Just the Two of Us (Will Smith song) explained

Just the Two of Us
Cover:Just The Two Of Us Single CD Cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Will Smith
Album:Big Willie Style
Recorded:1997 - 1998
Length:
  • 5:15 (album version)
  • 4:19 (radio edit)
Label:Columbia
Producer:Sauce
Prev Title:Gettin' Jiggy wit It
Prev Year:1998
Next Title:Miami
Next Year: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"[1] and by Dr. Evil in the 1999 film . It was also sampled in "Pretty Girl Rock" by Keri Hilson.

Music video

The music video, directed by Bob Giraldi, begins with Smith playing with his son, Trey.[2] 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

US CD, 12-inch, and cassette single[3] [4] [5]

  1. "Just the Two of Us" (radio edit) – 4:19
  2. "Just the Two of Us" (Rodney Jerkins remix featuring Brian McKnight) – 4:14
  3. "Just the Two of Us" (Spanish version featuring DLG) – 4:10
  4. "Just the Two of Us" (Korean version featuring Turbo) – 5:12
  5. "Just the Two of Us" (instrumental) – 5:15

UK CD1[6]

  1. "Just the Two of Us" (radio edit) – 4:19
  2. "Just the Two of Us" (Love to Infinity's classic club mix) – 7:16
  3. "Just the Two of Us" (Love to Infinity's giant club mix) – 6:46

UK CD2[7]

  1. "Just the Two of Us" (album version) – 5:15
  2. "Just the Two of Us" (Love to Infinity's classic radio mix) – 4:01
  3. "Just the Two of Us" (Love to Infinity's extended R&B mix) – 4:45

UK cassette single and European CD1[8] [9]

  1. "Just the Two of Us" (radio edit) – 4:19
  2. "Just the Two of Us" (Love to Infinity's classic radio mix) – 4:01

European CD2[10]

  1. "Just the Two of Us" (radio edit) – 4:19
  2. "Just the Two of Us" (Love to Infinity's classic radio mix) – 4:05
  3. "Just the Two of Us" (Love to Infinity's classic club mix) – 7:15
  4. "Just the Two of Us" (Love to Infinity's extended R&B mix) – 4:44

Australian CD single[11]

  1. "Just the Two of Us" (radio edit)
  2. "Just the Two of Us"
  3. "Just the Two of Us" (instrumental)
  4. "Gettin' Slapy wit It"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1998)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] 19
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[13] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)Position
Australia (ARIA)[14] 97
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[15] 61
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[16] 27
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 46
UK Singles (OCC)[18] [19] 74
US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[20] 49
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[21] 28
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[22] 12

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesMay 4, 1998Urban radioColumbia[23]
May 26, 1998[24]
United KingdomJuly 20, 1998[25]
United StatesSeptember 22, 1998[26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eminem - '97 Bonnie & Clyde.
  2. Web site: Will Smith’s “Just The Two Of Us,” And The Protection That Comes With His Love. Austin. Williams. March 31, 2022. Vibe.
  3. Just the Two of Us. Will Smith. 1998. US CD single liner notes. Columbia Records. 44K 79038.
  4. Just the Two of Us. Will Smith. 1998. US 12-inch single sleeve. Columbia Records. 44 79038.
  5. Just the Two of Us. Will Smith. 1998. US cassette single sleeve. Columbia Records. 44T 79038.
  6. Just the Two of Us. Will Smith. 1998. UK CD1 liner notes. Columbia Records. 666209 2.
  7. Just the Two of Us. Will Smith. 1998. UK CD2 liner notes. Columbia Records. 666209 5.
  8. Just the Two of Us. Will Smith. 1998. UK cassette single sleeve. Columbia Records. 666209 4.
  9. Just the Two of Us. Will Smith. 1998. European CD1 liner notes. Columbia Records. COL 665760 1.
  10. Just the Two of Us. Will Smith. 1998. European CD2 liner notes. Columbia Records. COL 665760 2.
  11. Just the Two of Us. Will Smith. 1998. Australian CD single liner notes. Columbia Records. 665541 2.
  12. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 15. 32. 11. August 8, 1998. October 3, 2020.
  13. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (21.5. – 28.5. 1998). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 42. May 22, 1998. November 20, 2019.
  14. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1998. ARIA. October 3, 2020.
  15. RPM's Top 100 Hits of '98. RPM. 68. 12. 20. December 14, 1998. November 20, 2019.
  16. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98. Dagblaðið Vísir. Icelandic. 34. January 2, 1999. February 8, 2020.
  17. Web site: End of Year Charts 1998. Recorded Music NZ. November 20, 2019.
  18. Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100. Music Week. 7. January 16, 1999.
  19. Web site: Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1998 wg sprzedaży. pl. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150604184020/http://hosting1642755.az.pl/sp%20uk%20best%201998.html. June 4, 2015. November 20, 2019.
  20. The Year in Music 1998: Hot Rap Singles. Billboard. 110. 52. YE-53. December 26, 1998.
  21. Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1998. Airplay Monitor. 6. 52. 45. December 25, 1998.
  22. Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1998. Airplay Monitor. 6. 52. 46. December 25, 1998.
  23. AddVance Notice. Radio & Records. 1246. 62. May 1, 1998.
  24. New Releases. Radio & Records. 1249. 38, 46. May 22, 1998.
  25. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 29. July 18, 1998. July 6, 2021.
  26. Hot 100 Spotlight. Sandiford-Waller. Theda. Billboard. 110. 38. 105. September 19, 1998. ...Will Smith's "Just The Two Of Us" (Columbia) will arrive in stores. Also due Sept. 22....

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