The Weekend (SZA song)

"The Weekend"
Single by SZA
from the album Ctrl
Released	September 26, 2017 (2017-09-26)
Recorded	Platinum Sounds (New York City)
Genre	R&B neo soul
Length	4:32
Label	Top Dawg RCA
Songwriter(s)	Solána Rowe Justin Timberlake Timothy Mosley Nathaniel Hills Cody Fayne
Producer(s)	ThankGod4Cody
SZA singles chronology
"Homemade Dynamite (Remix)" (2017) "The Weekend" (2017) "All the Stars" (2018)
Music video
"The Weekend" on YouTube

"The Weekend" is a song by American singer SZA from her debut studio album, Ctrl (2017). It was written by SZA and its producer ThankGod4Cody. The song samples "Set the Mood (Prelude)" from FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006), written by Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, and Danja, who also received writing credits for "The Weekend". "The Weekend" is an R&B and neo soul record that uses a synth-line, hi-hats, drums, a high-pitched vocal sample and clocking key thumps. SZA sings about knowingly being her partner's mistress, comparing herself to the weekend.^[1]

Prior to its official release, "The Weekend" debuted on some Billboard charts. The unexpected popularity of the song prompted RCA Records to release it on September 26, 2017, as the album's second radio single. The song reached number 29 on Billboard Hot 100, becoming SZA's first and highest chart position with a solo song until "I Hate U" reached number seven in 2022. It also topped the Hot R&B Songs chart and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on March 1, 2018. "The Weekend" received a Grammy nomination at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

Its accompanying music video, directed by American musician Solange Knowles, was released on December 22, 2017. To promote "The Weekend", SZA performed the song on Saturday Night Live and at the 2017 BET Awards. SZA also performed the song during her first headlining concert tour, "CTRL". A remixed version of the song by Calvin Harris was released on December 15, 2017, with the title, "The Weekend - Funk Wav Remix".^[2]