Graveyard (song)

"Graveyard" is a song by American singer Halsey. It was released on September 13, 2019, through Capitol Records as the second single from her third studio album, Manic (2020).^[1][2] It reached the Top 40 in fifteen countries worldwide and is certified double platinum in the United States, Brazil, Canada, and Australia.

"Graveyard"
Single by Halsey
from the album Manic
Released	September 13, 2019 (2019-09-13)
Genre	Pop electropop
Length	3:01
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Ashley Frangipane Amy Allen Jonathan Bellion Louis Bell Jordan K. Johnson Stefan Johnson Mark "Oji" Williams
Producer(s)	The Monsters & Strangerz Jon Bellion Ojivolta Louis Bell
Halsey singles chronology
"Nightmare" (2019) "Graveyard" (2019) "You Should Be Sad" (2020)
Alternative cover
Axwell remix cover
Music video
"Graveyard" on YouTube

Background and promotion

In March 2019, Halsey announced that her upcoming third studio album would be released in 2019 and that she wants it to be "perfect".^[3] On September 3, 2019, Halsey revealed the cover art and release date of "Graveyard" on her social media.^[4] The announcement was made a day after fans questioned the singer about upcoming news.^[1] The song was made available for pre-save upon announcement.^[5] Halsey performed the song for the first time on September 11, 2019, as one of the musical guests on Rihanna's "Savage X Fenty" show.^[6][7] She posted a teaser containing a still from the music video as well as a line from the song on her social media that same day.^[8]

Composition

"Graveyard" is a pop^[9] and electropop^[10] song written by Halsey with Amy Allen, Jon Bellion, Jordan K. Johnson, Louis Bell, Mark Williams and Stefan Johnson. Its production was done by Bellion, Bell, Ojivolta and The Monsters and the Strangerz.^[11] According to Halsey, the song "is about being in love with someone who is in a bad place and loving them so much that you don't realize that you're going to that bad place with them". It also deals with the topic of caring for yourself instead of following others.^[12]

Critical reception

Althea Legaspi and Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone wrote that the song's lyrical content "addresses following a relationship down a dark road despite warning signs" and noted the "contemplative guitar melody".^[13] Rania Aniftos at Billboard referred to the song as an "emotional tune".^[12] Writing for Idolator, Mike Nied complimented the song for being "self-aware, vulnerable and very relatable" and pointed out Jon Bellion's obvious presence on its production, calling it a "a lush pop production".^[14]

Music video

The song release was supported by a time-lapse visualizer of Halsey painting a self-portrait which also serves as the album cover for Manic.^[13] The official music video was released on October 8, 2019, and was directed by Anton Tammi. It features Halsey and a mysterious girl (Sydney Sweeney) magically from her notebook dancing alone in an amusement park.^[15] When the bridge starts, the mysterious girl disappears while Halsey enters an aquarium, which looks similar to the video for her song, "Clementine". Immediately, she wakes up into a white abandoned version of the park, later teleporting to her bedroom of the same color.

Live performances

Halsey performed "Graveyard" for the first time at the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards on November 3, 2019;^[16] also during the 47th American Music Awards ceremony on November 24^[17] and the Australian ARIA Music Awards of 2019 on November 27.^[18]

List of televised performances

• September 19, 2019 – Savage X Fenty Fashion Show^[19]
• September 30, 2019 – iHeartRadio Music Festival^[20]
• October 28, 2019 – The Ellen DeGeneres Show^[21]
• October 30, 2019 – Idol Sverige^[22]
• November 2, 2019 – MTV Europe Music Awards^[23]
• November 12, 2019 – Country Music Association Awards (with Lady A)^[24]
• November 15, 2019 – The Jonathan Ross Show^[25]
• November 24, 2019 – American Music Awards^[26]
• November 26, 2019 – Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards^[27]
• December 9, 2019 – Pandora Live concert^[28]
• March 25, 2020 – CMT Crossroads (with Kelsea Ballerini)

Other uses

The song appears on the US edition of Now That's What I Call Music! 73, marking the first appearance for Halsey in the US Now! series.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal and Spotify.^[11][29]

• Halsey – vocals, songwriting
• Ojivolta – production
• Louis Bell – production, songwriting, record engineering, programming, keyboards
• Jon Bellion – production, songwriting, keyboards, programming
• Amy Allen – songwriting, background vocals, guitar
• Mark Williams – production, songwriting, guitar, keyboards, programming
• The Monsters and the Strangerz – production, songwriting, engineering, keyboards, programming
• Chris Gehringer – mastering engineering
• John Hanes – mixing engineering
• Serban Ghenea – mixing

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2019–2020) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[30] 24 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[31] 7 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[32] 23 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[33] 38 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[34] 15 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[35] 25 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[36] 15 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[37] 36 Estonia (Eesti Ekspress)[38] 26 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[39] 24 Ireland (IRMA)[40] 30 Latvia (LAIPA)[41] 22 Lithuania (AGATA)[42] 20 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[43] 60 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[44] 27 Portugal (AFP)[45] 75 Romania (Airplay 100)[46] 93 Scotland (OCC)[47] 48 Singapore (RIAS)[48] 18 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[49] 33 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[50] 95 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[51] 75 UK Singles (OCC)[52] 29 US Billboard Hot 100[53] 34 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[54] 16 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[55] 24 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[56] 1 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[57] 10 US Rolling Stone Top 100[58] 25

Year-end charts Chart (2020) Position US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[59] 48

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[60]	2× Platinum	140,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[61]	2× Platinum	80,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[62]	2× Platinum	160,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[63]	Gold	30,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway)[64]	Gold	30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[65]	Gold	25,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[66]	Gold	5,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[67]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[68]	2× Platinum	2,000,000‡
Streaming
Sweden (GLF)[69]	Gold	4,000,000†
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	September 13, 2019	Digital download streaming	Original	Capitol	[70]
Australia		Contemporary hit radio			[71]
United Kingdom	September 14, 2019				[72]
United States	September 17, 2019				[73]
	September 30, 2019	Hot adult contemporary			[74]
Various	October 31, 2019	Digital download streaming	Axwell Remix		[75]
	November 12, 2019		Acoustic		[76]

See also

• List of Billboard number-one dance songs of 2020

References

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External links

• Halsey: Graveyard at IMDb