Ready for the Weekend (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Ready for the Weekend

| cover = Calvin readyfortheweekend(single).jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Calvin Harris

| album = Ready for the Weekend

| released = {{Start date|2009|8|9|df=yes}}

| recorded =

| studio = Earth's Core (Glasgow, Scotland)

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:37

| label = {{hlist|Fly Eye|Columbia}}

| writer = Calvin Harris

| producer = Calvin Harris

| prev_title = I'm Not Alone

| prev_year = 2009

| next_title = Flashback

| next_year = 2009

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|XO4msvIA7cw|"Ready for the Weekend"}}}}

}}

"Ready for the Weekend" is a song by Scottish musician Calvin Harris. It features uncredited vocals from British singer Mary Pearce. Written and produced by Harris himself, the song was released on 9 August 2009 as the second single from his second studio album of the same name (2009).

Background and release

The song features guest vocals by British singer Mary Pearce, who previously worked as a backing vocalist for Beverley Knight, Lionel Richie and Chaka Khan.{{cite web |url=http://www.novanation.com.au/article_calvin-harris-gets-ready-for-the-weekend-video_36302 |title=Calvin Harris Gets Ready For the Weekend [video] |publisher=NovaNation |date=13 July 2009 |accessdate=17 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706110652/http://www.novanation.com.au/article_calvin-harris-gets-ready-for-the-weekend-video_36302 |archivedate=6 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/calvin-harris/45305 |title=Calvin Harris announces new album details |agency= NME |publisher=IPC Media |date=12 June 2009 |accessdate=13 June 2009}} Remixes by High Contrast, Fake Blood and Dave Spoon were also announced. It made its world debut on 12 June 2009 with Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1.{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.co.uk/artists/calvin_harris/news/13582/0/ |title=First play of new single |publisher=Columbia Records |date=11 June 2009 |accessdate=27 December 2010}} On 13 July 2009 it was featured as the Song of the Day on Popjustice.{{cite web |url=http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3831&Itemid=279 |title='Ready For The Weekend' By Calvin Harris

|publisher=Popjustice |date=13 July 2009 |accessdate=14 July 2009}} Harris performed the song at the iTunes Festival '09 on 18 July 2009 in London.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/calvin-harris/46191 |title=Calvin Harris showcases new songs at iTunes festival |work=NME |publisher=IPC Media |date=19 July 2009 |accessdate=20 July 2009}}

Commercially, "Ready for the Weekend" reached number one on the United Kingdom Dance Singles Charts, and reached number three on the official singles charts in the country. It finished 2009 as the 98th best selling single of the year in the United Kingdom.{{cite web |title=CALVIN HARRIS |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/2141/calvin-harris/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=18 May 2025 |language=en |date=10 March 2007}} In addition to this, the song also peaked at number three in his native Scotland,{{cite web |title=Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 16/8/2009 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20090816/41/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=18 May 2025 |language=en}} as well as within the top ten in Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. In the United States, it peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay charts.{{cite web |title=Calvin Harris {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/calvin-harris/chart-history/dnc/ |website=Billboard |access-date=18 May 2025}}

It was later certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the United Kingdom, indicating sales in excess of 200,000 copies,{{cite web |title=Calvin Harris "Ready for the Weekend" - The BPI |url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/8511-3374-1 |website=BPI |access-date=18 May 2025 |language=en}} and certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), indicating sales in excess of 35,000 copies in Australia.{{cite web |title=ARIA Certifications |url=https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/orr9fphn3kyhykimwm11l/AExzyTkHniRw2CkE2G9HX6Y/2023%20Accreds.pdf?rlkey=b5et6u9n5p7f3gkxgmqhivbyf |website=www.dropbox.com |access-date=18 May 2025}}

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Ben Ib{{cite web |last=Knight |first=David |url=http://www.promonews.tv/2009/07/27/calvin-harris%E2%80%99s-ready-for-the-weekend-by-ben-ib-now-at-agile-films/ |title=Calvin Harris's Ready For The Weekend by Ben Ib |publisher=Promo News |date=27 July 2009 |accessdate=27 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729003009/http://www.promonews.tv/2009/07/27/calvin-harris%E2%80%99s-ready-for-the-weekend-by-ben-ib-now-at-agile-films/ |archivedate=29 July 2009 |df=dmy-all }} and premiered on the British channel T4 on 4 July 2009 at 11:00 am.{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia.co.uk/artists/calvin_harris/news/13775/0/ |title=Ready For The Weekend video first play! |publisher=Columbia Records |date=2 July 2009 |accessdate=6 July 2009}} FHM model Lauren Pope and dancer Funda Önal make an appearance in the video. Several dancing females appear wearing red leotards to match Harris' magic portal, shirt and furniture. They next "change into blue and yellow zip-up bathing suits, expanding the palette and multiplying endlessly, just in time for the weekend."{{cite web |author=brandon |url=https://stereogum.com/78602/new_calvin_harris_video_-_ready_for_the_weekend/video/ |title=New Calvin Harris Video – "Ready For The Weekend" |publisher=Stereogum |date=9 July 2009 |accessdate=21 July 2009}}

On 23 July 2009, it was reported that the video was removed from YouTube due to a copyright claim from another party. Harris stated that he was upset it had occurred and believed that the British Phonographic Industry had prompted the removal.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/calvin-harris/46274 |title=Calvin Harris attacks BPI after his YouTube videos are removed |work=NME |publisher=IPC Media |date=23 July 2009 |accessdate=27 July 2009}} On 14 December 2010, the video was re-uploaded on Harris' official channel.

Track listing

=CD single=

{{track listing

| headline = *;UK CD single and iTunes single{{cite web |url=http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=281;1;-1;-1;-1&sku=998663 |title=Calvin Harris: Ready For The Weekend: CDS |publisher=HMV |accessdate=11 August 2009}}{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/ready-for-the-weekend-single/id325202300 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814014326/http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/ready-for-the-weekend-single/id325202300 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 August 2010 |title=Ready for the Weekend – Single by Calvin Harris |publisher=iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. |accessdate=18 July 2009}}

| extra_column =

| total_length =

| title1 = Ready for the Weekend

| note1 =

| length1 = 3:37

| title2 = Ready for the Weekend

| note2 = High Contrast Remix

| length2 = 5:42

}}

=iTunes EP=

{{track listing

| headline = *;UK iTunes EP{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/ready-for-the-weekend-ep/id323953716 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110231407/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/ready-for-the-weekend-ep/id323953716 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2012 |title=Ready for the Weekend – EP by Calvin Harris |publisher=iTunes Store UK. Apple Inc. |accessdate=11 August 2009}}

| extra_column =

| total_length =

| title1 = Ready for the Weekend

| note1 =

| length1 = 3:37

| title2 = Ready for the Weekend

| note2 = Fake Blood Remix

| length2 = 5:40

| title3 = Ready for the Weekend

| note3 = High Contrast Remix

| length3 = 5:42

| title4 = Ready for the Weekend

| note4 = Dave Spoon Remix

| length4 = 6:21

| title5 = Ready for the Weekend

| note5 = Dave Spoon Dub Remix

| length5 = 6:35

}}

=UK 12" single=

{{track listing

| headline = *;UK 12" single{{cite web |url=http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;1;-1;-1;-1&sku=163389 |title=Calvin Harris: Ready For The Weekend: 12 |publisher=HMV |accessdate=27 December 2010}}

| extra_column =

| total_length =

| title1 = Ready for the Weekend

| note1 = Original Version

| length1 = 3:37

| title2 = Ready for the Weekend

| note2 = Dave Spoon Remix

| length2 = 6:21

| title3 = Ready for the Weekend

| note3 = Fake Blood Remix

| length3 = 5:40

}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\|Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite web\|url=https://www.billboard.com/#/charts/european-hot-100?chartDate=2009-08-29&order=gainer\|title=European Hot 100 – Week of August 29, 2009\|website=Billboard\|publisher=Prometheus Global Media\|access-date=27 December 2010}} \|11
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+Weekly chart performance for "Ready for the Weekend" !Chart (2009) !Peak position
{{single chart\|Flanders Tip\|2\|artist=Calvin Harris\|song=Ready for the Weekend\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Wallonia Tip\|7\|artist=Calvin Harris\|song=Ready for the Weekend\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|CIS\|188\|artist=Calvin Harris\|song=Ready for the Weekend\|songid=19423\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=12 September 2020}}
{{single chart\|Ireland2\|9\|song=Ready for the Weekend\|rowheader=true\|access-date=26 January 2020}}
scope="row"\|Netherlands (Dutch Tipparade 40){{cite web\|url=https://www.top40.nl/calvin-harris/calvin-harris-ready-for-the-weekend-20855\|title=Calvin Harris - Ready For The Weekend\|language=nl\|website=Dutch Top 40\|access-date=11 May 2022}} \| 10
{{single chart\|Scotland\|3\|date=20090822\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Slovakia\|47\|year=2009\|week=39\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|UK\|3\|date=20090822\|rowheader=true\|access-date=28 February 2021}}
{{single chart\|UKdance\|1\|date=20090829\|rowheader=true\|access-date=28 February 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboarddanceairplay\|15\|artist=Calvin Harris\|rowheader=true\|access-date=24 September 2014}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+Year-end chart performance for "Ready for the Weekend" !Chart (2009) !Position
scope="row"\|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web\|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20090104/37501/\|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2009\|publisher=Official Charts Company\|access-date=28 February 2021}} \|98

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Year-end chart performance for "Ready for the Weekend"

!Chart (2009)

!Position

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20090104/37501/|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2009|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=28 February 2021}}

|98

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Sales and certifications for "Ready for the Weekend"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|artist=Calvin Harris|title=Ready for the Weekend|award=Gold|certyear=2023|access-date=4 April 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Calvin Harris|title=Ready for the Weekend|award=Silver|relyear=2009|certyear=2013|id=8511-3374-1|access-date=28 February 2021}}

Release history

class="wikitable"
Country ! Date ! Label ! Format
rowspan="2"\| United Kingdom \| 9 August 2009 \|rowspan="2"\| {{hlist\|Fly Eye\|Columbia}} \| Digital download
10 August 2009 \| {{hlist\|CD single\|12" single}}

class="wikitable"

Country

! Date

! Label

! Format

rowspan="2"| United Kingdom

| 9 August 2009

|rowspan="2"| {{hlist|Fly Eye|Columbia}}

| Digital download

10 August 2009

| {{hlist|CD single|12" single}}