Acquainted

For acquaintanceship in relationships, see Interpersonal relationship § Stages.

2015 single by the Weeknd

"Acquainted"

Single by the Weeknd
from the album  Beauty Behind the Madness
Released| November 17, 2015 (2015-11-17)
Recorded| 2015
Studio| Jungle City Studios[1]
Genre| Alternative R&B
Length|

* 5:49 (album version)
* 4:06 (radio edit)

Label|

* XO
* Republic

Songwriter(s)|

* Abel Tesfaye
* Jason Quenneville
* Danny Schofield
* Carlo Montagnese
* Ben Diehl

Producer(s)|

* The Weeknd
* Illangelo
* Ben Billions
* Jason Quenneville
* Danny Boy Styles

The Weeknd singles chronology
| "Can't Feel My Face"
(2015)  | "Acquainted" / "In The Night"
(2015)  | "Might Not"
(2015)

|
|

"Acquainted" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). It was sent to urban contemporary stations on November 17, 2015, by XO and Republic Records, serving as the album's fifth single, along with In The Night. He wrote and produced the song with DaHeala, DannyBoyStyles, Illangelo, and Ben Billions.

## Background and promotion

[edit]

In May 2015, multiple tracks from the Weeknd were leaked, including a song titled "Girls Born in the '90s", which was the original version of "Acquainted". Following this, the song was heavily reworked before the release of Beauty Behind the Madness.[2]

After being released on August 28, 2015, as the sixth track from Beauty Behind the Madness, the song was promoted to urban contemporary radio on November 17, 2015, serving as the album's fifth and final single, and would be further promoted to the rhythmic contemporary format on February 16, 2016. The song was later intended to impact contemporary hit radio on April 12, 2016, but its release never occurred.[3]

## Composition and lyrics

[edit]

The song is written in the key of G minor with a moderate tempo of 106 beats per minute in common time. The song alternates between the chords Gm and F, and the vocals span from F3 to C6.[4]

The song has the Weeknd sing about vulnerability relating to whether a commitment to real love might be a risk worth taking, and questionably hints at something more than just sex.[5][6]

## Music video

[edit]

The music video was directed by Australian filmographer Nabil Elderkin.[7] Production commenced on February 9, 2016, but the video was never officially released.[8][7]

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (2015–2016)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[9] | 96
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] | 79
UK Singles (OCC)[11] | 90
US Billboard Hot 100[12] | 60
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] | 21
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[14] | 14
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[15] | 12

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (2015)  | Position

|

US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard)[16] | 31
Chart (2016)  | Position

|

US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[17] | 81

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[18] | Platinum  | 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[19] | Gold  | 30,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[20] | Platinum  | 80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[21] | Gold  | 45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[22] | Platinum  | 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] | Gold  | 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[24] | 4× Platinum  | 4,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

[edit]

Country  | Date  | Format  | Label  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

United States  | November 17, 2015  | Urban contemporary radio |

* XO
* Republic

| [25]
February 16, 2016  | Rhythmic contemporary | [26]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Acquainted liner notes". August 28, 2015.
2. ^ Hawkins, Autumn (July 11, 2023). "The Weeknd: 10 Best Songs, Ranked". k104.7.com. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
3. ^ "The Weeknd "Acquainted"". Republic Records. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
4. ^ Abel, Tesfaye (January 11, 2016). "Acquainted". www.musicnotes.com. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
5. ^ "The 50 Best Weeknd Songs". Rolling Stone. February 14, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
6. ^ Messitte, Nick. "The Curious Trend Behind The Weeknd's Number One Streak". Forbes. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
7. ^ a b ""Acquainted" by The Weeknd". songmeaningsandfacts.com. May 4, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
8. ^ "NABIL on Instagram: "First day of sumtin sumtin @abelxo"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2016. [permanent dead link]
9. ^ "CHART WATCH #361". auspOp. March 26, 2016. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
10. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
11. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
12. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
13. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
14. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
15. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
16. ^ "Hot R&B Singles: Year-End 2015". Billboard. Billboard. December 13, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
17. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
18. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
19. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – The Weeknd – Acquainted" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
20. ^ "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – Acquainted". Music Canada. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
21. ^ "Danish single certifications – The Weeknd – Acquainted". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
22. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – The Weeknd – Acquainted". Radioscope. Retrieved December 23, 2024. Type Acquainted  in the "Search:" field.
23. ^ "British single certifications – Weeknd – Acquainted". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
24. ^ "American single certifications – The Weeknd – Acquainted". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
25. ^ Navjosh (November 15, 2015). "The Weeknd Picks Next Singles From 'Beauty Behind The Madness'". Hip Hop N More. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
26. ^ "Top 40/R Future Releases". All Access. All Access Group. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Acquainted (Audio) on YouTube
* Acquainted (Official video)

* v
* t
* e

The Weeknd songs

* Discography
* Songs

Trilogy|

| House of Balloons|

* "High for This"
* "House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls"
* "The Morning"
* "Wicked Games"
* "Twenty Eight"

|

Thursday|

* "The Zone"
* "Rolling Stone"

Echoes of Silence|

* "D.D"
* "Echoes of Silence"

Kiss Land|

* "Belong to the World"
* "Live For"
* "Wanderlust"
* "Kiss Land"
* "Odd Look"

Beauty Behind the Madness|

* "Tell Your Friends"
* "Often"
* "The Hills"
* "Acquainted"
* "Can't Feel My Face"
* "Earned It"
* "In the Night"
* "Prisoner"

Starboy|

* "Starboy"
* "Party Monster"
* "False Alarm"
* "Reminder"
* "Rockin'"
* "Secrets"
* "Stargirl Interlude"
* "Sidewalks"
* "Six Feet Under"
* "A Lonely Night"
* "All I Know"
* "Die for You"
* "I Feel It Coming"

My Dear Melancholy|

* "Call Out My Name"
* "Try Me"
* "Wasted Times"
* "I Was Never There"
* "Hurt You"

After Hours|

* "Alone Again"
* "Too Late"
* "Hardest to Love"
* "Scared to Live"
* "Snowchild"
* "Escape from LA"
* "Heartless"
* "Faith"
* "Blinding Lights"
* "In Your Eyes"
* "Save Your Tears"
* "Repeat After Me (Interlude)"
* "After Hours"
* "Until I Bleed Out"

Dawn FM|

* "Gasoline"
* "How Do I Make You Love Me?"
* "Take My Breath"
* "Sacrifice"
* "Out of Time"
* "Here We Go... Again"
* "Is There Someone Else?"
* "I Heard You're Married"
* "Less than Zero"
* "Moth to a Flame"

The Idol|

* "Double Fantasy"
* "Popular"
* "One of the Girls"

Hurry Up Tomorrow|

* "Wake Me Up"
* "Cry for Me"
* "São Paulo"
* "Baptized in Fear"
* "Open Hearts"
* "Reflections Laughing"
* "Enjoy the Show"
* "Timeless"

Other songs|

* "King of the Fall"
* "Love Me Harder"
* "Might Not"
* "Pray for Me"
* "Lost in the Fire"
* "Power Is Power"
* "Smile"
* "Over Now"
* "Off the Table"
* "Hawái"
* "You Right"
* "Better Believe"
* "Die for It"
* "Hurricane"
* "One Right Now"
* "Creepin'"
* "Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)"
* "K-pop"
* "Another One of Me"
* "Young Metro"
* "We Still Don't Trust You"
* "Dancing in the Flames"
* "Rather Lie"

Featured songs|

* "Crew Love"
* "Remember You"
* "One of Those Nights"
* "Sexodus"
* "Elastic Heart"
* "Or Nah"
* "Might Not"
* "Nocturnal"
* "Low Life"
* "6 Inch"
* "Wild Love"
* "Some Way"
* "Comin Out Strong"
* "Lust for Life"
* "A Lie"
* "Curve"
* "What You Want"
* "Skeletons"
* "Wake Up"
* "Price on My Head"
* "La Fama"
* "Tears in the Club"
* "Poison"
* "Circus Maximus"

Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

|

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