Pray for Me (song) explained

Pray for Me
Cover:Pray for Me by The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar single cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:the Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar
Genre:Pop rap[1]
Length:3:31
Chronology:The Weeknd
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Prev Year:2017
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Next Year:2018

"Pray for Me" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd and the American rapper Kendrick Lamar from the soundtrack album of the Marvel Studios superhero film Black Panther. The song was released by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records on February 2, 2018, as the album's third and final single. It serves as the second overall collaboration between the two artists.[2] The song appears in the movie during the scene where the titular hero along with his allies, Nakia and Okoye, enter a secret casino in Busan.[3]

Background and release

The Weeknd first hinted at his involvement with the Black Panther soundtrack album with an Instagram post that he made on January 19, 2018, which contained an illustration of the Marvel superhero Black Panther perched on a tree in front of the moon.[4] On January 26, 2018, the Weeknd then further hinted at his involvement with the soundtrack when he uploaded an official trailer for the Black Panther film to his Instagram account.[5] Then on January 31, 2018, Lamar confirmed the Weeknd's involvement with the soundtrack when he uploaded to his Twitter account the complete tracklist of the soundtrack, which contained the song "Pray for Me".[6] On February 1, 2018, the Weeknd uploaded to his Twitter account a video teasing the release date for "Pray for Me" as the soundtrack's third single.[7]

Composition

"Pray for Me" is composed in the key of E minor.[8]

Reception

Alex Robert Ross of Noisey praised the song, calling it "short, punchy, and self-lacerating."[9]

Copyright infringement lawsuit

In February 2020, Tesfaye and Lamar were sued by now-split American experimental rock band Yeasayer for alleged plagiarism due to vocal similarities with their 2007 song "Sunrise".[10] According to the lawsuit, the part allegedly stolen from the song includes "the recording of a distinctive choral performance, which Plaintiffs [Yeasayer] created and recorded using their own voices".[11] [12] Furthermore, Yeasayer claims that "Defendants extracted Plaintiffs' choral performance from a recording of 'Sunrise,' slightly modified it, including, on information and belief, via postprocessing to alter its pitch, among other qualities" and then subsequently used the modified audio in their own song. Both Tesfaye and Lamar have denied the accusation. The lawsuit later reached its conclusion in July 2020, after Yeasayer dropped it.[13]

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from digital booklet.[14]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Colombia (National-Report)[15] 63
Ecuador (National-Report)[16] 95
Greece International (IFPI)[17] 3
Lebanon (OLT20)[18] 2
Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[19] 34

Year-end charts

Chart (2018)Position
Australia (ARIA)[20] 71
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[21] 33
Denmark (Tracklisten)[22] 75
Iceland (Plötutíóindi)[23] 16
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[24] 81
Portugal (AFP)[25] 107
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 40
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[27] 24
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[28] 19
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[29] 23
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[30] 8

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel(s)
United StatesFebruary 2, 2018[31]
United KingdomRhythmic contemporary[32]
United StatesFebruary 6, 2018[33]
Contemporary hit radio[34]
United KingdomFebruary 9, 2018[35]
ItalyMarch 2, 2018Universal[36]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "Pray for Me" [ft. The Weeknd] by Kendrick Lamar / The Weeknd Review]. Pitchork. Pearce. Sheldon. February 2, 2018. March 31, 2018.
  2. Web site: Madden. Sidney. Kendrick Lamar produced the soundtrack for Black Panther. npr.org. February 2, 2018. February 2, 2018.
  3. Web site: Modern culture paradoxes can be explained by a popular Friends question. Polygon. Alexander. Julia. March 14, 2018. March 25, 2018.
  4. Web site: Bonomolo. Cameron. Kendrick Lamar produced the soundtrack for Black Panther. ComicBook.com. February 1, 2018. January 22, 2018.
  5. Web site: Marvel Studios' Black Panther - War TV Spot. Instagram. February 1, 2018. January 26, 2018.
  6. Web site: Dumaraog. Ana. Kendrick Lamar Unveils Black Panther Album Tracklist & Cover Art. Screen Rant. February 1, 2018. February 1, 2018.
  7. Web site: Pray For Me. Twitter. February 1, 2018. February 1, 2018.
  8. Web site: The Weeknd "Pray for Me" Sheet Music. Musicnotes. February 7, 2018.
  9. Web site: Ross. Alex Robert. Kendrick Lamar Teams with The Weeknd on "Pray for Me". Noisey. Vice. February 11, 2018. February 2, 2018.
  10. Web site: Berthelot. Théau. "Pray for Me" : Kendrick Lamar et The Weeknd accusés de plagiat. Purebreak Charts. February 27, 2020. February 26, 2020.
  11. Web site: Yeasayer, LLC et al v. Tesfaye et al. Scribd. February 27, 2020.
  12. Web site: Yeasayer Suing Kendrick Lamar and the Weeknd Over Black Panther Song. Minsker. Evan. February 24, 2020. Pitchfork. February 27, 2020.
  13. Web site: Yeasayer's Lawsuit Against The Weeknd Over 'Black Panther' Song "Pray for Me" Has Been Dropped. Complex. July 22, 2020.
  14. Web site: Various Artists – Black Panther: The Album [Booklet]]. Genius. February 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180209182432/https://genius.com/Various-artists-black-panther-the-album-booklet-lyrics. February 9, 2018. dead.
  15. Web site: Top 100 Colombia. es. National-Report. July 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20180402082728/http://www.national-report.com/top-colombia/. April 2, 2018.
  16. Web site: Top 100 Ecuador. es. National-Report. May 8, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180508140710/http://www.national-report.com/top-ecuador/. May 8, 2018.
  17. Web site: Official IFPI Charts - Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week: 06/2018 . February 26, 2023 . ifpi.gr.
  18. Web site: The Official Lebanese Top 20. The Official Lebanese Top 20. April 28, 2018.
  19. The Weeknd Chart History (Mexico Airplay). July 6, 2021. Billboard.
  20. Web site: ARIA End of Year Singles 2018. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 10, 2019.
  21. Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2018. Billboard. January 2, 2013. December 4, 2018.
  22. Web site: Track Top-100 2018. Hitlisten. da. January 16, 2019.
  23. Web site: Tónlistinn – Lög – 2018. The Music – Songs – 2018. is. Plötutíóindi. April 1, 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220329175927/https://plotutidindi.is/arslistar/tonlistinn-log-2018/. March 29, 2022.
  24. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2018 . . January 5, 2019 . nl.
  25. Web site: Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 200 Singles 2018. Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. pt. August 14, 2020.
  26. Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. January 2, 2013. December 4, 2018.
  27. Dance/Mix Show Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. December 16, 2014. August 26, 2021.
  28. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. January 2, 2013. December 4, 2018.
  29. Pop Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. January 2, 2013. December 5, 2018.
  30. Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. December 9, 2014. August 26, 2019.
  31. Web site: Pray for Me. iTunes Store. February 2, 2018.
  32. Web site: BBC – Radio 1Xtra – Playlist. BBC Radio 1. British Broadcasting Corporation. February 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180203174904/http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/playlist. February 3, 2018.
  33. Web site: Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases. All Access. February 3, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180202212916/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases. February 2, 2018.
  34. Web site: Top 40/M Future Releases. All Access. February 6, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180206082712/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases. February 6, 2018.
  35. Web site: BBC – Radio 1 – Playlist. BBC Radio 1. British Broadcasting Corporation. February 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180209144740/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/playlist. February 9, 2018.
  36. Web site: THE WEEKND & KENDRICK LAMAR "Pray for me" - (Radio Date: 02/03/2018). radiodate.it.

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