"Power Is Power"
Single by SZA, the Weeknd, and Travis Scott
from the album For the Throne: Music Inspired by the HBO Series Game of Thrones
ReleasedApril 18, 2019 (2019-04-18)
Genre
Length3:31
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
SZA singles chronology
"Garden (Say It like Dat)"
(2018) 		"Power Is Power"
(2019) 		"Just Us"
(2019)
The Weeknd singles chronology
"Price on My Head" / "Wake Up"
(2019) 		"Power Is Power"
(2019) 		"Heartless"
(2019)
Travis Scott singles chronology
"Chopstix"
(2019) 		"Power Is Power"
(2019) 		"The London"
(2019)
Music video
"Power Is Power" on YouTube

"Power Is Power" is a collaborative song featuring American singer SZA, Canadian singer the Weeknd, and American rapper and singer Travis Scott. It was released as the lead single from the Game of Thrones companion soundtrack, For the Throne, on April 18, 2019.[1]

Background and release

In early April of that year, rumours regarding the possibility of a Game of Thrones inspired track by SZA, the Weeknd, and Travis Scott began to circulate around the web.[2] The artists' involvement on the For the Throne soundtrack was then later confirmed on April 8, via an announcement of the soundtrack by Columbia Records.[3] Following the release of the promotional singles "Kingdom of One" by Maren Morris and "Nightshade" by The Lumineers on April 12,[2] SZA then later shared the cover art and release date of the song, on her Instagram profile on April 16.[4]

Composition and lyrics

The title of the song is a line spoken by the character Cersei Lannister in the HBO TV series Game of Thrones, the song's lyrics however revolve around the character Jon Snow.[5] Writers at the time interpreted the lyrics as possibly foreshadowing the aforementioned character winning out the conclusion of the show.[6][7]

Music video

The official music video was first teased on April 20, 2019, and features a medieval theme, reminiscent of its source show Game of Thrones.[8] It was directed by Anthony Mandler and released on May 5, 2019.[9]

Charts

Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[10] 30
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[11] 10
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[12] 9
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[13] 50
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[14] 49
China Airplay/FL (Billboard)[15] 22
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[16] 33
France Digital Tracks (SNEP)[17] 140
Hungary (Single Top 40)[18] 40
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[19] 16
Ireland (IRMA)[20] 31
Latvia (LAIPA)[21] 23
Lithuania (AGATA)[22] 13
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[23] 3
Norway (VG-lista)[24] 33
Portugal (AFP)[25] 64
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[26] 18
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 41
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 67
UK Singles (OCC)[29] 45
Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[30] 6
US Billboard Hot 100[31] 90
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[32] 36
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[33] 19

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[34] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label(s) Ref.
United States April 18, 2019
[35]
April 23, 2019 Contemporary hit radio [36]
Rhythmic contemporary [37]
Italy May 3, 2019 Contemporary hit radio Sony [38]

References

  1. ^ Zidel, Alex (April 16, 2019). "SZA Confirms Release Date For "GoT" Collab With Travis Scott & The Weeknd". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "The Weeknd, SZA and Travis Scott reportedly collaborated on a song for 'Game of Thrones'". The FADER. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  3. ^ Winkelman, Natalia (April 8, 2019). "Game of Thrones Season 8 Gets a New Song From The Weeknd, SZA, and Travis Scott". Slate Magazine. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  4. ^ "eavy is the crown…never for a queen. POWER IS POWER 4/18". April 16, 2019. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2019 – via Instagram.
  5. ^ "SZA, The Weeknd & Travis Scott Unite For Epic 'Power Is Power' From 'Game Of Thrones' Compilation Album". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  6. ^ Holmes, Charles (April 18, 2019). "The Weeknd Sings About Snow (Not Cocaine) and the Iron Throne on 'Power Is Power'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  7. ^ Lindsay, Kathryn. "Wait, Is The New "Game Of Thrones" Song Full Of Spoilers?". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  8. ^ "Travis Scott, The Weeknd & SZA Tease 'Game of Thrones'-Inspired 'Power Is Power' Video: See the Photos". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  9. ^ "The Weeknd, SZA, and Travis Scott Take Westeros in "Power Is Power" Video". Complex. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  10. ^ "SZA, The Weeknd & Travis Scott – Power Is Power". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  11. ^ "SZA, The Weeknd & Travis Scott – Power Is Power" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  12. ^ "SZA, The Weeknd & Travis Scott – Power Is Power" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  13. ^ "SZA Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  14. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  15. ^ "China Airplay Chart/Foreign Language - 06/05/2019". Billboard China (in Chinese). Archived from the original on May 18, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  16. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201917 into search. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  17. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés". SNEP - Syndicat Nation de l'Edition Phonographique (in French). April 26, 2019. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  18. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  19. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  20. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  21. ^ "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 17. nedēļa" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  22. ^ "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. April 26, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  23. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 29, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  24. ^ "SZA, The Weeknd & Travis Scott – Power Is Power". VG-lista. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  25. ^ "SZA, The Weeknd & Travis Scott – Power Is Power". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  26. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201917 into search. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  27. ^ "SZA, The Weeknd & Travis Scott – Power Is Power". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  28. ^ "SZA, The Weeknd & Travis Scott – Power Is Power". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  29. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  30. ^ "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2019-05-20." TopHit. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  31. ^ "SZA Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  32. ^ "SZA Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  33. ^ "SZA Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  34. ^ "American single certifications – SZA & The Weeknd & Travis Scott – Power Is Power". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  35. ^ "Power is Power". iTunes Store. April 18, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  36. ^ "Top 40 Future Releases". All Access. All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  37. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access. All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  38. ^ "SZA "Power Is Power" | (Radio Date: May 3, 2019)". radiodate.it. Retrieved July 14, 2019.

External links

SZA
The Weeknd songs
Travis Scott
George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire
Categories