Rockin' (song)

"Rockin'"
Single by the Weeknd
from the album Starboy
ReleasedMay 9, 2017
Recorded2016
Studio
Genre
Length3:52
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ali Payami
  • Max Martin
  • The Weeknd (co.)
The Weeknd singles chronology
"Lust for Life"
(2017) 		"Rockin'" / "Reminder"
(2017) 		"A Lie"
(2017)
Music video
"Rockin'" on YouTube

"Rockin'" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his third studio album, Starboy (2016). The song was released to contemporary hit radio in France on May 9, 2017, as the album's sixth international single.[4] The song was written by the Weeknd, Peter Svensson, Savan Kotecha, Belly, and producers Ali Payami and Max Martin, with the Weeknd serving as a co-producer.

Music and composition

The song is performed in the key of A minor with a tempo of 113 beats per minute.[5]

Chart performance

"Rockin'" peaked at number 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 despite never being released as a single in North America. The song also charted and peaked at number 25 on the Canadian Hot 100.

Critical reception

The song received generally mixed-to-positive reviews from music critics. Mosi Reeves from Rolling Stone opined that the song "has an infectious garage-house rhythm courtesy of producers Max Martin and Ali Payami, but all The Weeknd can do is respond with a clunky chorus".[6] Mike Pizzo, writing for the Las Vegas Weekly, described the song as being "2-step-fueled".[7] Furthermore, Christopher Hooton from The Independent wrote that "Rockin'" is a "workout jam".[8] Writing for Spin, Jordan Sargent said the song is "destined to be a single".[9]

Charts

Chart (2016–2017) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[10] 14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[11] 41
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 25
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[13] 18
France (SNEP)[14] 176
Germany (GfK)[15] 60
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 28
Italy (FIMI)[17] 46
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 25
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[19] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[20] 24
Portugal (AFP)[21] 31
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[22] 11
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[23] 72
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 12
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 26
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[26] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[27] 44
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[28] 20

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[29] Platinum 80,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[30] Gold 25,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[31] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label(s) Ref.
France May 9, 2017 Contemporary hit radio
[4]
Italy May 26, 2017 Universal [33]
United Kingdom July 21, 2017
  • XO
  • Republic
 [34]

References

  1. ^ Starboy Credits (PDF). November 23, 2016.
  2. ^ Glaysher, Scott (November 28, 2016). "The Weeknd Starboy Album Review". HipHopDX. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  3. ^ "Album review: The Weeknd explores sonic space on 'Starboy'". November 30, 2016. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  4. ^ a b ""Rockin'": The Weeknd électrise le dancefloor avec son nouveau single" (in French). Pure Charts. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  5. ^ "Rockin' - The Weeknd - Spot On Track". www.spotontrack.com. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  6. ^ "Review: The Weeknd's 'Starboy' Treads Murky Water in Innovative R&B Era". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  7. ^ "Album review: The Weeknd explores sonic space on 'Starboy' - Las Vegas Weekly". Las Vegas Weekly. November 30, 2016.
  8. ^ "First impressions, track-by-track, of The Weeknd's new album 'Star Boy'". The Independent. November 25, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  9. ^ "Review: The Weeknd's Starboy Offers the Same Old Lechery Between Great Pop Singles". Spin. November 29, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  10. ^ "The Weeknd – Rockin'" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  11. ^ "The Weeknd – Rockin'" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  12. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  13. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 48. týden 2016 in the date selector. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  14. ^ "The Weeknd – Rockin'" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  15. ^ "The Weeknd – Rockin'" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  16. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Weeknd". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  17. ^ "The Weeknd – Rockin'". Top Digital Download. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  18. ^ "The Weeknd – Rockin'" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  19. ^ "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 5, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  20. ^ "The Weeknd – Rockin'". VG-lista. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  21. ^ "The Weeknd – Rockin'". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  22. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 48. týden 2016 in the date selector. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  23. ^ "The Weeknd – Rockin'" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  24. ^ "The Weeknd – Rockin'". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  25. ^ "The Weeknd: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  26. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  27. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  28. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  29. ^ "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – Rockin'". Music Canada. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  30. ^ "Italian single certifications – The Weeknd – Rockin'" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 7, 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Rockin'" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  31. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – The Weeknd – Rockin'". Radioscope. Retrieved December 23, 2024. Type Rockin' in the "Search:" field.
  32. ^ "British single certifications – The Weeknd – Rockin'". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  33. ^ "The Weeknd "Rockin'"" (in Italian). Radio Airplay s.r.l. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  34. ^ "New UK Single". Radio 1. Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2017.