Wicked Games Explained

Wicked Games
Cover:	The Weeknd - Wicked Games.jpg
Border:	yes
Type:	single
Artist:	the Weeknd
Album:	House of Balloons Trilogy
Released:	September 25, 2012
Recorded:	Site Sound Studios, Toronto
Genre:	Alternative R&B
Length:	4:41 (single edit) 5:24 (album version)
Prev Title:	Remember You
Prev Year:	2012
Next Title:	Twenty Eight
Next Year:	2012

"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.

Background and release

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. 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).

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.

Commercial performance

"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.^[2]

Notes and References

1. The Weeknd - Wicked Games. March 5, 2011. January 26, 2024.
2. Web site: Gold & Platinum: The Weeknd . . April 8, 2013 . September 24, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924145341/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22The+Weeknd%22 . live .
3. . . 2012 . CD liner . . 3719793.
4. Web site: Chart Log UK – 2012 + Weekly Updates + Sales 2012 . Zobbel.de . April 8, 2013 . Zywietz, Tobias . April 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150410072122/http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK2012.HTM . live .
5. 2013 Year End Charts — R&B/Hip-Hop Songs . . December 13, 2013 . October 3, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151003052703/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/hot-r-b-hip-hop-songs?page=4 . live .
6. Web site: Rhythm – Available For Airplay . . August 21, 2014 . August 27, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140827120323/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=74389 . dead .
7. Web site: Wicked Games (Explicit Version) by The Weeknd . . Canada . August 21, 2014 . August 21, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140821204950/http://ca.7digital.com/artist/the-weeknd/release/wicked-games . dead .
8. Web site: Wicked Games (Explicit Version) by The Weeknd . . United States . August 21, 2014 . April 7, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407073929/http://us.7digital.com/artist/the-weeknd/release/wicked-games . dead .
9. Web site: Wicked Games (Explicit Version) by The Weeknd . . United Kingdom . August 21, 2014 . August 17, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140817220259/http://www.7digital.com/artist/the-weeknd/release/wicked-games-1 . dead .
10. The Weeknd | Biography, Music & News|magazine=Billboard]|access-date=January 26, 2024}} 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.^[2]

    Personnel

    Credits adapted from liner notes for Trilogy.^[3]

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

    Charts

    Weekly charts

    Chart (2012–2013)! scope="col"

    Peak position
    UK Singles (Official Charts Company)^[4]	152

    Year-end charts

    Chart (2013)! scope="col"

    Position
    US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[5]	47

    Release history

    Country	Date	Format	Label
    United States^[6]	September 25, 2012	Rhythmic contemporary radio	Republic
    Canada^[7]	October 22, 2012	Digital download
    United States^[8]
    United Kingdom^[9]	November 1, 2012		Universal

    In other media

    An orchestral cover version of the song was used in Westworld season 3 episode "The Mother of Exiles" arranged and composed by Ramin Djawadi.

    External links

    .