Pray_for_Me_(The_Weeknd_and_Kendrick_Lamar_song)

Pray for Me (song)

Pray for Me (song)

2018 single by the Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar


"Pray for Me" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd and the American rapper Kendrick Lamar from the soundtrack album of the Marvel Studios superhero film Black Panther. The song was released by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records on February 2, 2018, as the album's third and final single. It serves as the second overall collaboration between the two artists.[3] The song appears in the movie during the scene where the titular hero along with his allies, Nakia and Okoye, enter a secret casino in Busan.[4]

Quick Facts from the album Black Panther: The Album, Released ...

Background and release

The Weeknd first hinted at his involvement with the Black Panther soundtrack album with an Instagram post that he made on January 19, 2018, which contained an illustration of the Marvel superhero Black Panther perched on a tree in front of the moon.[5] On January 26, 2018, the Weeknd then further hinted at his involvement with the soundtrack when he uploaded an official trailer for the Black Panther film to his Instagram account.[6] Then on January 31, 2018, Lamar confirmed the Weeknd's involvement with the soundtrack when he uploaded to his Twitter account the complete tracklist of the soundtrack, which contained the song "Pray for Me".[7] On February 1, 2018, the Weeknd uploaded to his Twitter account a video teasing the release date for "Pray for Me" as the soundtrack's third single.[8]

Composition

"Pray for Me" is composed in the key of E minor.[9]

Reception

Alex Robert Ross of Noisey praised the song, calling it "short, punchy, and self-lacerating."[10]

In February 2020, Tesfaye and Lamar were sued by now-split American experimental rock band Yeasayer for alleged plagiarism due to vocal similarities with their 2007 song "Sunrise".[11] According to the lawsuit, the part allegedly stolen from the song includes "the recording of a distinctive choral performance, which Plaintiffs [Yeasayer] created and recorded using their own voices".[12][13] Furthermore, Yeasayer claims that "Defendants extracted Plaintiffs' choral performance from a recording of 'Sunrise,' slightly modified it, including, on information and belief, via postprocessing to alter its pitch, among other qualities" and then subsequently used the modified audio in their own song.[12] Both Tesfaye and Lamar have denied the accusation. The lawsuit later reached its conclusion in July 2020, after Yeasayer dropped it.[14]

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from digital booklet.[15]

  • Kendrick Lamar – songwriting, lead vocals
  • The Weeknd – songwriting, lead vocals
  • Frank Dukes – songwriting, production
  • Doc McKinney – songwriting, production, recording
  • Beatriz Artola – recording
  • Shin Kamiyama – recording
  • Mike Sonier – recording
  • Barry McCready – recording assistance
  • Jaycen Joshua – mixing
  • David Nakaji – mixing assistance
  • Mike Bozzi mastering
  • Chris Athens – mastering

Charts

More information Chart (2018), Peak position ...

Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...

Release history

More information Region, Date ...

References

  1. Pearce, Sheldon (February 2, 2018). ""Pray for Me" [ft. The Weeknd] by Kendrick Lamar / The Weeknd Review". Pitchork. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  2. "Black Panther OST #prayforme #seasons". February 1, 2018. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2018 via Instagram.
  3. Madden, Sidney (February 2, 2018). "Kendrick Lamar produced the soundtrack for Black Panther". npr.org. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  4. Alexander, Julia (March 14, 2018). "Modern culture paradoxes can be explained by a popular Friends question". Polygon. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  5. Bonomolo, Cameron (January 22, 2018). "Kendrick Lamar produced the soundtrack for Black Panther". ComicBook.com. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  6. "Marvel Studios' Black Panther - War TV Spot". January 26, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018 via Instagram.[permanent dead link]
  7. Dumaraog, Ana (February 1, 2018). "Kendrick Lamar Unveils Black Panther Album Tracklist & Cover Art". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  8. "Pray For Me". February 1, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018 via Twitter.
  9. "The Weeknd "Pray for Me" Sheet Music". Musicnotes. February 7, 2018.
  10. Ross, Alex Robert (February 2, 2018). "Kendrick Lamar Teams with The Weeknd on "Pray for Me"". Noisey. Vice. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  11. Berthelot, Théau (February 26, 2020). ""Pray for Me" : Kendrick Lamar et The Weeknd accusés de plagiat". Purebreak Charts. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  12. "Yeasayer, LLC et al v. Tesfaye et al". Scribd. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  13. Minsker, Evan (February 24, 2020). "Yeasayer Suing Kendrick Lamar and the Weeknd Over Black Panther Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  14. "Various Artists – Black Panther: The Album [Booklet]". Genius. Archived from the original on February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  15. "The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar – Pray for Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  16. "The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar – Pray for Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  17. "The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar – Pray for Me" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  18. "Top 100 Colombia" (in Spanish). National-Report. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  19. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201810 into search. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  20. "Top 100 Ecuador" (in Spanish). National-Report. Archived from the original on May 8, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  21. "The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar: Pray For Me" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  22. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  23. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  24. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 9, 2018" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
  25. "The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar – Pray for Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  26. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201823 into search. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  27. "ARIA End of Year Singles 2018". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  28. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2018". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  29. "Track Top-100 2018" (in Danish). Hitlisten. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  30. "Tónlistinn – Lög – 2018" [The Music – Songs – 2018] (in Icelandic). Plötutíóindi. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  31. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2018" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  32. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  33. "Dance/Mix Show Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. December 16, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  34. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  35. "Pop Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  36. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. December 9, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  37. "Italian single certifications – The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar – Pray for Me" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved February 8, 2023. Select "2023" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Pray for Me" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  38. "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 19, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Pray for Me in the search box.
  39. "Sverigetopplistan – The Weeknd" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  40. "Pray for Me". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  41. "BBC – Radio 1Xtra – Playlist". BBC Radio 1. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  42. "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  43. "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  44. "BBC – Radio 1 – Playlist". BBC Radio 1. British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.

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