Moth_to_a_Flame

Moth to a Flame

Moth to a Flame

2021 single by Swedish House Mafia and the Weeknd


"Moth to a Flame" is a song by Swedish house supergroup Swedish House Mafia and Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd.[2] It was released on 22 October 2021 through Republic Records as the third single from the former's debut studio album Paradise Again, and was later included on the "Alternate World" edition of the latter's fifth studio album Dawn FM; both released in 2022 [3]

Quick Facts from the album Paradise Again and Dawn FM (Alternate World), Released ...

Background and release

A potential collaboration between Swedish House Mafia and the Weeknd was first speculated when the group signed with the Weeknd's longtime manager Wassim "Sal" Slaiby in April 2021.[4] It was later teased by the Weeknd during an episode of his Apple Music 1 radio show Memento Mori, in which he stated in the introduction "The Swedes just landed in L.A."[5] A snippet of "Moth to a Flame" was then revealed by Swedish House Mafia during their performance at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards in September.[6] On 19 October, the group and the singer teased the single once again before announcing that it would be released on 22 October.[7] In celebration of its release, Swedish House Mafia hosted the twentieth episode of Memento Mori.[8]

Critical reception

Dani Blum of Pitchfork named "Moth to a Flame" the best song on Paradise Again, writing that the "tingling production is more elegant than Swedish House Mafia seemed capable of a decade ago."[9] Robin Murray of Clash described it as "a sizzling 80s tinged burner that places [the Weeknd] within an electronic orchestra."[10] Thomas Stremfel of Spectrum Culture wrote that "equally unique framing and biblical stakes elevate the track to a pop epic."[11] Billboard's Starr Bowenbank compared "Moth to a Flame" to the Weeknd's "Blinding Lights", highlighting its synth as being menacing in a manner akin to the song.[12]

Chart performance

In the United Kingdom, "Moth to a Flame" debuted at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart with first-week sales of 19,853 units, making it Swedish House Mafia's seventh top 20 single and the Weeknd's 19th.[13][14] In the United States, "Moth to a Flame" entered the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart at number two with 12.9 million streams, 1.7 million radio impressions and 3,800 downloads sold in its opening week. It marked Swedish House Mafia's third top 10 single on the chart and was the highest debut on the chart since Kygo and Whitney Houston's "Higher Love" in July 2019.[15]

Music video

The music video for the song premiered on 22 October 2021 alongside the single's release and was directed by Alexander Wessely. The music video ends with a snippet of "Mafia", the track that follows "Moth to a Flame" on Paradise Again.[16]

Live performances

Swedish House Mafia and the Weeknd performed "Moth to a Flame" at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on 17 April 2022.[17] Starting on June 10, 2023, "Moth to a Flame" served as the closing track for the Weeknd's After Hours til Dawn Tour.

Track listing

  • Digital download and streaming
  1. "Moth to a Flame" – 3:54
  • Digital download and streaming – Extended Mix
  1. "Moth to a Flame" (Extended Mix) – 5:00
  • Digital download and streaming – Chris Lake Remix
  1. "Moth to a Flame" (Chris Lake Remix) – 4:38
  • Digital download and streaming – Tourist Remix
  1. "Moth to a Flame" (Tourist Remix) – 4:53
  • Digital download and streaming – Moojo Remix
  1. "Moth to a Flame" (Moojo Remix) – 7:14
  • Digital download and streaming – Adriatique Remix
  1. "Moth to a Flame" (Adriatique Remix) – 6:29

Personnel

  • Swedish House Mafia – production, keyboards, bass, drum programming
  • Carl Nordström – production, keyboards, bass, drum programming
  • Shin Kamiyama – mixing
  • Mike Dean – mastering
  • The Weeknd – vocals

Charts

More information Chart (2021–2022), Peak position ...

Certifications

‹See Tfd›

More information Region, Certification ...

Release history

More information Region, Date ...

References

  1. Griffiths, George (24 October 2021). "Adele set for second week at Number 1 with Easy On Me". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 October 2021. The slick synth-pop number
  2. "The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia to release collaboration this week". Montana Standard. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  3. "The Weeknd Teases New "Moth To A Flame" Track With Swedish House Mafia". Hypebeast. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  4. @theweeknd (19 October 2021). "this week @swedishousemfia" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 October 2021 via Twitter.
  5. @swedishousemfia (21 October 2021). "Honoured to host tonights show - don't forget to tune in wherever you are💀💀💀" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 October 2021 via Twitter.
  6. Blum, Dani (15 April 2022). "Swedish House Mafia: Paradise Again Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  7. Murray, Robin (15 April 2022). "Swedish House Mafia - Paradise Again". Clash. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  8. Stremfel, Thomas (1 May 2022). "Swedish House Mafia: Paradise Again". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  9. Masterson, James (29 October 2021). "Charts analysis: Adele takes it Easy at singles summit". Music Week. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  10. Ainsley, Helen (29 October 2021). "Adele earns second big week at Number 1 with Easy On Me". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  11. Murray, Gordon (4 November 2021). "Swedish House Mafia & The Weeknd's 'Moth' on Dance Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  12. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202143 into search. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  13. "ARC 100 - datum: 24. siječnja 2022". HRT. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  14. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  15. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  16. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  17. "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  18. "2021 43-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 52, 2021" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  20. "RIAS Top Charts". Recording Industry Association Singapore. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  21. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 20226 into search. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  22. "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202143 into search. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  23. "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2021-10-29." TopHit. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  24. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2021" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  25. "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  26. "Jaaroverzichten 2022" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  27. "Rapports annuels 2022" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  28. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  29. "Jahrescharts 2022" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  30. "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  31. "2022 metų klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  32. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2022" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  33. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2022" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  34. "Årslista Singlar, 2022" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  35. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2022". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  36. "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  37. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2023". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  38. "Dutch single certifications – Swedish House Maffia, The Weeknd – Moth to a Flame" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 14 December 2022. Enter Moth to a Flame in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2022 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  39. "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 April 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Moth to a Flame in the search box.
  40. "Top 40 Mainstream Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.

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