Just Breathe (Sky-Hi song)

"Just Breathe" (stylized in all caps) is a song recorded in Japanese, English, and Korean by Japanese rapper Sky-Hi, featuring 3Racha, South Korean production team from Stray Kids, taken from Sky-Hi's sixth studio album The Debut.[1] It was released digitally on February 21, 2022, through Avex Entertainment. It is 3Racha's first commercial song.

"Just Breathe"
Single by Sky-Hi featuring 3Racha
from the album The Debut
Language
  • Japanese
  • English
  • Korean
ReleasedFebruary 21, 2022 (2022-02-21)
StudioPrime Sound Studio Form (Tokyo)
Genre
Length3:50
LabelAvex
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Uta
Sky-Hi singles chronology
"Good 4 U"
(2021)
"Just Breathe"
(2022)
"Brave Generation"
(2022)
Music video
"Just Breathe" on YouTube

Background and release edit

On February 15, 2022, Sky-Hi tweeted "20220221" and his name with the wolf, pig, rabbit, and chipmunk emojis,[2] while Stray Kids the same numbers and their group name with the sun-behind-small-cloud and backhand-index-pointing-up emojis on the same time.[3] The fans decoded the wolf emoji as Bang Chan, pig and rabbit as Changbin, and chipmunk as Han, which all are from South Korean boy band Stray Kids production team 3Racha.[4] Three days later, they announced to release the single, titled "Just Breathe", featuring 3Racha, on February 21, making it 3Racha's first commercial song after their several mixtapes.[5] The song was revealed for the first time at Sky-Hi's radio show, Imasia.[4]

Lyrics and composition edit

"Just Breathe" is described as a trap, hip-hop song[6] written in three languages: Japanese, English, and Korean, by Sky-Hi, 3Racha, and Uta. The latter also handles the song's production.[7] Lyrically, the song talks about "the reason for being who I am",[7] showing the sensibilities of the human soul, self-love, and surviving the toughest days of life, and trusting no one except yourself.[6] It was composed in the key of F minor, 113 beats per minute with a running time of three minutes and 50 seconds.[8]

Commercial performance edit

In Japan, "Just Breathe" entered both Billboard Japan Hot 100 and Oricon Combined Singles Chart at number 50.[9][10] The song also peaked at number 15 on the Hungarian Single Top 40,[11] and number 11 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales.[12]

Music video edit

An accompanying music video for "Just Breathe" premiered on the same date as the single release.[13] Directed by Creative Collective F A T I M A, the music video depicts futuristic racing game based on a playable video game with four avatars representing each artist. It uses clips from gameplay footage of a player manually controlling a motorcycle and a buggy. The video visualizes "the chaos of modern times".[7][14]

Accolades edit

Awards and nominations for "Just Breath"
Ceremony Year Award Result Ref.
MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2022 Best Hip Hop Video Won [15]

Credits and personnel edit

Credits adapted from YouTube.[16]

Locations

Personnel

  • Sky-Hi – writer
  • Bang Chan (3Racha) – writer
  • Changbin (3Racha) – writer
  • Han (3Racha) – writer
  • Uta – writer, producer
  • Hideaki Jinbu – recording
  • D.O.I. – mixing
  • Mike Bozzi – mastering

Music video

  • Creative Collective F A T I M A – visual director, 3D artist
  • C – technical artist, generative design

Charts edit

Chart performance for "Just Breathe"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Hungary (Single Top 40)[11] 15
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[9] 50
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[10] 50
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[12] 11

Release history edit

Release dates and formats for "Just Breathe"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various February 21, 2021 (2021-02-21) Avex [17]

References edit

  1. ^ "SKY-HI、オリジナルアルバム「THE DEBUT」の収録内容&ジャケット公開" [SKY-HI Reveals Track List and Cover of His Original Album "THE DEBUT"]. Natalie (in Japanese). December 21, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  2. ^ SKY-HI STAFF [@SKYHI_STAFF] (February 15, 2022). "20220221 / SKY-HI×🐺🐖🐇🐿" (Tweet). Retrieved April 15, 2022 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Stray Kids Japan Official [@Stray_Kids_JP] (February 15, 2022). "20220221 / 3RACHA×🌤-👆" (Tweet). Retrieved April 15, 2022 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ a b "SKY-HI、Stray Kids・3RACHAコラボ曲「JUST BREATHE」リリース決定 20日に初オンエア" [SKY-HI, Stray Kids・3RACHA Collaboration Song 'JUST BREATHE' Will Be Released on February 20]. Oricon (in Japanese). February 18, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  5. ^ "SKY-HI、Stray Kids内のユニット・3RACHAとのコラボ曲を配信リリース" [SKY-HI, Stray Kids Sub-Unit 3RACHA Will Be Release Collaboration Digital Songs]. Natalie (in Japanese). February 18, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Dongre, Divyansha (February 21, 2022). "SKY-HI and Stray Kids 3RACHA Joins Forces on 'Just Breathe'". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Billboard Japan (February 22, 2022). "Watch SKI-HI & 3RACHA's Futuristic Racing Game-Inspired 'Just Breathe' Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  8. ^ "Key, BPM of JUST BREATHE - 3RACHA of Stray Kids by SKY-HI, 3RACHA of Stray Kids". Musicstax. February 20, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of March 2, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). March 2, 2022. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "週間 合算シングルランキング 2022年03月07日付" [Weekly Combined Singles Chart March 7, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. March 7, 2022. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "World Digital Song Sales: Week of March 5, 2022". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  13. ^ "SKY-HI&3RACHA of Stray Kidsがカーアクションゲームで融合 コラボ曲「JUST BREATHE」MV公開" [SKY-HI & 3RACHA of Stray Kids Fused in a Car Action Game in the Collaboration Song "JUST BREATHE" MV Release]. Modelpress (in Japanese). February 21, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  14. ^ Okunmwendia, Ella (February 23, 2022). "SKY-HI AND 3RACHA PREACH SELF-LOVE ON "JUST BREATHE"". Envi. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  15. ^ Viacom Networks Japan (October 14, 2022). "今年の音楽シーンを彩ったミュージックビデオを表彰するアワード「MTV VMAJ 2022」出演アーティスト発表第四弾JO1、岩田剛典の出演が決定". PR Times (in Japanese). Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  16. ^ Sky-Hi (February 21, 2022). SKY-HI / JUST BREATHE feat. 3RACHA of Stray Kids (Prod. UTA) -Music Video- (video). Retrieved April 16, 2022 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ "3RACHA、SKY-HIとのコラボレーションが決定! 2月21日(月)、SKY-HI「JUST BREATHE feat. 3RACHA of Stray Kids」の配信がスタート!" [Collaboration with 3RACHA and SKY-HI Has Been Decided! SKY-HI "JUST BREATHE feat. 3RACHA of Stray Kids" Will Be Released on February 21 (Mon)!]. Stray Kids Japan Official Website (in Japanese). Epic JYP. February 18, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.