Working (song)

"Working" is a song by Canadian singer Tate McRae and American singer Khalid, released on June 17, 2021 by RCA Records. The song was written alongside Sarah Aarons and producer Joel Little. "Working" peaked within the top 50 in Canada, and also appeared on singles charts in the United States, Ireland, and Sweden.

"Working"
Single by Tate McRae and Khalid
Released	June 17, 2021
Genre	Pop
Length	3:30
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Joel Little Khalid Robinson Sarah Aarons Tate McRae
Producer(s)	Little
Tate McRae singles chronology
"U Love U" (2021) "Working" (2021) "That Way" (2021)
Khalid singles chronology
"Otra Noche Sin Ti" (2021) "Working" (2021) "New Normal" (2021)
Music video
"Working" on YouTube

Background and release

Tate McRae (left) and Khalid (right) both collaborated on "Working".

On June 14, 2021, Tate McRae posted a pre-save link for "Working" to her Twitter account, promising to reveal the release date for the song after 10,000 people pre-saved the single.^[1] The following day, both McRae and Khalid announced the release date of "Working" for June 17, 2021.^[2][3] In a press release, McRae wrote that "I usually release a lot of songs that are pretty emotional but this one is just a straight summer bop."^[4][5]

Critical reception

Writing for ET Canada, Shakiel Mahjouri noted a shift on "Working" from McRae's previous "typically emotional tracks", saying that the single "brought upbeat summer heat".^[4] Jakori Beauchamp of Rated R&B remarked that "the song covers the confusing dynamic of longing for one another when apart but eager to call it quits when you’re reunited in person".^[6]

Music video

Before the release of "Working", McRae teased towards a music video for the song, promising it would be available "very soon".^[7][8] On June 22, 2021, McRae announced via Twitter that the video would be released the following day at 10AM Eastern Time.^[9] The video begins with McRae at a high school graduation party, and follows her during a summer vacation, where she works as a babysitter, while a failing relationship weighs on her mind.^[10]

Credits

Credits adapted from Tidal and YouTube.^[11][12]

Song

• Tate McRae – vocals, songwriter
• Khalid – vocals, songwriter
• Joel Little – producer, songwriter
• Sarah Aarons – songwriter
• Dale Becker – mastering engineer
• Denis Kosiak – mixing engineer
• James Keeley – engineer
• Connor Hedge – assistant engineer
• Fili Filizzola – assistant engineer
• Hector Vega – assistant engineer

Music video

• Matt Dillon Cohen – director
• Daniel Yaro – executive producer
• Naby Dakhli – producer
• Constantin Preda – first assistant director
• Marz Miller – director of photography
• Dylan Knight – editor
• Josh Bohoskey – colorist
• James Troost – steadicam
• Tony Jou – chief lighting technician
• Mike Koepke – chief lighting technician
• Adam Viera – key grip
• Gene Balitski – video tape recorder
• Greg Yaro – production designer
• Michelle Dawley – choreographer
• Sabrina Rivera – video commissioner

Charts

Chart performance for "Working"

Chart (2021)	Peak position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[13]	47
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[14]	23
Global 200 (Billboard)[15]	163
Ireland (IRMA)[16]	74
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[17]	6
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[18]	6
US Billboard Hot 100[19]	88
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[20]	36
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[21]	20

Certifications

Certifications for "Working"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[22]	Gold	40,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Working"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Ref.
Various	17 June 2021	Digital download streaming	RCA Records	[11]
United States	22 June 2021	Contemporary hit radio		[23]
Italy	2 July 2021		Sony	[24]

References

1. Tate McRae [@tatemcrae] (June 14, 2021). "10k pre saves and @thegreatkhalid and i will drop the release date and artwork https://smarturl.it/TatexKhalidxWorking" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
2. Tate McRae [@tatemcrae] (June 15, 2021). "me n @thegreatkhalid's song "working" out this thursday !!!?!!!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
3. Khalid [@thegreatkhalid] (June 15, 2021). ""Working" Out Thursday excited for this one @tatemcrae" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
4. Mahjouri, Shakiel (June 17, 2021). "Tate McRae Releases 'Working' – A 'Straight Summer Bop' – With Khalid". Entertainment Tonight Canada. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
5. "TATE MCRAE X KHALID RELEASE "WORKING" TODAY" (Press release). Sony Music. 17 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
6. Beauchamp, Jakori (June 18, 2021). "Khalid Releases New Song 'Working' With Tate McRae". Rated R&B. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
7. Tate McRae [@tatemcrae] (June 16, 2021). ""working" OUT AT 10AM ET TOMORROW. VIDEO COMING VERY SOON @thegreatkhalid https://smarturl.it/TatexKhalidxWorking/youtube" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
8. Tate McRae [@tatemcrae] (June 17, 2021). "'working' is out at 10m ET everywhere! come chat with me during the premiere around 9:50 ET. music video out very very soon! https://youtube.com/watch?v=J1QrbeOPUbg @thegreatkhalid <3" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
9. Tate McRae [@tatemcrae] (June 22, 2021). "'working' video drops tomorrow at 10am ET @thegreatkhalid come hang with me during the premiere https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pfPGVfMH74" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
10. Droke, Carolyn (June 23, 2021). "Tate McRae Is The Cool Babysitter In Her 'Working' Video With Khalid". Uproxx. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
11. "Tate McRae / working / Credits". Tidal. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
12. "Tate McRae, Khalid - working (Official Video)". YouTube. 23 June 2021. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
13. "Tate McRae Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
14. "Tate McRae Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
15. "Tate McRae Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
16. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Tate McRae". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
17. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 28, 2020. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
18. "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 25" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
19. "Tate McRae Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
20. "Tate McRae Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
21. "Tate McRae Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
22. "Canadian single certifications – Tate McRae – Working". Music Canada. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
23. Cantor, Brian (June 17, 2021). "Tate McRae & Khalid's "Working" Going For Immediate Pop Radio Airplay". Headline Planet. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
24. "TATE MCRAE "working" | (Radio Date: 02/07/2021)". radiodate.it. Retrieved 2021-12-25.