"Die for You" | ||||
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Single by the Weeknd | ||||
from the album Starboy | ||||
Released | September 19, 2017 | |||
Recorded | 2016 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 4:20 (album version)
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Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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The Weeknd singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Die for You" on YouTube |
"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.
The song was initially a moderate success, achieving a peak within the top 50 of the US Billboard Hot 100. In 2022, the song experienced a resurgence in popularity due to the online social media application TikTok. The song thereafter impacted US contemporary hit radio and peaked at number six on the Hot 100. On February 24, 2023, the Weeknd released a remix of "Die for You" with American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande, which was included on the deluxe edition of Starboy. The remix propelled the song to number one on the Hot 100, marking both artists' seventh number-one single on the chart, following both artists' sixth, the remix of "Save Your Tears" (2021). The remix also reached a new peak at number two on the Billboard Global 200 and the Canadian Hot 100. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the remix was the fourth best-selling global single of 2023, earning 1.78 billion subscription streams equivalents globally.
In a 2016 interview with Zane Lowe of Beats 1 Radio, the Weeknd said that "Die for You" was the last song to finish for his album Starboy and was completed merely a week before the album dropped. [2] It was one of the tracks on the album to be previewed before its release as part of the 12-minute-long short film Mania, released on November 23. [3] [4] The song was officially released on November 25, 2016, as an album track. [5]
"Die for You" received early airplay from urban contemporary and urban adult contemporary radio in August 2017. [6] It was officially serviced to US rhythmic contemporary radio on September 19, 2017, as the sixth single from Starboy in the United States. [7] [8] The song was also scheduled to be sent to US contemporary hit radio on December 5, but its release to the format in the country was cancelled for unknown reasons. [9] Following its release as a single in North America, the song charted modestly across various Billboard component charts and became a moderate Canadian hit. "Die for You" would later then be included on the track list of the Weeknd's second greatest hits album, The Highlights , which was released on February 5, 2021. [10]
After a resurgence in popularity due to increased usage on the video-sharing app TikTok in September 2021, its official music video was released on November 25, 2021, alongside standalone digital release on Apple Music with its own artwork. [11] As a result, the song would begin receiving contemporary hit radio airplay in early August 2022, following its initial cancellation from the release in 2017. [12] In February 2023, the Weeknd uploaded a live performance video of the song from his After Hours til Dawn Tour to promote his HBO concert special the Weeknd: Live at SoFi Stadium. [13] A live version of the song from his performance at SoFi Stadium was later released to digital stores and streaming platforms in March 2023 with the release of his first live album Live at SoFi Stadium . [14]
The song's sheet music, published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing at musicnotes.com, shows that "Die for You" is written in the key of C♯ minor and follows a tempo of 72 beats per minute. The vocals in the song span from the low note of C♯4 to the high note of C♯6. [15]
In an interview with Zane Lowe, the Weeknd stated that "Die for You" was the final song finished for Starboy, and that it was difficult to write, specifically its lyrics. [16]
Mosi Reeves of Rolling Stone said that the song "is a euphoric slow jam where he finally summons the poetic sincerity he mined so easily in the past." [17] Christopher Hooton of The Independent said that the song "has a tragic ecstasy to it befitting an end of the world party that happens to fall on New Years’ Eve." [18] Larry Bartleet of NME called it "banal, forgettable fluff". [19]
In the United States, "Die for You" peaked at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted for three weeks during its original run. Additionally, the song reached number 19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In Canada, the song peaked at number 35 on the Canadian Hot 100 and charted for 20 weeks. [20]
In late 2021 and throughout 2022, "Die for You" saw an increase in consumption as the song went viral on the social media platform TikTok alongside fellow album track "Stargirl Interlude". [21] [22] This increase in streaming and sales led to the song's parent album to re-enter the top 40 on the Billboard 200 chart. [23] It also led to the song entering the top 40 of multiple single charts across Asia and Oceania, with the song additionally reaching number 19 on the Billboard Global 200 chart and re-entering the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number six. [24] [25] On February 6, 2023, "Die for You" topped the US Radio Songs chart, over six years after its arrival on Starboy. On the same day, it also reached number one on the mainstream top 40-based US Pop Airplay chart. On both charts, "Die for You" stayed at the top for two weeks. [26]
"Die for You" was featured in the second season of the HBO comedy-drama television series Insecure . [27] [28] Due to its appearance in the show, the song led the THR's Top TV Songs Chart in August 2017. [29]
On November 25, 2021, to celebrate the five-year anniversary of Starboy's release, the Weeknd surprise-released the music video for "Die for You", directed by Christian Breslauer. [30]
The video pays homage to the science fiction horror television series Stranger Things (2016) and the science fiction film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). [31]
Digital / streaming single [32]
Digital / streaming single [33]
Digital / streaming single [34]
Digital / streaming single [35]
Weekly charts | Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [95] | 8× Platinum | 560,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [96] | 3× Platinum | 180,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [97] | 8× Platinum | 640,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [98] | 2× Platinum | 180,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [99] | Diamond | 333,333‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [100] | Gold | 200,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [101] | 2× Platinum | 200,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV) [102] | 3× Platinum | 150,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP) [103] | 6× Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [104] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [105] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [106] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [107] | Diamond | 10,000,000‡ |
Streaming | ||
Greece (IFPI Greece) [108] | 3× Platinum | 6,000,000† |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Version(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United States | September 19, 2017 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | Original | [7] | |
Various | November 25, 2021 |
| [34] | ||
United States | August 9, 2022 | Contemporary hit radio | Radio edit | [109] | |
Various | February 4, 2023 |
| Sped up | [35] |
On October 4, 2021, an unreleased remix of "Die for You" featuring singer-songwriter SZA premiered on the eighteenth episode of the Weeknd's Apple Music 1 radio show Memento Mori , following a streaming surge the song received in September of that year. [110] [111] In November 2022, the Weeknd and SZA both publicly expressed interest in re-recording her verse for the remix. [112] The two artists would later go on to discuss the matter although an official release of the remix has yet to come to fruition. [113]
"Die for You" (remix) | ||||
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Single by the Weeknd and Ariana Grande | ||||
from the album Starboy (Deluxe) | ||||
Released | February 24, 2023 | |||
Recorded | 2016, 2023 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 3:53 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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The Weeknd singles chronology | ||||
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Ariana Grande singles chronology | ||||
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Lyric video | ||||
"Die for You (Remix)" on YouTube |
A remix of "Die for You" with American singer Ariana Grande was released on February 24,2023,alongside an accompanying lyric video uploaded to YouTube. [114] On February 21,2023,Grande shared a video on social media of her working on the remix,which was recorded whilst she was filming for the film adaptation of the musical Wicked . [115] The song marks the fourth collaboration between the Weeknd and Grande,after "Love Me Harder" (2014),"Off the Table" (2020),and the remix of "Save Your Tears" (2021). [116] It was later included on the deluxe edition of Starboy with its release on March 10,2023. [117]
The remix was a commercial success in the United States,peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It became the seventh number-one single on the chart for both artists,and ranked as the seventh best-performing song of the year on the year-end Hot 100 chart of 2023. The remix also peaked at number one in Malaysia,the Philippines,Singapore,and Vietnam,and number two on the Billboard Global 200 and the Canadian Hot 100. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI),the remix ended the year as the fourth best-selling global single of 2023,earning 1.78 billion subscription streams equivalents globally. [118]
Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref(s) |
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2023 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Billboard Global 200 Song | Nominated | [119] |
Top Billboard Global (Excl. US) Song | Nominated | |||
Top Collaboration | Nominated | |||
Top R&B Song | Nominated | |||
Top Radio Song | Nominated |
Following the release of the remix with Ariana Grande,"Die for You" reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100. [120] It became the seventh number-one hit of both the Weeknd and Grande (the latter of whom was credited on the track on the chart for the first time,as the remix drew the majority of the title's overall activity in the tracking week). It broke the record for longest climb to number one on the Hot 100 for a non-holiday song in history (over 6 years after release). Starboy became the Weeknd's third album to spawn multiple number one singles on the Hot 100,after Beauty Behind the Madness and After Hours . It also broke the record for longest wait between Hot 100 number one singles from the same album (6 years and 2 months). The Weeknd joined Michael Jackson as the only male soloists in history to have multiple number one hits on the Hot 100 from three albums. Grande surpassed Paul McCartney as the artist with the most number one duets in Hot 100 history. [121] The remix also obtained the largest opening day streams for a remix in Spotify history with 8.9 million streams. [122]
Digital / streaming single [123]
Digital single [124]
Digital / streaming EP [125]
Digital / streaming single [126]
Weekly charts | Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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New Zealand (RMNZ) [176] | 4×Platinum | 120,000‡ |
Streaming | ||
Greece (IFPI Greece) [177] | Gold | 1,000,000† |
Worldwide (IFPI) | — | 1,780,000,000 [169] |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Version(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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Various | February 24,2023 |
| Remix |
| [123] |
Italy | Radio airplay | Universal | [178] | ||
United States | February 25,2023 | Digital download | Remix instrumental |
| [124] |
Various | February 27,2023 |
| 4-track EP | [125] | |
March 2,2023 | Remix acapella | [126] |
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, known professionally as the Weeknd, is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actor. He is known for his unconventional musical production, artistic reinventions and use of the falsetto register.
Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd has released five studio albums, one live album, three compilation albums, three mixtapes, nine extended plays, 79 single releases and seven promotional singles. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), he has accumulated 20.5 million certified album-equivalent units and 132 million certified digital single units in the US, based on sales and on-demand streaming, as of December 2024.
The American singer, songwriter, and actress Ariana Grande has released seven studio albums, one soundtrack album, one live album, one remix album, one compilation album, two extended plays (EPs), fifty-eight singles, and fourteen promotional singles. Throughout her career thus far, Grande has sold over 90 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), she has sold over 131 million units, across albums, singles, and features, and 13 million albums and 95.5 million digital singles units as a lead artist. In the U.S., Grande has moved 22.4 million album units, and garnered over 23.6 billion streams across lead artist credits, according to Luminate. Having amassed over 105 billion consumed streams thus far, Grande is the most streamed female artist ever. She is also the most streamed female artist of the 2010s on Spotify and Apple Music. She has amassed 86 chart entries on the Billboard Hot 100—the third most entries for a female artist—including nine number ones and 22 top-10 hits altogether so far. Grande was named the sixth top female artist of the 2010s decade, and was ranked among Billboard's Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Artists, at number 78. Grande is also one of the best selling female artists in the UK, with over 31 million units.
"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.
"Into You" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande. It was released on June 28, 2016, by Republic Records as the second single from her third studio album Dangerous Woman (2016). Grande co-wrote the song with Savan Kotecha, Alexander Kronlund, and its producers Max Martin and Ilya. The song was made available for digital download on May 6, 2016, via pre-order of the album, and was later serviced to US contemporary hit and rhythmic radio stations on June 28 as the album's second single. It is a dance-pop, house, electro, and EDM song that features a club beat, synths, and sharp clicks. The song is about Grande's desire for her partner to show more affection in their relationship. The song received widespread acclaim from music critics, who praised the production and the lyrics of the song.
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.
"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.
"I Feel It Coming" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his third studio album, Starboy (2016), featuring the French duo Daft Punk. The three wrote and produced the song with Doc McKinney and Cirkut, with additional writing from Eric Chedeville. XO and Republic Records released the track for digital download on November 17, 2016, as the album's third single. Written in an hour and conceived during sessions in Paris and Los Angeles, "I Feel It Coming" is a disco-pop and funk track where the Weeknd convinces a woman to not be scared of falling in love again.
"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 whom provides 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".
"7 Rings" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande. It was released on January 18, 2019, by Republic Records as the second single from her fifth studio album Thank U, Next (2019). The song was written by Grande, Victoria Monét, Tayla Parx, Njomza, and Kaydence, alongside its producers Tommy Brown, Charles Anderson, and Michael Foster, with additional writing credits going to Rodgers and Hammerstein for an interpolation of their showtune "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music.
"Good as Hell" is a song recorded by American rapper and singer Lizzo. Written by Lizzo and producer Ricky Reed, it was released on March 8, 2016, by Atlantic Records and Nice Life Recording Company as the lead single from her first extended play, Coconut Oil, and subsequently was the namesake for her 2017 Good as Hell Tour. It was re-released in 2019 as a radio single, when it became a sleeper hit like her first hit, "Truth Hurts". The song was later included as a bonus track on the super deluxe edition of her third studio album, Cuz I Love You (2019), alongside its remix.
"Save Your Tears" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his fourth studio album, After Hours (2020). It was released to Dutch contemporary hit radio on August 9, 2020, as the album's fourth and final single. The song was written and produced by the Weeknd, Max Martin, and Oscar Holter, with Belly and DaHeala receiving additional writing credits.
"In Your Eyes" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd and the third single from his fourth studio album, After Hours (2020). The song was released to contemporary hit radio on March 24, 2020, by XO and Republic Records. It was originally released four days before, alongside the rest of its parent album. The Weeknd wrote and produced the song with Max Martin and Oscar Holter, with Belly receiving additional writing credits. The original studio recording of the track features Wojtek Goral on alto saxophone, while the live version and remix of the song features Kenny G on soprano saxophone.
"34+35" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande, released on November 3, 2020, by Republic Records as the second official single from her sixth studio album Positions (2020). Written by Grande, Albert Stanaj, Courageous Xavier Herrera, Scott Nicholson, Steven Franks, Tayla Parx, Victoria Monét, and its producers Peter Lee Johnson and Tommy Brown, the song has a title and chorus that both reference the 69 sex position, while the rest of its lyrics feature several sexual puns, double entendres, and sex jokes.