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{{Short description|2012 single by the Weeknd}}
{{Infobox single
{{About|the song by the Weeknd|the Chris Isaak song|Wicked Game|other uses|Wicked Game (disambiguation)}}
| Name = Wicked Games
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
| Cover = The Weeknd - Wicked Games.jpg
{{Infobox song
| Border = yes
| Type = [[Single]]
| name = Wicked Games
| Artist = [[The Weeknd]]
| cover = The Weeknd - Wicked Games.jpg
| alt =
| from Album = [[Trilogy (The Weeknd album)|Trilogy]]
| Released = October 22, 2012
| border = yes
| Format = [[Music download|Digital download]]
| type = single
| Recorded = Site Sound Studios, Toronto
| artist = [[the Weeknd]]
| album = [[House of Balloons]] {{noitalic|and}} [[Trilogy (The Weeknd album)|Trilogy]]
| Genre = [[PBR&B]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Goodspeed|first=Lily|date=October 21, 2012|url=http://blogdailyherald.com/2012/10/21/blogdailyjamz-week-of-october-22/|title=BlogWeeklyJamz: “My pep talk turn into a pep rally”|work=[[The Brown Daily Herald]]|accessdate=November 16, 2012}}</ref>
| released = September 25, 2012
| Length = 4:41 <small>(radio edit)</small><br />5:24 <small>(album version)</small>
| recorded = Site Sound Studios, Toronto
| Label = [[Republic Records|Republic]]
| studio =
| Writer = [[The Weeknd|Abel Tesfaye]], Doc McKinney, Carlo Montagnese, R. Millar Blancheur
| venue =
| Producer = [[Doc McKinney]], [[Illangelo]]
| Chronology = [[The Weeknd]] singles
| genre = [[Alternative R&B]]
| length = {{plainlist|
| Last single = "[[Remember You]]"<br />(2012)
* 4:41 (single edit)
| This single = "'''Wicked Games'''"<br />(2012)
* 5:24 (album version)
| Next single = "[[Kiss Land (song)|Kiss Land]]"<br />(2013)
}}
}}
| label = {{flatlist|
* [[XO (record label)|XO]]
* [[Republic Records|Republic]]
}}
| writer = {{flatlist|
* [[The Weeknd|Abel Tesfaye]]
* Doc McKinney
* Carlo Montagnese
* R. Millar Blancheur
* C. Ray Garza
}}
| producer = {{flatlist|
* [[Doc McKinney]]
* [[Illangelo]]
}}
| prev_title = [[Remember You (song)|Remember You]]
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = [[Twenty Eight (song)|Twenty Eight]]
| next_year = 2012
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|O1OTWCd40bc|"Wicked Games"}}}}
}}
"'''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 [[remaster]]ed and released as the [[lead single]] from his 2012 compilation album, ''[[Trilogy (The Weeknd album)|Trilogy]]'', on October 22, 2012, through [[XO (record label)|XO]] and [[Republic Records]]. It was met with universal acclaim by music critics.{{cn|date=August 2024}}


==Background and release==
"'''Wicked Games'''" is a song by Canadian recording artist [[The Weeknd]]. It was recorded at Site Sound Studios and [[audio mixing (recorded music)|mixed]] at Liberty Studios in Toronto.<ref name="liner"/> Producers [[Doc McKinney]] and [[Illangelo]] co-wrote the song and performed all instrumentation.<ref name="liner"/>
The audio for the original version of "Wicked Games" was released on the Weeknd's YouTube on March 5, 2011.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/o9PuAm7d0PA?si=UEGx8_9lHpFrsiCQ|title=The Weeknd - Wicked Games|date=March 5, 2011|access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref name="airplayus"/> The song's remastered version was officially released through streaming services on October 22, 2012, as the lead single from his compilation album, ''[[Trilogy (The Weeknd album)|Trilogy]]'' (2012).


==Critical reception==
Originally recorded for The Weeknd's 2011 mixtape ''[[House of Balloons]]'', the song was [[remaster|remastered]] and released as the [[lead single]] for his 2012 album ''[[Trilogy (The Weeknd album)|Trilogy]]''. It was released as a [[music download|digital single]] on October 22, 2012, by [[Republic Records]].<ref name="digital">{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8852102|title=Weeknd - Wicked Games (Explicit Version) MP3 Download|publisher=[[CD Universe]]|accessdate=November 17, 2012}}</ref>
''[[Rolling Stone]]'' listed "Wicked Games" as the 42nd best R&B song of the 21st century.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-rnb-songs-21st-century-1234878625/the-weeknd-wicked-games-1234878915/| title=The 100 Greatest R&B Songs of the 21st Century | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=3 January 2024 }}</ref>


== Track listing ==
==Music video==
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]].
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download<ref name="digital"/>
| writing_credits = yes
| extra_column = Producer(s)


==Commercial performance==
| title1 = Wicked Games
"Wicked Games" became the Weeknd's first solo single to chart on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], peaking at number 53, and remaining on the chart for 20 weeks.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-weeknd/|title=The Weeknd <nowiki>|</nowiki> Biography, Music & News|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22The+Weeknd%22 |title=Gold & Platinum: The Weeknd |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |access-date=April 8, 2013 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924145341/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22The+Weeknd%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| writer1 = [[The Weeknd|Abel Tesfaye]], Doc McKinney, Carlo Montagnese, R. Millar Blancheur
| extra1 = [[Doc McKinney]], [[Illangelo]]
| length1 = 5:26
}}


==Personnel==
{{Track listing
Credits adapted from liner notes for ''[[Trilogy (The Weeknd album)|Trilogy]]''.<ref name="liner">{{cite AV media notes |title=[[Trilogy (The Weeknd album)|Trilogy]] |others=[[The Weeknd]] |year=2012 |type=CD liner |publisher=[[Republic Records]] |id=3719793}}</ref>
| headline = Promotional single<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Weeknd&titel=Wicked+Games&cat=s|title=The Weeknd - Wicked Games|work=[[Ultratop|ultratop.be]]|publisher=Hung Medien|accessdate=November 17, 2012}}</ref>
| title1 = Wicked Games
| note1 = Radio Edit with Intro
| length1 = 4:41
| title2 = Wicked Games
| note2 = Radio Edit
| length2 = 4:32
| title3 = Wicked Games
| note3 = Explicit Radio Edit
| length3 = 4:41
}}

== Personnel ==
Credits adapted from liner notes for ''[[Trilogy (The Weeknd album)|Trilogy]]''.<ref name="liner">{{cite album-notes|title=[[Trilogy (The Weeknd album)|Trilogy]]|artist=[[The Weeknd]]|year=2012|type=CD liner|publisher=[[Republic Records]]|publisherid=3719793}}</ref>


* [[The Weeknd]] – composer, primary artist
* [[The Weeknd]] – composer, primary artist
* [[Doc McKinney]] – composer, instrumentation, producer
* [[Doc McKinney]] – composer, instrumentation, producer
* [[Illangelo]] – composer, instrumentation, mixing, producer
* [[Illangelo]] – composer, instrumentation, mixing, producer
* R. Millar Blancheur – composer
* Rainer Millar Blanchaer – composer


==Charts==
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Wicked Games"
! scope="col"| Chart (2012–2013)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
|-
{{single chart|Flanders Tip|83|artist=The Weeknd|song=Wicked Games|access-date=August 21, 2014|rowheader=true|refname="BEL (FL)"}}
! Chart (2012–13)
! Peak<br />position
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Flanders Tip|83|artist=The Weeknd|song=Wicked Games}}
{{single chart|Flanders Urban|46|artist=The Weeknd|song=Wicked Games|access-date=August 21, 2014|rowheader=true|refname="BEL (FL) 2"}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Canada|43|artist=The Weeknd|artistid=1672012}}
{{single chart|Canada|43|artist=The Weeknd|access-date=August 21, 2014|rowheader=true}}
|-
|-
{{single chart|Billboardcanadachrtop40|21|artist=The Weeknd|access-date=August 16, 2019|rowheader=true}}
{{singlechart|UKrandb|18|date=December 08, 2012|accessdate=2012-12-08}}
|-
|-
! scope="row"| UK Singles ([[UK Singles Chart|Official Charts Company]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK2012.HTM |title=Chart Log UK – 2012 + Weekly Updates + Sales 2012 |publisher=Zobbel.de |access-date=April 8, 2013 |author=Zywietz, Tobias |archive-date=April 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410072122/http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK2012.HTM |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|53|artist=The Weeknd|artistid=1672012}}
| 152
|-
|-
{{single chart|UKrandb|18|date=20121208|access-date=December 8, 2012|rowheader=true}}
{{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|13|artist=The Weeknd|artistid=1672012}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|53|artist=The Weeknd|access-date=August 21, 2014|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|13|artist=The Weeknd|access-date=August 21, 2014|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphopairplay|8|artist=The Weeknd|rowheader=true|access-date=April 8, 2022}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|10|artist=The Weeknd|access-date=August 21, 2014|rowheader=true}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "Wicked Games"
! scope="col"| Chart (2013)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-r-b-hip-hop-songs?page=4 |title=2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-date=October 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003052703/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-r-b-hip-hop-songs?page=4 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| 47
|}
|}
{{col-end}}


== Certifications ==
== Certifications ==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Wicked Games|artist=The Weeknd|type=single|award=Gold|certyear=2012|certref=<ref name="RIAA"/>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|access-date=February 7, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=The Weeknd|title=Wicked Games|award=Platinum|type=single|certyear=2024|relyear=2012|access-date=March 22, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Canada|artist=The Weeknd|title=Wicked Games|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2019|relyear=2012|access-date=February 4, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|certyear=2016|certmonth=3|relyear=2012|relmonth=9|artist=The Weeknd|title=Wicked Games|award=Gold|type=single|id=4888| access-date=December 13, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=The Weeknd|title=Wicked Games|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2012|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=December 23, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|certyear=2015|relyear=2012|artist=The Weeknd|title=Wicked Games|award=Gold|type=single|refname="The Weeknd - Wicked Games"| access-date=September 23, 2015}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Gold|artist=The Weeknd|title=Wicked Games|access-date=October 29, 2022|certyear=2022|relyear=2012|id=13448-4005-1}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=The Weeknd|title=Wicked Games|access-date=February 6, 2019|certyear=2019|relyear=2012|number=3}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=yes}}

==Release history==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! Country
! Date
! Format
! Label
|-
! scope="row"| United States<ref name=airplayus>{{cite web |url=http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=74389 |title=Rhythm – Available For Airplay |work=[[FMQB]] |access-date=August 21, 2014 |archive-date=August 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827120323/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=74389 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| September 25, 2012
| [[Rhythmic contemporary]] radio
| rowspan="3"| [[Republic Records|Republic]]
|-
! scope="row"| Canada<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ca.7digital.com/artist/the-weeknd/release/wicked-games |title=Wicked Games (Explicit Version) by The Weeknd |publisher=[[7digital]] |location=Canada |access-date=August 21, 2014 |archive-date=August 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821204950/http://ca.7digital.com/artist/the-weeknd/release/wicked-games |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| rowspan="2"| October 22, 2012
| rowspan="3"| [[Music download|Digital download]]
|-
! scope="row"| United States<ref>{{cite web |url=http://us.7digital.com/artist/the-weeknd/release/wicked-games |title=Wicked Games (Explicit Version) by The Weeknd |publisher=[[7digital]] |location=United States |access-date=August 21, 2014 |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407073929/http://us.7digital.com/artist/the-weeknd/release/wicked-games |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| United Kingdom<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.7digital.com/artist/the-weeknd/release/wicked-games-1 |title=Wicked Games (Explicit Version) by The Weeknd |publisher=[[7digital]] |location=United Kingdom |access-date=August 21, 2014 |archive-date=August 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817220259/http://www.7digital.com/artist/the-weeknd/release/wicked-games-1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| November 1, 2012
| [[Universal Music Group|Universal]]
|}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{YouTube|o9PuAm7d0PA|Wicked Games (Audio)}}


{{The Weeknd}}
{{The Weeknd songs}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:2012 singles]]
[[Category:2011 songs]]
[[Category:2012 debut singles]]
[[Category:The Weeknd songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by the Weeknd]]
[[Category:Songs written by Illangelo]]
[[Category:Songs written by Doc McKinney]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Illangelo]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Doc McKinney]]
[[Category:Republic Records singles]]
[[Category:XO (record label) singles]]
[[Category:Black-and-white music videos]]
[[Category:Songs about drugs]]
[[Category:Quiet storm songs]]

Latest revision as of 18:16, 23 December 2024

"Wicked Games"
Single by the Weeknd
from the album House of Balloons and Trilogy
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2012
RecordedSite Sound Studios, Toronto
GenreAlternative R&B
Length
  • 4:41 (single edit)
  • 5:24 (album version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Abel Tesfaye
  • Doc McKinney
  • Carlo Montagnese
  • R. Millar Blancheur
  • C. Ray Garza
Producer(s)
The Weeknd singles chronology
"Remember You"
(2012)
"Wicked Games"
(2012)
"Twenty Eight"
(2012)
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]

Background and release

[edit]

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).

Critical reception

[edit]

Rolling Stone listed "Wicked Games" as the 42nd best R&B song of the 21st century.[3]

Music video

[edit]

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.

Commercial performance

[edit]

"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.[4] 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.[5]

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from liner notes for Trilogy.[6]

  • The Weeknd – composer, primary artist
  • Doc McKinney – composer, instrumentation, producer
  • Illangelo – composer, instrumentation, mixing, producer
  • Rainer Millar Blanchaer – composer

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[18] 2× Platinum 140,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[19] Platinum 60,000
Canada (Music Canada)[20] 2× Platinum 160,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[21] Gold 30,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[22] Platinum 30,000
Norway (IFPI Norway)[23] Gold 5,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Gold 400,000
United States (RIAA)[25] 3× Platinum 3,000,000

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Country Date Format Label
United States[2] September 25, 2012 Rhythmic contemporary radio Republic
Canada[26] October 22, 2012 Digital download
United States[27]
United Kingdom[28] November 1, 2012 Universal

References

[edit]
  1. ^ The Weeknd - Wicked Games. March 5, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Rhythm – Available For Airplay". FMQB. Archived from the original on August 27, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  3. ^ "The 100 Greatest R&B Songs of the 21st Century". Rolling Stone. January 3, 2024.
  4. ^ "The Weeknd | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  5. ^ "Gold & Platinum: The Weeknd". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  6. ^ Trilogy (CD liner). The Weeknd. Republic Records. 2012. 3719793.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ "The Weeknd – Wicked Games" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  8. ^ "The Weeknd – Wicked Games" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  9. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  10. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  11. ^ Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK – 2012 + Weekly Updates + Sales 2012". Zobbel.de. Archived from the original on April 10, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  12. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  13. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  14. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  15. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  16. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  17. ^ "2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  18. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  19. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – The Weeknd – Wicked Games" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  20. ^ "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – Wicked Games". Music Canada. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  21. ^ "Danish single certifications – The Weeknd – Wicked Games". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  22. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – The Weeknd – Wicked Games". Radioscope. Retrieved December 23, 2024. Type Wicked Games in the "Search:" field.
  23. ^ "Norwegian single certifications – The Weeknd – Wicked Games" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  24. ^ "British single certifications – The Weeknd – Wicked Games". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  25. ^ "American single certifications – The Weeknd – Wicked Games". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  26. ^ "Wicked Games (Explicit Version) by The Weeknd". Canada: 7digital. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  27. ^ "Wicked Games (Explicit Version) by The Weeknd". United States: 7digital. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  28. ^ "Wicked Games (Explicit Version) by The Weeknd". United Kingdom: 7digital. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
[edit]