Gasoline (The Weeknd song)

"Gasoline"
Song by the Weeknd
from the album Dawn FM
ReleasedJanuary 7, 2022 (2022-01-07)
Genre
Length3:32
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Music video
"Gasoline" on YouTube

"Gasoline" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, released as the second track from his fifth studio album, Dawn FM. A synth-pop and new wave track, the song was written by the Weeknd, OPN, and Matt Cohn, and produced by the three alongside Max Martin and Oscar Holter.

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).[3][4] A music video for the song was announced on January 10, 2022, and then released the following day on January 11, 2022.[5]

The song was originally intended to be released to US contemporary hit radio through XO and Republic Records on January 18, 2022, as the album's third single, but its release was cancelled.[6]

In 2024, "Gasoline" served as the official theme song for WWE's WrestleMania XL, marking the fifth straight year in a row that a Weeknd song served as the theme song for the annual event, making the Weeknd the first artist to ever do so.[7] It is also the third song from the Dawn FM album to be used as a WrestleMania theme, following the last two years' usage of "Sacrifice" and "Less than Zero" for 38 and 39 respectively.

Lyrics and composition

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"Gasoline" has been described as a synth-pop and new wave track where the Weeknd sings about an unbalanced relationship with a woman who is his crutch and support system for drug problems.[1][2][8][9]

Critical reception

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"Gasoline" was met with critical acclaim, receiving particular praise for its production, melodies and The Weeknd's vocals.[10] Craig Jenkins from Vulture drew comparisons of the song's vocal affectations and drum programming to the United Kingdom's '80s pop rap scene.[11]

Music video

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A music video for the song was released on January 11, 2022. It was directed by Matilda Finn with visuals by cinematographer Jon Chema and expands on the story arc presented in the previous visuals released for the album.[12]

The clip begins with an older version of the Weeknd getting into a car accident and then ending up in a nightclub where he finds a younger version enjoying himself on the dancefloor. This younger version of himself then walks around the club and sees corrupted versions of other dancers. During this, the younger version of the Weeknd sees his older self and begins to go straight to him. The clip then concludes with the younger version of the Weeknd brutally beating his older self, presumably to death.[13]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Gasoline"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[14] 28
Australia Hip-Hop/R&B Singles (ARIA)[15] 9
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 27
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[17] 61
Denmark (Tracklisten)[18] 33
France (SNEP)[19] 58
Global 200 (Billboard)[20] 14
Greece International (IFPI)[21] 13
Iceland (Tónlistinn)[22] 10
India International Singles (IMI)[23] 13
Ireland (IRMA)[24] 16
Italy (FIMI)[25] 85
Lithuania (AGATA)[26] 13
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[27] 6
Portugal (AFP)[28] 20
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[29] 23
South Africa (TOSAC)[30] 28
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[31] 43
UK Audio Streaming (OCC)[32] 32
US Billboard Hot 100[33] 29
Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100)[34] 79

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Weeknd's 'Dawn FM' album has Jim Carrey as DJ, new video out". January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Mamo, Heran (January 7, 2022). "Every Song on The Weeknd's 'Dawn FM' Album, Ranked: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  3. ^ Kaufman, Gil (January 5, 2022). "The Weeknd Reveals Tracklist For 16-Song 'Dawn FM' Album". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  4. ^ "The Weeknd Enlists Jim Carrey and Quincy Jones for His New 'Dawn FM' Album". GQ. January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  5. ^ "The Weeknd Confronts His Older Self in New "Gasoline" Music Video". HYPEBEAST. January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  6. ^ "Top 40 Mainstream Songs and Release Dates". All Access. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  7. ^ "Who Is Doing The WrestleMania Theme Song For A Fifth Straight Year? Ladies And Gentlemen, The Weeknd". Fightful. January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  8. ^ "The Weeknd 'Gasoline' Lyrics Meaning Revealed". Capital XTRA. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  9. ^ Caramanica, Jon (January 10, 2022). "The Endless Pop Shimmers of the Weeknd". The New York Times. Retrieved January 10, 2022 – via NYTimes.com.
  10. ^ "New Music Friday: Hottest New Songs & Albums From Gunna, The Weeknd, & More". HotNewHipHop. January 7, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  11. ^ Jenkins, Craig (January 7, 2022). "The Weeknd Knows No Bounds". Vulture. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  12. ^ "Watch The Weeknd Get Into Brutal Fight With Older Version of Himself in New "Gasoline" Video". Complex. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  13. ^ Kaufman, Gil (January 11, 2022). "The Weeknd Cries, Dances, Attacks His Elderly Doppelganger in Gloomy 'Gasoline' Video". Billboard. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  14. ^ "The Weeknd – Gasoline". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  15. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 17, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  16. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  17. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 2. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  18. ^ "The Weeknd – Gasoline". Tracklisten. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  19. ^ "The Weeknd – Gasoline" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  20. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 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 January 17, 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. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  25. ^ "The Weeknd – Gasoline". Top Digital Download. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  26. ^ "2022 2-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  27. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 17, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  28. ^ "The Weeknd – Gasoline". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  29. ^ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  30. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 02-2022". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  31. ^ "The Weeknd – Gasoline". Singles Top 100. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  32. ^ "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  33. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  34. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
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