"Less Than Zero"
Single by the Weeknd
from the album Dawn FM
ReleasedJuly 7, 2022 (2022-07-07)
Genre
Length3:32
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Weeknd singles chronology
"Out of Time"
(2022)		 "Less Than Zero"
(2022)		 "Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)"
(2022)

"Less than Zero" is a song by Canadian singer the Weeknd. It was released to French contemporary hit radio on July 7, 2022, as the fourth and final single from his fifth studio album Dawn FM (2022).[1] The song was written by the Weeknd, Max Martin, and Oscar Holter, and produced by the three alongside Oneohtrix Point Never.

Background and promotion

The song's name was first revealed on January 5, 2022, when Canadian singer the Weeknd posted the track listing for the song's parent album Dawn FM (2022).[2][3] A lyric video for the song directed by Micah Bickham was released on January 9, 2022.[4] It was also one of the songs performed in the television music special The Dawn FM Experience.[5]

The song was given a limited single release in France, with it being sent to contemporary hit radio on July 7, 2022, in the country.[1]

"Less than Zero" also serves as one of the two official theme songs for WWE's WrestleMania 39. This marks the fourth straight year a song by the Weeknd serves as the theme song for the annual event.[6]

Lyrics and composition

"Less than Zero" has been described as a slow-dance new wave and synth-pop track where the Weeknd sings about remaining regretful sentiments he has after the end of a relationship and how he blames himself. It is in the key of C major.[7][8][9][10][11]

Critical reception

"Less Than Zero" was met with widespread acclaim. Critics noted the song as a highlight on the record, with particular praise being given to the song's production, lyrics, its acoustic ending and The Weeknd's emotionally resonant vocals.[7][12] Critics from Billboard noted that the song had the ability to potentially achieve the top 40 success that the singles from the Weeknd's previous After Hours predecessors.[13]

Charts

Chart performance for "Less than Zero"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[14] 47
Australia Hip-Hop/R&B Singles (ARIA)[15] 18
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 32
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[17] 46
Denmark (Tracklisten)[18] 33
France (SNEP)[19] 82
Global 200 (Billboard)[20] 24
Greece International (IFPI)[21] 14
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[22] 21
India International Singles (IMI)[23] 16
Lithuania (AGATA)[24] 30
Portugal (AFP)[25] 39
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[26] 56
South Africa (RISA)[27] 63
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[28] 67
UK Audio Streaming (OCC)[29] 57
US Billboard Hot 100[30] 53

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
France (SNEP)[31] Gold 100,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label(s) Ref.
France July 7, 2022 Contemporary hit radio [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Pineau, Marine (July 7, 2022). "Après Take My Breath, The Weeknd choisit Less Than Zero en guise de single". Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  2. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (January 5, 2022). "The Weeknd Reveals Tracklist For 16-Song 'Dawn FM' Album". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  3. ↑ "The Weeknd Enlists Jim Carrey and Quincy Jones for His New 'Dawn FM' Album". GQ. January 5, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  4. ↑ "The Weeknd – Sacrifice Video". Contactmusic.com. January 9, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  5. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (February 21, 2022). "The Weeknd to Premiere 'Dawn FM Experience' Special This Weekend". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  6. ↑ "WWE WrestleMania 39 Official Theme Song Reportedly Picked". WWE. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Barr, Natalia (January 26, 2022). "The Weeknd's New Hit, Gunna's Hotshot Single and the Other Best Songs of January". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via www.wsj.com.
  8. ↑ "THE WEEKND Less Than Zero". ElectricityClub.co.uk. January 15, 2022.
  9. ↑ Grow, Tomás Mier,Waiss David Aramesh,Julyssa Lopez,Charles Aaron,Angie Martoccio,Elias Leight,Jon Freeman,Mosi Reeves,Jon Blistein,Sarah Grant,Joe Gross,Simon Vozick-Levinson,Jon Dolan,Kory; Mier, Tomás; Aramesh, Waiss David; Lopez, Julyssa; Aaron, Charles; Martoccio, Angie; Leight, Elias; Freeman, Jon; Reeves, Mosi; Blistein, Jon; Grant, Sarah; Gross, Joe; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Dolan, Jon; Grow, Kory (February 14, 2022). "The 50 Best Weeknd Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2022.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ↑ Muñoz-Schaefer, Ursula. "The Weeknd Is Our Most Prescient Pop Star". Miami New Times. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  11. ↑ Holiday, Harmony (January 14, 2022). "On 'Dawn FM,' The Weeknd is both suffering and saved". Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via NPR.
  12. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (January 10, 2022). "The Endless Pop Shimmers of the Weeknd". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via NYTimes.com.
  13. ↑ Mamo, Heran (January 7, 2022). "Every Song on The Weeknd's 'Dawn FM' Album, Ranked: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  14. ↑ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  15. ↑ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 17, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  16. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  17. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  18. ↑ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". Tracklisten. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  19. ↑ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  20. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Official IFPI Charts - Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week: 02/2022". ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 2 – 2022" [The Music - Albums - Week 2 - 2022] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Top 20 Charts". Indian Music Industry. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. January 17, 2022. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  24. ↑ "2022 2-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. January 14, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  25. ↑ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  26. ↑ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 02-2022". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  28. ↑ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  30. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  31. ↑ "French single certifications – The Weeknd – Less Than Zero" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
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