"High for This"
Song by the Weeknd
from the album House of Balloons and Trilogy
ReleasedMarch 21, 2011
Recorded2010 - 2011[1]
Genre
Length
  • 4:07
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"High for This" is a song by the Canadian singer 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).

Composition and lyrics

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.[2]

"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."[3] Billboard had described the track as "moody noise," with "throbbing percussion."[4]

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",[5] while Highsnobiety further added on, interpreting the lyrics as the Weeknd coaching the listener through "getting high".[6] Rolling Stone went more into depth, 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.[7]

Critical reception

Consequence 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".[8] 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."[7]

Commercial performance

In France, the song peaked at 97.[9] 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.[10]

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes for Trilogy[11]

Charts

Chart performance for "High for This"
Chart (2012–2015) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[12] 97
US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard)[13] 22

Certifications

Certifications for "High for This"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[14] Platinum 80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[16] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

In other media

The song "High for This" was featured in the promo for the final season of the HBO show Entourage in July 2011.[17]

References

  1. ^ "IamA the Weeknd Ask Me Anything!". September 13, 2013. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "High for This". www.musicnotes.com. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  3. ^ Lilah, Rose (July 10, 2020). "The Weeknd's "High For This" Is For The Youth". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  4. ^ Bein, Kat (December 24, 2016). "The Weeknd's 20 Best Songs: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  5. ^ "The Weeknd: House of Balloons". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  6. ^ Barnett, Donovan. "The 31 Best Songs By The Weeknd To Bump When You Are In Your Feelings". Highsnobiety. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "The 50 Best Weeknd Songs - Rolling Stone". February 14, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  8. ^ "The Weeknd's 10 Best Songs". Consequence. February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  9. ^ "lescharts.com - Discographie The Weeknd". lescharts.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  10. ^ "The Weeknd | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  11. ^ Trilogy (CD liner). The Weeknd. Republic Records. 2012. 3719793.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ "The Weeknd – High for This" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "The Weeknd Hot R&B Songs Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  14. ^ "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – High for This". Music Canada. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  15. ^ "British single certifications – The Weeknd – High for This". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  16. ^ "American single certifications – The Weeknd – High for This". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  17. ^ Osei, Anthony. "Video: The Weeknd's "High For This" is Entourage's Season 8 Promo Song". Complex. Retrieved July 5, 2023.

External links

The Weeknd songs
Categories