"Wicked Games" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by the Weeknd | ||||
from the album House of Balloons and Trilogy | ||||
Released | September 25, 2012 | |||
Recorded | Site Sound Studios, Toronto | |||
Genre | Alternative R&B | |||
Length |
| |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | ||||
The Weeknd singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Wicked Games" on YouTube |
"Wicked Games" is the debut single by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, and serves as the fifth track from his debut mixtape, House of Balloons (2011). It was written by the Weeknd, Doc McKinney, and Illangelo with the latter two producing. The song was remastered and released as the lead single from his 2012 compilation album, Trilogy , on October 22, 2012, through XO and Republic Records. It was met with universal acclaim by music critics.[ citation needed ]
The audio for the original version of "Wicked Games" was released on the Weeknd's YouTube on March 5, 2011. [1] In 2012, its House of Balloons version would be promoted as the lead single from the mixtape, being sent to rhythmic contemporary radio stations on September 25, 2012. [2] The song's remastered version was officially released through streaming services on October 22, 2012, as the lead single from his compilation album, Trilogy (2012).
The music video for "Wicked Games" premiered on October 18, 2012, on the Weeknd's YouTube account on Vevo. The video starts off with a young woman dancing seductively in a coat with no clothes underneath, before the camera pans to The Weeknd, who is shown singing expressively. Since its release, the music video has received over 200 million views on YouTube.
"Wicked Games" became the Weeknd's first solo single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 53, and remaining on the chart for 20 weeks. [3] It was later certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on January 30, 2019, for selling three million units in the United States. [4]
Credits adapted from liner notes for Trilogy . [5]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [17] | 2× Platinum | 140,000‡ |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [18] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [19] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [20] | Gold | 30,000^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [21] | Gold | 5,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [22] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [23] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Country | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
United States [2] | September 25, 2012 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | Republic |
Canada [24] | October 22, 2012 | Digital download | |
United States [25] | |||
United Kingdom [26] | November 1, 2012 | Universal |
House of Balloons is the debut mixtape by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on March 21, 2011, by the artist's own record label XO. The mixtape was released for free on the Weeknd's website and was the subject of increased media discussion upon the use of its songs on television, as well as the then-anonymous identity of the individual behind the Weeknd. House of Balloons was entirely recorded in Toronto, with production handled primarily by the Weeknd, Doc McKinney, and Illangelo, alongside additional contributions from Cirkut, Jeremy Rose and Rainer. Its title is derived from the nickname the singer gave to his former home in Parkdale, Toronto.
The discography of Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd consists of five studio albums, nine extended plays, three mixtapes, four compilation albums 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 126 million certified digital single units in the US, based on sales and on-demand streaming, as of August 2024.
"Make Me Proud" is a song by Canadian recording artist Drake, released as the third single from his second studio album, Take Care, featuring Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj. It was released as a digital download on October 16, 2011 and impacted rhythmic radio on October 25, 2011 in the U.S.
"Crew Love" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake featuring Canadian singer the Weeknd from Drake's second studio album, Take Care (2011). It was originally set to be on the Weeknd's debut mixtape. "Crew Love" was released as the album's seventh single in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2012.
"Remember You" is a song by American rapper Wiz Khalifa featuring Canadian singer the Weeknd, released as the second single from the former's fourth studio album, O.N.I.F.C.. Produced by Dpat and Illangelo, the song samples "Tell Me Do U Wanna" by Ginuwine. It was released on September 24, 2012, by Atlantic's YouTube channel.
Trilogy is the first compilation album and major label debut by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on November 13, 2012, through XO and Republic Records. It is composed of remixed and remastered versions of the songs contained in his 2011 mixtapes House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence, and three previously unreleased songs, "Twenty Eight", "Valerie", and "Till Dawn " were included as bonus tracks.
"Twenty Eight" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, featured as a bonus track on the version of his debut mixtape House of Balloons (2011). It was released as the album's second single on November 13, 2012, by XO and Republic Records. The song only appears on the reissue of the mixtape that is included with his 2012 compilation album, Trilogy. The song was recorded at Site Sound Studios and mixed at Liberty Studios in Toronto. Producers Doc McKinney and Illangelo co-wrote the song and performed all instrumentation.
"The Zone" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd featuring the Canadian rapper Drake, and serves as the fourth track from the Weeknd's second mixtape Thursday (2011). In 2012, the song was remastered and released as the third single from his compilation album Trilogy on November 16, 2012, through XO and Republic Records. The song was the first collaboration between the two artists.
"Earned It", alternatively titled "Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)", is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. The song was released as the lead single from the soundtrack to the 2015 film Fifty Shades of Grey and was included on the Weeknd's second studio album Beauty Behind the Madness (2015).
"The Hills" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on May 27, 2015, as the second single from his second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). The song was written by the Weeknd alongside producers Emmanuel "Mano" Nickerson and Illangelo, with Belly receiving additional writing credits.
"Often" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on July 31, 2014, as the lead single from his second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). The song contains a sample from "Ben Sana Vurgunum" by Turkish singer Nükhet Duru.
"Acquainted" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). It was sent to urban contemporary stations on November 17, 2015, by XO and Republic Records, serving as the album's fifth single. He wrote and produced the song with DaHeala, DannyBoyStyles, Illangelo, and Ben Billions.
"Prisoner" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, featuring American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey, from the former's second studio album Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). They co-wrote the song with Illangelo, who co-produced it with the Weeknd. It is the first of the four collaborations between the two artists, being followed by "Party Monster", from the Weeknd's third studio album Starboy (2016).
"Might Not" is a song by the Palestinian-Canadian rapper Belly featuring the Canadian singer the Weeknd. The song was released on 18 December 2015, through Roc Nation and XO as the only single from the former's mixtape Up For Days. Produced by Ben Billions, it reached number 68 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The official remix features new material from American rappers 2 Chainz and Yo Gotti.
"Tell Your Friends" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his second studio album Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). The Weeknd co-wrote the song with Kanye West, Christopher Pope, Carlo Montagnese, Carl Marshall and Robert Holmes, and co-produced it with Pope, West, Omar Riad, Illangelo, Mike Dean and Noah Goldstein. The track samples the song "Can't Stop Loving You" by Soul Dog. A live remix of the song with American rapper Nas was performed at the 2016 Met Gala Ball.
"The Morning" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd which serves as the fourth track from his debut mixtape, House of Balloons (2011). It was written by the Weeknd alongside its producers, Doc McKinney and Illangelo. In 2012, the song was remastered and released on the Weeknd's compilation album, Trilogy (2012).
"High for This" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, and serves as the opening track of his debut mixtape, House of Balloons (2011). It was written by the Weeknd with producers Adrien Gough and Cirkut. The track was later remastered and commercially released on the Weeknd's compilation album, Trilogy (2012).
"Heartless" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on November 27, 2019, through XO and Republic Records as the lead single from his fourth studio album, After Hours (2020). The Weeknd wrote and produced the song alongside Metro Boomin, Illangelo, and Dre Moon. The song combines R&B and trap with elements of electroclash.
"After Hours" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his fourth studio album of the same name. Originally released as a promotional single from the album on February 19, 2020, it was sent to US rhythmic radio through XO and Republic Records as its third single six days later. The Weeknd wrote and produced the song with Illangelo, DaHeala and Mario Winans, with Belly receiving additional writing credits.
"Too Late" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his fourth studio album After Hours (2020). It was released on March 20, 2020, alongside the rest of its parent album. A music video for the song was released on October 22, 2020. The Weeknd co-wrote the song with its producers, Illangelo, DaHeala, and Ricky Reed, with additional production credits going to Nate Mercereau.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)