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Skeletons (Travis Scott song)

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"Skeletons"
Song by Travis Scott featuring Pharrell Williams, Tame Impala, and the Weeknd
from the album Astroworld
ReleasedAugust 3, 2018
GenreKaleidoscope pop
Length2:25
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Tame Impala

"Skeletons" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott. It features guest vocals from American singer Pharrell Williams, Australian psychedelic music project Tame Impala, and Canadian singer The Weeknd. The song was released through Cactus Jack, Grand Hustle and Epic Records as the seventh track from the former's third studio album, Astroworld, on August 3, 2018. Produced by Tame Impala and additionally produced by Scott himself, the latter and Kevin Parker of the project wrote the song alongside Williams, the Weeknd, Kanye West, Reine Fiske, and Mike Dean. "Skeletons" is one of the two songs on Astroworld that the Weeknd provides vocals on, with the other song being "Wake Up", which was the track after it on the album and was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio in 2019 as its fourth and final single.

Composition

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"Skeletons" has been described as a "kaleidoscope-pop" song that draws lyrical influences from Kanye West by Larry Fitzmaurice of Pitchfork.[1] Grant Rindner of The Line of Best Fit described the production of the song as "typically kaleidoscopic, but features the menacing, gothic bass that you hear on Travis Scott standouts like '3500' or 'Antidote'".[2] Aaron Williams of Uproxx summarized: "The first time either of these two particular connections worked out in Travis' favor, 'Skeletons' is the proof that a little goes a long way, as he ladles Pharrell and Abel [the Weeknd]'s contributions over his own recipe, rather than steeping himself in their respective sounds".[3]

On June 27, 2022, a demo version of the track leaked online after it was purchased for $8,000. This version, dated March 2018, sees Kanye West as the primary artist. The song was supposedly Scott's at first, before he briefly gave it to West during the sessions for his album Ye (2018), then known as Love Everyone, which West then gave back to Scott. Differences include additional background vocals from Scott, The Weeknd, and Williams, a sample of an interview of Elon Musk, a different mix, and West performing two separate verses.[4] The first verse is over 2 minutes long, where West raps lyrics that would eventually be reused for his song "Cudi Montage" from his collaboration album Kids See Ghosts (2018) with Kid Cudi, while the second verse has West using the same lyrics Scott would go on to use for his contributions. Ultimately, all of West's vocals would be removed, although he retains a writing credit on the final release.

Charts

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Chart (2018) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[5] 42
France (SNEP)[6] 110
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[7] 12
US Billboard Hot 100[8] 47
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9] 27

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[10] Platinum 80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[12] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (August 7, 2018). "Travis Scott: Astroworld Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  2. ^ Rindner, Grant (August 8, 2018). "Travis Scott – Astroworld". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  3. ^ Williams, Aaron (August 9, 2018). "All Of Travis Scott's Songs, Ranked". Uproxx. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  4. ^ Kanye (July 11, 2022). Kanye West - Skeletons. Retrieved July 12, 2024 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  6. ^ "SNEP Top Singles: Week 32 (2018)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. August 10, 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ "Swedish Heatseekers Chart - 3 August 2018".
  8. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Travis Scott – Skeletons". Music Canada. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  11. ^ "British single certifications – Travis Scott – Skeletons". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  12. ^ "American single certifications – Travis Scott – Skeletons". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
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