Written by vocalist Takahiro Moriuchi with producer Pete Nappi and songwriters Janee Bennett and Jamil Kazmi, the song was released for digital download and streaming on February 1, 2019, by A-Sketch in Japan and internationally by Fueled by Ramen, serving as the theme song for the live-action film Kingdom released on April 19, 2019.
The production portrays One Ok Rock performing with an ever-increasing storm forming beneath them, while alternating with scenes of young people hanging out at night and creating memories together living for now.
He said in an article published by Oricon, that although it was still in the planning stages, the theme song "Wasted Nights" was an "important and indispensable pieces" for the film.
[2] Moriuchi watched the film before it was completed in order to create an image for the song's elaboration and commented that after "Wasted Nights" was finished, everyone concluded it was a good track.
[8] "Wasted Nights" was written by vocalist Moriuchi, the producer Pete Nappi, besides Janee Bennett and Jamil Kazmi.
[2] Considered an optimistic content track, lyrically, "Wasted Nights" is about the importance of living in the present to the fullest in order not to regret past actions with thoughts like “what if?”.
[12] Neil Z. Yeung, in his AllMusic review of Eye of the Storm, called the song an anthem that "brims with optimism so thick that it's pointless to fight it".
"Wasted Nights" was included in the set list of the Eye of the Storm World Tour, which featured live performances by One Ok Rock in North America, Europe and Oceania.