BE:FIRST and producer Jonas Blue released their latest collaboration, the dance-pop track “Missing,” on July 1. This marks the group’s 10th single and follows their 2022 partnership on “Don’t Wake Me Up feat. BE:FIRST.” The track features an acoustic guitar intro that transitions into a high-energy dance arrangement, showcasing the group’s vocal range through Japanese-language lyrics.
The Evolution of a Global Collaboration
According to Jonas Blue, while the 2022 collaboration "Don’t Wake Me Up" involved adding BE:FIRST to an existing track, "Missing" was written specifically for the group. Jonas Blue noted that he worked with his core production team—responsible for hits like "Rise" and "Mama"—to create the song. Initially composed as an English-language track, the song was adapted by BE:FIRST to feature Japanese lyrics and their signature vocal style.
Jonas Blue and BE:FIRST first shared a stage during the 2022 FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL, a performance that solidified the producer’s desire to write original material specifically for the group.
Bridging Markets Through Language
For BE:FIRST members MANATO and RYUHEI, the significance of “Missing” lies in the ability to project Japanese-language music onto a global stage. MANATO highlighted the track’s high production quality, noting that the instrumental alone possessed enough emotional resonance to stand on its own before vocals were even added. RYUHEI emphasized that having a track built from the ground up as a BE:FIRST song—rather than a feature—allowed the group to better integrate their linguistic identity into a global pop format.
Performance Reception
The track received its live debut during Jonas Blue’s June 29 show at Zepp Shinjuku. Jonas Blue reported that the audience response was immediate, fueled by social media engagement from the group’s fanbase. The transition from the song’s emotional, guitar-driven opening to its aggressive dance climax served as a focal point for the live crowd, according to the producer.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was “Missing” by BE:FIRST released? The track was released on July 1.
- Who produced “Missing”? The track was produced by Jonas Blue, who also co-wrote the composition.
- Is this the first time BE:FIRST has worked with Jonas Blue? No, this is their second collaboration; they previously worked together on the 2022 track “Don’t Wake Me Up feat. BE:FIRST.”
- Was “Missing” originally written in Japanese? No, according to Jonas Blue, the song was initially developed as an English-language track before BE:FIRST adapted it with Japanese lyrics and their own vocal arrangements.
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