Nightmare (Halsey song)

2019 single by Halsey

"Nightmare"

Single by Halsey
Released| May 17, 2019 (2019-05-17)
Recorded| 2019
Genre|

* Alternative rock
* punk rock
* emo
* electro-metal
* industrial
* trap

Length| 3:52
Label| Capitol
Composer(s)|

* Benjamin Levin
* Elena Kiper
* Magnus Høiberg
* Ivan Shapovalov
* Martin Kierszenbaum
* Nathan Perez
* Sergio Galoyan
* Trevor Horn
* Valerij Polienko

Lyricist(s)| Ashley Frangipane
Producer(s)|

* Benny Blanco
* Cashmere Cat
* Happy Perez

Halsey singles chronology
| "Boy with Luv"
(2019)  | "Nightmare"
(2019)  | "Graveyard"
(2019)

|
|

Music video
Nightmare on YouTube

"Nightmare" is a song by American singer Halsey. It was released as a single on May 17, 2019, and was sent to top 40 radio on May 21, 2019, through Capitol Records.[1] The song was written by Halsey along with its producers Benny Blanco, Cashmere Cat, and Happy Perez. The music video, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, accompanied its release the same day.[2] The song was intended to be the lead single for Halsey’s 3rd studio album Manic but was cut and replaced with Without Me and was later added as a bonus track on the extended version of Halsey's fourth studio album If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power.

## Composition

[edit]

"Nightmare" is described as an alternative rock,[3] punk rock,[4] emo,[5] electro-metal,[6] industrial[7] and trap[3] song by critics. It is written in the key A minor with 146 beats per minute.[8] The song contains an interpolation of "All the Things She Said" by Russian duo t.A.T.u. Elena Kiper, one of the songwriters of t.A.T.u's song, posted on her Instagram that an initial version of Halsey's track "contained an extensive interpolation of the original work" but later the sample was changed by G-Eazy,[9] although the latter isn't credited on the work.

## Promotion

[edit]

In May 2019, Halsey posted a link on her social media, directing users to the website "nightma.re" to sign up for email alerts and prompting them to share what their worst nightmare is. The site gave a series of options, and upon clicking one of the options, users would be shown an explanation as to the meaning of that specific nightmare.[10] Fans also believed that the time tickets for her recent intimate concerts went on sale, 5:17 PM, was a hint towards the date new music would be released,[11] although Halsey claimed no knowledge of this and only said new music would be coming "sooner than you think".[10] She then announced the single's release date on Twitter on May 9, 2019, posting a video of her revealing the title at one of her concerts, and captioning it "new single. NIGHTMARE. may 17th".[1] Several days later, Halsey announced she had hidden lyrics of the song in five US cities: Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, and New York City.[12]

On May 20, 2019, Halsey performed a free show for fans in Minneapolis, where she performed the single live for the first time, along with "Castle", "Gasoline", "Without Me" and "Don't Play". She uploaded a video of some of the performances on YouTube following the show.[13]

## Music video

[edit]

The music video for "Nightmare" premiered on YouTube on May 16, 2019.[14] Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, the video features appearances by Cara Delevingne, Debbie Harry,[15] Ryan Destiny, and Suki Waterhouse.[16]

## Critical reception

[edit]

The song has received positive reviews. Billboard magazine said the song is musically "unorthodox" containing "stylistic curveballs" and "killer lines" that "exalt autonomy, sexual freedom and self-acceptance".[17] The line "I've been polite, but I won't be caught dead/ Letting a man tell me what I should do in my bed" was noted as a "barbed assault on patriarchal expectation" by Billboard and "a necessary gesture of rage and empowerment" by Rolling Stone.[18] Billboard named it the 17th best song of 2019.[19]

## Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[20]

* Halsey – vocals, songwriting
* Benny Blanco – production, songwriting, record engineering, keyboards, programming
* Cashmere Cat – production, songwriting, keyboards, programming
* Happy Perez – production, songwriting, guitar, programming
* Elena Kiper – songwriting
* Ivan Nikolaevich Shapovalov – songwriting
* Martin Kierszenbaum – songwriting
* Sergio Galoyan – songwriting
* Trevor Horn – songwriting
* Valerij Valentinovich Polienko – songwriting
* John Hanes – mixing engineering
* Serban Ghenea – mixing
* Chris Gehringer – mastering engineering

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year  | Organization  | Award  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

2019  | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Song: Female  | Nominated  | [21][22]
2019  | MTV Video Music Awards | Video for Good  | Nominated  | [23]

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

Weekly chart performance for "Nightmare"  | Chart (2019)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[24] | 13
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[25] | 56
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[26] | 6
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[27] | 28
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[28] | 17
CIS Airplay (TopHit)[29] | 13
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[30] | 17
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[31] | 38
China Airplay/FL (Billboard)[32] | 15
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[33] | 70
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[34] | 25
Estonia (Eesti Tipp-40)[35] | 15
France (SNEP Sales Chart)[36] | 48
Germany (GfK)[37] | 87
Hungary (Single Top 40)[38] | 9
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[39] | 7
Ireland (IRMA)[40] | 24
Italy (FIMI)[41] | 68
Latvia (LAIPA)[42] | 8
Lithuania (AGATA)[43] | 15
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[44] | 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[45] | 19
Portugal (AFP)[46] | 48
Russia Airplay (TopHit)[47] | 27
Scotland (OCC)[48] | 33
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[49] | 7
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[50] | 16
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[51] | 61
UK Singles (OCC)[52] | 26
Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[53] | 56
US Billboard Hot 100[54] | 15
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[55] | 21
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[56] | 13
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[57] | 19
US Rolling Stone Top 100[58] | 66

### Year-end charts

[edit]

Year-end chart performance for "Nightmare"  | Chart (2019)  | Position

|

CIS (Tophit)[59] | 137
Russia Airplay (Tophit)[60] | 122

## Certifications

[edit]

Certifications for "Nightmare"  Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[61] | Platinum  | 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[62] | Platinum  | 40,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[63] | Platinum  | 80,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[64] | Gold  | 25,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[65] | Platinum  | 20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[66] | Silver  | 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[67] | Platinum  | 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Nightmare (Reprise)

[edit]

"Nightmare (Reprise)"

Song by Halsey
from the album  If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (Extended Edition)
Label| Capitol
Producer(s)|

* Trent Reznor
* Atticus Ross

"Nightmare (Reprise)" is a song by Halsey included on the Walmart bonus track edition of her fourth studio album If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (2021). The song is a re-produced version of "Nightmare" created to match the sound of the album. It was first teased by Walmart when a 25-second snippet of a censored version of the song was posted to their website as promotional material for their Walmart exclusive version of the album.[68] It was later added to the extended edition of the album along with "People Disappear Here" and the original "Nightmare".

## Release history

[edit]

Release dates and formats for "Nightmare"  Region  | Date  | Format  | Label  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

Various  | May 17, 2019  |

* Digital download
* streaming

| Capitol | [69]
United States  | May 21, 2019  | Contemporary hit radio | [70]
Italy  | May 24, 2019  | Universal | [71]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "new single. NIGHTMARE. may 17th". May 9, 2019. Retrieved May 10, 2019 - via Twitter.
2. ^ "Halsey – Nightmare". May 17, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2019 - via YouTube.
3. ^ a b Lipshutz, Jason. "Halsey's 'Nightmare' May Not Become Her Biggest Single, But It's Her Most Important One". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
4. ^ Reilly, Nick (May 17, 2019). "Halsey returns with new song 'Nightmare'". NME. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
5. ^ Kaplan, Ilana (May 25, 2019). "Song You Need To Know: Halsey, 'Nightmare'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
6. ^ Wood, Mikael (January 17, 2020). "Review: On Halsey's new album 'Manic,' elusiveness is a strength - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
7. ^ Kaplan, Ilana. "Halsey's New Nine Inch Nails Produced Album Turns Her Into a Rock Star". Spin. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
8. ^ "Key and BPM of Nightmare by Halsey". musicstax.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
9. ^ "Elena Kiper Instagram". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
10. ^ a b Shoemaker, Whitney (May 9, 2019). "Halsey reveals new music is coming 'sooner than you think'". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
11. ^ Daw, Stephen (May 2, 2019). "Halsey Announces Two Intimate NYC Shows, Hints at 'Nightmare' Project on Social Media". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
12. ^ Smith-Engelhardt, Joe (May 11, 2019). "Halsey launches 'NIGHTMARE' lyrics scavenger hunt across US cities". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
13. ^ Campbell, Rachel (May 20, 2019). "Halsey Gives 'Nightmare' Live Debut at Free Pop-Up Show". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
14. ^ "Halsey – Nightmare". May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2019 - via Linkfire/YouTube.
15. ^ "Watch Halsey Get Fired Up in 'Nightmare' Music Video". Rolling Stone. May 17, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
16. ^ @etnow (May 17, 2019). "Oh, and did you catch the iconic superstar cameos from @Caradelevingne, @sukiwaterhouse, @RyanDestiny & Debbie Harry?! 👀" (Tweet). Retrieved May 24, 2019 - via Twitter.
17. ^ "Halsey's 'Nightmare' May Not Become Her Biggest Single, But It's Her Most Important One". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
18. ^ "Song You Need To Know: Halsey, 'Nightmare'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
19. ^ Billboard Staff (December 11, 2019). "The 100 Best Songs of 2019: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
20. ^ "Nightmare / Halsey". Tidal. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
21. ^ Moreau, Jordan (June 19, 2019). "'Avengers: Endgame,' 'Riverdale,' 'Aladdin' Top 2019 Teen Choice Award Nominations". Variety.
22. ^ "Teen Choice Awards 2019: See the Complete List of Winners". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
23. ^ "Ariana Grande & Taylor Swift Lead 2019 MTV VMA Nominations: See Full List". Billboard. July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
24. ^ "Halsey – Nightmare". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
25. ^ "Halsey – Nightmare" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
26. ^ "Halsey – Nightmare" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
27. ^ "Halsey – Nightmare" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
28. ^ "Halsey Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
29. ^ Halsey — Nightmare. TopHit. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
30. ^ "Halsey Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
31. ^ "Halsey Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
32. ^ "China Airplay Chart/Foreign Language - 05/27/2019". Billboard China (in Chinese). Archived from the original on July 11, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
33. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 34. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
34. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 21. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
35. ^ "EESTI TIPP-40: Official Estonian Singles Chart". Eesti Ekspress. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
36. ^ "Halsey - Nightmare". PureMédias (in French). Retrieved December 18, 2022.
37. ^ "Halsey – Nightmare" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
38. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
39. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
40. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Halsey". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
41. ^ "Halsey – Nightmare". Top Digital Download. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
42. ^ "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 21. nedēļa" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
43. ^ "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. May 24, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
44. ^ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. June 29, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
45. ^ "Halsey – Nightmare". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
46. ^ "Halsey – Nightmare". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
47. ^ "Russia Airplay Chart for 2019-07-22." TopHit. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
48. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
49. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 21. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
50. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 21". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
51. ^ "Halsey – Nightmare". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
52. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
53. ^ "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2019-10-14." TopHit. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
54. ^ "Halsey Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
55. ^ "Halsey Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
56. ^ "Halsey Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
57. ^ "Halsey Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
58. ^ "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. July 2, 2019. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
59. ^ "CIS Year-End Radio Hits (2019)". Tophit. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
60. ^ "Russian Top Year-End Radio Hits (2019)". Tophit. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
61. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
62. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Halsey – Nightmare" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
63. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Halsey – Nightmare". Music Canada.
64. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
65. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Nightmare')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
66. ^ "British single certifications – Halsey – Nightmare". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
67. ^ "American single certifications – Halsey – Nightmare". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
68. ^ "If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (Walmart Exclusive) - Vinyl". Walmart. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
69. ^ "Spotify". Spotify. May 17, 2019. Archived from the original on May 5, 2020.
70. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases | Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates ..." Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
71. ^ "HALSEY "Nightmare" | (Radio Date: 24/05/2019)".

* v
* t
* e

Halsey

* Discography

Studio albums|

* Badlands (2015)
* Hopeless Fountain Kingdom (2017)
* Manic (2020)
* If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (2021)
* The Great Impersonator (2024)

Extended plays|

* Room 93 (2014)

Singles|

* "Ghost"
* "New Americana"
* "Colors"
* "Castle"
* "Not Afraid Anymore"
* "Now or Never"
* "Bad at Love"
* "Alone"
* "Him & I"
* "Without Me"
* "Nightmare"
* "Graveyard"
* "You Should Be Sad"
* "Be Kind"
* "Life's a Mess"
* "I Am Not a Woman, I'm a God"
* "So Good"
* "Stay with Me"
* "Die 4 Me"
* "Lucky"
* "Lonely Is the Muse"
* "Ego"
* "I Never Loved You"

Featured singles|

* "Hands"
* "Closer"
* "Boy with Luv"
* "11 Minutes"
* "Eastside"
* "Earth"
* "The Other Girl"

Promotional singles|

* "Hurricane"
* "Hold Me Down"
* "Eyes Closed"
* "Strangers"
* "Clementine"
* "Finally // Beautiful Stranger"
* "Suga's Interlude"
* "The End"

Other songs|

* "Gasoline"
* "Sorry"
* "Die for Me"
* "Forget Me Too"

Films|

If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (2021)

Concerts and tours|

* Badlands Tour
* Hopeless Fountain Kingdom Tour
* Manic World Tour
* Love and Power Tour

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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