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 by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd featuring English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. XO and Republic Records released it on August 28, 2015, as the twelfth track from the former's second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness . Written by the Weeknd, Sheeran, and DaHeala, with production being handled by Illangelo, it is an R&B song that touches on themes of temptation and acceptance.

Contents

"Dark Times" received generally negative reviews from music critics, who criticized its composition and style. Nonetheless, it was commercially successful, charting in multiple countries and being certified platinum in the United States, silver in the United Kingdom, and gold in Canada and New Zealand. In year-end charts, it finished number 40 on the Hot R&B Songs chart.

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] "Dark Times" 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 and commercial performance

The song received negative reviews. Sheldon Pearce of The A.V. Club said the song "falls flat because of its mishmash components". [8] Matthew Cooper of Clash called the song "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]

"Dark Times" peaked at number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100, [14] and peaked at number 35 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. [15] It also appeared on various national charts, peaking at number 92 on the UK Singles chart, [16] number 19 on the UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles chart, [17] number 73 in Ireland, [18] and number 60 in Sweden. [19] In year-end charts, it finished number 40 on the Hot R&B Songs chart. [20] "Dark Times" was certified platinum in the United States, [21] silver in the United Kingdom, [22] and gold in Canada [23] and New Zealand. [24]

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". [25] [26]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [23] Gold40,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [24] Gold15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [22] Silver200,000‡
United States (RIAA) [21] Platinum1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Dark Times (Media notes). The Weeknd. Republic Records. August 28, 2015. Archived from the original on January 2, 2026. 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. Archived from the original on January 12, 2026. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  3. ↑ Welch, Will (August 18, 2015). "The Weeknd Talks Kanye West, Music, Drugs, and Joe DiMaggio's Sperm". GQ . Archived from the original on January 7, 2026. 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 . Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  5. ↑ Dolan, Jon (September 10, 2015). "Beauty Behind the Madness". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  6. ↑ Findlay, Mitch (September 26, 2022). "The Weeknd & Ed Sheeran Formed Superstar Team On "Dark Times"". HotNewHipHop . Archived from the original on January 12, 2026. 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. Archived from the original on December 7, 2025. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ Pearce, Sheldon (August 28, 2015). "The Weeknd navigates trippy perception and pop reality". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  9. ↑ Cooper, Matthew (September 22, 2015). "The Weeknd – Beauty Behind the Madness". Clash . Archived from the original on January 15, 2026. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  10. ↑ Brown, Helen (October 8, 2015). "The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness, review: 'dated'". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on October 12, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  11. ↑ Anderson, Kyle (August 28, 2015). "Beauty Behind the Madness by The Weeknd: EW review". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. 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 . Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  13. ↑ Ryce, Andrew (September 2, 2015). "The Weeknd: Beauty Behind the Madness". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  14. 1 2 "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  15. ↑ Mendizabal, Amaya (September 9, 2015). "The Weeknd's Entire New Album Has Charted on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard . Archived from the original on August 17, 2025. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  16. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart on 11/9/2015 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 11/9/2015 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  18. 1 2 "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Weeknd". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  19. 1 2 "The Weeknd – Dark Times". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  20. 1 2 "Hot R&B Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard . Archived from the original on August 19, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  21. 1 2 "American single certifications – The Weeknd – Dark Times". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  22. 1 2 "British single certifications – Weeknd – Dark Times". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  23. 1 2 "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – Dark Times". Music Canada . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  24. 1 2 "New Zealand single certifications – The Weeknd – Dark Times". Radioscope. Retrieved August 20, 2025.Type Dark Times in the "Search:" fieldand press Enter.
  25. ↑ Morris, Jessie (November 6, 2015). "The Weeknd and Ed Sheeran Performed "Dark Times" Together Last Night". Complex . Archived from the original on January 6, 2026. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  26. ↑ Carley, Brennan (November 6, 2015). "The Weeknd Welcomed Ed Sheeran Onstage for 'Dark Times' in Toronto". Spin . Archived from the original on April 29, 2025. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  27. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved August 20, 2025.
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