Escape from LA (song)
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Escape from LA
| type = song
| artist = the Weeknd
| album = After Hours
| released = March 20, 2020
| studio = * Noble Street (Toronto, Ontario)
| genre = R&B
| length = 5:57
| label = * XO
| writer = *Abel Tesfaye
- Carlo Montagnese
- Leland Tyler Wayne
- Mike McTaggart
| producer = *Metro Boomin
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|vsARlcGW0jE|"Escape from LA"}}| type = song| header = Music Audio}}
}}
"Escape from LA" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his fourth studio album After Hours.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2020/03/17/the-weeknd-after-hours-tracklist/|title=The Weeknd Reveals 'After Hours' Tracklist|website=Rap-Up|accessdate=April 11, 2022}} It was released on March 20, 2020, alongside the rest of its parent album as the sixth track.{{cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/3/the-weeknd-after-hours-album-spotify-listening-session|title=The Weeknd Is Hosting an 'After Hours' Listening Session on Spotify|website=Hypebeast|last=Ingvaldsen|first=Torsten|date=March 20, 2020|accessdate=April 11, 2022}} The song was written by the Weeknd, Illangelo, Metro Boomin, and guitarist Mike McTaggart, while being produced by the former three.
Critical reception
Billboard ranked "Escape from LA" as the worst song from the After Hours album, calling its production "sluggish", and that its descriptive bridge "doesn't do much to heighten the track's lethargy".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/the-weeknd-after-hours-every-song-ranked-9339446/|title=Every Song Ranked on The Weeknd's 'After Hours': Critic's Picks|date=March 20, 2020|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=May 22, 2022}} In a review of the track, HotNewHipHop called "Escape from LA" a "sexually-charged ballad", calling its lyrics borne of "sun-soaked hangovers" and "passionate break-up sex", and further citing how fans had already called the track a highlight of After Hours.{{Cite web |last=Findlay |first=Mitch |date=March 20, 2020 |title=The Weeknd Picks The Wrong Time To "Escape From LA" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/244224-the-weeknd-picks-the-wrong-time-to-escape-from-la-new-song |access-date=January 23, 2024 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}
Cancelled music video
In an interview with Rolling Stone, it was mentioned that there were treatments for at least three more music videos, (which were "Too Late", "Escape From LA" and "Faith"), however it was "unclear when Tesfaye would be able to film them".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/the-weeknd-after-hours-grammys-interview-1061041/|title=The Weeknd on 'After Hours', His Movie Dreams and Industry Racism|date=September 18, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|accessdate=July 4, 2023}} However, only the music video for "Too Late" ended up being filmed, with the status of the videos for "Escape from LA" and "Faith" unknown.
Personnel
- The Weeknd – vocals, songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
- Illangelo – songwriting, keyboards, programming, engineering, mixing
- Metro Boomin – songwriting, keyboards, programming
- Mike McTaggart – songwriting, guitar
- Shin Kamiyama – engineering
- Dave Kutch – mastering
- Kevin Peterson – mastering
Charts
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|certyear=2024|award=Gold|access-date=June 29, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|artist=The Weeknd|title=Escape From LA|award=Gold|certyear=2024|relyear=2020|access-date=April 4, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label(s) ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Various
| March 20, 2020 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} |