Die for You (song)
"Die for You" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his third studio album Starboy (2016). The song was written by the Weeknd, Doc McKinney, Prince 85, Dylan Wiggins, Magnus Høiberg and William Thomas Walsh, and produced by the singer-songwriter alongside McKinney, Cirkut, Cashmere Cat and Prince 85. It was one of the tracks of Starboy to be featured in the short film Mania.[2][3] It received early airplay from urban and urban AC radio in August 2017,[4] and was sent rhythmic contemporary radio on September 19 as the album's fifth single in the United States.[5][6] The song was also scheduled to be sent to US contemporary hit radio on December 5, however its release to the format in the country was cancelled for unknown reasons.[7]
| "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 | R&B | |||
| Length | 4:20 | |||
| 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 | ||||
Background and release
In an interview on Beats 1 Radio with Zane Lowe, the Weeknd revealed that the song was finished a week before Starboy's release.[8] Due to the song's lyrical content, which details the conflicting feelings of ending a relationship with someone he still loves, it was the hardest song to finish from the album.[9]
The song was later serviced to rhythmic radio September 19, 2017 in the US as the sixth overall single from Starboy. After a resurgence in popularity thanks to TikTok in September 2021, it's official music video was released on November 25, 2021, along with a standalone digital release on Apple Music with its own artwork.[10]
Music and composition
"Die for You" is an R&B track. It was written in the key of C♯ minor with a tempo of 67 beats per minute.[11][12]
Commercial performance
In the United States, "Die for You" peaked at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number 19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In Canada, the song peaked at number 35 on the Canadian Hot 100.[13]
Use in media
"Die for You" was featured in the second season of the HBO comedy-drama television series Insecure.[14][15] Due to its appearance in the show, the song lead the THR's Top TV Songs Chart in August 2017.[16]
Remix
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.[17][18]
Music video
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.[19] The video pays homage to the science fiction horror television series Stranger Things and the 1982 science fiction film E.T. the Extra-Terrestial.[20]
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[36] | 2× Platinum | 160,000 |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[37] | Gold | 45,000 |
| Portugal (AFP)[38] | Gold | 5,000 |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[39] | Silver | 200,000 |
| United States (RIAA)[40] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000 |
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Release history
| Release date | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Date | Format | Label(s) | Ref. |
| United States | September 19, 2017 | Rhythmic contemporary | [5] | |
| Canceled release date | ||||
| Region | Date | Format | Label(s) | Ref. |
| United States | December 5, 2017 | Contemporary hit radio | [7] | |
References
- Starboy Credits (PDF). 23 November 2016.
- ""MANIA" - The Weeknd [YouTube Short Film / Music Video] - Zumic - Music Streaming, Lyrics, Tour Dates, and More". Zumic.com. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- "The Weeknd Drops 'Starboy' After Epic Preview Film 'Mania'". Contactmusic.com. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- "Jhene Aiko and Justine Skye head to Urban Radio". Rateddrnb.com. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- "Top 40-Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017.
- "The Weeknd Picks 'Die For You' As Next Single From 'Starboy'". Hiphopnmore. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates". All Access. 23 October 2017. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- "The Weeknd Zane Lowe Interview (Part 3).TALKS ABOUT HAIR, HATING Coachella,STARBOY". YouTube. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- "New Video: The Weeknd - 'Die For You' - That Grape Juice". thatgrapejuice.net. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- "Die For You - Single by The Weeknd". 19 September 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2021 – via music.apple.com.
- "BPM for Die For You (The Weeknd)". Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via getsongbpm.com.
- "Key, BPM of Die For You By The Weeknd | Musicstax". musicstax.com. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- "The Weeknd Charts Entire 'Starboy' Album on Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- "Insecure Soundtrack – S2 · E4 · Hella La". Tunefind.com. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- "All The Details on The Weeknd's Harper's Bazaar Icons Party Performance". Billboard.com. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- "The Weeknd's 'Die For You' Leads THR's Top TV Songs Chart For August". Billboard.com. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- "The Weeknd révèle que son nouvel album est « achevé »". Afrik.com (in French). 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- "The Weeknd revela previsão de lançamento e parceria em novo álbum" (in Portuguese). 5 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- "The Weeknd Releases Surprise Video for 2016 Single 'Die For You', Launches 'STARBOY' Anniversary Collect". HipHop-N-More. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- "The Weeknd pays homage to 'E.T.' and 'Stranger Things' in new video for 'Starboy' track, 'Die For You'". NME. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- "The Weeknd Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
- "The Weeknd Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
- "The Weeknd Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
- "The Weeknd – Die For You" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- "Chart Track: Week 48, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- "The Weeknd – Die For You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- "The Weeknd – Die For You". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- "The Weeknd: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
- "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
- "The Weeknd Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- "Hot R&B Singles: Year-End 2017". Billboard. Billboard.com. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- "Hot R&B Singles: Year-End 2018". Billboard. Billboard.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – Die for You". Music Canada. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
- "Danish single certifications – The Weeknd – Die for You". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- "Portuguese single certifications – The Weeknd – Die for You" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- "British single certifications – The Weeknd – Die for You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- "American single certifications – The Weeknd – Die for You". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
