performance for "Chihiro" Chart (2024) Peakposition Brazil Streaming (Pro-Música Brasil) 26
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for "Chihiro" Chart (2024) Position Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 70 France (SNEP) 168 Global 200 (Billboard) 104 Portugal (AFP) 65 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 49 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard) 16
+ Year-end chart performance for "Chihiro" Chart (2025) Position Australia (ARIA) 92 Global 200 (Billboard) 73 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard) 83
Certifications
Release history +Release dates and formats for "Chihiro" Region Date Format Label(s) Italy January 17, 2025 Radio airplay EMI
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
External links