Hymn for the Weekend
{{Short description|2016 single by Coldplay}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Hymn for the Weekend
| cover = Coldplay, Hymn for the Weekend, Artwork.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Coldplay
| album = A Head Full of Dreams
| released = 25 January 2016
| recorded = 2015
| studio =
- Henson (Los Angeles)
- Woodshed (Malibu)
| venue =
| genre =
| length = {{Plainlist|
- {{Duration|m=4|s=18}} (album version)
- {{Duration|m=3|s=47}} (radio edit)
}}
| label = {{Flatlist|
}}
| writer = {{Flatlist|
}}
| producer = {{Flatlist|
- Rik Simpson
- Stargate
- Digital Divide
}}
| chronology = Coldplay
| prev_title = Adventure of a Lifetime
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title = Up&Up
| next_year = 2016
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|YykjpeuMNEk|"Hymn for the Weekend"}}}}
}}
"Hymn for the Weekend" is a song by British rock band Coldplay, featuring uncredited guest vocals from American singer Beyoncé. It was released on 25 January 2016 as the second single from the band’s seventh studio album, A Head Full of Dreams (2015). Blending elements of pop, alternative rock, and R&B, the track marked a stylistic shift towards a more vibrant and radio-friendly sound. The song received mixed to positive reviews from music critics and achieved commercial success worldwide, reaching the top ten in multiple countries. Its music video, filmed in various locations across India, attracted attention for its colourful imagery and sparked discussions surrounding cultural representation.{{cite news |title=Coldplay and Beyoncé's video for 'Hymn for the Weekend' Is Not Cultural Appropriation but Cultural Appreciation|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/shehnaz-khan/coldplay-and-beyonce-hymn-for-the-weekend_b_9134032.html |access-date=20 December 2021 |work=Huffington Post}}
"Hymn for the Weekend" reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and also reached the top twenty in countries such as Switzerland, Ireland, France, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Italy and Spain. In the US, with the Seeb remix, the song reached number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2016/09/23/an-interview-with-seeb-the-duo-that-can-make-any-song-a-hit/#45a207c262d8|title=An Interview With Seeb, The Duo That Can Remix Any Song Into A Hit|first=Hugh|last=McIntyre|website=Forbes |access-date=31 August 2017|archive-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421234202/https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2016/09/23/an-interview-with-seeb-the-duo-that-can-make-any-song-a-hit/#45a207c262d8|url-status=live}} A music video for the song was released on 29 January 2016 and features Coldplay in various cities in India, with Beyoncé performing in some scenes. It also featured Indian Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor in a brief role.
Background
The song was debuted on Annie Mac's BBC radio show on 30 November 2015. According to Berryman, lead singer Chris Martin originally wanted the song to be a party song with the lyrics "drinks on me, drinks on me", but his bandmates didn't think that would go well with their fans. Martin's longtime friend Beyoncé was asked to sing on the song, and she accepted the request.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-coldplay-beyonces-clubby-dreamlike-hymn-for-the-weekend-20151130|title=Hear Coldplay, Beyoncé's Clubby, Dreamlike 'Hymn for the Weekend'|last=Grow|first=Kory|date=30 November 2015|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=31 August 2017|archive-date=15 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115205001/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-coldplay-beyonces-clubby-dreamlike-hymn-for-the-weekend-20151130|url-status=live}}
Martin corroborated Berryman's story about the band protesting him singing, "Drinks on me, drinks on me" in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. According to Martin, the original kernel was that he "was listening to Flo Rida or something", and he thought, "it's such a shame that Coldplay could never have one of those late-night club songs, like "Turn Down for What". I thought I'd like to have a song called 'Drinks on Me' where you sit on the side of a club and buy everyone drinks because you're so fucking cool," Martin recalled. "I was chuckling about that, when this melody came, 'drinks on me, drinks on me', then the rest of the song came out. I presented it to the rest of the band and they said, 'We love this song, but there's no way you can sing "drinks on me."' So that changed into 'drink from me' and the idea of having an angelic person in your life. Then that turned into asking Beyoncé to sing on it."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/6777012/coldplay-beyonce-hymn-for-the-weekend-snippet|title=Hear Beyonce on Coldplay's 'Hymn for the Weekend' Preview|last=Platon|first=Adelle|date=24 November 2015|magazine=Billboard|access-date=24 December 2015|archive-date=16 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616151904/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/6777012/coldplay-beyonce-hymn-for-the-weekend-snippet|url-status=live}}
Composition
"Hymn for the Weekend" is written in the key of C minor set in a time signature at a moderate tempo of 90 beats per minute.{{cite web |url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0159572 |title=Coldplay "Hymn for the Weekend" Sheet Music in C Minor |website=musicnotes.com |date=23 December 2015 |access-date=25 July 2017 |archive-date=13 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913181330/http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0159572 |url-status=live }}
Music video
According to The Times of India, the music video was shot in October 2015 at various Indian cities including Worli Village, Mumbai, and Kolkata. The fort showcased at the start and in between is Fort Vasai in Vasai, Mumbai. Scenes were also shot at the Maratha Mandir theatre, which is known for showcasing a single film, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, for over 22 years. The video is themed after the Holi festival and was directed by Ben Mor, being released on 29 January 2016.{{cite web |title=Ben Mor – Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BBGXbEzEYPv/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724215738/https://www.instagram.com/p/BBGXbEzEYPv/ |archive-date=24 July 2018 |access-date=29 January 2016 |publisher=Instagram}}{{cite web |title=Black Dog Films – Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BBGgH5lvi8Y/ |url-access=registration |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BBGgH5lvi8Y |archive-date=26 December 2021 |access-date=29 January 2016 |publisher=Instagram}}{{cbignore}} It features Beyoncé and Sonam Kapoor.{{cite news |title=Sonam and Beyonce feature in new 'Coldplay' single |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Sonam-and-Beyonce-feature-in-new-Coldplay-single/articleshow/50755490.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201190804/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Sonam-and-Beyonce-feature-in-new-Coldplay-single/articleshow/50755490.cms |archive-date=1 February 2016 |access-date=28 January 2016 |work=The Times of India}}
Director: Ben Mor
Executive Producers: Katie Dolan & Mike Rothenberg
Producer: Nina Dluhy-Miller}}
Critical reception
"Hymn for the Weekend" received generally positive reviews from critics. Jody Rosen of Billboard called it "the album's grooviest".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/6785592/coldplay-a-head-full-of-dreams-album-review|title=Coldplay, A Head Full of Dreams, Billboard review|magazine=Billboard|date=4 December 2015|access-date=4 December 2015|last=Rosen|first=Jody|archive-date=6 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206092320/http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/6785592/coldplay-a-head-full-of-dreams-album-review|url-status=live}} Helen Brown of The Daily Telegraph wrote: "Beyoncé makes more of her appearance on 'Hymn for the Weekend', bringing her chunky harmonies and no-nonsense brass section to a peppy little excursion into indie R&B which opens with a paradisiacal fanfare and finds Martin dropping out of his falsetto autopilot into a more raw voice".{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/coldplay-a-head-full-of-dreams-album-review-coldplay-get-their-g/ |title=Coldplay, A Head Full of Dreams, album review: 'Coldplay get their groove back with Beyoncé' |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=3 December 2015 |access-date=4 December 2015 |last=Brown |first=Helen |archive-date=4 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204060018/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/coldplay-a-head-full-of-dreams-album-review-coldplay-get-their-g/ |url-status=live }} Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe wrote "it's with the third track, 'Hymn for the Weekend', that the album truly lifts off on the wings of an angelic choir (including Beyoncé), a swaggering piano, and a euphoric, lightly funky track bolstering Martin's exclamations of feeling high."{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2015/12/02/album-review-coldplay-head-full-dreams/Vh30SEtLQyV9v5ITr61V6I/story.html|title='Dreams' come true for joyous Coldplay|last=Rodman|first=Sarah|date=2 December 2015|access-date=2 February 2016|work=The Boston Globe|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215205434/https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2015/12/02/album-review-coldplay-head-full-dreams/Vh30SEtLQyV9v5ITr61V6I/story.html|url-status=live}}
In a mixed review, Carl Williot of Idolator wrote, "The Beyoncé-assisted 'Hymn for the Weekend' almost equals (the album's) energy, but it lacks the drama of 'Princess of China'", adding, that as a track featuring Beyoncé "you'd expect a show-stopping moment." He concluded "the guys sound like total goobers trying to do the club swagger thing, like a drunk dad doing the rap dance du jour at a wedding".{{cite web|url=http://www.idolator.com/7616459/coldplay-review-a-head-full-of-dreams|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160303140842/http://www.idolator.com/7616459/coldplay-review-a-head-full-of-dreams|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 March 2016|title=Coldplay's 'A Head Full Of Dreams': Review – Idolator|work=Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com|date=4 December 2015}} 3voor12 ranked it among the best songs of the year.{{Cite web |date=16 December 2016 |title=De Staat's Make the Call Is 3voor12 Song Van Het Jaar 2016 |trans-title=De Staat's Make The Call Is 3voor12 Song of the Year 2016 |url=https://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/overzicht/2016/song16/Top-100.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240109024950/https://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/overzicht/2016/song16/Top-100.html |archive-date=9 January 2024 |access-date=9 January 2024 |website=3voor12}}
Commercial performance
With over 2.67 billion views on YouTube, "Hymn for the Weekend" is Coldplay's most-viewed music video and the second-most overall, behind the lyric video for "Something Just Like This". Luminate reported the song "had the most total combined audio and video streams globally in 2022",{{Cite web |date=11 January 2023 |title=Canada 2022: Luminate Year-End Music Report |url=https://luminatedata.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Luminate_Canada-YearEndReport_2022_FINAL.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112131632/https://luminatedata.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Luminate_Canada-YearEndReport_2022_FINAL.pdf |archive-date=12 January 2023 |access-date=12 January 2023 |website=Luminate}} with 35.9 million views coming from Canada, and 434.5 million from the United States.{{Cite web |date=11 January 2023 |title=United States 2022: Luminate Year-End Music Report |url=https://luminatedata.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Luminate_US-YearEndReport_2022_FINAL.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112135914/https://luminatedata.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Luminate_US-YearEndReport_2022_FINAL.pdf |archive-date=12 January 2023 |access-date=12 January 2023 |website=Luminate }} In 2024, PPL ranked it as the band's sixth-most played song across radio and television in the United Kingdom.{{Cite web |date=26 June 2024 |title=Glastonbury 2024 Headliners Clock Up 21 Years of Airplay in the 21st Century |url=https://www.ppluk.com/about-us/news/glastonbury-2024-headliners-clock-up-21-years-of-airplay-in-the-21st-century/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250520021835/https://www.ppluk.com/about-us/news/glastonbury-2024-headliners-clock-up-21-years-of-airplay-in-the-21st-century/ |archive-date=20 May 2025 |access-date=20 May 2025 |website=PPL}}
In other media
{{See also|List of cover versions of Coldplay songs}}
On 22 November 2016, the song was made available as downloadable content for Rock Band 4.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
Live performance
The song was performed for the first time during the 2016 Brit Awards on 24 February 2016.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6889478/coldplay-hymn-for-the-weekend-brit-awards-2016|title=Coldplay brings 'Hymn for the Weekend' to the 2016 Brit Awards|magazine=Billboard|access-date=17 March 2016|archive-date=12 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212111203/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6889478/coldplay-hymn-for-the-weekend-brit-awards-2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jgIMEk19JM|title=Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend (Live at The BRIT Awards 2016)|date=24 February 2016 |publisher=YouTube|access-date=26 March 2016|archive-date=24 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324120815/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jgIMEk19JM|url-status=live}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download
| title1 = Hymn for the Weekend
| length1 = 4:18
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital download (Radio Edit)
| title1 = Hymn for the Weekend
| note1 = Radio Edit
| length1 = 4:00
}}
{{Track listing
| title1 = Hymn for the Weekend
| note1 = SeeB Remix
| length1 = 3:32
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Only YouTube (Alan Walker Remix)
| title1 = Hymn for the Weekend
| note1 = Alan Walker Remix
| length1 = 3:50
}}
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from A Head Full of Dreams liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|author=Coldplay|title=A Head Full of Dream|year=2015|type=booklet|publisher=Parlophone|id=1053933969}}
Coldplay
- Guy Berryman – bass guitar
- Jonny Buckland – electric guitar, backing vocals
- Will Champion – drums, drum pad, percussion, backing vocals
- Chris Martin – lead vocals, piano
Additional musicians
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
= Weekly charts =
{{col-2}}
= Monthly charts =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Monthly chart performance for "Hymn for the Weekend" |
| scope="col" style="width:21em;" |Chart (2017)
! scope="col" |Peak |
|---|
| scope="row" |South Korea International (Gaon){{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?serviceGbn=ALL&termGbn=month&hitYear=2017&targetTime=04&nationGbn=E&year_time= |title=International Digital Chart – Month 4 of 2017 |website=Gaon Chart |language=ko |access-date=1 May 2025}}
| 54 |
= Year-end charts =
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Hymn for the Weekend"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=8|title=Hymn for the Weekend|artist=Coldplay|type=single|relyear=2015|certyear=2024|access-date=16 April 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=single|award=Gold|title=Hymn for the Weekend|artist=Coldplay|certyear=2016|relyear=2015|access-date=16 September 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=single|award=Platinum|title=Hymn for the Weekend|artist=Coldplay|certyear=2016|relyear=2015|access-date=30 July 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|title=Hymn for the Weekend|artist=Coldplay|certyear=2017|relyear=2015|access-date=22 August 2017}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|title=Hymn for the Weekend|artist=Coldplay|relyear=2015|region=Denmark|award=Platinum|number=3|id=12921|certyear=2023|access-date=September 23, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Coldplay|title=Hymn for the Weekend|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2015|certyear=2023|access-date=25 February 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|award=Platinum|number=8|title=Hymn for the Weekend|artist=Coldplay|certyear=2018|relyear=2015|access-date=27 August 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|artist=Coldplay|title=Hymn for the Weekend|access-date=6 January 2025|relyear=2015|certyear=2024|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|type=single|artist=Coldplay|title=Hymn for the Weekend|award=Diamond|certyear=2016|relyear=2015|access-date=29 June 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Coldplay|title=Hymn for the Weekend|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|relyear=2015|certyear=2023|id=file_2023-07-03-11-36-42.pdf|access-date=16 September 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Coldplay|title=Hymn for the Weekend|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|relyear=2015|certyear=2024|certweek=1|access-date=10 January 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|artist=Coldplay|title=Hymn for the Weekend|award=Platinum|certyear=2016|certweek=25|relyear=2015|access-date=3 July 2017}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=single|artist=Coldplay|title=Hymn for the Weekend|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2016|relyear=2015|access-date=19 May 2017}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2015|certyear=2025|artist=Coldplay|title=Hymn for the Weekend|type=single|id=13645-1754-1|access-date=23 May 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|number=5|title=Hymn for the Weekend|artist=Coldplay|certyear=2023|relyear=2015|access-date=17 April 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true|nosales=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Country
! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Version ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|References}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| Italy
| 5 February 2016 | Original | Warner |Release date in Italian to contemporary hit radio:
|
| scope="row"| Various
| 25 January 2016 | Seeb remix |
| scope="row"| United States
| 26 April 2016 | Contemporary hit radio | Original | Atlantic |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|YykjpeuMNEk|Hymn for the Weekend}}
{{Coldplay songs}}
{{Beyoncé songs}}
{{Seeb}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Song recordings produced by Rik Simpson
Category:Song recordings produced by Stargate (record producers)
Category:Songs written by Chris Martin
Category:Songs written by Guy Berryman
Category:Songs written by Jonny Buckland
Category:Songs written by Will Champion
Category:Number-one singles in Iceland
Category:Number-one singles in Israel
Category:Number-one singles in Poland