Wicked Games

This article is about the song by the Weeknd. For the Chris Isaak song, see Wicked Game. For other uses, see Wicked Game (disambiguation).

"Wicked Games" is the debut single by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, and serves as the fifth track from his debut mixtape, House of Balloons (2011). It was written by the Weeknd, Doc McKinney, and Illangelo with the latter two producing. The song was remastered and released as the lead single from his 2012 compilation album, Trilogy, on October 22, 2012, through XO and Republic Records. It was met with universal acclaim by music critics.^{[citation needed]}

"Wicked Games"
Single by the Weeknd
from the album House of Balloons and Trilogy
Released	September 25, 2012
Recorded	Site Sound Studios, Toronto
Genre	Alternative R&B
Length	4:41 (single edit) 5:24 (album version)
Label	XO Republic
Songwriter(s)	Abel Tesfaye Doc McKinney Carlo Montagnese R. Millar Blancheur C. Ray Garza
Producer(s)	Doc McKinney Illangelo
The Weeknd singles chronology
"Remember You" (2012) "Wicked Games" (2012) "Twenty Eight" (2012)
Music video
"Wicked Games" on YouTube

Background and release

The audio for the original version of "Wicked Games" was released on the Weeknd's YouTube on March 5, 2011.^[1] In 2012, its House of Balloons version would be promoted as the lead single from the mixtape, being sent to rhythmic contemporary radio stations on September 25, 2012.^[2] The song's remastered version was officially released through streaming services on October 22, 2012, as the lead single from his compilation album, Trilogy (2012).

Critical reception

Rolling Stone listed "Wicked Games" as the 42nd best R&B song of the 21st century.^[3]

Music video

The music video for "Wicked Games" premiered on October 18, 2012, on the Weeknd's YouTube account on Vevo. The video starts off with a young woman dancing seductively in a coat with no clothes underneath, before the camera pans to The Weeknd, who is shown singing expressively. The Weeknd is also shown in a dark room, occasionally illuminated by spotlights behind him synced to the beat, and outside after leaving his G-Wagon. Since its release, the music video has received over 200 million views on YouTube.

Commercial performance

"Wicked Games" became the Weeknd's first solo single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 53, and remaining on the chart for 20 weeks.^[4] It was later certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on January 30, 2019, for selling three million units in the United States.^[5]

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes for Trilogy.^[6]

• The Weeknd – composer, primary artist
• Doc McKinney – composer, instrumentation, producer
• Illangelo – composer, instrumentation, mixing, producer
• Rainer Millar Blanchaer – composer

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Wicked Games" Chart (2012–2013) Peak position Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[7] 83 Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[8] 46 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[9] 43 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[10] 21 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[11] 152 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[12] 18 US Billboard Hot 100[13] 53 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[14] 13 US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[15] 8 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[16] 10

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Wicked Games" Chart (2013) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[17] 47

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[18]	2× Platinum	140,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[19]	Platinum	60,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[20]	2× Platinum	160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[21]	Gold	30,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[22]	Platinum	30,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[23]	Gold	5,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[24]	Gold	400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[25]	3× Platinum	3,000,000‡
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label
United States[2]	September 25, 2012	Rhythmic contemporary radio	Republic
Canada[26]	October 22, 2012	Digital download
United States[27]
United Kingdom[28]	November 1, 2012		Universal