Dark Times (The Weeknd song)

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"Dark Times"
Song by the Weeknd featuring Ed Sheeran
from the album Beauty Behind the Madness
ReleasedAugust 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
Studio Conway (Hollywood) [1]
Genre R&B
Length4:20
Label
Songwriters
Producer Illangelo

"Dark Times" is a song recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd and English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran for the former's second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). It was written by the Weeknd, Sheeran, and DaHeala, with production being handled by Illangelo. The song was released on August 28, 2015, by XO and Republic Records, as the twelfth track from the album.

Contents

Background and composition

The two created the song together on the spot. [2] In an interview with GQ , the Weeknd said:

I wrote a song with Ed Sheeran that was kind of spontaneous. He was hosting the Much Music Awards in Toronto and I invited him, and pretty much the entire awards show, to my condo to party. It went on until about 5 in the morning but we didn't write the song until that next day, so you can imagine how that night went. Ed also did a freestyle battle with Waka Flocka in my kitchen. That was pretty dope. Good times. [3]

Described by critics as a "bluesy" duet, [4] [5] the song touches on themes of temptation and acceptance. [6] According to Mic , the song highlights "the pitfalls of achieving sex-symbol status among their peers and audiences, as well as the nasty side-effects of partying and taking too many drugs." [7]

Reception

Critical reception

Sheldon Pearce of The A.V. Club said, "The Ed Sheeran duet 'Dark Times' falls flat because of its mishmash components". [8] Matthew Cooper of Clash said, "The Sheeran-featuring 'Dark Times' is a forgettable bluesy number where poor old Ed tries his best to convince us he's ever gotten into a fight." [9] Helen Brown of The Daily Telegraph called the song "tedious". [10] Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly said, "And when Tesfaye teams with Ed Sheeran on 'Dark Times,' the result is a confounding imitation of Imagine Dragons' arena-rock schlock." [11] Kitty Empire of The Observer called the song "boringly retro". [12] Andrew Ryce of Pitchfork called the song "mind-numbingly boring". [13]

Commercial performance

"Dark Times" debuted at number 35 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. [14]

Live performances

Sheeran and the Weeknd performed the song live together for the first time during The Madness Fall Tour at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Before they performed, the Weeknd told the audience, "I've written with a lot of people in my life, but Ed Sheeran is the fastest and most talented songwriter ever." [15] [16]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Dark Times"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [24] Gold40,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [25] Gold15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [26] Silver200,000‡
United States (RIAA) [27] Platinum1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Dark Times (Media notes). The Weeknd. Republic Records. August 28, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2025.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ↑ Alper, Eric (July 22, 2025). "5 Surprising Facts About The Weeknd's 'Beauty Behind the Madness'". That Eric Alper. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  3. ↑ Welch, Will (August 18, 2015). "The Weeknd Talks Kanye West, Music, Drugs, and Joe DiMaggio's Sperm". GQ . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  4. ↑ Pareles, Jon (August 26, 2015). "Review: The Weeknd Makes a Bid for Pop Outreach on 'Beauty Behind the Madness'". The New York Times . Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  5. ↑ Dolan, Jon (September 10, 2015). "Beauty Behind the Madness". Rolling Stone . Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  6. ↑ Findlay, Mitch (September 26, 2022). "The Weeknd & Ed Sheeran Formed Superstar Team On "Dark Times"". HotNewHipHop . Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  7. ↑ Riotta, Chris (August 27, 2015). ""Dark Times" Lyrics: Ed Sheeran and the Weeknd Get Together on Album's Most Powerful Track". Mic . Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ Pearce, Sheldon (August 28, 2015). "The Weeknd navigates trippy perception and pop reality". The A.V. Club . Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  9. ↑ Cooper, Matthew (September 22, 2015). "The Weeknd – Beauty Behind The Madness". Clash . Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  10. ↑ Brown, Helen (October 8, 2015). "The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness, review: 'dated'". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  11. ↑ Anderson, Kyle (August 28, 2015). "'Beauty Behind the Madness' by The Weeknd: EW review". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  12. ↑ Empire, Kitty (August 30, 2015). "The Weeknd: Beauty Behind the Madness review – a dark seduction of the mainstream". The Observer . Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  13. ↑ Ryce, Andrew (September 2, 2015). "The Weeknd: Beauty Behind the Madness". Pitchfork . Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  14. ↑ Mendizabal, Amaya (September 9, 2015). "The Weeknd's Entire New Album Has Charted on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard . Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  15. ↑ Morris, Jessie (November 6, 2015). "The Weeknd and Ed Sheeran Performed "Dark Times" Together Last Night". Complex . Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  16. ↑ Carley, Brennan (November 6, 2015). "The Weeknd Welcomed Ed Sheeran Onstage for 'Dark Times' in Toronto". Spin . Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Weeknd". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  18. ↑ "The Weeknd – Dark Times". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  21. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  22. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Hot R&B Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – Dark Times". Music Canada . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  25. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – The Weeknd – Dark Times". Radioscope. Retrieved August 20, 2025.Type Dark Times in the "Search:" field.
  26. ↑ "British single certifications – Weeknd – Dark Times". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  27. ↑ "American single certifications – The Weeknd – Dark Times". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
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