Slow Dancing in the Dark
"Slow Dancing in the Dark" (stylized in all caps) is a song by Japanese-Australian singer-songwriter Joji. It is the second single from his debut album, Ballads 1. The song was written and produced by Joji and Patrick Wimberly.
"Slow Dancing in the Dark" | ||||
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Single by Joji | ||||
from the album Ballads 1 | ||||
Released | 12 September 2018 | |||
Genre | R&B[1] | |||
Length | 3:29 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Joji singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Slow Dancing in the Dark" on YouTube |
The song was chosen as BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac's Hottest Record in the World for 18 September 2018.[2]
Music video
A music video for the song was released the same day. Directed by Jared Hogan,[3] the video features Miller in a white tuxedo smoking a cigarette and stumbling through city streets at night in emotional anguish. Later in the video, he is revealed to be a satyr with an arrow in his back. He coughs up blood while splayed on an illuminated dance floor. He eventually collapses in a pool of blood. The final frame is used in the song's cover artwork. The video's visual style has been compared to that of director David Fincher.[4]
Remixes
An acoustic remix of "Slow Dancing in the Dark" was released as a single on 18 October 2018.[5] It features Miller singing over a solo piano backing played by co-producer Carol Kuswanto.[6]
Remixes of the song by Mr. Mitch and Loud Luxury were released on 9 November 2018.[7][8]
Usage in media
A microwave-like 'ding' sound effect present in the song's pre-chorus spawned an internet challenge on short-form video service TikTok in 2019 known as the "Microwave Challenge". In the challenge, people were asked to spin themselves around while sitting on the floor, imitating food spinning in a microwave.[9]
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[10]
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Credits adapted from Tidal.[5]
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Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[21] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV)[22] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP)[23] | Platinum | 10,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[25] | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- Fekadu, Mesfin (11 December 2018). "AP names Nicky Jam and J Balvin's 'X' its top song of 2018". Associated Press.
- "Joji joins us on the line from L.A to chat about his track 'Slow Dancing In The Dark'". BBC. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- "Joji: Slow Dancing in the Dark (Video 2018)". IMDb. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- Moen, Matt (12 September 2018). "Joji Has a Rough Night in 'Slow Dancing in the Dark'". Paper Magazine. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- "SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK (Acoustic Remix) / Joji". TIDAL. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
- @carolkuswanto (18 October 2018). "YOURS TRULY ON THE PIANO 😎 please share 🙏🏻 #NewMusicFriday" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK (Mr. Mitch Remix) - Single by Joji". 8 November 2018 – via itunes.apple.com.
- "SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK (Loud Luxury Remix) - Single by Joji". 9 November 2018 – via itunes.apple.com.
- Seavers, Kris (1 March 2019). "The microwave challenge is taking over TikTok". Daily Dot.
- "SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK / Joji". TIDAL. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- "Billboard Canadian Hot 100 – November 16, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
- "Billboard Hot 100: November 16, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – March 30, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 27 June 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1686. Australian Recording Industry Association. 27 June 2022. p. 4.
- "Billboard Global 200: Week of July 2, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- "Top 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 25 (17/06/2022-23/06/2022)". RIM. 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022 – via Facebook.
- "RIAS Top Charts Week 25 (17 - 23 Jun 2022)". RIAS. 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- "Billboard Vietnam Hot 100, CHART DATE 2022-06-30". Billboard Việt Nam (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- "Hot R&B Singles: Year-End 2019". Billboard. Billboard.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- "Portuguese single certifications – Joji – Slow Dancing in the Dark" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- "British single certifications – Joji – Slow Dancing in the Dark". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- "American single certifications – Joji – Slow Dancing in the Dark". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 1 December 2022.