Call Out My Name

"Call Out My Name" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his debut extended play, My Dear Melancholy (2018). The song was co-written by the Weeknd and producer Frank Dukes, with musician Nicolas Jaar receiving writing credits for the sampling of his 2016 song "Killing Time". The song was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on April 10, 2018, as the EP's only single.

"Call Out My Name"
Single by the Weeknd
from the EP My Dear Melancholy
Released	April 10, 2018 (2018-04-10)
Genre	R&B[1]
Length	3:48
Label	XO Republic
Songwriter(s)	Abel Tesfaye Adam Feeney Nicolas Jaar
Producer(s)	Frank Dukes
The Weeknd singles chronology
"Pray for Me" (2018) "Call Out My Name" (2018) "What You Want" (2018)
Music video
"Call Out My Name" on YouTube

Composition

According to musicnotes.com, the song is performed in the key of E♭ minor with a tempo of 45 beats per minute^[2] in compound duple (⁶
₈) time. The chords alternate between G♯m and D♯m. The Weeknd's vocals span two octaves, from D♯₃ to D♯₅.^[3]

Critical reception

Alexis Petridis of The Guardian called it the least interesting track on My Dear Melancholy: "it offers up the kind of beige boo-hoo balladry that Sam Smith specialises in, albeit tricked out with more interesting sonic touches: the piano sounding like it was recorded underwater, the rest of the track echoing and ghostly."^[4]

In 2022, Seventeen placed the song on its "46 Songs About Cheating If You Need To Cry Your Eyes Out" list.^[5]

Commercial performance

"Call Out My Name" earned the largest first-day Spotify stream count of any song released in 2018.^[6] The song was also streamed 6 million times on its first day on Apple Music.^[7] The song debuted at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 on the issue dated April 14, 2018, becoming his eighth top ten entry.^[8] As of March 2020, the song has been certified 3× platinum in the United States.

Outside of United States, the song debuted atop in Canada and Malaysia, becoming his first number one debut in both of these countries, as well as in Greece and in Slovakia. It also reached the top ten in Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Lebanon, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom and Sweden, top twenty, Austria, Finland, Hungary and The Netherlands, top thirty in Belgium (Wallonia), Mexico and Scotland and top forty in the Flemmish region of Belgium, France and Italy. The song was certified diamond in Brazil, France^[9] and Greece, and multi-platinum in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Poland and Portugal.

Music videos

On the extended play's release day, the Weeknd uploaded a vertical video to Spotify.^[10][11] A lyric video was released three days later on April 2, 2018, depicting the Weeknd on various television screens.^[12] The official music video for "Call Out My Name" was released on April 12, 2018, and directed by Grant Singer.^[1] As of August 2024, the video has reached 971 million views on YouTube.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2018–2022) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 3 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 11 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15] 31 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[16] 23 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 1 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[18] 17 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[19] 3 Denmark (Tracklisten)[20] 3 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 12 France (SNEP)[22] 31 Germany (GfK)[23] 7 Global 200 (Billboard)[24] 97 Greece International (IFPI)[25] 1 Hungary (Single Top 40)[26] 15 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[27] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[28] 5 Italy (FIMI)[29] 40 Lebanon (OLT20)[30] 6 Malaysia (RIM)[31] 1 Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[32] 21 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33] 30 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 14 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[35] 7 Norway (VG-lista)[36] 3 Portugal (AFP)[37] 2 Romania (Airplay 100)[38] 5 Russia Airplay (Tophit)[39] 89 Scotland (OCC)[40] 27 Singapore (RIAS)[41] 10 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[42] 41 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[43] 1 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[44] 57 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[45] 6 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[46] 8 UK Singles (OCC)[47] 7 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[48] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[49] 4 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[50] 3 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[51] 14

Year-end charts Chart (2018) Position Australia (ARIA)[52] 61 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[53] 82 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[54] 44 Romania (Airplay 100)[55] 26 US Billboard Hot 100[56] 78 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[57] 43

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[58]	6× Platinum	420,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[59]	3× Diamond	480,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[60]	3× Platinum	240,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[61]	Platinum	90,000‡
France (SNEP)[62]	Diamond	333,333‡
Germany (BVMI)[63]	Gold	200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[64]	Platinum	100,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[65]	3× Platinum	90,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[66]	2× Platinum	100,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[67]	4× Platinum	40,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[68]	Platinum	60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[69]	2× Platinum	1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[70]	3× Platinum	3,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[71]	Diamond	10,000,000†
Sweden (GLF)[72]	Gold	4,000,000†
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	April 10, 2018	Rhythmic contemporary radio	XO Republic	[73]
Italy	April 20, 2018	Radio airplay	Universal	[74]

See also

• List of number-one songs of 2018 (Malaysia)