"A Lonely Night" | |
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Song by the Weeknd | |
from the album Starboy | |
Released | November 25, 2016 |
Studio | MXM (Los Angeles, California) MXM, Wolf Cousin Studios (Stockholm, Sweden) [1] |
Genre | Electro-funk |
Length | 3:40 |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) |
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"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]
"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]
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]
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]
Chart (2016–2017) | Peak position |
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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 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [31] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
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, 75 single releases, and 13 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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
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.
"Black Beatles" is a song by American hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd featuring American rapper Gucci Mane. Produced by Mike Will Made It, it was released on September 13, 2016, by EarDrummers and Interscope Records as the third single from their second studio album SremmLife 2.
"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.
"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.
"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). The song was written and produced by the Weeknd, Daft Punk, Doc McKinney, and Cirkut, with Eric Chedeville receiving writing credits. It was released for digital download as the album's third single on November 17, 2016. Throughout 2016 and 2017, the song was sent to radios in the UK, the US, and Italy. 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. Music journalists complimented the song's vocals and production, drawing comparisons to the works of Michael Jackson.
"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.
"Reminder" is a song by 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, named Stargirl. The song was written by the two 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.
"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.
"Try Me" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his debut extended play, My Dear Melancholy, (2018). The song was written by the Weeknd, Ahmad Balshe, Jason Quenneville, Adam Feeney, Michael Williams and Marquel Middlebrooks. It was produced by Mike Will Made It, Marz, Frank Dukes, and DaHeala.
"Snowchild" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his fourth studio album After Hours. It was released on March 20, 2020, alongside the rest of its parent album. A music video for the song was released on July 22, 2020. The song was written and produced by The Weeknd, Illangelo, and DaHeala; with Belly receiving additional writing credits.