Wikipedia

Apocalypse (Cigarettes After Sex song)

"Apocalypse" is a song by American band Cigarettes After Sex, released as the second single from their debut album Cigarettes After Sex on March 21, 2017. It was written and produced by vocalist Greg Gonzalez. It did not chart internationally until 2022, following its use in TikTok trends. The song, as of October 25, 2024, has amassed over 1.5 billion streams on Spotify.[1]

"Apocalypse"
Single by Cigarettes After Sex
from the album Cigarettes After Sex
ReleasedMarch 21, 2017 (2017-03-21)
GenreSlowcore
Length4:50
LabelPartisan
Songwriter(s)Greg Gonzalez
Producer(s)Greg Gonzalez
Cigarettes After Sex singles chronology
"K."
(2016) 		"Apocalypse"
(2017) 		"Each Time You Fall in Love"
(2017)

Background and composition

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"Apocalypse" is a slowcore song.[2] Gonzalez was inspired to write the song after he and two women he had dated had "big ambitions" but were "stuck" in their hometown, which felt "impossible" to get out of. Gonzalez then moved to New York City, but the two women remained in their hometown. He said the song is ultimately "about being there for people, when you're all alone. It was like a little affectionate statement to them."[3]

Release

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"Apocalypse" was released on March 21, 2017, as part of the band's 2017 self-titled debut album.[4][5] The song went viral in 2022, following its use on a TikTok trend where a childhood photograph is used to remind one to be kinder to theirselves.[6]

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart performance for "Apocalypse"
Chart (2017–2024) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[7] 35
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[8] 83
Global 200 (Billboard)[9] 130
Greece International (IFPI Greece)[10] 31
Lithuania (AGATA)[11] 27
Netherlands (Single Tip)[12] 12
Portugal (AFP)[13] 185
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 95
UK Indie (OCC)[16] 25
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[17] 16
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] 18

Year-end charts

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Year-end chart performance for "Apocalypse"
Chart (2023) Position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[19] 42

Certifications

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Certifications for "Apocalypse"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[20] Gold 45,000‡
France (SNEP)[21] Diamond 333,333‡
Italy (FIMI)[22] Gold 50,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[23] Platinum 10,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[24] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[26] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[27] 2× Platinum 4,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "'Apocalypse' - Cigarettes After Sex". Spotify.
  2. ^ Deville, Chris (March 27, 2017). "Cigarettes After Sex – "Apocalypse"". Stereogum. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  3. ^ Shah, Mitali (January 2, 2023). "Exclusive: The story behind Cigarettes After Sex's 'Apocalypse' and more". Cosmopolitan India. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  4. ^ McNett, Jared (March 21, 2017). "Listen to Cigarettes After Sex's 'Apocalypse' Off of Their Self-Titled Debut Album". Paste Magazine. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Goodman, Jessica (March 21, 2017). "Cigarettes After Sex announce debut album and share lead single "Apocalypse"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  6. ^ Zafer, Rizwana (June 16, 2022). "TikTok trend reminds people to be kinder to themselves". Mashable. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  7. ^ "Cigarettes After Sex – Apocalypse" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  8. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: Week of October 22, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  9. ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of October 19, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  10. ^ "IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 23 2022". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  11. ^ "2022 41-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. October 7, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  12. ^ "Dutch Single Tip 11/11/2023". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  13. ^ "Cigarettes After Sex – Apocalypse". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  14. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 42, 2024". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "Cigarettes After Sex – Apocalypse". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  16. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  17. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of October 15, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  18. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of October 22, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  19. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  20. ^ "Danish single certifications – Cigarettes After Sex – Apocalypse". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  21. ^ "French single certifications – Cigarettes After Sex – Apocalypse" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  22. ^ "Italian single certifications – Cigarettes After Sex – Apocalypse" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  23. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Cigarettes After Sex – Apocalypse" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  24. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Cigarettes After Sex – Apocalypse". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  25. ^ "British single certifications – Cigarettes After Sex – Apocalypse". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  26. ^ "American single certifications – Cigarettes After Sex – Apocalypse". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  27. ^ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 44/2024" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
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