No Candle No Light

"No Candle No Light"
Single by Zayn featuring Nicki Minaj
from the album Icarus Falls
Released15 November 2018 (2018-11-15)
Genre
Length3:13
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Zayn singles chronology
"Fingers"
(2018) 		"No Candle No Light"
(2018) 		"Trampoline (Remix)"
(2019)
Nicki Minaj singles chronology
"Dip"
(2018) 		"No Candle No Light"
(2018) 		"Good Form"
(2018)
Lyric video
"No Candle No Light" on YouTube

"No Candle No Light" is a song by English singer-songwriter Zayn featuring American rapper Nicki Minaj. It was released on 15 November 2018 by RCA Records, as the sixth and final single from his second studio album Icarus Falls (2018).[1]

Background and release

On 14 November 2018, Zayn shared on Twitter a teaser for the song with only the word "Thursday" spelled out on the screen and Minaj's signature "Young Money" in the background.[2]

Music

The Fader called the song a "tropical house bop" and compared its synths to those in "Sorry" by Justin Bieber.[3] Rolling Stone called the track an EDM-pop exploration of "romantic frustration".[4] Exclaim! noted the song's "booming EDM beat with Zayn's trademark emotional croon", and pointed out that Minaj sings instead of rapping.[5]

Cover art

Complex noted the song's "cigarette-assisted cover art", which shows Malik holding a cigarette to his mouth.[6]

Credits and personnel

  • Zayn – vocals, songwriting
  • Nicki Minaj – vocals
  • Tushar Apte – songwriting, production, record engineering[7]
  • Brittany "Chi" Coney – songwriting
  • Brian Lee – songwriting, production, record engineering
  • Kathryn Osterberg – songwriting
  • Sawyr – songwriting, production, record engineering
  • Denisia "Blu June" Andrews – songwriting
  • Aubry "Big Juice" Delaine – mixing engineering
  • Iván Jiménez – record engineering assistance
  • David Nakaji – record engineering assistance
  • Brian Judd – record engineering assistance
  • Nick Valentin – record engineering assistance
  • Jaycen Joshua – mixing engineering

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[8] 95
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[9] 10
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[10] 6
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 4
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[12] 49

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 15 November 2018
RCA [13][14]
United States 20 November 2018 Contemporary hit radio [15]

References

  1. ^ Blais-Billie, Braudie (15 November 2018). "Nicki Minaj and Zayn Share New Song 'No Candle No Light': Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  2. ^ Pedrosa, Marina (14 November 2018). "Zayn Teases New Collaboration With Nicki Minaj: Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  3. ^ Renshaw, David (15 November 2018). "Listen to Zayn and Nicki Minaj's 'No Candle No Light'". The Fader. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  4. ^ Reed, Ryan (15 November 2018). "Hear Zayn, Nicki Minaj on New EDM-Pop Song 'No Candle No Light'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  5. ^ Murphy, Sarah (15 November 2018). "Zayn and Nicki Minaj Fizzle Out on 'No Candle No Light'". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  6. ^ Cowen, Trace William (15 November 2018). "Zayn and Nicki Minaj Link for 'No Candle No Light'". Complex. Archived from the original on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Revealed: The Australian songwriter behind the Zayn ft. Nicki Minaj track". The Industry Observer. Archived from the original on 2024-04-09. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  8. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #500". auspOp. 24 November 2018. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Zayn feat. Nicki Minaj – No Candle No Light" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  10. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 26 November 2018. Archived from the original on 20 January 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 47, 23 november 2018". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on 23 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Zayn Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  13. ^ "No Candle No Light by Zayn". Tidal. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  14. ^ "No Candle No Light by Zayn". iTunes. Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  15. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.