Prisoner (The Weeknd song)

"Prisoner" is a song by Canadian singer the Weeknd, featuring American singer Lana Del Rey for his second studio album Beauty Behind the Madness (2015). The artists co-wrote the song with Illangelo, who co-produced it with the Weeknd. It is the first of the five collaborations between the two artists, being followed by "Party Monster", from the Weeknd's third studio album Starboy (2016).[2][3]

"Prisoner"
Song by the Weeknd featuring Lana Del Rey
from the album Beauty Behind the Madness
ReleasedAugust 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
StudioConway Recording, Hollywood, California[1]
Genre
Length4:34
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

Commercial performance

"Prisoner" debuted at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100, with 51,291 copies sold in its first week.[4] The song also accrued 3.7 million US streams.[5]

Live performances

Del Rey and the Weeknd performed the song live together for the first time on December 9, 2015 at The Forum, Los Angeles.[6][7][8]

Critical reception

Alex Kritselis of Bustle wrote, "The mid-tempo duet sounds exactly how you'd expect it to sound: dark, tortured, and a little bit over-the-top. Depending on how you feel about The Weeknd and Del Rey — two artists who share a flair for the dramatic — this either makes the track absolutely perfect or absolutely unlistenable. Personally, I'm digging it."[9] In his review of the album, Rolling Stone's Jon Dolan described the song as "a summit of luxuriant sadness" and "quite the slow-burning pity party".[10] Chris DeVille of Stereogum called "Prisoner" "the most intriguing part" of Beauty Behind the Madness, and said the song "feels like an old Weeknd mixtape track, but with touches of Del Rey’s doomed noir glamor".[11] Vulture's Dee Lockett wrote:

Lana, the tortured lover, and the Weeknd, the addict, sound exactly as you’d expect on this bombastic morbid-pop-meets-lusty-R&B ballad. They croon about their respective sorrows: Lana wonders if Hollywood has poisoned her, while the Weeknd comes to grips with falling in love. For most people, that last one would be a relief, but for someone who previously bragged, “I just fucked two bitches before I saw you,” it’s like living out a horror film. But they each agree that whatever pain they’re in, they brought it on themselves: “I’m addicted to a life that’s so empty and so cold / I’m a prisoner to my decisions,” they whine in tandem. Of course, it ends with a Lana soliloquy.[12]

In 2019, Billboard's Kirsten Spruch included "Prisoner" in her list of Del Rey's best collaborations.[13] In his 2019 list of "Every Lana Del Rey Song, Ranked", Richard S. He of Billboard ranked the song number 75.[14]

Charts
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 51
France (SNEP)[16] 113
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[17] 95
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 78
UK R&B (OCC)[19] 19
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 47
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[21] 13

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[22] Gold 40,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Prisoner and Angel liner notes". August 28, 2015.
  2. Davis, Sarah (April 19, 2017). "Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd reunite on "Lust For Life" — listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  3. "The Weeknd Starboy Album Credits" (PDF). November 28, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  4. "Hot 100 Chart Moves: The Weeknd Debuts With 'Can't Feel My Face'". Billboard. September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  5. "The surging R&B/pop star makes history on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, among other chart feats, including on the Hot 100, all powered by the monster start of his new album, "Beauty Behind the Madness."". Billboard. September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  6. "The Weeknd and Lana Del Rey perform "Prisoner" together live for the first time -- watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  7. https://www.spin.com/2015/12/the-weeknd-lana-del-rey-prisoner-watch/
  8. https://pitchfork.com/news/60885-the-weeknd-and-lana-del-rey-perform-prisoner/
  9. https://www.bustle.com/articles/105760-lana-del-rey-the-weeknds-prisoner-lyrics-are-dark-tortured-exactly-what-youd-expect
  10. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/beauty-behind-the-madness-126821/
  11. https://www.stereogum.com/1825638/the-weeknd-prisoner-feat-lana-del-rey/mp3s/
  12. https://www.vulture.com/2015/08/hear-the-weeknd-and-lana-del-reys-new-duet.html
  13. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8519065/lana-del-rey-best-collabs-the-weeknd-stevie-nicks-asap-rocky
  14. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8528500/lana-del-rey-best-songs-ranked
  15. "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  16. "Lescharts.com – The Weeknd – Prisoner" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  17. "Swedishcharts.com – The Weeknd – Prisoner". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  18. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  19. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  20. "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  21. "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  22. "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – Prisoner". Music Canada. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
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