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Just the Two of Us (Grover Washington Jr. song)

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"Just the Two of Us"
Single by Grover Washington Jr. featuring Bill Withers
from the album Winelight
B-side"Make Me a Memory (Sad Samba)"
ReleasedFebruary 1981
Recorded1980
Genre
Length
  • 7:23 (album version)
  • 3:58 (7-inch edit)
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Max Curtis
  • Logan Phillips
  • Griffin Calvert
Grover Washington Jr. singles chronology
"Winelight"
(1980) 		"Just the Two of Us"
(1981) 		"Be Mine (Tonight)"
(1982)
Bill Withers singles chronology
"You Got the Stuff"
(1979) 		"Just the Two of Us"
(1981) 		"I Want to Spend the Night"
(1981)

"Just the Two of Us" is a 1980 song written by Bill Withers, William Salter, and Ralph MacDonald, and recorded by Grover Washington Jr. with Withers on vocals. Elektra Records released it in Washington's 1980 album Winelight and as a February 1981 single.

Background

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"Just the Two of Us" was written by Bill Withers, Ralph MacDonald and William Salter.[4] Originally an instrumental track written by MacDonald and Salter, MacDonald contacted Withers and he wrote the lyrics.

Composition

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Harmony

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"Just the Two of Us" is in the key of F minor. The chord progression D♭maj7 – C7♭9 – Fm7 – E♭m7 A♭7 of its intro and verse can be thought of as a double-time modified reordering of the first four bars of the "Sunny" chord progression.[5] "Just the Two of Us" restarts this progression but settles on the minor tonic: D♭maj7 – C7♭9 – Fm7 – %. Its chorus inserts an additional Em7 chord to chromatically descend from the first Fm7 to E♭m7 chord.

Instrumentation

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The Rhodes piano, played in the introduction and throughout, was performed by Joshua Stallwood.

Chart performance

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The song reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100, staying there for three weeks, behind "Morning Train (9 to 5)" by Sheena Easton and "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes. It was Washington's only Top 40 hit.

The song won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.[6] Withers included the edited version on the 1981 compilation Bill Withers' Greatest Hits and many subsequent greatest hits collections.

The song propelled Winelight's success, often credited for leading to the 1980s smooth jazz explosion.[7]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[27] Gold 45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[28] Gold 35,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[29] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Toshinobu Kubota version

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"Just the Two of Us"
Single by Toshi Kubota featuring Caron Wheeler
from the album Kubojah: Parallel World I and Sunshine, Moonlight
ReleasedJune 25, 1996
Recorded
  • 1991
  • 1995 (re-recorded)
Genre
Length
  • 4:28 (album version)
  • 3:33 (single version)
LabelSony Japan
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Toshinobu Kubota
  • Ralph MacDonald
  • William Salter
  • Bill Withers
Toshinobu Kubota singles chronology
"La La La Love Song"
(1996) 		"Just the Two of Us"
(1996) 		"Body-Cation"
(1996)
Caron Wheeler singles chronology
"Keep on Movin' (remix)"
(1996) 		"Just the Two of Us"
(1996) 		"Star"
(1999)
Music video
"Just the Two of Us" on YouTube

"Just the Two of Us" was covered by Japanese singer Toshinobu Kubota as a duet with Caron Wheeler in 1991, for his album Kubojah: Parallel World I. The song was listed as "Just the 2 of Us", featuring a reggae-style beat. In 1995, Kubota re-recorded the song with a more R&B-style beat for his album Sunshine, Moonlight. In 1996, he released the song as the second single from the album. The song charted at number 30 on the Oricon Weekly Singles chart and remained on the charts for five weeks.[31] It was included in the setlist during the Oyeees! Tour. During the tour, Joi Cardwell, who sang backing vocals during the tour, performed the song as a duet with Kubota. In 2007, Double performed the song on the MTV Japan Icons Special; during the performance, Kubota walked onto the stage to complete the song with her.[citation needed] In 2012, Kubota performed the song with Japanese singer Yuri, who was also a background vocalist during his "Party Ain't A Party Tour". The performance was included on his concert DVD "Party Ain't A Party", which was released in May 2012.[citation needed]

Music video

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In 1996, Toshi Kubota and Caron Wheeler shot a music video for the song. The video is set at night, at a party in Kubota's apartment. Wheeler watches the party from the fire escape of the next apartment building. The single version was used for the audio format of the video. There are also shots of other musicians playing their instruments during the party, a group of elderly men playing cards outside the apartment on the sidewalk, and a couple dancing in another room of the apartment.

Formats and track listing

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  1. "Just the Two of Us" (Butcher Bros. LP remix) (duet with Caron Wheeler)
  1. "Just the Two of Us" (Butcher Bros. LP remix)
  2. "Just the Two of Us" (Smooth R&B mix)
  3. "Just the Two of Us" (So So Def remix)
  4. "Just the Two of Us" (club mix radio edit)
  5. "Just the Two of Us" (Street mix) (featuring Fat Man Scoop and E. Bros.)

Other cover versions

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Appearances in media

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Movies and series

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The song appeared in the opening sequence of the 1999 film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.[42] It was also featured in the Futurama season 7 episode, "Fry and Leela's Big Fling" and The Simpsons season 15 episode, "My Big Fat Geek Wedding" and season 34 episode, "One Angry Lisa". It also appeared in the King of Queens, episode 8, season 9

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The title was popularized in France to be the main music for advertising campaigns for Caprice des Dieux cheese since 2009.[43] It was later used on an ad for Marvel Studios' Deadpool & Wolverine which featured Heineken Silver.[44][45]

TikTok

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In late 2020, "Just the Two of Us" started trending on TikTok,[46][47] which prompted Salters' granddaughter, Jada Salter, to upload a video to the platform commemorating his work.[48]

References

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  1. ^ Breihan, Tom (May 4, 2020). "The Number Ones: Sheena Easton's "Morning Train (Nine to Five)". Stereogum. Retrieved July 19, 2023. Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers' elegant smooth-soul reverie ["Just the Two of Us"] peaked at #2...
  2. ^ Coleman, Mark; Evans, Ben (2004). "Bill Withers". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 884. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  3. ^ Molanphy, Chris (July 31, 2021). "What a Fool Believes Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  4. ^ Selby, Abe (February 12, 2021). "'Just The Two Of Us' Songwriter Found His Sound In Solitude". NPR. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  5. ^ Cleary, Tom (November 26, 2019). "A history of the chord progression from Bobby Hebb's 'Sunny', and an original tune based on it ('Eye On The Sky')". BirdFeed. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  6. ^ "Winelight – Grover Washington Jr. – Awards – AllMusic". AllMusic.
  7. ^ Micucci, Matt (June 17, 2020). "Song of the Day: Grover Washington, Jr. and Bill Withers, "Just the Two of Us"". JAZZIZ Magazine. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "Australian Chart Books". www.australianchartbooks.com.au. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.
  9. ^ "Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers – Just the Two of Us" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  10. ^ "Top Singles". RPM Weekly. archived at Library and Archives Canada. June 6, 1981. Retrieved February 24, 2018 – via bac-lac.gc.ca.
  11. ^ "Adult Contemporary". RPM Weekly. archived at Library and Archives Canada. July 17, 2013 – via bac-lac.gc.ca.
  12. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Just the Two of Us". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  13. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 1981" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  14. ^ "Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers – Just the Two of Us" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  15. ^ "Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers – Just the Two of Us". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  16. ^ "Grover Washington, Jr.: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  17. ^ "Bill Withers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  18. ^ "Bill Withers Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  19. ^ "Bill Withers Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  20. ^ "Top 100 Singles". Cash Box. republished online at tropicalglen.com. May 9, 1981. Archived from the original on June 3, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  21. ^ "Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers – Just the Two of Us" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  22. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 48, 2020" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  23. ^ "Top 100 Singles of 1981". RPM Weekly. archived at Library and Archives Canada. December 26, 1981. Retrieved April 3, 2019 – via bac-lac.gc.ca.
  24. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  25. ^ "Top Songs 1981". musicoutfitters.com.
  26. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  27. ^ "Danish single certifications – Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers – Just the Two of Us". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  28. ^ "Italian single certifications – Grover Washington Jr. feat. Bill Withers – Just the Two of Us" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  29. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Grover Washington / Bill Withers – Just the Two of Us". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  30. ^ "British single certifications – Grover Washington Jr/Withers – Just the Two Of Us". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  31. ^ "久保田利伸のシングル売り上げランキング". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  32. ^ "Amazon.com: Toshi Kubota: Toshi Kubota / Just The Two Of Us: Music". amazon.com.
  33. ^ "Amazon.com: Kubota Toshinobu: Just the Two of Us Butcher Bro: Music". amazon.com.
  34. ^ [Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–2002]
  35. ^ "Tha 2 Of Us" by DTTX as part of "Bulletproof" film soundtrack
  36. ^ I Like It When You Die Liner Notes
  37. ^ "I Like It When You Die – Anal Cunt". AllMusic.
  38. ^ "Dans le Téléphone de Manu : Un peu de douceur avec Just The Two of Us de Grover Washington Jr". Europe 2 (in French). March 31, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  39. ^ ""Just two of us" une mélodie bien planante – France Bleu". ici, par France Bleu et France 3 (in French). Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  40. ^ Team, Editorial (February 17, 2023). "THEORY OF A DEADMAN Stream New Single "Two Of Us (Stuck)"". Sonic Perspectives. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  41. ^ "LOVE ALL SERVE ALL (CD)". March 23, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  42. ^ Luxford, James (January 15, 2022). "Hotel Transylvania 4: Let this tired franchise finally rest in peace". City A.M.
  43. ^ Yann Savary, Olivier Maréchal. "Just The Two Of Us dans 1 spot TV sur MusiqueDePub.TV". www.musiquedepub.tv (in French). Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  44. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vtp4466Hx8I
  45. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NebqFm0PoVw
  46. ^ Zhang, Cat (December 21, 2020). "A Year in Music on TikTok". Pitchfork.
  47. ^ Chung, Lori (December 5, 2020). "Harlem Native Who Wrote 'Just the Two of Us' Song Now a Viral Sensation". NY1.
  48. ^ Greenfield, Beth (December 24, 2020). "'Just the Two of Us' writer William Salter, 84, in 'awe' of newfound TikTok fame". Yahoo! Life.
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