Moth to a Flame

"Moth to a Flame" is a song by Swedish house supergroup Swedish House Mafia and Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd.^[2] It was released on 22 October 2021 through Republic Records as the third single from the former's debut studio album Paradise Again, and was later included on the Alternate World edition of the latter's fifth studio album Dawn FM; both released in 2022 ^[3]

"Moth to a Flame"
Single by Swedish House Mafia and the Weeknd
from the album Paradise Again and Dawn FM (Alternate World)
Released	22 October 2021
Genre	Synth-pop[1]
Length	3:54
Label	Republic
Songwriter(s)	Axel Hedfors Steve Angello Sebastian Ingrosso Abel Tesfaye Carl Nordström
Producer(s)	Swedish House Mafia Carl Nordström
Swedish House Mafia singles chronology
"Lifetime" (2021) "Moth to a Flame" (2021) "Redlight" (2022)
The Weeknd singles chronology
"Hurricane" (2021) "Moth to a Flame" (2021) "One Right Now" (2021)
Music video
"Moth to a Flame" on YouTube

Background and release

A potential collaboration between Swedish House Mafia and the Weeknd was first speculated when the group signed with the Weeknd's longtime manager Wassim "Sal" Slaiby in April 2021.^[4] It was later teased by the Weeknd during an episode of his Apple Music 1 radio show Memento Mori, in which he stated in the introduction "The Swedes just landed in L.A."^[5] A snippet of "Moth to a Flame" was then revealed by Swedish House Mafia during their performance at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards in September.^[6] On 19 October, the group and the singer teased the single once again before announcing that it would be released on 22 October.^[7] In celebration of its release, Swedish House Mafia hosted the twentieth episode of Memento Mori.^[8]

Critical reception

Dani Blum of Pitchfork named "Moth to a Flame" the best song on Paradise Again, writing that the "tingling production is more elegant than Swedish House Mafia seemed capable of a decade ago."^[9] Robin Murray of Clash described it as "a sizzling 80s tinged burner that places [the Weeknd] within an electronic orchestra."^[10] Thomas Stremfel of Spectrum Culture wrote that "equally unique framing and biblical stakes elevate the track to a pop epic."^[11] Billboard's Starr Bowenbank compared "Moth to a Flame" to the Weeknd's "Blinding Lights", highlighting its synth as being menacing in a manner akin to the song.^[12]

Chart performance

In the United Kingdom, "Moth to a Flame" debuted at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart with first-week sales of 19,853 units, making it Swedish House Mafia's seventh top 20 single and the Weeknd's 19th.^[13][14] In the United States, "Moth to a Flame" entered the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart at number two with 12.9 million streams, 1.7 million radio impressions and 3,800 downloads sold in its opening week. It marked Swedish House Mafia's third top 10 single on the chart and was the highest debut on the chart since Kygo and Whitney Houston's "Higher Love" in July 2019.^[15]

Music video

The music video for the song premiered on 22 October 2021 alongside the single's release and was directed by Alexander Wessely. The music video ends with a snippet of "Mafia", the track that follows "Moth to a Flame" on Paradise Again.^[16]

Live performances

Swedish House Mafia and the Weeknd performed "Moth to a Flame" at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on 17 April 2022.^[17] Starting on 10 June 2023, "Moth to a Flame" served as the closing track for the Weeknd's After Hours til Dawn Tour.^{[citation needed]}

Track listing

• Digital download and streaming

1. "Moth to a Flame" – 3:54

• Digital download and streaming – Extended Mix

1. "Moth to a Flame" (Extended Mix) – 5:00

• Digital download and streaming – Chris Lake Remix

1. "Moth to a Flame" (Chris Lake Remix) – 4:38

• Digital download and streaming – Tourist Remix

1. "Moth to a Flame" (Tourist Remix) – 4:53

• Digital download and streaming – Moojo Remix

1. "Moth to a Flame" (Moojo Remix) – 7:14

• Digital download and streaming – Adriatique Remix

1. "Moth to a Flame" (Adriatique Remix) – 6:29

Personnel

• Swedish House Mafia – production, keyboards, bass, drum programming
• Carl Nordström – production, keyboards, bass, drum programming
• Shin Kamiyama – mixing
• Mike Dean – mastering
• The Weeknd – vocals

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Moth to a Flame" Chart (2021–2022) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[18] 8 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19] 19 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 17 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[21] 16 Bulgaria International (PROPHON)[22] 8 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[23] 7 Canada AC (Billboard)[24] 26 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[25] 7 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[26] 14 CIS Airplay (TopHit)[27] 105 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[28] 21 Croatia International (HRT)[29] 5 Denmark (Tracklisten)[30] 10 El Salvador (ASAP EGC)[31] 10 Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[32] 9 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[33] 6 France (SNEP)[34] 34 Germany (GfK)[35] 14 Global 200 (Billboard)[36] 10 Greece International (IFPI)[37] 3 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[38] 30 Hungary (Single Top 40)[39] 11 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[40] 15 Iceland (Tónlistinn)[41] 13 India International (IMI)[42] 7 Ireland (IRMA)[43] 13 Italy (FIMI)[44] 39 Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[45] 10 Lithuania (AGATA)[46] 4 Luxembourg (Billboard)[47] 16 Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[48] 23 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[49] 10 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[50] 19 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[51] 13 Norway (VG-lista)[52] 7 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[53] 78 Portugal (AFP)[54] 11 Romania Airplay (TopHit)[27] 269 San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)[55] 11 Singapore (RIAS)[56] 11 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[57] 50 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[58] 13 South Africa (TOSAC)[59] 22 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[60] 56 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[61] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[62] 10 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[63] 64 UK Singles (OCC)[64] 15 UK Dance (OCC)[65] 4 US Billboard Hot 100[66] 27 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[67] 2 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[68] 20

Year-end charts 2021 year-end chart performance for "Moth to a Flame" Chart (2021) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[69] 69 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[70] 26 2022 year-end chart performance for "Moth to a Flame" Chart (2022) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[71] 107 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[72] 95 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[73] 48 France (SNEP)[74] 95 Germany (Official German Charts)[75] 95 Global 200 (Billboard)[76] 142 Lithuania (AGATA)[77] 68 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[78] 56 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[79] 94 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[80] 65 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[81] 53 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[82] 10

Certifications

Certifications for "Moth to a Flame"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[83]	Platinum	70,000‡
Belgium (BRMA)[84]	Platinum	40,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[85]	3× Platinum	240,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[86]	Platinum	90,000‡
France (SNEP)[87]	Diamond	333,333‡
Germany (BVMI)[88]	Gold	200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[89]	2× Platinum	200,000‡
Netherlands (NVPI)[90]	Platinum	80,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[91]	Platinum	30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[92]	2× Platinum	100,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[93]	2× Platinum	20,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[94]	Platinum	60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[95]	Platinum	600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[96]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[97]	Diamond	10,000,000†
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Moth to a Flame"

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label(s)	Ref.
Various	22 October 2021	Digital download streaming	Original	Republic	[98]
United States	26 October 2021	Contemporary hit radio			[99]
Various	3 January 2022	Digital download streaming	Extended Mix		[100]
	4 February 2022		Chris Lake Remix		[100]
	18 February 2022		Tourist Remix		[100]
	17 June 2022		Moojo Remix		[100]
	12 August 2022		Adriatique Remix		[100]