Timeless (The Weeknd and Playboi Carti song)

"Timeless"
Single by the Weeknd and Playboi Carti
from the album Hurry Up Tomorrow
ReleasedSeptember 27, 2024 (2024-09-27)
Studio
  • Other Island (Miami Beach)
  • Louis Vuitton (Paris)[1]
Genre
Length
  • 4:16
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • F1LTHY
  • Mike Dean
  • Ojivolta
  • Twisco
  • BbyKobe
  • BL$$D
The Weeknd singles chronology
"Dancing in the Flames"
(2024) 		"Timeless"
(2024) 		"São Paulo"
(2024)
Playboi Carti singles chronology
"All Red"
(2024) 		"Timeless"
(2024) 		"Blick Sum"
(2025)
Audio sample
Timeless
Music video
"Timeless" on YouTube

"Timeless" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd and American rapper Playboi Carti. It was released on September 27, 2024, through XO and Republic Records as the lead single from the former's sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025). Produced by Pharrell Williams, Mike Dean, Ojivolta, and Jarrod "Twisco" Morgan, the song received generally positive reviews from music critics, and was a massive commercial success, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number eight on the Billboard Global 200, and debuted in then reached the top ten in 15 countries.

Background and promotion

[edit]

The Weeknd and Playboi Carti first collaborated on the song "Popular" with American singer Madonna, released as part of the now scrapped soundtrack album from The Idol.[3] Following the collaboration, the Weeknd went on to praise what he and Carti brought together on the track and during their sessions.[4] On August 26, 2024, Carti posted on his Instagram a photo of himself and the Weeknd on FaceTime, teasing at a possible second collaboration.[5]

On September 7, during his "one night only" concert in São Paulo, Brazil, the Weeknd performed eight tracks off of his then-upcoming album Hurry Up Tomorrow, including a live debut of "Timeless" and a medley of "Fein" by Travis Scott and Carti, as well as the Weeknd's "Until I Bleed Out".[6][7][8] The concert was followed up by the release of "Dancing in the Flames", which was intended to be the lead single of the Weeknd's then-upcoming album Hurry Up Tomorrow.[9] On September 25, The Weeknd shared a social media post with a screenshot from the music video of "Timeless".[4] He simultaneously confirmed the song to be released on September 27 as the album's second single.[10]

Upon the album's release, "Dancing in the Flames" was removed from the track listing of Hurry Up Tomorrow, and "Timeless" was therewith reworked as the project's lead single.[11] The Singles cover features a man wearing a King Baldwin mask with the title timeless on it[12]

It also serves as the official theme song for WWE's WrestleMania 41, marking the Weeknd's sixth straight year in a row that his track served as the theme song for the annual event.[13]

Music video

[edit]

The music video would be teased two days before the single's initial release; a still picture from the music video was posted on the Weeknd's Instagram page.[14] The music video was eventually released on the Weeknd's YouTube page, three days after the song's release.[15] Directed by Gunner Stahl and LouieKnows, who both previously had worked frequently with Playboi Carti, and produced by production company Sands,[16] the video depicts the two musicians performing with young women inside a dark, blacked out soundstage, briefly followed by visuals of the previous album, After Hours, depicted as "Hell", the first part of Divine Comedy.

Critical reception

[edit]

Upon release, "Timeless" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Pitchfork praised the track's "tasteful" and "seamless" sound, describing it as "cosmic lounge music with catchy lyrics" such as the main hook "Ever since I was a jit knew I was the shit"[17][18]. However, the reviewer critiqued the song's deeply manicured production and strategic timing, noting that despite its title, both artists seem aware that "their fame won't last forever."[18] Mark Chinapen of Medium praised the song's bouncy energy and the Weeknd's return to a trap-inspired sound, showcasing the Weeknd's "braggadocio, 'King of the Fall' aura" and highlighting his catchy chorus and signature falsetto. He praised Playboi Carti's performance and felt that his verse succeeded at complementing the beat. However, the reviewer saw the production as somewhat "basic" and not as special as expected. Despite this, Chinapen considered "Timeless" a solid second single from Hurry Up Tomorrow, with its inclusion alongside "Dancing in the Flames" hinting at an album with "an amalgamation of different sounds."[19]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[20]

  • The Weeknd – vocals, songwriting, keyboard, associated performer
  • Playboi Carti – vocals, songwriting
  • Mike Dean – co-production, songwriting, mixing, synthesizer, mastering, studio personnel, associated performer
  • Ojivolta – co-production, songwriting
  • Pharrell Williams – production, songwriting, mixing, studio personnel
  • Twisco – co-production, songwriting
  • Gozshu - songwriting
  • Devon "Lawson" Chisolm – songwriting
  • Jarrod "Twisco" Morgan – songwriting
  • Kobe "BbyKobe" Hood – songwriting
  • Mark Williams (Oji) – songwriting
  • Raul Cubina (Volta) – songwriting
  • Tariq "BL$$D" Sharrieff – songwriting
  • Tommy Rush – assistant mixing, studio personnel
  • Sage Skolfield – co-mixing, engineering, studio personnel
  • Mike Larson – engineering, studio personnel
  • Marcus Fritz – vocal mixing, studio personnel

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Timeless"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[73] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Belgium (BRMA)[74] Gold 20,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[75] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[76] Gold 45,000‡
France (SNEP)[77] Gold 100,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[78] Platinum 30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[79] Gold 25,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[80] Platinum 10,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[81] Gold 30,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[82] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[83] Gold 400,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[84] 2× Platinum 4,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
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