The Weeknd has influenced contemporary R&B and mainstream music for over ten years, going from an obscure underground performer to a worldwide phenomenon. Abel Tesfaye is getting ready to end this career phase with Hurry Up Tomorrow, an album supposedly his final release under the Weeknd pseudonym. However, is this the end or only the start of a fresh artistic revolution? How The Weeknd’s goodbye sounds as fans wait for his last performance. It’s truly the end of an era marking a pivotal moment in The Weeknd’s career.
Hurry Up Tomorrow is the end of The Weeknd’s era, released on January 31 under XO and Republic Records. While fans speculate about future collaborations, Tesfaye’s next artistic move remains uncertain. Hopefully, we’ll get some feats with him in the future. Or maybe more music under a new name. Hurry Up Tomorrow is the third and concluding part of his recent trilogy, succeeding 2020’s After Hours and 2022’s Dawn FM. The LP was launched following three singles: “Dancing in the Flames,” “Timeless” alongside Playboi Carti, and “São Paulo” featuring Anitta. According to Billboard, “Timeless” peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 in October, marking another milestone in The Weeknd’s career. With the album’s release, fans are analyzing its deeper themes and sonic evolution. The album gives off a sense of goodbye from beginning to end. The album opens with “Wake Me Up,” where The Weeknd declares, “All I have is my legacy,” over a sample of Michael Jackson’s Thriller—setting the tone for his farewell narrative. This makes fans contemplate existence once Tesfaye steps away from his The Weeknd identity.
The track gradually develops a synth-driven intensity, accompanied by what seems to be a heartbeat in the backdrop. The song peaks with a beat change, echoing elements of his 2022 album Dawn FM. He sings, “Are you genuine, or just a fantasy? / Because I’m afraid your affection is my misconception.” Weeknd’s lyrics question faith and the afterlife, a recurring theme in his music. Early speculation suggested the album might be titled After Life, reinforcing its introspective tone. An operatic experience with smooth transitions between songs, it is genuinely impressive how effectively The Weeknd crafts fluid transitions. “Open Hearts” is the finest, surpassing “Baptized In Fear.” The album’s second song, “Cry for Me,” is expected to be the album’s breakout hit, reminiscent of The Weeknd’s 2015 classic “The Hills. The song calls for empathy over a captivating drumbeat while he showcases his dynamic vocals on an impactful chorus. Although “Until We’re Skin & Bones” acts as an instrumental introduction to “Baptized in Fear,” the fourth track, “São Paulo,” which includes Brazilian artist Anitta, doesn’t quite align with the album’s narrative or the trilogy’s theme.
The recently launched single’s energetic instrumentals evoke disco or club sensations that feel mismatched for an album as serious as Hurry Up Tomorrow. The Weeknd and rapper Future delighted fans with a collaboration on the 10th track, “Enjoy The Show.” In the song, The Weeknd reflects on his past substance misuse. Although he has moved on from that way of life, The Weeknd also seized a moment to lift his collar and celebrate his achievements as a high-school dropout; in his twelfth song, “I Can’t Wait To Get There,” The Weeknd reflects on his achievements as a high-school dropout, embracing his journey to success. The track was appropriately succeeded by “Timeless” featuring rapper Playboi Carti, a lively song celebrating success and the enduring influence The Weeknd will leave on music. The album not only solidified The Weeknd’s legacy but also that of producers Mike Dean and Metro Boomin. Dean, recognized for his production and mixing skills, creates an ideal combination with The Weeknd’s falsetto. “Reflections Laughing,” “Baptized in Fear,” and “Enjoy the Show” serve as excellent illustrations. In his album, The Weeknd opted to reference several essential places. In “Reflections Laughing,” with rapper Travis Scott, The Weeknd incorporated a voice message from artist Chxrry22 mentioning Dallas. In the song, she noted, “My friend said she spotted you in Dallas, claimed you appeared unwell / How much more time will you be in Texas? / Don’t allow this industry to wear you down, darling / Don’t permit them to take you away from me.”
The Weeknd also emphasized his connection with the city of Los Angeles. The city, reflecting his highs and lows, symbolizes The Weeknd’s journey to stardom and the accompanying emotional turmoil. In his 2011 track “The Morning,” he expresses, “Book flight tickets / California is the goal,” representing his ascent in the music scene. His 2020 album After Hours propelled him into the international stardom he enjoys today, signaling that The Weeknd had moved past Hollywood. The album was released during the Covid-19 pandemic, enabled him to secure a Super Bowl halftime show, and resulted in the most streamed record ever with his hit “Blinding Lights.”In “Take Me Back To LA,” the 15th track of the album, The Weeknd contemplates his yearning for a life in LA from a time gone by. His imagery is unparalleled, vividly portraying his experiences as a youth in Scarborough. The track is a crucial moment in the album, a last pause before the conclusion.
The Weeknd worked with another well-known artist, Lana Del Rey, on “The Abyss,” a reminiscent song featuring divine vocals from both following a plea for God’s mercy in track 17, “Give Me Mercy.”The album’s concluding and titular song expresses a desperate wish to escape the life he’s selected, asking for salvation and imploring his mother for forgiveness. “I desire paradise when I pass away / I wish to transform, I seek relief from pain / No more,” he vocalizes in “Hurry Up Tomorrow.”In conclusion, listeners observed that the song effortlessly shifts into the opening track of his discography, “High for This.”If this marks the conclusion for The Weeknd, Tesfaye has established himself as a fantastic artist.
