A Lonely Night

Last updated

"A Lonely Night"
Song by the Weeknd
from the album Starboy
ReleasedNovember 25, 2016 (2016-11-25)
Studio MXM (Los Angeles, California) MXM, Wolf Cousin Studios (Stockholm, Sweden) [1]
Genre Electro-funk
Length3:40
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ali Payami
  • Max Martin

"A Lonely Night" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his third studio album Starboy (2016). [2] It was written by the Weeknd, Peter Svensson, Savan Kotecha, Belly, DaHeala, and produced by Ali Payami and Max Martin. [3] The song was the subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit. [4]

Contents

Composition

"A Lonely Night" is a post-disco inspired electro-funk song with a prominent staccato bassline [5] [6] and a drum beat reminiscent of that used on Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean". [7] It is composed in the key of G minor. [8]

Lyrically, the song is a warning against a woman getting too attached in a relationship. [9] Where he states "There’s nothing between us". Making connections to the album's reoccurring theme of teetering on the verge of greatness but being held back by loneliness and the need for a relationship. [9]

Critical reception

The song was well received by music critics, with many complimenting the song's catchiness, production and the Weeknd's throwback sound inspired by Michael Jackson. [10] Kirsten Spruch from baeblemusic.com named it "Song of the Day" on November 29, 2016, saying that "The bubbly synth-basses and catchy chorus make for a song you can't not dance to." [11]

Chart performance

Like the rest of the tracks from Starboy, "A Lonely Night" charted on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 69. [12] The song also charted and peaked at number 40 on the Canadian Hot 100. [13] Despite not being released as a single, the song managed to chart within the Canadian Hot AC Airplay chart, peaking at number 45 and charting for three weeks.

In 2019, three British songwriters: Williams "Billy" Smith, Brian Clover and Scott McCulloch sued the Weeknd and Belly for copyright infringement. [14] They claimed that the 2016 Starboy track was a blatant copy of their 2004 song "I Need to Love". The songwriters demanded an unspecified amount of damages, alongside $150,000 per infringement and forensic accounting to figure out how much they felt they were owed. [15] During the trial, the Weeknd was represented by UK law firm Russels. The copyright case was later won by the Weeknd after a ruling by the Central District Court of California. [16] The Smith, Clover, McCulloch v. The Weeknd case was the second infringement lawsuit against a track from Starboy. [17]

Charts

Chart (2016–2017)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [18] 40
Canada Hot AC ( Billboard ) [19] 45
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) [20] 72
France (SNEP) [21] 117
Ireland (IRMA) [22] 69
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [23] 72
Portugal (AFP) [24] 57
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) [25] 29
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [26] 67
UK Singles (OCC) [27] 53
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) [28] 11
US Billboard Hot 100 [29] 69
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [30] 37

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [31] Gold40,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Weeknd discography</span> Pop recording artist discography

The discography of Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd consists of five studio albums, nine extended plays, three mixtapes, three compilation albums, one soundtrack album, one live album, 72 single releases, and seven promotional singles. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Weeknd has accumulated 18.5 million certified album units and 113 million certified digital single units in the US, based on sales and on-demand streaming, as of January 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Me Harder</span> 2014 single by Ariana Grande and the Weeknd

"Love Me Harder" is a song by the American singer Ariana Grande and the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released by Republic Records on September 30, 2014 as the fourth single from Grande's second studio album, My Everything (2014). It was written by the Weeknd, Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Peter Svensson, Ali Payami and Belly. The song was produced by Payami and Peter Carlsson, with Svensson serving as a vocal producer. Sonically, "Love Me Harder" is a pop, synthwave, synth-pop, R&B ballad with a "throbbing, electro-heavy chorus", a guitar riff and "big vacuum-esque synths". Lyrically, the song features double entendres about rough sex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Feel My Face</span> 2015 single by the Weeknd

"Can't Feel My Face" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his second studio album Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). The song was released on June 8, 2015, as the album's third single. It was written by Max Martin, Peter Svensson, Ali Payami, Savan Kotecha and the Weeknd, and produced by Martin and Payami.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Night (song)</span> 2015 single by the Weeknd

"In the Night" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his second studio album Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). The Weeknd wrote the song with Belly, Savan Kotecha, Peter Svensson, and producers Max Martin & Ali Payami, with the Weeknd serving as co-producer. The song was released to contemporary hit radio as the album's fourth single on November 17, 2015.

<i>Starboy</i> (album) 2016 studio album by the Weeknd

Starboy is the third studio album by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, released on November 25, 2016, through XO and Republic Records. It features guest appearances from Daft Punk, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar, and Future. As the album's executive producers, the Weeknd and Doc McKinney enlisted a variety of producers such as Diplo, Cashmere Cat, Metro Boomin, Frank Dukes, and Labrinth, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starboy (song)</span> 2016 song by the Weeknd featuring Daft Punk

"Starboy" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd featuring the French electronic duo Daft Punk. It was released on September 21, 2016, through XO and Republic Records, as the lead single from his third studio album of the same name (2016). The artists wrote and produced the song with Doc McKinney and Henry "Cirkut" Walter, with Jason "DaHeala" Quenneville receiving additional credits. It is an R&B and electropop song that reflects themes of extravagance and celebrity life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">False Alarm (The Weeknd song)</span> 2016 single by the Weeknd

"False Alarm" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his third studio album, Starboy (2016). It was released as the album's second single and only non-radio single on September 29, 2016, through XO and Republic Records. The song was written and produced by the Weeknd, Doc McKinney, Cirkut, and Mano, with additional writing credits going to Belly and Ben Billions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Feel It Coming</span> 2016 single by the Weeknd featuring Daft Punk

"I Feel It Coming" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd featuring the French electronic duo Daft Punk, from his third studio album, Starboy (2016). It was released for digital download as the album's third single on November 17, 2016. The song was later sent to the UK, the US and Italian radios during 2016 and 2017. The song was written and produced by the Weeknd, Daft Punk, Doc McKinney, and Cirkut, with Eric Chedeville receiving writing credits. It is a disco-pop song which lyrically discuss the themes of love and lust, where he reassures his lover after their failed relationships and trauma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Party Monster (song)</span> 2016 single by the Weeknd

"Party Monster" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his third studio album Starboy (2016). The song was released for digital download on November 17, 2016, as the album's fourth single. It was later sent to US urban contemporary radio on December 6, 2016. The song was written and produced by the Weeknd, Ben Billions, and Doc McKinney, with additional writing credits going to Belly and Lana Del Rey, the latter of which providing background vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reminder (song)</span> 2017 single by the Weeknd

"Reminder" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his third studio album, Starboy (2016). It was written by him with Dylan Wiggins, DaHeala, and its producers Doc McKinney, Mano and Cirkut. The song was released to rhythmic contemporary radio on May 9, 2017, as the album's fifth single in the United States.

"Rockin'" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his third studio album, Starboy (2016). The song was released to contemporary hit radio in France on May 9, 2017, as the album's sixth international single. The song was written by the Weeknd, Peter Svensson, Savan Kotecha, Belly, and producers Ali Payami and Max Martin, with the Weeknd serving as a co-producer.

"Secrets" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his third studio album Starboy (2016). The song was written and produced by the Weeknd, Martin "Doc" McKinney, and Henry "Cirkut" Walter, with Dylan Wiggins, Roland Orzabal, Coz Canler, Jimmy Marinos, Wally Palamarchuk, Mike Skill, and Peter Solley receiving writing credits for the sampling of the new wave songs "Pale Shelter" by Tears for Fears and "Talking in Your Sleep" by the Romantics. "Secrets" was released to radio in Italy on November 10, 2017, as the album's final international single.

"Stargirl Interlude" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd featuring American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. Dubbed as an "interlude", the track comes from the Weeknd's third studio album, Starboy (2016). The track's title itself is a direct reference to the album's titular character, Starboy, with the lyrics focusing in on a female counterpart, similarly named Stargirl. The song was written by the artists alongside producers Martin "Doc" McKinney and Labrinth.

"Sidewalks" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, featuring American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his third studio album Starboy (2016). The song was written by both artists alongside Doc McKinney, Daniel Wilson, Robert John Richardson, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, being produced by McKinney, Bobby Raps and Muhammad. The song sampled the song "Fu-Gee-La" by Fugees.

"Six Feet Under" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his third studio album Starboy (2016). It features additional vocals from American rapper Future and was written by both artists alongside Belly, DaHeala, Doc McKinney, Ben Billions, Metro Boomin, and Cirkut, with the latter four producing it with the Weeknd. It is one of the two collaborations between the Weeknd and Future to be featured on the album, the other being "All I Know". It's the second overall collaboration between the two artists on the album, previously collaborating on Future's "Low Life".

"All I Know" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd featuring American rapper Future, released as a track from the former's third studio album Starboy (2016). The song was written by both artists alongside Belly as well as Ben Billions & Cashmere Cat, who produced the song with the Weeknd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Die for You (The Weeknd song)</span> 2017 single by the Weeknd

"Die for You" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his third studio album, Starboy (2016). The song was sent to US rhythmic contemporary radio on September 19, 2017 as the seventh single from the album. It was written by the Weeknd, Doc McKinney, Cirkut, Prince 85, Cashmere Cat, Dylan Wiggins, and Billy Walsh, and produced by the former five.

"Wasted Times" is a song by the Canadian singer the Weeknd, and serves as the third track from his debut EP, My Dear Melancholy, (2018). The song was written by the Weeknd, Brittany Hazzard, Sonny Moore and Adam Feeney, and was produced by Frank Dukes and Skrillex. It was later included on the Weeknd's 2018 greatest hits album, The Weeknd in Japan, and the deluxe version of his 2021 greatest hits album, The Highlights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartless (The Weeknd song)</span> 2019 single by the Weeknd

"Heartless" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on November 27, 2019 through XO and Republic Records as the lead single from his fourth studio album, After Hours (2020). The Weeknd wrote and produced the song alongside Metro Boomin, Illangelo, and Dre Moon. The song combines R&B and trap with elements of electroclash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smile (Juice Wrld and the Weeknd song)</span> 2020 single by Juice Wrld and the Weeknd

"Smile" is a song by American rapper and singer Juice Wrld and Canadian singer the Weeknd. It was released on August 7, 2020, as the sixth single from the former's posthumous third studio album Legends Never Die. On the day of the single's release, an updated version of the album featuring the song was released.

References

  1. ↑ Starboy Credits (PDF). November 23, 2016.
  2. ↑ "The Weeknd shares two new tracks from 'Starboy'". DIY.
  3. ↑ "Smith, Clover, McCulloch v. The Weeknd" (PDF). Digital Music News. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Hitless musicians to sue The Weeknd". November 22, 2018 – via www.bbc.com.
  5. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (November 25, 2016). "The Weeknd: Starboy review – an artist in an awkward state of flux" – via www.theguardian.com.
  6. ↑ Reeves, Mosi (November 28, 2016). "Review: The Weeknd's 'Starboy' Treads Murky Water in Innovative R&B Era".
  7. ↑ "The Weeknd channels Michael Jackson in "Starboy"". Sonoma State Star - The university's student-run newspaper.
  8. ↑ Abel, Tesfaye; Max, Martin; Savan, Kotecha; Ahmad, Balshe; Ali, Payami; Jason, Quenneville; Anders, Svensson; Weeknd, The (May 15, 2017). "A Lonely Night". Musicnotes.com.
  9. 1 2 "Why the Weeknd and Bruno Mars are obsessed with the '80s". Los Angeles Times. November 30, 2016.
  10. ↑ "The Weeknd dominates the charts with a throwback sound - Las Vegas Weekly". lasvegasweekly.com.
  11. ↑ "SONG OF THE DAY: 'A Lonely Night' by The Weeknd". Baeble Music. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  12. ↑ McIntyre, Hugh. "All 18 Songs On The Weeknd's New Album Are Now Charting Hits". Forbes.
  13. ↑ "The Weeknd Charts Entire 'Starboy' Album on Hot 100". billboard.com. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  14. ↑ "The Weeknd Sued Over 'Starboy' Song "A Lonely Night"". Complex.
  15. ↑ "The Weeknd Is Being Sued for Plagiarism Again". exclaim.ca.
  16. ↑ "The Weeknd Beats Some Claims in 'A Lonely Night' Copyright Case". news.bloomberglaw.com.
  17. ↑ "The Weeknd Accused of Ripping Off 'Starboy from Somali-American Poet". The Blast. September 18, 2018.
  18. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  19. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  20. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201648 into search. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  21. ↑ "The Weeknd – A Lonely Night" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  22. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Weeknd". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  23. ↑ "The Weeknd – Secrets" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  24. ↑ "The Weeknd – A Lonely Night". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  25. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201648 into search. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  26. ↑ "The Weeknd – Secrets". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  29. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  30. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  31. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – A Lonely Night". Music Canada . Retrieved December 6, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.