Tell Your Friends (song)

"Tell Your Friends"
Song by the Weeknd
from the album Beauty Behind the Madness
ReleasedAugust 24, 2015 (2015-08-24)
Recorded2014
GenreAlternative R&B
Length5:34
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Music video
"Tell Your Friends" on YouTube

"Tell Your Friends" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his second studio album Beauty Behind the Madness (2015).[1] The Weeknd co-wrote the song with Kanye West, Christopher Pope, Carlo Montagnese, Carl Marshall and Robert Holmes, and co-produced it with Pope, West, Omar Riad, Illangelo, Mike Dean and Noah Goldstein. The track samples the song "Can't Stop Loving You" by Soul Dog.[2] A live remix of the song with American rapper Nas was performed at the 2016 Met Gala Ball.[3]

Music video

The music video for "Tell Your Friends", directed by Grant Singer, was released on August 24, 2015.[4] The music video also features another track from Beauty Behind the Madness, "Real Life" which is played at the end of the video while the Weeknd is driving out into the night.[5][6] As of October 2021, the video has surpassed over 70 million views.

Synopsis

The video begins with the Weeknd walking into foreground holding a shovel. He appears to be burying himself. We then see the Weeknd successfully bury himself. He sticks the shovel in the sand and starts to walk away from where he is buried while performing to the song. A weird looking skinny man approaches his direction before getting shot by the Weeknd. The Weeknd gets closer standing over him, looks down at the body and shoots him again. Another song “Real Life” plays at the end of the video as he walks back to where his car is parked. The Weeknd then gets into the car and starts driving out into the night.[7]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[14] Gold 40,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[16] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "The Weeknd Shares Snippet of Kanye West-Produced Song, 'Tell All Your Friends'". Billboard.
  2. ^ Beauty Behind the Madness (CD liner notes). The Weeknd. Republic Records. 2015. 50330-5.
  3. ^ "Watch Nas Join The Weeknd for 'Tell Your Friends' Remix Performance at Met Gala". Billboard.
  4. ^ Wickman, Forrest (August 24, 2015). "The Weeknd Buries His Old Self in the Video for the Kanye West-Produced "Tell Your Friends"". Slate. Retrieved April 9, 2017 – via Slate.
  5. ^ "The Weeknd Goes on Murderous Rampage in 'Tell Your Friends' Video". billboard.com. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  6. ^ "Watch the Weeknd Bury Himself in Creepy New Video". rollingstone.com. August 24, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  7. ^ "Watch the Weeknd Dance in the Desert in New 'Tell Your Friends' Video". spin.com. August 24, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  8. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  9. ^ "The Weeknd – Tell Your Friends". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  10. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  11. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  12. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  13. ^ "Hot R&B Singles: Year-End 2015". Billboard. Billboard.com. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  14. ^ "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – Tell Your Friends". Music Canada. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  15. ^ "British single certifications – The Weeknd – Tell Your Friends". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  16. ^ "American single certifications – The Weeknd – Tell Your Friends". Recording Industry Association of America.