Thought U, Were (song)

"Thought U, Were" (stylized in all lowercase) is the lead single and eleventh track from BJAYE's third studio album of the same name. It is also the eleventh track of the album. It was released through Republic Records on October 6, 2028. The song has over 2 billion streams on Spotify.
Commercially, the song debuted atop of the US Billboard Hot 100, being BJAYE' s highest peak in the country for 2028, as well as his fourth #1 there. This makes him the first artist to have the most singles debut at the top of the chart in under one year. The song spent a total of 14 non-consecutive weeks on top of the chart. It also reached #1 in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
In the lyrics in the song, BJAYE explains and says how series of events can lead up to something that you knew was going to happen, but he talks about how he's hurt that he fell in love with someone that ended up shattering his heart into pieces, and can't unnecessary be restored and is broken "internally". 
The accompanying music video for the song premiered on November 3, 2028, with over 3.5m people waiting and hit over 15 million views in its first 24 hours on YouTube, becoming his highest video with most views in its first day on the platform.
A live version of the song is featured on From Yours, To Whom (DWT Live), which was released on December 28, 2029.
==Background==
According to BJAYE's Manager, BJAYE started working on the song on August 19, 2028. BJAYE did confirm that the a "song" which was confirmed at The VMA's, and said "a surprise single could drop any day or time but you'll have to find out soon". BJAYE teased lyrics from the song on October 4, 2028 through tweets after a clip of his ex was seen showing BJAYE's ex misinterpreting about their broken relationship and said a lot of false stuff to gain more attention, and paint "BJAYE" as the "cause" of the failed relationship. The song title was revealed that day after he tweeted "Thought U, Were" which was later deleted. BJAYE felt like to make the pain go away it's to express it in music and said "i hope the best for him but at the same time it's his fault for not being honest and having to cause broken things into the relationship, and i feel like i'm not worth it for anybody, like i'm trying to express my feelings out and be vulnerable and honest with everybody, i literally prioritize my time just for him, i have feelings and i want the best relationship that i've been dreaming for a very long time, and i feel like this is an anthem for anybody, who's going thru something that is and similar towards my situation and problems and to let u know that we're all in this together.
BJAYE posted a lyric "the person you made me to be.", with no explanation.
On October 5, BJAYE almost confirmed that the song will be the title track and lead single from the album. It was also reported by TMZ that the song would be released the next day, however, neither BJAYE nor his team confirmed it until that night. Later that night the song was available on many digital platforms with no prior official announcement, being a surprise release.
A lyric video for the song was released on October 7, 2028. The song has now been certified 8x platinum selling over 8,000,000 units in the United States & selling over 13.5m units (13,500,000 units) worldwide.
==Commercial performance==
Following the worldwide release of "Thought U, Were", the song debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Worldwide Song Chart and reached No. 1 on US Apple Music, becoming the first pop song to do so in 2028. It debuted at No. 1 on the global Spotify chart with 14 million streams, and ended up peaking at 16 million in its fourth day. It debuted at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart with first-week sales of 102,000 units including 23.7 million streams, becoming BJAYE's first solo single to achieve this. It also debuted at the top on the Official Irish Chart.
This song had broke many records including the highest debut song of that year with 14m streams. It became BJAYE fastest song to reach 100 million streams (7 days). 
The song broke his personal record for most streamed song in a single surpassing “Dang Minds”, which projected 12m streams in its first day, Thought U, Were projected 14m streams in it’s first day, and became his most streamed song in it’s first week with 105m (105,449,851) streams. It became the fastest song to reach 100 million streams in 7 days (122.4m) & 200 million streams in 14 days until it was surpassed by Breakup Dreams. Once the Music Video was released the album broke its biggest streaming day with 19.5m (19,597,330) streams and garnered over 125m more streams the week following the video was released. 
The song also spent 11 weeks at number one on the Spotify Charts with 67.2m streams, 
On the week ending March 10, 2029, the song dropped at number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. With "Breakup Dreams", and “Your Best Friend Is My Man Now”, occupying number 1, number 2 and number 3, respectively, BJAYE became the second black artist to occupy solo songs on the top 3 & third on the chart since Ariana Grande in 2019 & Taylor Swift in 2023. However, BJAYE is the fourth artist overall and second black artist to occupy the top 3 spots on the Billboard Hot 100.
==Live performances==
BJAYE gave the first televised performance of the song live along with his single "Dreamin" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on October 6, 2028. The song was also performed at the 2028 American Music Awards. This was also a regular part of the set list and always ended each night of BJAYE's Dreamin World Tour.
BJAYE performed "Thought U, Were" in a medley at the 72nd Grammy Awards in 2030, among two of his other songs: an interlude towards Breakup Dreams and "Breakup Dreams".
==Trivia==
==Charts==
{| class="sortable fandom-table" 	Chart (2028-2029)	Peak
position
Argentina (Argentina Hot 100) 	31 	
Australia (ARIA) 	1 	
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 	2 	
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 	4 	
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 	3 	
Bolivia (Monitor Latino) 	3 	
Brazil (Top 100 Brasil) 	65 	
Bulgaria (PROPHON) 	7 	
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 	1 	
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard) 	2 	
Canada Hot AC (Billboard) 	14 	
Colombia (National-Report) 	72 	
Croatia (HRT) 	1 	
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)	6 	
Costa Rica (Monitor Latino) 	3 	
Denmark (Tracklisten) 	3 	
Estonia (Eesti Tipp-40) 	1 	
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) 	1 	
France (SNEP) 	12 	
Germany (Official German Charts) 	13 	
Global 200 (Billboard) 	1 	
Greece International (IFPI) 	1 	
Guatemala (Monitor Latino) 	6 	
Hungary (Single Top 40) 	3 	
Hungary (Stream Top 40) 	1 	
Iceland (Tonlist) 	1 	
Ireland (IRMA) 	1 	
Italy (FIMI) 	2 	
Israel (Media Forest) 	1 	
Japan (Japan Hot 100) 	1 	
Latvia (LAIPA) 	1 	
Lebanon (OLT20) 	1 	
Lithuania (AGATA) 	1 	
Malaysia (RIM) 	1 	
Mexico Airplay (Billboard) 	1 	
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 	3 	
Netherlands (Mega Top 50) 	1 	
Netherlands (Single Top 100) 	1 	
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 	1 	
Norway (VG-lista) 	2 	
Panama (Monitor Latino) 	19 	
Portugal (AFP) 	1 	
Puerto Rico (Monitor Latino) 	12 	
Romania (Airplay 100) 	46 	
Scotland (OCC) 	2 	
Singapore (RIAS) 	1 	
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100) 	14 	
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) 	1 	
Slovenia (SloTop50) 	20 	
South Africa (Billboard) 	1 	
South Korea (Gaon) 	14 	
Spain (PROMUSICAE) 	24 	
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 	3 	
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 	7 	
UK Singles (OCC) 	1 	
US Billboard Hot 100 	1 	
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 	22 	
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) 	7 	
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 	1 	
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard) 	1 	
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard) 	3 	
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 	1 	
US Rhythmic (Billboard) 	15 	
US Rolling Stone Top 100 	85 	
Venezuela (National-Report) 	45 	
==Certifications==
Category:Singles
Category:2028