Until I Bleed Out

"Until I Bleed Out" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his fourth studio album After Hours.^[1] It was released as the closing track from the album on March 20, 2020.^[2] It was written and produced alongside Metro Boomin, Oneohtrix Point Never, Prince 85, and Notinbed. A music video for the song was released on April 7, 2020.^[3][4]

"Until I Bleed Out"
Song by the Weeknd
from the album After Hours
Released	March 20, 2020 (2020-03-20)
Studio	Republic Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Electro alternative R&B
Length	3:12
Label	XO Republic
Songwriter(s)	Abel Tesfaye Leland Wayne Daniel Lopatin Mejdi Rhars Notinbed
Producer(s)	The Weeknd Metro Boomin Oneohtrix Point Never Prince 85 Notinbed
Music video
"Until I Bleed Out" on YouTube

Background and release

In early March 2020, two weeks before the release of After Hours, the Weeknd showcased the song during an album listening session to Variety writer Jem Aswad, where Tesfaye also mentioned a music video for "Until I Bleed Out".^[5][6] The track was then officially released on March 20, 2020, alongside the rest of its parent album.^[7][8]

Lyrics

The song's lyrics refers to the conclusion of the Weeknd's relationship with his former partner through the usage of metaphorical violence.^[9] It signifies the Weeknd running out of blood in his body and no longer having the energy needed to keep the relationship alive.^[10]

Critical reception

The song was met with positive reviews, with praise for the track primarily directed towards its dark atmosphere.^[11] Jon Caramanica from The New York Times described it as being "the album's syrupy final song".^[12] J'na Jefferson from Billboard ranked the track as the twelfth best song from After Hours, complimenting the song's production, calling its instrumentals "video game-style" while adding that its "bleak echo ties the contrasting elements of the project in a neat bow." However, Billboard would later state that its abrupt ending makes it difficult to "pick up the pieces."^[13]

Music video

The official music video for "Until I Bleed Out" was first announced via the Weeknd's various social media platforms on April 6, 2020.^[14][15] Its release occurred the following day on April 7, 2020.^[16] Directed by Anton Tammi, the music video shows Tesfaye, after the events of the "In Your Eyes" music video where he was killed, shown continuing the persona found throughout the era's promotional material and is seen navigating a balloon filled mansion in a lost, dazed, and damaged manner.^[17] The video concludes with Tesfaye stumbling out of the mansion, and collapsing on the desert ground.^[18] The music video was met with positive reception, with journalist noting its references to the Weeknd's early Trilogy material and comparing it to some films by Robert De Niro.^[19][20]

Commercial performance

Following the releasing of its parent album, "Until I Bleed Out" debuted at number 80 on the US Billboard Hot 100 dated April 4, 2020. It was the lowest charting track from After Hours.^[21]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[4]

• The Weeknd – vocals, songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
• Metro Boomin – songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
• Oneohtrix Point Never – songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
• Prince 85 – songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
• Notinbed – songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
• Dave Kutch – mastering
• Kevin Peterson – mastering

Charts

Chart (2020)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[22]	67
France (SNEP)[23]	158
Greece (IFPI)[24]	72
Lithuania (AGATA)[25]	59
Portugal (AFP)[26]	87
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[27]	62
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[28]	11
US Billboard Hot 100[29]	80
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[30]	40
US Rolling Stone Top 100[31]	37

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label(s)	Ref.
Various	March 20, 2020	Digital download streaming	XO Republic	[32]

References

1. "The Weeknd Reveals 'After Hours' Tracklist". Rap-Up. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
2. Ingvaldsen, Torsten (March 20, 2020). "The Weeknd Is Hosting an 'After Hours' Listening Session on Spotify". Hypebeast. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
3. "The Weeknd Drops "Until I Bleed Out" Video". Complex. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
4. "After Hours / The Weeknd – Tidal". Tidal. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
5. Aswad, Jem (April 8, 2020). "The Weeknd Goes Track-by-Track (Almost) on 'After Hours'". Retrieved April 13, 2020.
6. Aswad, Jem (April 8, 2020). "The Weeknd Opens Up About His Past, Turning 30 and Getting Vulnerable on 'After Hours'". Retrieved April 13, 2020.
7. "The Weeknd's 'After Hours' Track List: See Here". Billboard. March 17, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
8. Fitzgerald, Trent (March 20, 2020). "The Weeknd Drops After Hours Album: Listen to New Songs". XXL Mag. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
9. "The Weeknd's 'Until I Bleed Out' Video: Watch". Billboard. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
10. "Album Review: The Weeknd Picks up the Pieces on the Sonically Fearless After Hours". March 24, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
11. Aswad, Jem (March 20, 2020). "The Weeknd's 'After Hours': Album Review". Retrieved April 13, 2020.
12. Caramanica, Jon (April 1, 2020). "The Weeknd's Gleamy, Seamy Pop Returns". The New York Times. Retrieved April 13, 2020 – via NYTimes.com.
13. "The Weeknd's 'After Hours': Every Song Ranked". Billboard. March 20, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
14. @TheWeeknd (April 6, 2020). "Until I Bleed Out - The Weeknd" (Tweet). Retrieved April 7, 2020 – via Twitter.
15. @TheWeeknd (April 6, 2020). "tomorrow. - The Weeknd" (Tweet). Retrieved April 7, 2020 – via Twitter.
16. "The Weeknd Continues His Video Saga with "Until I Bleed Out"". exclaim.ca. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
17. "The Weeknd's 'Until I Bleed Out' Video Shows The Hazy Aftermath Of A Hectic Party". April 7, 2020.
18. Lamarre, Carl (April 7, 2020). "The Weeknd's Mind Spins Out of Control in 'Until I Bleed Out' Video". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
19. "The Weeknd "Until I Bleed Out" Earns Video Release". HotNewHipHop. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
20. Shaffer, Claire (April 7, 2020). "The Weeknd Throws a Drug-Fueled Confetti Party in 'Until I Bleed Out' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
21. Zellener, Xander (March 30, 2020). "Every Song From The Weeknd's 'After Hours' Is on the Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
22. "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
23. "Top Singles (Week 13, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
24. "IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 13 2020". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on April 9, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
25. "2020 13-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
26. "The Weeknd – Until I Bleed Out". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
27. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 13. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
28. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 13". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
29. "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
30. "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
31. "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
32. "Listen to the Weeknd's New Album After Hours". Pitchfork. March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.

External links

• Until I Bleed Out (Audio) on YouTube