"Cry for Me" is a song by Canadian singer and songwriter the Weeknd. Originally released as a track on January 31, 2025, it was sent to US contemporary and rhythmic radio through XO and Republic Records as the third single from his sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, on February 4, 2025. The song was produced by the Weeknd himself, Mike Dean, and Metro Boomin, with all three of them writing it alongside Belly, Karen Patterson, and Curtis Williams. Following the release of the album, the song received widespread critical acclaim, and was an immediate commercial success, reaching the top ten in the United Kingdom and Canada, and top 40 in various countries, including number 12 in the United States and topping the charts in Greece.

Background and release The song, which was first released as the second track of Hurry Up Tomorrow, was released as the third single off the album on February 4, 2025.

Composition and lyrics On the song, the Weeknd says that he feels trapped in a "penthouse prison" as he expresses his internal feelings of pain and suffering. Carl Lamarre of Billboard ranked "Cry for Me" as the ninth best song on the album as he felt that "The Weeknd's vulnerability is palpable as he positions Hurry Up Tomorrow as his swan song" and "he leans into his mortality and departure, realizing it may be too late to resuscitate his relationship". The song is composed in the key of G minor with a tempo of 120 BPM.

Music video The music video for "Cry for Me" was released on February 11, 2025. Self-directed by the Weeknd, the black-and-white visual features the singer in a sparkling outfit with a hood covering part of his face, as he walks towards a young woman in the pitch black. The scene frequently flashes to the musician wandering a city and the woman crying thick, dark liquid.

Credits and personnel Credits adapted from first pressing credits and Tidal. The Weeknd – vocals, keyboards, programming, songwriting, production Mike Dean – synthesizer, songwriting, production, mixing, mastering OPN – synthesizer Metro Boomin – songwriting, production Sage Skolfield – engineering, vocal engineering, vocal producer, mixing Tommy Rush – engineering, second engineering, assistant mixing Shin Kamiyama – engineering Nathan Salon – engineering Faris Al-Majed – recording, second engineering Ahmad Balshe – songwriting Curtis Fitzgerald Williams – songwriting Lynette K. Patterson – songwriting

Charts

Weekly charts + Chart (2025–2026) Peakposition Canada AC (Billboard) 25 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard) 6 Canada Hot AC (Billboard) 15 Croatia International Airplay (Top lista) 96 Dominican Republic Anglo (Monitor Latino) 1 Dominican Republic Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino) 4Finland Airplay (Radiosoittolista) 32 Greece International (IFPI) 1 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 10 India International (IMI) 4 Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan) 16 Latvia Streaming (LaIPA) 4 Lebanon Airplay (Lebanese Top 20) 7 Lithuania (AGATA) 11 Luxembourg (Billboard) 8 Malaysia International (RIM) 19 Mexico Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino) 9 Nicaragua Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino) 2 Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100) 60 Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100) 14 Puerto Rico Anglo Airplay (Monitor Latino) 6 Romania (Billboard) 6 San Marino Airplay (SMRTV Top 50) 14 Serbia Airplay (Radiomonitor) 10 Singapore (RIAS) 19 South Africa (TOSAC) 30 Turkey International Airplay (Radiomonitor Türkiye) 2

Monthly charts + Chart (2025) Position Estonia Airplay (TopHit) 18 Lithuania Airplay (TopHit) 23

Year-end charts + Chart (2025) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 43 Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 54 Canada AC (Billboard) 45 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard) 9 Canada Hot AC (Billboard) 18 Estonia Airplay (TopHit) 138 France (SNEP) 200 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 94 India International (IMI) 10 US Billboard Hot 100 73 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard) 46 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 12 US Pop Airplay (Billboard) 17 US Rhythmic Airplay (Billboard) 12

Certifications

Release history + Release history and formats for "Cry for Me" Region Date Format Label United States February 4, 2025 Contemporary hit radio Rhythmic contemporary radio Italy February 5, 2025 Radio airplay Universal

References