If this truly marks the end of The Weeknd’s illustrious artistic career, it’s been a remarkable journey for the R&B sensation, who has transformed the genre with his unique vocal style reminiscent of Michael Jackson, paired with anthems heavily influenced by party culture throughout the 2010s and early 2020s.
The musical narrative concludes with the release of his anticipated album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” which launched on January 31. This album completes a thematic trilogy for The Weeknd, following “Dawn FM” and “After Hours.”
Originally scheduled to drop alongside a performance at the Rose Bowl earlier in January, the release was postponed in light of the devastating fires in California. In a compassionate gesture, The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, contributed $1 million to aid first responders and organizations involved in relief efforts during this crisis.
Earlier this month, Abel announced that “Hurry Up Tomorrow” would be the final chapter in The Weeknd’s musical journey and would mark the retirement of his stage name. He expressed to Variety that he no longer feels the desire to engage with the persona he created: “It becomes this rat race: more accolades, more success, more shows, more albums, more awards and more No. 1s. It never ends until you end it.”
The new album comprises 22 tracks, featuring previously released singles such as the top-three Billboard Hot 100 hit “Timeless,” featuring Playboi Carti, and “Sao Paolo.” Notably, the song “Dancing in the Flame,” produced by Max Martin, was ultimately omitted from the tracklist.
As fans prepare for this final journey into The Weeknd’s artistic world, we invite them to explore and appreciate his legacy further by ranking the tracks from “Hurry Up Tomorrow.”
In summary, The Weeknd’s evolution has been marked by his impactful contributions to music and a deep sense of responsibility toward social issues. Despite the end of an era, there remains hope and respect for his future endeavors beyond his established persona, hinting at potential new beginnings for Abel Tesfaye as he transitions into the next chapter of his life.