Be Honest (song)

"Be Honest" is a song by British singer Jorja Smith. It features guest vocals from Nigerian singer Burna Boy and was released as a single through FAMM Records and The Orchard on 16 August 2019. The song was written by Smith, Burna Boy and Miraa May, and produced by Cadenza, IzyBeats and Kyle Stemberger.[1][2] The song samples "Rastar" by Yung Tory.[1] Commercially, it peaked at No. 8 on the U.K. Singles Chart, becoming Smith's first and Burna Boy's second top 10 hit.[3]

"Be Honest"
Single by Jorja Smith featuring Burna Boy
Released16 August 2019
Length3:27
Label
  • FAMM
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Cadenza
  • IzyBeats
  • Kyle Stemberger
Jorja Smith singles chronology
"Goodbyes"
(2019)		 "Be Honest"
(2019)		 "By Any Means"
(2020)
Burna Boy singles chronology
"Pull Up"
(2019)		 "Be Honest"
(2019)		 "Own It"
(2019)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Music video
"Be Honest" on YouTube

Background

"Be Honest" was written by Smith, along with Burna Boy and Miraa May. Smith was inspired by the Hot Girl Summer catchphrase coined by American rapper, Megan Thee Stallion. Initially Smith planned on giving the song away to another singer, but decided on keeping it due to the contrasting tempo to her previously sombre discography.[4] The song was produced by Izy and Cadenza who previously produced Smith's 2016 song "Where Did I Go?", from her debut album.[5] The song features guest vocals from Nigerian singer Burna Boy, making it the duo's second collaboration following "Gum Body" from Burna Boy's album African Giant (2018).[6] The song was released as a single to streaming and digital platforms through FAMM Records on 16 August 2019.

Reception

Writing for Complex, James Keith described "Be Honest" as "An upbeat, summery outing", commenting that "the combined heat from their [Smith and Burna Boy's] intertwining vocals and the gentle bump of the production from Izy... could not be more perfect for the summer".[7]

Upon release "Be Honest" debuted at number eighteen on the UK Singles Chart, becoming her first solo top twenty in the United Kingdom.[3] After steadily climbing the charts the song rose to number eight, becoming Smith's first top ten.[8]

Music video

The songs accompanying video was released in conjunction with the song's release (16 August) and was directed by Amber Grace Johnson. The video follows Smith around London during a heat wave, and includes scenes of late night swimming or speeding down the street on a motorcycle. Jorja wanted to create a film that embodied the spirit of Summer, the director of the video said in a statement. "We wanted to invite the world in, to experience a different side of Jorja. Free and full of light, and some 'Hot Girl Summer' energy.' While writing in my AC-filled apartment in Brooklyn, I thought about how there's nothing quite like summers in the city. You're caught between concrete high rises, sweating from heat delirium, with our makeshift fire hydrant beaches. Yet despite it all, there's a contagious air that floods the city, and your imagination becomes infinite."[5]

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 77
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[10] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[11] 5
France (SNEP)[12] 28
Ireland (IRMA)[13] 20
Lithuania (AGATA)[14] 46
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[15] 5
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[16] 63
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 51
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[3] 8
UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[18] 2
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[19] 12

Certification
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[20] Gold 35,000
France (SNEP)[21] Platinum 200,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Gold 400,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history
Region Date Format Label
Various 16 August 2019[2]
  • Digital download
  • streaming
  • FAMM
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References
  1. "Jorja Smith - Be Honest Lyrics". Genius. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  2. "Be Honest (feat. Burna Boy) / Jorja Smith". Tidal. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  3. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  4. "Agenda Playlist". Apple Music. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  5. Blistein, Jon (16 August 2019). "Watch Jorja Smith, Burna Boy Stay Cool in Sweltering 'Be Honest' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  6. Yoo, Noah (16 August 2019). "Jorja Smith and Burna Boy Link Up on "Be Honest": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  7. Keith, James (16 August 2019). "Jorja Smith returns with first post-album single "Be Honest" with Burna Boy". Complex. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  8. https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8533506/elbow-giants-of-all-sizes-no-1-uk
  9. "ARIA Chart Watch #540". auspOp. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  10. "Ultratop.be – Jorja Smith feat. Burna Boy – Be Honest" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  11. "Ultratop.be – Jorja Smith feat. Burna Boy – Be Honest" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  12. "Top Singles (Week 48, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  13. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Jorja Smith". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  14. "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  15. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  16. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  17. "Swisscharts.com – Jorja Smith feat. Burna Boy – Be Honest". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  18. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  19. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  20. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  21. "French single certifications – Jorja Smith – Be Honest" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  22. "British single certifications – Jorja Smith Ft Burna Boy – Be Honest". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 January 2020. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Be Honest in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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