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Tell Your Friends (song)

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"Tell Your Friends"
BERJAYA
Cover art for the demo version, "When I See It"
Song by the Weeknd
from the album Beauty Behind the Madness
ReleasedAugust 24, 2015 (2015-08-24)
Recorded2014
Genre
Length5:34
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Music video
"Tell Your Friends" on YouTube

"Tell Your Friends" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness (2015).[1] The Weeknd co-wrote the song with Kanye West, Che Pope, Illangelo, Mike Dean, and Noah Goldstein,[a] co-producing it with Pope, West, Omar Riad, Illangelo, Dean, and Goldstein. The track samples "Can't Stop Loving You" by Soul Dog, with its writers Carl Marshall and Robert Holmes receiving songwriting credits.[2] A live remix of the song with American rapper Nas was performed at the 2016 Met Gala Ball.[3] In November 2015, American rapper Fabolous released his remix of the song, which appeared on his mixtape, Summertime Shootout.[4]

Background

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"Tell Your Friends" originated as a demo by Kanye West, titled "When I See It". West released his version as a single on his SoundCloud account on October 19, 2015, alongside a remix of the song "Say You Will".[5][6]

Music video

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The music video for "Tell Your Friends", directed by Grant Singer, was released on August 24, 2015.[7] The music video also features another track from Beauty Behind the Madness, "Real Life" which is played at the end of the video while the Weeknd is driving out into the night.[8][9] As of February 2025, the video has surpassed over 80 million views.

Synopsis

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The video begins with the Weeknd walking into foreground holding a shovel, appearing to be burying himself, supposedly the previous iteration of himself of the Kiss Land era. He sticks the shovel in the sand and starts to walk away from where he is buried while performing to the song. A weird looking skinny man approaches his direction before getting shot by the Weeknd. The Weeknd gets closer standing over him, looks down at the body and shoots him again. Another song, "Real Life", plays at the end of the video as he walks back to where his car is parked. The Weeknd then gets into the car and starts driving out into the night.[10]

Charts

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Certifications

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Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[17] Gold 40,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[18] Gold 15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[19] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[20] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ↑ "The Weeknd Shares Snippet of Kanye West-Produced Song, 'Tell All Your Friends'". Billboard.
  2. ↑ Beauty Behind the Madness (CD liner notes). The Weeknd. Republic Records. 2015. 50330-5.
  3. ↑ "Watch Nas Join The Weeknd for 'Tell Your Friends' Remix Performance at Met Gala". Billboard.
  4. ↑ "Fabolous - Summertime Shootout". HotNewHipHop. November 26, 2015. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  5. ↑ Kramer, Kyle (October 19, 2015). "Listen to Two New Kanye West Songs, "When I See It" and a "Say You Will" Remix Featuring Caroline Shaw". Vice. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  6. ↑ ionehiphopwiredstaff (October 19, 2015). "Kanye West Drops 2 New Songs Out The Blue [LISTEN]". Hip-Hop Wired. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  7. ↑ Wickman, Forrest (August 24, 2015). "The Weeknd Buries His Old Self in the Video for the Kanye West-Produced "Tell Your Friends"". Slate. Retrieved April 9, 2017 – via Slate.
  8. ↑ "The Weeknd Goes on Murderous Rampage in 'Tell Your Friends' Video". billboard.com. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Watch the Weeknd Bury Himself in Creepy New Video". rollingstone.com. August 24, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Watch the Weeknd Dance in the Desert in New 'Tell Your Friends' Video". spin.com. August 24, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  11. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  12. ↑ "The Weeknd – Tell Your Friends". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 4/9/2015 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  14. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  15. ↑ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Hot R&B Singles: Year-End 2015". Billboard. Billboard.com. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – The Weeknd – Tell Your Friends". Music Canada. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  18. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – The Weeknd – Tell Your Friends". Radioscope. Retrieved December 23, 2024. Type Tell Your Friends in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  19. ↑ "British single certifications – The Weeknd – Tell Your Friends". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 28, 2023. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Tell Your Friends The Weeknd in the "Search:" field.
  20. ↑ "American single certifications – The Weeknd – Tell Your Friends". Recording Industry Association of America.
  1. ↑ Find additional credits for the song on the BMI Repertoire by searching the work number #20502911.
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