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"Acquainted"
Single by the Weeknd
from the album Beauty Behind the Madness
Released	November 17, 2015 (2015-11-17)
Recorded	2015
Studio	Jungle City Studios
Genre	Alternative R&B
Length	5:49 (album version) 4:06 (radio edit)
Label	XO Republic
Songwriter(s)	Abel Tesfaye Jason Quenneville Danny Schofield Carlo Montagnese Ben Diehl
Producer(s)	The Weeknd Illangelo Ben Billions Jason Quenneville Danny Boy Styles
The Weeknd singles chronology
"Can't Feel My Face" (2015) "Acquainted" / "In The Night" (2015) "Might Not" (2015)

"Acquainted" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, from his second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). It was sent to urban contemporary stations on November 17, 2015, by XO and Republic Records, serving as the album's fifth single. He wrote and produced the song with DaHeala, DannyBoyStyles, Illangelo, and Ben Billions.

Background and promotion

In May 2015, multiple tracks from the Weeknd were leaked, including a song titled "Girls Born in the '90s", which was the original version of "Acquainted". Following this, the song was heavily reworked before the release of Beauty Behind the Madness.

After being released on August 28, 2015, as the sixth track from Beauty Behind the Madness, the song was promoted to urban contemporary radio on November 17, 2015, serving as the album's fifth and final single, and would be further promoted to the rhythmic contemporary format on February 16, 2016. The song was later intended to impact contemporary hit radio on April 12, 2016, but its release never occurred.

Composition and lyrics

The song is written in the key of G minor with a moderate tempo of 106 beats per minute in common time. The song alternates between the chords Gm and F, and the vocals span from F₃ to C₆.

The song has the Weeknd sing about vulnerability relating to whether a commitment to real love might be a risk worth taking, and questionably hints at something more than just sex.

Music video

The music video was directed by Australian filmographer Nabil Elderkin. Production commenced on February 9, 2016, but the video was never officially released.

Charts

Certifications

Release history

References

1. "Acquainted liner notes". August 28, 2015.
2. Hawkins, Autumn (July 11, 2023). "The Weeknd: 10 Best Songs, Ranked". k104.7.com. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
3. "The Weeknd "Acquainted"". Republic Records. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
4. Abel, Tesfaye (January 11, 2016). "Acquainted". www.musicnotes.com. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
5. "The 50 Best Weeknd Songs". Rolling Stone. February 14, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
6. Messitte, Nick. "The Curious Trend Behind The Weeknd's Number One Streak". Forbes. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
7. ^ ""Acquainted" by The Weeknd". songmeaningsandfacts.com. May 4, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
8. "NABIL on Instagram: "First day of sumtin sumtin @abelxo"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
9. "CHART WATCH #361". auspOp. March 26, 2016. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
10. "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
12. "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
13. "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
14. "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
15. "The Weeknd Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
16. "Hot R&B Singles: Year-End 2015". Billboard. Billboard. December 13, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
17. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
18. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
19. "Brazilian single certifications – The Weeknd – Acquainted" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
20. "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – Acquainted". Music Canada. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
21. "Danish single certifications – The Weeknd – Acquainted". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
22. "British single certifications – Weeknd – Acquainted". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
23. "American single certifications – The Weeknd – Acquainted". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
24. Navjosh (November 15, 2015). "The Weeknd Picks Next Singles From 'Beauty Behind The Madness'". Hip Hop N More. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
25. "Top 40/R Future Releases". All Access. All Access Group. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.

External links

• Acquainted (Audio) on YouTube
• Acquainted (Official video)

v t e The Weeknd songs
Discography Songs
Trilogy	House of Balloons "High for This" "House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls" "The Morning" "Wicked Games" "Twenty Eight" Thursday "The Zone" "Rolling Stone" Echoes of Silence "D.D" "Echoes of Silence"
Kiss Land	"Belong to the World" "Live For" "Wanderlust" "Kiss Land" "Odd Look"
Beauty Behind the Madness	"Tell Your Friends" "Often" "The Hills" "Acquainted" "Can't Feel My Face" "Earned It" "In the Night" "Prisoner"
Starboy	"Starboy" "Party Monster" "False Alarm" "Reminder" "Rockin'" "Secrets" "Stargirl Interlude" "Sidewalks" "Six Feet Under" "A Lonely Night" "All I Know" "Die for You" "I Feel It Coming"
My Dear Melancholy	"Call Out My Name" "Try Me" "Wasted Times" "I Was Never There" "Hurt You"
After Hours	"Alone Again" "Too Late" "Hardest to Love" "Scared to Live" "Snowchild" "Escape from LA" "Heartless" "Faith" "Blinding Lights" "In Your Eyes" "Save Your Tears" "Repeat After Me (Interlude)" "After Hours" "Until I Bleed Out"
Dawn FM	"Gasoline" "How Do I Make You Love Me?" "Take My Breath" "Sacrifice" "Out of Time" "Here We Go... Again" "Is There Someone Else?" "I Heard You're Married" "Less than Zero" "Moth to a Flame"
The Idol	"Double Fantasy" "Popular" "One of the Girls"
Hurry Up Tomorrow	"Dancing in the Flames" "Timeless" "São Paulo"
Other songs	"Crew Love" "Remember You" "One of Those Nights" "Sexodus" "Elastic Heart" "Or Nah" "King of the Fall" "Love Me Harder" "Might Not" "Nocturnal" "FML" "Low Life" "6 Inch" "Wild Love" "Some Way" "Comin Out Strong" "Lust for Life" "A Lie" "Curve" "Pray for Me" "What You Want" "Skeletons" "Wake Up" "Lost in the Fire" "Price on My Head" "Power Is Power" "Smile" "Over Now" "Off the Table" "Hawái" "You Right" "Better Believe" "One Right Now" "La Fama" "Die for It" "Hurricane" "Tears in the Club" "Poison" "Creepin'" "Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)" "K-pop" "Circus Maximus" "Another One of Me" "Young Metro" "We Still Don't Trust You"
Category

• 2015 songs
• 2016 singles
• The Weeknd songs
• Republic Records singles
• Song recordings produced by Illangelo
• Songs written by Illangelo
• Songs written by the Weeknd
• Songs written by DaHeala
• XO (record label) singles
• Songs written by Ben Billions
• Song recordings produced by the Weeknd