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Less than Zero (The Weeknd song)

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"Less Than Zero"
Single by the Weeknd
from the album Dawn FM
ReleasedJuly 7, 2022 (2022-07-07)
Genre
Length3:32
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Weeknd singles chronology
"Out of Time"
(2022) 		"Less Than Zero"
(2022) 		"Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)"
(2022)

"Less than Zero" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released to French contemporary hit radio on July 7, 2022, as the fourth and final single from his fifth studio album Dawn FM (2022).[1] The song was written by the Weeknd, Max Martin, and Oscar Holter, and produced by the three alongside Oneohtrix Point Never.

Background and promotion

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The song's name was first revealed on January 5, 2022, when Canadian singer the Weeknd posted the track listing for the song's parent album Dawn FM (2022).[2][3] A lyric video for the song directed by Micah Bickham was released on January 9, 2022.[4] It was also one of the songs performed in the television music special The Dawn FM Experience.[5]

The song was given a limited single release in France, with it being sent to contemporary hit radio on July 7, 2022, in the country.[1]

"Less than Zero" served as one of the two official theme songs for WWE's WrestleMania 39, marking the fourth straight year a song by the Weeknd served as the theme song for the annual event.[6]

Lyrics and composition

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"Less than Zero" has been described as a slow-dance new wave and synth-pop track where the Weeknd sings about remaining regretful sentiments he has after the end of a relationship and how he blames himself. It is in the key of C major.[7][8][9][10][11]

Critical reception

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"Less Than Zero" was met with widespread acclaim. Critics noted the song as a highlight on the record, with particular praise being given to the song's production, lyrics, its acoustic ending and The Weeknd's emotionally resonant vocals.[7][12] Critics from Billboard noted that the song had the ability to potentially achieve the top 40 success that the singles from the Weeknd's previous After Hours predecessors.[13]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Less than Zero"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[14] 47
Australia Hip-Hop/R&B Singles (ARIA)[15] 18
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 32
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[17] 46
Denmark (Tracklisten)[18] 33
France (SNEP)[19] 82
Global 200 (Billboard)[20] 24
Greece International (IFPI)[21] 14
Iceland (Tónlistinn)[22] 21
India International Singles (IMI)[23] 16
Lithuania (AGATA)[24] 30
Portugal (AFP)[25] 39
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[26] 56
South Africa (TOSAC)[27] 63
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28] 67
UK Audio Streaming (OCC)[29] 57
US Billboard Hot 100[30] 53

Certifications

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Certifications for "Less than Zero"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31] Gold 35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[32] Gold 20,000‡
France (SNEP)[33] Gold 100,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format Label(s) Ref.
France July 7, 2022 Contemporary hit radio
[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Pineau, Marine (July 7, 2022). "Après Take My Breath, The Weeknd choisit Less Than Zero en guise de single". Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  2. ^ Kaufman, Gil (January 5, 2022). "The Weeknd Reveals Tracklist For 16-Song 'Dawn FM' Album". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "The Weeknd Enlists Jim Carrey and Quincy Jones for His New 'Dawn FM' Album". GQ. January 5, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  4. ^ "The Weeknd – Sacrifice Video". Contactmusic.com. January 9, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  5. ^ Kreps, Daniel (February 21, 2022). "The Weeknd to Premiere 'Dawn FM Experience' Special This Weekend". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  6. ^ "WWE WrestleMania 39 Official Theme Song Reportedly Picked". WWE. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Barr, Natalia (January 26, 2022). "The Weeknd's New Hit, Gunna's Hotshot Single and the Other Best Songs of January". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via www.wsj.com.
  8. ^ "THE WEEKND Less Than Zero". ElectricityClub.co.uk. January 15, 2022.
  9. ^ Grow, Tomás Mier,Waiss David Aramesh,Julyssa Lopez,Charles Aaron,Angie Martoccio,Elias Leight,Jon Freeman,Mosi Reeves,Jon Blistein,Sarah Grant,Joe Gross,Simon Vozick-Levinson,Jon Dolan,Kory; Mier, Tomás; Aramesh, Waiss David; Lopez, Julyssa; Aaron, Charles; Martoccio, Angie; Leight, Elias; Freeman, Jon; Reeves, Mosi; Blistein, Jon; Grant, Sarah; Gross, Joe; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Dolan, Jon; Grow, Kory (February 14, 2022). "The 50 Best Weeknd Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2022.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Muñoz-Schaefer, Ursula. "The Weeknd Is Our Most Prescient Pop Star". Miami New Times. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  11. ^ Holiday, Harmony (January 14, 2022). "On 'Dawn FM,' The Weeknd is both suffering and saved". Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via NPR.
  12. ^ Caramanica, Jon (January 10, 2022). "The Endless Pop Shimmers of the Weeknd". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via NYTimes.com.
  13. ^ Mamo, Heran (January 7, 2022). "Every Song on The Weeknd's 'Dawn FM' Album, Ranked: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  14. ^ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  15. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 17, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  16. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  17. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  18. ^ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". Tracklisten. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  19. ^ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  20. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  21. ^ "Official IFPI Charts - Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week: 02/2022". ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  22. ^ "Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 2 – 2022" [The Music - Albums - Week 2 - 2022] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  23. ^ "Top 20 Charts". Indian Music Industry. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. January 17, 2022. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  24. ^ "2022 2-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. January 14, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  25. ^ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  26. ^ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  27. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 02-2022". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  28. ^ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  29. ^ "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  30. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  31. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  32. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – The Weeknd – Less than Zero" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  33. ^ "French single certifications – The Weeknd – Less Than Zero" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  34. ^ "British single certifications". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
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