Less than Zero (The Weeknd song)

"Less Than Zero"
"Less Than Zero"
Single by the Weeknd
from the album Dawn FM
Released	July 7, 2022
Genre	Synth-pop; new wave;
Length	3:32
Label	XO; Republic;
Songwriter(s)	Abel Tesfaye; Max Martin; Oscar Holter;
Producer(s)	The Weeknd; Max Martin; Oscar Holter; Oneohtrix Point Never;
The Weeknd singles chronology

"Less than Zero" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released to French contemporary hit radio on July 7, 2022, as the fourth and final single from his fifth studio album Dawn FM (2022).^[1] The song was written by the Weeknd, Max Martin, and Oscar Holter, and produced by the three alongside Oneohtrix Point Never.

Background and promotion

The song's name was first revealed on January 5, 2022, when Canadian singer the Weeknd posted the track listing for the song's parent album Dawn FM (2022).^[2]^[3] A lyric video for the song directed by Micah Bickham was released on January 9, 2022.^[4] It was also one of the songs performed in the television music special The Dawn FM Experience.^[5]

The song was given a limited single release in France, with it being sent to contemporary hit radio on July 7, 2022, in the country.^[1]

"Less than Zero" served as one of the two official theme songs for WWE's WrestleMania 39, marking the fourth straight year a song by the Weeknd served as the theme song for the annual event.^[6]

Lyrics and composition

"Less than Zero" has been described as a slow-dance new wave and synth-pop track where the Weeknd sings about remaining regretful sentiments he has after the end of a relationship and how he blames himself. It is in the key of C major.^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]

Critical reception

"Less Than Zero" was met with widespread acclaim. Critics noted the song as a highlight on the record, with particular praise being given to the song's production, lyrics, its acoustic ending and The Weeknd's emotionally resonant vocals.^[7]^[12] Critics from Billboard noted that the song had the ability to potentially achieve the top 40 success that the singles from the Weeknd's previous After Hours predecessors had.^[13]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[14]

The Weeknd – vocals, background vocals, songwriting, production
Max Martin – guitar, keyboard, bass, background vocals, programming, songwriting, production
Oscar Holter – guitar, keyboard, bass, programming, songwriting, production
OPN - production
Şerban Ghenea - mixing
Dave Kutch – mastering
Kevin Peterson – mastering
Jeremy Lertola - engineering
John Hanes - engineering
Matt Cohn - engineering
Sam Holland - engineering
Shin Kamiyama - engineering

Charts

Chart performance for "Less than Zero"
Chart (2022)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[15]	47
Australia Hip-Hop/R&B Singles (ARIA)^[16]	18
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[17]	32
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)^[18]	46
Denmark (Tracklisten)^[19]	33
France (SNEP)^[20]	82
Global 200 (Billboard)^[21]	24
Greece International (IFPI)^[22]	14
Iceland (Tónlistinn)^[23]	21
India International Singles (IMI)^[24]	16
Lithuania (AGATA)^[25]	30
Portugal (AFP)^[26]	39
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[27]	56
South Africa (TOSAC)^[28]	63
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[29]	67
UK Audio Streaming (OCC)^[30]	57
US Billboard Hot 100^[31]	53

Certifications

Certifications for "Less than Zero"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[32]	Gold	35,000^‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)^[33]	Gold	20,000^‡
France (SNEP)^[34]	Gold	100,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[35]	Gold	15,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[36]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label(s)	Ref.
France	July 7, 2022	Contemporary hit radio	Universal	^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Pineau, Marine (July 7, 2022). "Après Take My Breath, The Weeknd choisit Less Than Zero en guise de single". Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ Kaufman, Gil (January 5, 2022). "The Weeknd Reveals Tracklist For 16-Song 'Dawn FM' Album". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd Enlists Jim Carrey and Quincy Jones for His New 'Dawn FM' Album". GQ. January 5, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd – Sacrifice Video". Contactmusic.com. January 9, 2022. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ Kreps, Daniel (February 21, 2022). "The Weeknd to Premiere 'Dawn FM Experience' Special This Weekend". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "WWE WrestleMania 39 Official Theme Song Reportedly Picked". WWE. January 17, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Barr, Natalia (January 26, 2022). "The Weeknd's New Hit, Gunna's Hotshot Single and the Other Best Songs of January". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via www.wsj.com.
^ "THE WEEKND Less Than Zero". ElectricityClub.co.uk. January 15, 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 August 22, 2022.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Muñoz-Schaefer, Ursula. "The Weeknd Is Our Most Prescient Pop Star". Miami New Times. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ Holiday, Harmony (January 14, 2022). "On 'Dawn FM,' The Weeknd is both suffering and saved". Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via NPR.
^ Caramanica, Jon (January 10, 2022). "The Endless Pop Shimmers of the Weeknd". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via NYTimes.com.
^ Mamo, Heran (January 7, 2022). "Every Song on The Weeknd's 'Dawn FM' Album, Ranked: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ The Weeknd - Dawn FM, January 7, 2022, retrieved February 28, 2025
^ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 17, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
^ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". Tracklisten. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "Official IFPI Charts - Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week: 02/2022". ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
^ "Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 2 – 2022" [The Music - Albums - Week 2 - 2022] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "Top 20 Charts". Indian Music Industry. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. January 17, 2022. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
^ "2022 2-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. January 14, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
^ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 02-2022". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
^ "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
^ "Brazilian single certifications – The Weeknd – Less than Zero" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
^ "French single certifications – The Weeknd – Less Than Zero" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
^ "New Zealand single certifications – The Weeknd – Less than Zero". Radioscope. Retrieved December 23, 2024. Type Less than Zero in the "Search:" field.
^ "British single certifications – The Weeknd – Less than Zero". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 1, 2024.

External links

Official Audio on YouTube
Official Lyric Video on YouTube
The Dawn FM Experience Performance on YouTube

[auto-1] Pineau, Marine (July 7, 2022). "Après Take My Breath, The Weeknd choisit Less Than Zero en guise de single". Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[2] Kaufman, Gil (January 5, 2022). "The Weeknd Reveals Tracklist For 16-Song 'Dawn FM' Album". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[3] "The Weeknd Enlists Jim Carrey and Quincy Jones for His New 'Dawn FM' Album". GQ. January 5, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[4] "The Weeknd – Sacrifice Video". Contactmusic.com. January 9, 2022. Archived from the original on February 23, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[5] Kreps, Daniel (February 21, 2022). "The Weeknd to Premiere 'Dawn FM Experience' Special This Weekend". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[6] "WWE WrestleMania 39 Official Theme Song Reportedly Picked". WWE. January 17, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.

[auto1-7] Barr, Natalia (January 26, 2022). "The Weeknd's New Hit, Gunna's Hotshot Single and the Other Best Songs of January". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via www.wsj.com.

[8] "THE WEEKND Less Than Zero". ElectricityClub.co.uk. January 15, 2022.

[9] 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 August 22, 2022.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[10] Muñoz-Schaefer, Ursula. "The Weeknd Is Our Most Prescient Pop Star". Miami New Times. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[11] Holiday, Harmony (January 14, 2022). "On 'Dawn FM,' The Weeknd is both suffering and saved". Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via NPR.

[12] Caramanica, Jon (January 10, 2022). "The Endless Pop Shimmers of the Weeknd". The New York Times. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via NYTimes.com.

[13] Mamo, Heran (January 7, 2022). "Every Song on The Weeknd's 'Dawn FM' Album, Ranked: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[14] The Weeknd - Dawn FM, January 7, 2022, retrieved February 28, 2025

[sc_Australia_The_Weeknd-15] "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[16] "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 17, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[sc_Canada_The_Weeknd-17] "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[sc_Billboardcanadachrtop40_The_Weeknd-18] "The Weeknd Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2023.

[sc_Denmark_The_Weeknd-19] "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". Tracklisten. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[sc_France_The_Weeknd-20] "The Weeknd – Less than Zero" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[sc_Billboardglobal200_The_Weeknd-21] "The Weeknd Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[22] "Official IFPI Charts - Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week: 02/2022". ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.

[23] "Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 2 – 2022" [The Music - Albums - Week 2 - 2022] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[24] "Top 20 Charts". Indian Music Industry. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. January 17, 2022. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.

[25] "2022 2-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. January 14, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[sc_Portugal_The_Weeknd-26] "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 23, 2023.

[27] "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Retrieved March 3, 2023.

[sc_South_Africa2_-28] "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 02-2022". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2024.

[sc_Sweden_The_Weeknd-29] "The Weeknd – Less than Zero". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[sc_UKstreaming_-30] "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[sc_Billboardhot100_The_Weeknd-31] "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[AustraliasingleCertRef-32] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 7, 2024.

[BrazilThe_WeekndLess_than_ZerosingleCertRef-33] "Brazilian single certifications – The Weeknd – Less than Zero" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved July 18, 2024.

[FranceThe_WeekndLess_Than_ZerosingleCertRef-34] "French single certifications – The Weeknd – Less Than Zero" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved November 24, 2023.

[New_ZealandThe_WeekndLess_than_ZerosingleCertRef-35] "New Zealand single certifications – The Weeknd – Less than Zero". Radioscope. Retrieved December 23, 2024. Type Less than Zero in the "Search:" field.

[United_KingdomThe_WeekndLess_than_ZerosingleCertRef-36] "British single certifications – The Weeknd – Less than Zero". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 1, 2024.

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Less than Zero (The Weeknd song)

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