Faith (The Weeknd song)

"Faith"
Song by the Weeknd
from the album After Hours
Released	March 20, 2020 (2020-03-20)
Studio	XO Studios (Hidden Hills, California)
Genre	Synthwave
Length	4:43
Label	XO Republic
Songwriter(s)	Abel Tesfaye Ahmad Balshe Leland Wayne Carlo Montagnese
Producer(s)	Metro Boomin The Weeknd Illangelo

"Faith" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his fourth studio album After Hours.^[1] The track was teased multiple times throughout the pre-release promotional material for the album, with the song's intro first being shown on February 13, 2020, through the After Hours teaser.^[2] Its second verse and outro were teased on the album's self-titled short film, which was released on March 4, 2020.^[3] The song was officially released on March 20, 2020, alongside the rest of its parent album.^[4] The Weeknd wrote and produced the song with Metro Boomin and Illangelo, with additional writing credits going to Canadian rapper Belly.^[5]

Background and release

In early February 2020, the Weeknd released the album teaser for After Hours, which featured the intro to the album's eighth track "Faith".^[6] Later on March 4, the album's self-titled short film was released, and it featured the second verse and outro of the aforementioned song.^[7] The studio version of the song was then released on March 20, alongside the rest of the album.^[8][9]

Lyrics and composition

During an After Hours listening session with Jem Aswad of Variety, the Weeknd shared the meaning behind "Faith".^[10]

So, this is really the only song on the record that isn't about right now. It's about the darkest time of my entire life, a time when I was getting really, really tossed up and going through a lot of personal stuff. This is around 2013-14: I got arrested in Vegas, it was a real rockstar era which I wasn't really proud of, and at the end of [the song] you hear sirens. That's me in the back of the cop car, that moment. I always wanted to make that song but I never did, and this album felt like the perfect time, because of the setting of Las Vegas, and [the character needing] a kind of escape after a heartbreak or whatever, "I'm gonna go to Vegas and drown all my sorrows," and by the time you get to the end of the album you realize it's more of a redemption. But I wanted to go to Vegas and be this guy again, the "Heartless" guy, the drug monster, the person who hates God and is losing his f—ing religion and hating what he looks like when he looks in the mirror so he keeps getting high, and hating to be sober because "I feel the most lonely when I'm coming down" — that's who this song is.

When composing the track, the Weeknd admitted that although he didn't want to recall that period of his life, he felt as though he had to as an act of self-realization that he's no longer the person he once was. He also noted that the goal of the track was to make the audience feel uncomfortable when listening to it. "...I really wanted to get inside the head of the person who hates himself and hates life and hates the person who made him that way."^[11]

The song makes several references to the singles "Purple Rain" by Prince, "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M., and "Sicko Mode" by Travis Scott.^[12][13]

Critical reception

The song was noted as a being a highlight from the album by critics,^[14] with Max Cea from GQ calling it one of his masterworks in the realm of alternative R&B. Additionally, he applauds the Weeknd's writing and singing, as well as the production of the track, giving praise the song's outro which directly leads into "Blinding Lights".^[15] Jon Dolan from Rolling Stone also gave a positive review for the song, describing it as being magisterial and giving particular praise to the Weeknd's vocals and Metro Boomin's production.^[16] The song's synthwave sound also received comparisons to the work done by Kavinsky on his debut single "Nightcall".^[17]

Cancelled music video

In an interview with Rolling Stone, it was mentioned that the Weeknd had treatments lined up for three more videos, which were for "Faith", "Escape from LA" and "Too Late" but that it was unclear when he would be able to film them. Only the video for "Too Late" was released however, with the status of the videos of "Escape from LA" and "Faith" currently unknown.^[18]

Commercial performance

Following the releasing of its parent album, "Faith" debuted at number 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100 dated April 4, 2020. It was the twelfth highest charting track from After Hours.^[19]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[5]

• The Weeknd – vocals, songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
• Metro Boomin – songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
• Illangelo – songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
• Belly – songwriting
• Dave Kutch – mastering
• Kevin Peterson – mastering

Charts

Chart (2020)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[20]	43
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[21]	65
Estonia (Eesti Tipp-40)[22]	34
France (SNEP)[23]	85
Greece (IFPI)[24]	31
Italy (FIMI)[25]	90
Lithuania (AGATA)[26]	36
Portugal (AFP)[27]	56
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[28]	26
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[29]	81
UK Audio Streaming (OCC)[30]	47
US Billboard Hot 100[31]	45
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[32]	24
US Rolling Stone Top 100[33]	17

Certifications

Certifications for "Faith"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[34]	Gold	35,000^‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[35]	Gold	20,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label(s)	Ref.
Various	March 20, 2020	Digital download streaming	XO Republic	[36]

References

1. "The Weeknd Reveals 'After Hours' Tracklist". Rap-Up. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
2. Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (February 13, 2020). "The Weeknd Dramatically Announces His New Album". Popdust. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
3. Aswad, Jem (March 4, 2020). "Watch The Weeknd's Disturbing Short Film for 'After Hours'". Variety. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
4. Ingvaldsen, Torsten (March 20, 2020). "The Weeknd Is Hosting an 'After Hours' Listening Session on Spotify". Hypebeast. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
5. "After Hours / The Weeknd – Tidal". Tidal. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
6. Aswad, Jem (February 13, 2020). "The Weeknd Drops Teaser for New Album, 'After Hours' (Watch)". Retrieved March 27, 2020.
7. "The Weeknd Shares 'After Hours' Short Film". Complex. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
8. "The Weeknd's 'After Hours' Track List: See Here". Billboard. March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
9. Fitzgerald, Trent (March 20, 2020). "The Weeknd Drops After Hours Album: Listen to New Songs". XXL Mag. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
10. Aswad, Jem (April 8, 2020). "The Weeknd Goes Track-by-Track (Almost) on 'After Hours'". Variety. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
11. Mamo, Heran (April 8, 2020). "The Weeknd Says His Song 'Faith' Recalls 'The Darkest Time of My Entire Life'". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
12. "6 Takeaway From the Weeknd's New Album, After Hours". Pitchfork. March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
13. "Drake Shows Love to The Weeknd During Livestream". Rap-Up. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
14. "The Weeknd Is Losing His "Faith" On "After Hours": Listen". HotNewHipHop. March 22, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
15. Cea, Max (March 20, 2020). "The Best Song on The Weeknd's New Album, 'After Hours,' Is..." GQ. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
16. Dolan, Jon (March 23, 2020). "The Weeknd Is Alone Again, Naturally, on 'After Hours'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
17. Peters, Micah (March 25, 2020). "'After Hours' Is the Weeknd's Most Accomplished Work Yet". The Ringer. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
18. "The Weeknd on 'After Hours', His Movie Dreams ane Industry Racism". Rolling Stone. September 18, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
19. Zellener, Xander (March 30, 2020). "Every Song From The Weeknd's 'After Hours' Is on the Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
20. "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
21. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 13. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
22. Nestor, Siim (March 31, 2020). "Eesti Tipp-40 Muusikas: Selle nädala kangelased on The Weeknd ja AG". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). Retrieved April 8, 2020.
23. "Top Singles (Week 13, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
24. "IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 12 2020". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on April 2, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
25. "The Weeknd – Faith". Top Digital Download. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
26. "2020 13-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
27. "The Weeknd – Faith". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
28. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 13. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
29. "The Weeknd – Faith". Singles Top 100. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
30. "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
31. "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
32. "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
33. "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
34. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
35. "Brazilian single certifications" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
36. "Listen to the Weeknd's New Album After Hours". Pitchfork. March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.

External links

• Faith (Audio) on YouTube