Strangers (Kenya Grace song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Strangers"
An upside-down shot of Kenya Grace with chains around her neck
Single by Kenya Grace
from the EP The After Taste
Released1 September 2023 (2023-09-01)
Recorded2022–2023
Genre
Length2:52
Label
Songwriter(s)Kenya Grace
Producer(s)Kenya Grace
Kenya Grace singles chronology
"Meteor"
(2023)
"Strangers"
(2023)
"Only in My Mind"
(2023)
Lyric video
"Strangers" on YouTube

"Strangers" is a song by South African musician Kenya Grace. It was officially released as her major-label debut single on 1 September 2023 through Major Recordings, a dance label owned by Warner Records.[3] It is the follow-up release to her prior viral single, "Meteor" (also in 2023).[3] "Strangers" was Grace's breakthrough single, peaking at #1 in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, the United Kingdom and Ukraine, as well as topping both the Australian and American dance music charts. [4] The track peaked at #2 in Luxembourg, New Zealand, Russia, Slovakia and Switzerland, and was a top-five or top-ten hit in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates.[5][6]

Background[edit]

Grace initially shared a snippet of the song on her Instagram Reels on 14 July 2023. Social media agency 10x Content ochestrated a viral marketing campaign to propel the song.[7] After she teased the song again on 27 July 2023, this time via TikTok, the song would go viral. The TikTok video has accumulated over 35 million views.[5]

A press release described the song as containing "vibey synths" and a "drum 'n' bass core", as well as a "propulsive backdrop", on top of which Grace "layers evocative vocals" with a "gentle delivery".[3]

Charts[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Weekly chart performance for "Strangers"
Chart (2023–2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 2
Australia Dance (ARIA)[9] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] 1
Belarus Airplay (TopHit)[11] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[13] 1
Bulgaria (PROPHON)[14] 1
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 17
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[16] 15
CIS (TopHit)[17] 1
Croatia (HRT)[18] 1
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[19] 6
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[20] 3
Denmark (Tracklisten)[21] 8
Estonia Airplay (TopHit)[22] 2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[23] 7
France (SNEP)[24] 10
Germany (Official German Charts)[25] 4
Global 200 (Billboard)[26] 5
Greece International (IFPI)[27] 2
Hungary (Single Top 40)[28] 10
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[29] 8
India International Singles (IMI)[30] 4
Ireland (IRMA)[31] 3
Italy (FIMI)[32] 62
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[33] 10
Kazakhstan Airplay (TopHit)[34] 4
Latvia (LAIPA)[35] 1
Latvia Airplay (LAIPA)[36] 3
Lithuania (AGATA)[37] 1
Luxembourg (Billboard)[38] 2
Malaysia International (RIM)[39] 20
MENA (IFPI)[40] 7
Moldova Airplay (TopHit)[41] 111
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[42] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[43] 3
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[44] 2
Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)[45] 61
North Africa (IFPI)[46] 17
Norway (VG-lista)[47] 5
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[48] 3
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[49] 12
Portugal (AFP)[50] 12
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[51] 2
Singapore (RIAS)[52] 6
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[53] 2
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[54] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[55] 8
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[56] 2
UAE (IFPI)[57] 5
UK Singles (OCC)[58] 1
Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[59] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[60] 42
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[61] 33
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[62] 1
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[63] 9

Monthly charts[edit]

Monthly chart performance for "Strangers"
Chart (2023) Peak
position
CIS (TopHit)[64] 36
Paraguay (SGP)[65] 79
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[66] 5
Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[67] 3

Year-end charts[edit]

Year-end chart performance for "Strangers"
Chart (2023) Position
Australia (ARIA)[68] 93
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[69] 29
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[70] 61
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[71] 75
CIS (TopHit)[72] 99
Germany (Official German Charts)[73] 43
Hungary (Single Top 40)[74] 32
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[75] 28
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[76] 44
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[77] 73
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[78] 192
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[79] 37
UK Singles (OCC)[80] 52
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[81] 23

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "Strangers"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[82] 2× Platinum 140,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[83] Platinum 30,000
Canada (Music Canada)[84] Gold 40,000
France (SNEP)[85] Platinum 200,000
Germany (BVMI)[86] Gold 300,000
Italy (FIMI)[87] Gold 50,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[88] Platinum 30,000
Poland (ZPAV)[89] Platinum 50,000
Portugal (AFP)[90] Platinum 10,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[91] Gold 30,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[92] Gold 10,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[93] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[94] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

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  2. ^ Lewis, Isobel (14 October 2023). "How Kenya Grace made chart history as her self-produced single 'Strangers' reaches No 1". The Independent.
  3. ^ a b c Vigil, Dom (31 August 2023). "Kenya Grace Strangers". Prelude Press. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  4. ^ Onikoyi, Ayo (12 July 2023). "Plans to propel Kenya Grace's song "Strangers" to Global Billboard 100 Charts unveiled". Vanguard.
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