"Skeletons"
Song by Travis Scott featuring Pharrell Williams, Tame Impala, and the Weeknd
from the album Astroworld
ReleasedAugust 3, 2018
GenreKaleidoscope pop
Length2:25
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Tame Impala

"Skeletons" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott. The song features guest vocals from fellow American rapper Pharrell Williams, Australian psychedelic music project Tame Impala, and Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released through Cactus Jack, Grand Hustle and Epic Records as the seventh track from the former's third studio album, Astroworld, on August 3, 2018. Produced by Tame Impala and additionally produced by Scott himself, the latter and Kevin Parker of the project wrote the song alongside Williams, the Weeknd, Kanye West, Reine Fiske, and Mike Dean. "Skeletons" is one of the two songs on Astroworld that the Weeknd provides vocals on, with the other song being "Wake Up", which was the track after it on the album and was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio in 2019 as its fourth and final single.

Composition

"Skeletons" has been described as a "kaleidoscope-pop" song that draws lyrical influences from Kanye West by Larry Fitzmaurice of Pitchfork.[1] Grant Rindner of The Line of Best Fit described the production of the song as "typically kaleidoscopic, but features the menacing, gothic bass that you hear on Travis Scott standouts like '3500' or 'Antidote'".[2] Aaron Williams of Uproxx summarized: "The first time either of these two particular connections worked out in Travis' favor, 'Skeletons' is the proof that a little goes a long way, as he ladles Pharrell and Abel [the Weeknd]'s contributions over his own recipe, rather than steeping himself in their respective sounds".[3]

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[4] 42
France (SNEP)[5] 110
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[6] 12
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 47
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] 27

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[9] Platinum 80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (August 7, 2018). "Travis Scott: Astroworld Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  2. ^ Rindner, Grant (August 8, 2018). "Travis Scott – Astroworld". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  3. ^ Williams, Aaron (August 9, 2018). "All Of Travis Scott's Songs, Ranked". Uproxx. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "SNEP Top Singles: Week 32 (2018)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. August 10, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Swedish Heatseekers Chart - 3 August 2018".
  7. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  8. ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  9. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Travis Scott – Skeletons". Music Canada. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  10. ^ "British single certifications – Travis Scott – Skeletons". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
Categories