[1][2] The song was released as the lead single from the album on 29 January 2016 along with its own music video, which featured his girlfriend at the time, American model Gigi Hadid.

[6] On 24 January 2016, Zayn revealed the release date and promotional cover-art of the lead single "Pillowtalk" through Twitter.

[13] It achieved worldwide success by topping the charts in a variety of markets, with combined sales and track-equivalent streams of 8 million units according to IFPI.

[30] Its lyrics discuss the way that love and passion can turn abruptly into recklessness,[31] described by The Guardian as a "theatrical interpretation of intimacy and romance.

[33] He goes from soft lines in the pre-chorus, "I love to wake up next to you,"[11] to explicit content in the chorus: "in the bed all day / fucking and fighting on / It's a paradise and it's a war zone;" he sings about the pain that comes with being lovers.

Writing for Forbes, Hugh McIntyre commented the song "is decidedly grown up, complete with plenty of x-rated words and adult imagery and themes.

"[35] Brennan Carley of Spin praised the lyrics and Zayn's vocals, stating he "demonstrates a mastery on modern R&B within seconds.

"[36] For The Guardian's Harriet Gibsone, it is a "slow, minimalist and lusty explosion of testosterone, a fountain of champagne and dodgy aftershave.

"[32] The Guardian chose "Pillowtalk" as their pick of the week, stating that "against all odds, Zayn Malik’s debut single is shockingly good.

"[37] The Irish Times also chose it as their track of the week, describing it as "slick" and "nouveau R&B (like Miguel) with a blogwave backing.

"[39] In Digital Spy, Lewis Corner gave the song four-out-of-five stars, writing "Zayn's clear vocal tone – at its very best on this – along with a big chorus and brain-niggling melody, keeps it sexy and fun without being sordid."

"[40] Lucas Villa of AXS wrote that the song "might not be [Zayn's] Justin Timberlake 'Cry Me a River' breakthrough just yet but it's a sweet something that will surely satisfy his older fans in the meanwhile.

"[42] Joe Lynch of Billboard noted that the song drops "One Direction's MOR pop for the more critically respected PBR&B".

"[13] Alex Abad-Santos of Vox found that the topic contains "shopworn clichés, making the song feel like it's marketed and packaged for young ears" but concluded "Zayn's billowy, swirling vocals sell it so well that 'Pillowtalk' becomes something better than it first set out to be.

"[33] Christopher Weingarten in Rolling Stone wrote "there's nothing particularly special about his single" and found the lyrics "awkward" but concluded the song may be "important for R&B's future" as it "proves that the watery sound of alternative-leaning R&B has way more legs than the cult of personality built around the Weeknd.

"[25] Newsweek said the "track has an epic crashing chorus that’s raunchy and romantic in equal measure, with jazzy electronic elements that don’t overpower the 23-year-old’s formidable vocal chops.

"[45] Rolling Stone named "Pillowtalk" one of the 30 best songs of the first half of 2016, writing "Like his AWOL boy band forefathers, Zayn Malik decided to use R&B and sex appeal to launch his post-One Direction.

Zayn is the first one-time member of a Hot 100-charting boy band to score a number one with a debut single since George Harrison, the former Beatle who launched with "My Sweet Lord" in 1970.

Gigi Hadid and Zayn appear in the clip, which features retro graphics, kaleidoscopic and shattered-mirror effects.

[13][74] The music video finds Zayn navigating a sexual fantasia, with a flower covering a mysterious woman's genitals and female silhouettes ogling each other, the former played by actress Jodie Turner-Smith.

Online the video "it's not only extremely seductive, but it's very artistic,"[78] while Erica Gonzales from Harper's Bazaar wrote "the visuals are dark yet psychedelic.

Cover versions of "Pillowtalk" have been uploaded to YouTube by SoMo,[186] Niki and Gabi,[187] Conor Maynard,[188] Tanner Patrick,[189] The Vamps,[190] Alex Aiono,[191] Julio D,[192] and Boyce Avenue.

[197][198] The Gregory Brothers uploaded a tongue-in-cheek, uptempo cover to YouTube as part of their "Happy Sad Songs" series.