I Was Never There

"I Was Never There"
"I Was Never There"
Song by the Weeknd and Gesaffelstein
from the EP My Dear Melancholy
Released	March 30, 2018
Genre	Alternative R&B
Length	4:01
Label	XO; Republic;
Songwriter(s)	Abel Tesfaye; Mike Lévy; Adam Feeney;
Producer(s)	Gesaffelstein; Frank Dukes;

"I Was Never There" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd and French DJ Gesaffelstein, from the former's first extended play, My Dear Melancholy (2018).^[1] The song was written by the Weeknd, Gesaffelstein, and Frank Dukes, and was produced by the latter two. The song is the first of three collaborations between the two artists and the second of the songs to go viral on TikTok in the early 2020s, after "Lost in the Fire".^[2]^[3]

Critical reception

The song was met with widespread acclaim, with critics naming it the standout track of its parent EP.^[4] The song was ranked the Weeknd's 33rd best song by Rolling Stone due to Gesaffelstein's production and the Weeknd's emotional vocal delivery.^[5]

Lyrics

The song's lyrics makes references to the Weeknd's previous relationships with model Bella Hadid and singer and actress Selena Gomez.^[6]

Commercial performance

The song debuted at number 35 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on the issue dated April 7, 2018.^[7] Later on, throughout 2022, "I Was Never There" saw an increase in consumption as the song went viral on the social media platform TikTok alongside several other tracks by the Weeknd, which led to the song entering the Billboard Global 200 chart at 159 and eventually peaking at 119.

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "I Was Never There"
Chart (2018–2022)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[8]	40
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[9]	12
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[10]	42
Denmark (Tracklisten)^[11]	37
France (SNEP)^[12]	112
Germany (GfK)^[13]	91
Greece International (IFPI)^[14]	5
Global 200 (Billboard)^[15]	119
Ireland (IRMA)^[16]	39
Lithuania (AGATA)^[17]	43
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[18]	67
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)^[19]	1
Portugal (AFP)^[20]	23
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[21]	15
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[22]	40
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[23]	94
UK Audio Streaming (OCC)^[24]	42
US Billboard Hot 100^[25]	35
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[26]	20

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "I Was Never There"
Chart (2022)	Position
Lithuania (AGATA)^[27]	82

Certifications

Certifications for "I Was Never There"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[28]	2× Platinum	140,000^‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)^[29]	Diamond	160,000^‡
Canada (Music Canada)^[30]	Gold	40,000^‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)^[31]	Gold	45,000^‡
France (SNEP)^[32]	Platinum	200,000^‡
Italy (FIMI)^[33]	Gold	50,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[34]	Platinum	30,000^‡
Poland (ZPAV)^[35]	Platinum	50,000^‡
Portugal (AFP)^[36]	Platinum	10,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[37]	Gold	400,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[38]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)^[39]	3× Platinum	6,000,000^†
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. ^† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "The Weeknd: "I Was Never There" [ft. Gesaffelstein]". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd and Gesaffelstein reunite for "Lost in Fire": Stream". Consequence of Sound. January 11, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ Daly, Rhian (May 16, 2022). "The Songs That Trended In 2022". Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd Drops Behind-the-Scenes Short "He Was Never There"". Complex. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ Grow, Tomás Mier, Waiss David Aramesh, Julyssa Lopez, Charles Aaron, Angie Martoccio, Elias Leight, Jon Freeman, Mosi Reeves, Jon Blistein, Sarah Grant, Joe Gross, Simon Vozick-Levinson, Jon Dolan, Kory; Mier, Tomás; Aramesh, Waiss David; Lopez, Julyssa; Aaron, Charles; Martoccio, Angie; Leight, Elias; Freeman, Jon; Reeves, Mosi; Blistein, Jon; Grant, Sarah; Gross, Joe; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Dolan, Jon; Grow, Kory (February 14, 2022). "The 50 Best Weeknd Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 2, 2022.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "The Weeknd Seemingly References Exes Selena Gomez and Bella Hadid on His New Album". Vanity Fair. March 30, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ Zellner, Xander (April 9, 2018). "All 6 of The Weeknd's 'My Dear Melancholy' Tracks Debut on Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 14. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". Tracklisten. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "IFPI Charts". ifpi.gr. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Weeknd". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
^ "2022 38-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 9, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 14. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
^ "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "2022 metų klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
^ "Brazilian single certifications – The Weeknd – I was Never There" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
^ "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – I Was Never There". Music Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
^ "Danish single certifications – The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
^ "French single certifications – The Weeknd – I Was Never There" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
^ "Italian single certifications – The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
^ "New Zealand single certifications – The Weeknd feat. Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". Radioscope. Retrieved December 23, 2024. Type I Was Never There in the "Search:" field.
^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 19, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter I Was Never There in the search box.
^ "Portuguese single certifications – The Weeknd – I Was Never There" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
^ "British single certifications – The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
^ "American single certifications – The Weeknd – I Was Never There". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
^ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 50/2023" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved December 28, 2023.

External links

Audio on YouTube

[1] "The Weeknd: "I Was Never There" [ft. Gesaffelstein]". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[2] "The Weeknd and Gesaffelstein reunite for "Lost in Fire": Stream". Consequence of Sound. January 11, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[3] Daly, Rhian (May 16, 2022). "The Songs That Trended In 2022". Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[4] "The Weeknd Drops Behind-the-Scenes Short "He Was Never There"". Complex. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[5] Grow, Tomás Mier, Waiss David Aramesh, Julyssa Lopez, Charles Aaron, Angie Martoccio, Elias Leight, Jon Freeman, Mosi Reeves, Jon Blistein, Sarah Grant, Joe Gross, Simon Vozick-Levinson, Jon Dolan, Kory; Mier, Tomás; Aramesh, Waiss David; Lopez, Julyssa; Aaron, Charles; Martoccio, Angie; Leight, Elias; Freeman, Jon; Reeves, Mosi; Blistein, Jon; Grant, Sarah; Gross, Joe; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Dolan, Jon; Grow, Kory (February 14, 2022). "The 50 Best Weeknd Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 2, 2022.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[6] "The Weeknd Seemingly References Exes Selena Gomez and Bella Hadid on His New Album". Vanity Fair. March 30, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[7] Zellner, Xander (April 9, 2018). "All 6 of The Weeknd's 'My Dear Melancholy' Tracks Debut on Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[sc_Australia_The_Weeknd_&_Gesaffelstein-8] "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[sc_Canada_The_Weeknd-9] "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[sc_Czechdigital_-10] "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 14. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[sc_Denmark_The_Weeknd_&_Gesaffelstein-11] "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". Tracklisten. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[sc_France_The_Weeknd_&_Gesaffelstein-12] "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[sc_Germany_The_Weeknd_&_Gesaffelstein-13] "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[14] "IFPI Charts". ifpi.gr. Retrieved September 20, 2022.

[sc_Billboardglobal200_The_Weeknd-15] "The Weeknd Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2022.

[sc_Ireland3_The_Weeknd-16] "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Weeknd". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 5, 2022.

[17] "2022 38-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.

[sc_Dutch100_The_Weeknd_&_Gesaffelstein-18] "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[19] "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 9, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[sc_Portugal_The_Weeknd_&_Gesaffelstein-20] "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[sc_Slovakdigital2_-21] "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 14. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[sc_Sweden_The_Weeknd_&_Gesaffelstein-22] "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[sc_Switzerland_The_Weeknd_&_Gesaffelstein-23] "The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 18, 2022.

[sc_UKstreaming_-24] "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[sc_Billboardhot100_The_Weeknd-25] "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_The_Weeknd-26] "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[27] "2022 metų klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

[AustraliasingleCertRef-28] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2024.

[BrazilThe_WeekndI_was_Never_TheresingleCertRef-29] "Brazilian single certifications – The Weeknd – I was Never There" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved July 18, 2024.

[CanadaThe_WeekndI_Was_Never_TheresingleCertRef-30] "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – I Was Never There". Music Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

[DenmarkThe_Weeknd_&_GesaffelsteinI_Was_Never_TheresingleCertRef-31] "Danish single certifications – The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 20, 2023.

[FranceThe_WeekndI_Was_Never_TheresingleCertRef-32] "French single certifications – The Weeknd – I Was Never There" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 1, 2024.

[ItalyThe_Weeknd_&_GesaffelsteinI_Was_Never_TheresingleCertRef-33] "Italian single certifications – The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 17, 2023.

[New_ZealandThe_Weeknd_feat._GesaffelsteinI_Was_Never_TheresingleCertRef-34] "New Zealand single certifications – The Weeknd feat. Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". Radioscope. Retrieved December 23, 2024. Type I Was Never There in the "Search:" field.

[PolandThe_Weeknd_&_GesaffelsteinI_Was_Never_TheresingleCertRef-35] "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 19, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter I Was Never There in the search box.

[PortugalThe_WeekndI_Was_Never_TheresingleCertRef-36] "Portuguese single certifications – The Weeknd – I Was Never There" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved January 10, 2023.

[United_KingdomThe_Weeknd_&_GesaffelsteinI_Was_Never_TheresingleCertRef-37] "British single certifications – The Weeknd & Gesaffelstein – I Was Never There". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 7, 2023.

[United_StatesThe_WeekndI_Was_Never_TheresingleCertRef-38] "American single certifications – The Weeknd – I Was Never There". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 6, 2022.

[GreeceThe_WeekndI_Was_Never_There_(feat._Gesaffelstein)singleCertRef-39] "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 50/2023" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved December 28, 2023.

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v t e Gesaffelstein
Discography
Studio albums	Aleph Hyperion Gamma
Singles	"Lost in the Fire"
Films scored	Disorder
Other songs	"I Was Never There" "Hurt You" "Killah"

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"I Was Never There"
Song by the Weeknd and Gesaffelstein
from the EP My Dear Melancholy
Released	March 30, 2018 (2018-03-30)
Genre	Alternative R&B
Length	4:01
Label	XO Republic
Songwriter(s)	Abel Tesfaye Mike Lévy Adam Feeney
Producer(s)	Gesaffelstein Frank Dukes