The Plan (Travis Scott song)

Last updated
"The Plan"
Travis Scott - The Plan.png
Single by Travis Scott
from the album Tenet: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
ReleasedAugust 22, 2020 (2020-08-22)
Recorded2020
Length3:05
Label Warner Bros. Entertainment
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Travis Scott singles chronology
"Wash Us in the Blood"
(2020)
"The Plan"
(2020)
"Franchise"
(2020)
Visualizer
"The Plan" on YouTube

"The Plan" (officially titled "The Plan (From the Motion Picture "TENET")") is a song by American rapper Travis Scott. It was released on August 22, 2020, as the theme song from the soundtrack to the film Tenet . The film's writer and director Christopher Nolan described the track as "the final piece of a yearlong puzzle". It is Scott's first original song written for a film.

Contents

Background

The song was announced by Scott via his social media on August 18, 2020, along with the cover art. [1] The announcement coincided with the sixth anniversary of his breakout mixtape Days Before Rodeo . [2] A snippet of the track was played during an NBA on TNT trailer, in which Scott stated: "This is my first original song for a film, which is actually fire 'cause I kinda wouldn't want it any other way". [3] It premiered during the 2020 NBA Clippers/Mavericks playoffs game and was released at 12 AM Eastern US Time on August 22. [4]

"The way that he connects with art is not in a singular form. He has so many tentacles, and they're all electric. So when we talk about feeling, [whether that's] listening to a song or talking about a movie, he can visualize things in so many different fields. So it's a very special ability. It's like his own magic power".

– "The Plan" producer Ludwig Göransson speaking to Deadline on working with Scott. [3]

The song was recorded with producer Ludwig Göransson, who composed the soundtrack and score for Tenet at all the individual artists' homes during the COVID-19 lockdown. [5] The song was produced by Göransson, along with Canadian producer WondaGurl. Scott watched Tenet prior to its release and said in his cover story interview for the September issue of GQ magazine he could not explain the film, calling it "very fire". During that interview, which took place in early July 2020, he accidentally played "The Plan" for the magazine's writer Gerrick D. Kennedy, who labeled the song a "brain-liquefying trip through time and space". [6] [4] The film's writer/producer/director Christopher Nolan said Scott's contribution to the long delayed film was "the final piece of a yearlong puzzle". Nolan praised Scott's vision:

"His insights into the musical and narrative mechanism [composer] Ludwig Göransson and I were building were immediate, insightful, and profound". [4]

Cover art

The cover art consists of a "moody" image of Tenet's lead actor John David Washington, floating in red space with the title of the film and the song inscribed in the right corner. [4]

Charts

Chart (2020)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [7] 62
Portugal (AFP) [8] 78
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) [9] 3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [10] 98
UK Singles (OCC) [11] 93
US Billboard Hot 100 [12] 74
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [13] 28
US Rolling Stone Top 100 [14] 43

Related Research Articles

"It's a Great Day to Be Alive" is a song written by Darrell Scott and included on his 1997 album Aloha from Nashville. The song was later made popular by Travis Tritt, whose version, released in December 2000 as the second single from his album Down the Road I Go, peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and at number 33 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludwig Göransson</span> Swedish composer (born 1984)

Ludwig Emil Tomas Göransson is a Swedish musician, composer, conductor, songwriter, and record producer. His accolades include two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Awards, four Grammy Awards and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travis Scott discography</span>

The discography of American rapper and singer Travis Scott consists of four studio albums, one compilation album, one collaborative album, two mixtapes, three collaborative mixtapes, two collaborative EPs and 56 singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goosebumps (Travis Scott song)</span> 2016 single by Travis Scott featuring Kendrick Lamar

"Goosebumps" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott featuring fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was sent to rhythmic radio on December 13, 2016, by Grand Hustle Records and Epic Records as the third single from Scott's second studio album, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight.

"Yosemite" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott. The song features appearances from fellow American rapper Gunna and Canadian rapper Nav. It originally was released on August 3, 2018 as a track from from Scott's third studio album Astroworld, before being sent to rhythmic contemporary radio as the third single on November 20, 2018. The artists wrote the song alongside producers June James, Turbo, and Ramy.

<i>Astroworld</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Travis Scott

Astroworld is the third studio album by American rapper Travis Scott. It was released on August 3, 2018, through Cactus Jack Records and Grand Hustle Records, and distributed by Epic Records. The album features guest vocals from Frank Ocean, Drake, Swae Lee, Kid Cudi, James Blake, Philip Bailey, Juice Wrld, Sheck Wes, the Weeknd, 21 Savage, Gunna, Nav, Don Toliver, Quavo, and Takeoff, among others. Production was handled by multiple producers, including Scott himself, Mike Dean, Allen Ritter, Hit-Boy, WondaGurl, Tay Keith, Tame Impala, Frank Dukes, Sonny Digital, Murda Beatz, and Thundercat, among others. The album follows Scott's second studio album, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (2016), and his collaborative album with Quavo, Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sicko Mode</span> 2018 single by Travis Scott featuring Drake

"Sicko Mode" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott featuring Canadian rapper Drake, with additional vocals from fellow American rappers Swae Lee and the late Big Hawk. It was originally released by Epic Records on August 3, 2018, as the third track from Astroworld (2018), before being released as the second single on August 21.

Brytavious Lakeith Chambers, known professionally as Tay Keith, is an American record producer. He is best known for co-producing Travis Scott's 2018 single "Sicko Mode", which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100, as well as Drake's "Nonstop", BlocBoy JB's "Look Alive", and Eminem’s "Not Alike" which peaked at numbers two, five, and 24 on the chart, respectively. His 2023 single, "Pound Town" marked his first entry on the chart as a lead artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cactus Jack Records</span> American record label

Cactus Jack Records is a record label founded by American rapper and singer Travis Scott in 2017. As of 2024, current acts include Scott himself, SoFaygo, Sheck Wes, Don Toliver, and Chase B, Luxury Tax 50 while former acts include Smokepurpp.

<i>Tenet</i> (film) 2020 film by Christopher Nolan

Tenet is a 2020 science fiction action thriller film written and directed by Christopher Nolan, who also produced it with his wife Emma Thomas. It stars John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Dimple Kapadia, Michael Caine, and Kenneth Branagh. The film follows a former CIA agent who is recruited into a secret organization, tasked with tracing the origin of objects that are traveling backward through time and their connection to an attack from the future to the present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The London</span> 2019 single by Young Thug featuring J. Cole and Travis Scott

"The London" is a song by American rapper Young Thug featuring American rappers J. Cole and Travis Scott. It was released on May 23, 2019, by Atlantic Records and 300 Entertainment as the lead single from Young Thug's debut studio album So Much Fun on May 23, 2019. Written alongside Babyface and producer T-Minus, it was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 62nd Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highest in the Room</span> 2019 single by Travis Scott

"Highest in the Room" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott. It was released as a single on October 4, 2019. It was released in a variety of formats, including on 7-inch vinyl, cassette and as a CD single. In its first week, it debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, for the chart dated October 19, 2019, becoming Scott's second US number-one single, following "Sicko Mode". A remix featuring Spanish singer Rosalía and American rapper Lil Baby was released on December 27, 2019, and featured on Scott and other Cactus Jack members' compilation album JackBoys (2019) on the same day, while the original release remains off the compilation. The remix version was released to Italian contemporary hit radio on January 7, 2020. The song received a nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot (Young Thug song)</span> 2019 single by Young Thug featuring Gunna

"Hot" is a song by American rapper Young Thug featuring labelmate and fellow American rapper Gunna. It was produced by Wheezy and sent to rhythmic and Urban radio on September 23, 2019. It originally charted in several countries as an album track upon the release of So Much Fun in August 2019, before being released in a remix with an additional feature from fellow American rapper Travis Scott, a frequent collaborator of both, on October 31, 2019, and reaching a new peak of number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

"Take What You Want" is a song by American rapper Post Malone featuring British singer Ozzy Osbourne and fellow American rapper Travis Scott. Written alongside Billy Walsh and producers Louis Bell & Andrew Watt, the song appears on the former's third studio album, Hollywood's Bleeding (2019), later appearing as a bonus track on Osbourne's twelfth studio album Ordinary Man (2020). The song was serviced to US contemporary hit radio on October 15, 2019, as the sixth single from the aforementioned album.

"Time" is a song by American singer Donald Glover, under the stage name Childish Gambino, from his fourth studio album 3.15.20 (2020). It was re-recorded and rereleased on the album Atavista (2024). The song features guest vocals by fellow American singer Ariana Grande and background vocals by American gospel musician Brent Jones and his backing group The Best Life Singers. It was produced and written by Glover and Grande, along with DJ Dahi, Ludwig Göransson, and Chukwudi Hodge. Australian songwriter Sarah Aarons is also credited for writing and British producer Jai Paul provided miscellaneous production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wash Us in the Blood</span> 2020 single by Kanye West featuring Travis Scott

"Wash Us in the Blood" is a song by American rapper Kanye West featuring fellow American rapper Travis Scott. It was produced by West, Ronny J, and BoogzDaBeast, while co-produced by FnZ and A.G., with additional production from Dem Jointz and Israel Boyd. The producers wrote the song alongside Travis Scott, Aaron Butts and KayCyy Pluto. The song was released for digital download and streaming as a standalone single on June 30, 2020, through GOOD Music and Def Jam. Will Welch teased the song during an interview with West in April 2020.

<i>Tenet</i> (soundtrack) 2020 soundtrack album by Ludwig Göransson

Tenet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack album to the 2020 film of the same name written and directed by Christopher Nolan, released under WaterTower Music on September 2, 2020. Ludwig Göransson created and composed the score for the film, marking his first collaboration with Nolan. Nolan had originally wanted frequent collaborator Hans Zimmer to compose the score but Zimmer had to decline due to his commitments to Dune, which was also produced by Warner Bros. Pictures. On February 3, 2021, the score was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for the 78th Golden Globe Awards. The soundtrack also contains the song "The Plan" by American rapper Travis Scott, which was produced by Göransson and WondaGurl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franchise (song)</span> 2020 single by Travis Scott featuring Young Thug and M.I.A.

"Franchise" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott featuring fellow American rapper Young Thug and British rapper M.I.A. Originally titled "White Tee", the song interpolates Dem Franchize Boyz's song of the same name. The bass-heavy track finds the rappers boasting about their commercial successes. The song was released on September 25, 2020, alongside a video shot partly in England and at Michael Jordan's Chicago mansion. The video won the 2021 MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip Hop Video.

"Mafia" is a song by American rapper and singer Travis Scott. It was released on November 5, 2021, concurrently with another single, "Escape Plan", which are both a part of a conjoined single titled Escape Plan / Mafia. The song was written by Travis Scott alongside producers Boi-1da and Jahaan Sweet; with additional writing credits going to J. Cole, who provides additional vocals throughout the song.

"Niagara Falls " is a song by American record producer Metro Boomin, American rapper Travis Scott, and British-American rapper 21 Savage, from Metro's second studio album Heroes & Villains (2022). It was written by the artists alongside Allen Ritter, My Best Friend Jacob, and Peter Lee Johnson, the latter three producing it with Metro.

References

  1. Langford, Jackson (August 19, 2020). "Travis Scott officially announces new single 'The Plan' for Christopher Nolan's 'Tenet'". NME . Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  2. Ruiz, Derrick (August 19, 2020). "Travis Scott's "The Plan" Drops This Week". Modern Society. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Travis Scott Announces 'Tenet' Single 'The Plan'". Rap-Up . August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Kaufman, Gil (August 21, 2020). "Travis Scott Is Ready to Melt Your Brain With His 'Tenet' Theme Song: Here's When You Can Hear It". Billboard . Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  5. Collis, Clark. "Time for Tenet - Behind the scenes of Christopher Nolan's top-secret movie". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  6. Kennedy, Gerrick D. (August 18, 2020). "How Travis Scott Defied the Rules of Celebrity to Become King of the Youth". GQ . Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  7. "Travis Scott Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  8. "Travis Scott – The Plan". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  9. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 36, 2020" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  10. "Travis Scott – The Plan". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  12. "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  13. "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  14. "Top 100 Songs, August 21, 2020 - August 27, 2020". Rolling Stone . Retrieved August 31, 2020.