"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. He wrote and produced the song with DaHeala, DannyBoyStyles, Illangelo, and Ben Billions.
| "Acquainted" | ||||
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| Single by the Weeknd | ||||
| from the album Beauty Behind the Madness | ||||
| Released | November 17, 2015 | |||
| Recorded | 2015 | |||
| Studio | Jungle City Studios[1] | |||
| Genre | Alternative R&B | |||
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| The Weeknd singles chronology | ||||
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Background and promotion
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
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
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
Year-end charts
| 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
| 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‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[22] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[23] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Country | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | November 17, 2015 | Urban contemporary radio | [24] | |
| February 16, 2016 | Rhythmic contemporary | [25] |