"High for This" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, and serves as the opening track of his debut mixtape, House of Balloons (2011). It was written by the Weeknd with producers Adrien Gough and Cirkut. The track was later remastered and commercially released on the Weeknd's compilation album, Trilogy (2012).
| "High for This" | |
|---|---|
| Song by the Weeknd | |
| from the album House of Balloons and Trilogy | |
| Released | March 21, 2011 |
| Recorded | 2010 – 2011[1] |
| Studio | Cirkut's Dream House (Toronto, Ontario) |
| Genre | |
| Length |
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| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | |
Music and recording
editThe producer Cirkut first met the Weeknd after being told about him through a mutual friend, who called him "the next big thing." The two later met for a recording session in Cirkut's home studio. After Cirkut created a bassline and some "general music arrangements", the Weeknd freestyled over the instrumental, which led to the creation of "High for This". The song was recorded in one day, but the two went over it several times before its final version.[2]
The song's sheet music, published by Songs Music Publishing at Musicnotes.com, shows that the song is written in the key of B minor and follows a tempo of 69 beats per minute. The Weeknd's vocal range spans from D6 to B4.[3] "High for This" starts with a sound that is described by HotNewHipHop as "an eerie, ominous ringing in your ears," while stating that Tesfaye sings the first verse "as though he is on an MDMA-influenced high."[4] Billboard's Kat Bein had described the track as "moody noise," with "throbbing percussion."[5]
The lyrics of "High for This" are described in a review of its parent mixtape by Pitchfork as "[the Weeknd handholding] a partner through some strange sex act",[6] while Highsnobiety further added on, interpreting the lyrics as the Weeknd coaching the listener through "getting high".[7] Rolling Stone went more into detail, stating the lines "Open your hand / Take a glass / Don’t be scared / I’m right here.” was the Weeknd's way to "red-pill" his listeners.[8] Bein interpreted that the song could be his way of telling the listener that they want to be "high for the musical greateness that is to follow, i.e. his whole career."[5]
Critical reception
editConsequence ranked "High for This" as the Weeknd's 8th best song, stating that it "embodies" the label of "haunted strip club music," and called its production "cavernous [and] titillating".[9] Rolling Stone ranked it as the Weeknd's 7th best song, stating it serves as the perfect introduction to the Weeknd's "groundbreaking" aesthetic, and further stating that the song hovers between "darkwave and bedroom R&B."[8]
Commercial performance
editIn France, the song peaked at 97.[10] In the United States, "High for This" did not enter the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but peaked at number 22 on the Hot R&B Songs chart.[11]
Personnel
editCredits adapted from liner notes for Trilogy[12]
- Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) – composer, songwriting, primary artist
- Adrien Gough – composer, songwriting, instrumentation, producer
- Henry Walter (Cirkut) – composer, songwriting, instrumentation, producer
Charts
edit| Chart (2012–2015) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| France (SNEP)[13] | 97 |
| US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard)[14] | 22 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[15] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[16] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[17] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
In other media
editThe song "High for This" was featured in the promo for the final season of the HBO show Entourage in July 2011.[18]
References
edit- ^ "IamA the Weeknd Ask Me Anything!". September 13, 2013. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ^ Gonzalez, Alex (March 19, 2021). "The Weeknd's 'House Of Balloons' Launched A Pop Career Shrouded In Mystery". MTV. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ "High for This". www.musicnotes.com. January 11, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ Lilah, Rose (July 10, 2020). "The Weeknd's "High For This" Is For The Youth". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ a b Bein, Kat (December 24, 2016). "The Weeknd's 20 Best Songs: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ "The Weeknd: House of Balloons". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ Barnett, Donovan (May 2, 2023). "The 31 Best Songs By The Weeknd To Bump When You Are In Your Feelings". Highsnobiety. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "The 50 Best Weeknd Songs - Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. February 14, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ "The Weeknd's 10 Best Songs". Consequence. February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ "lescharts.com - Discographie The Weeknd". lescharts.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "The Weeknd | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ Trilogy (CD liner). The Weeknd. Republic Records. 2012. 3719793.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "The Weeknd – High for This" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ "The Weeknd Hot R&B Songs Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – High for This". Music Canada. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ "British single certifications – The Weeknd – High for This". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ "American single certifications – The Weeknd – High for This". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ Osei, Anthony. "Video: The Weeknd's "High For This" is Entourage's Season 8 Promo Song". Complex. Retrieved July 5, 2023.