Atwood Journal’s writers discover the storytelling and songcraft of ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow,’ The Weeknd’s sixth LP and the climactic finale of his newest album trilogy – one that will additionally mark the top of Abel Tesfaye’s period underneath his iconic pseudonym.
Featured listed below are Atwood writers Bárbara Mtz, Josh Weiner, Juls Patterson, and Lauren Turner!
— —
To start out, what’s your relationship with The Weeknd’s music?
Josh Weiner: Yeah, I’ve been a fan for about 10 years now. “Can’t Really feel My Face” was the primary hit track of his I bear in mind listening to on the radio, again in 2015, and I recall “Love Me Tougher,” “The Hills,” “Within the Night time” and others being fashionable round that point as effectively. I’ve continued to take heed to the Weeknd’s music recurrently ever since and had the nice fortune of catching him on the After Daybreak Tour in Chicago in 2022– a stellar efficiency, capped off with a rendition of the almighty “Blinding Lights,” was fairly the night, relaxation assured!
Juls Patterson: I admittedly was very younger when Home of Balloons got here out – studying to put in writing in cursive younger. That being mentioned, I used to be on Tumblr for its peak years by the point I used to be in center faculty, and I discovered him that method. Despite the fact that I used to be a little bit younger to grasp what he was speaking about, I felt seen by way of his references. The Seaside Home and Siouxie Sioux samples on my two favourite songs, “Home Of Balloons/Glass Desk Women” and “The Social gathering & The After Social gathering,” made me perceive the place he was coming from together with his influences and the context through which his work existed. Since then, it doesn’t matter what my musical preferences are, I all the time take the time to sit down down and listen to what new music he’s put out.
Bárbara Mtz: The Weeknd entered my music radar together with his second studio album: Magnificence Behind the Insanity. “Can’t Really feel My Face” and “Earned It” from Fifty Shades of Gray have been very talked-about, and when Starboy got here out, he grew to become one of many artists I’d take heed to on repeat. His R&B and likewise synthwave touches make him a particular artist to me, as a fan of something that belongs to the digital or synth pop style. I went to the After Hours til Daybreak Tour, and the expertise of his reside vocals, his creativeness and set designs, and his reinvention of genres and sounds have been sufficient to appreciate he is among the artists I love most.
Lauren Turner: My relationship with The Weeknd’s music goes again a decade as effectively. I bear in mind listening to “Depraved Video games” in a buddy’s automotive in highschool and questioning who the musician was, main me down a rabbit gap of discovery. By the point Magnificence Behind The Insanity entered the world, I used to be a full fan of his work. It got here out in my peak highschool years, after I was 16. I bear in mind everybody being obsessive about it and it was the one factor ever on. “The Hills,” “Can’t Really feel My Face” and “Earned It” have been on each radio station and taking on. However I bear in mind falling head over heels for “Darkish Instances” and “Angel.” These songs actually wowed me and made me excited to proceed seeing what would come from The Weeknd. And my oh my have I been wowed time and again.
What are your preliminary impressions and reactions to Hurry Up Tomorrow?
Juls: I’ve combined emotions on album trilogies, which is form of an ironic stance to have as a fan of The Weeknd. I feel it may be exhausting to drag off a trilogy with out it turning into drained. You must make three separate initiatives (clearly) that sound sonically related and discover a cohesive theme, and there can come some extent the place it feels such as you’re dragging issues out. This was my principal worry going into Hurry Up Tomorrow. It’s very bloated and has a a lot stronger again half, so on my first hear, I used to be terrified that I used to be going to hate all the factor. That being mentioned, it’s very tight production-wise, and there are some main hits in right here. I feel Tesfaye may be very hooked up to his story on this document, which I admire, however I feel it stopped him from trimming a number of the fats. Once I liked it, I liked it, however when it dragged, it actually dragged.
Bárbara: I anticipated that, as a closure to the trilogy, it needed to be a great closure, one which would depart followers glad and, maybe, much more impressed. One in every of my principal expectations was additionally that the sounds of this album can be very acquainted, but my impression was that I can not say that it’s one thing that we’ve heard from Tesfaye earlier than. He as soon as once more proved he’s experimental, with a large variation of genres that go from Brazilian funk to pop. What made me really feel actually optimistic about this album have been the options as effectively. Appearances equivalent to Florence and the Machine, Lana Del Rey, and Travis Scott positive lit up the tracklist with their mentions.
Josh: My first impression earlier than even listening to the album was: “Woah. 84 minutes? That’s fairly lengthy for an LP!” However having made my method by way of the album in three chunks right this moment, I can affirm that the size isn’t as daunting as I had initially suspected it will be, because it’s an entertaining and energetic hear that finally passes by fairly rapidly. It’s nice to see the Weeknd obtain such spectacular consistency all through his catalogue now that he’s been round for so long as he’s lasted.
Lauren: Each time I take heed to a brand new album, I take heed to it absolutely by way of, track by track, so as. I haven’t had a listening expertise like I did with Hurry Up Tomorrow in a scorching minute. And it was merely that – an expertise. I used to be dancing round my kitchen at instances, leaping when a transition hit easily and crying over lyrics. His artistry has and can all the time be one thing I might speak about all day, and I feel it actually confirmed throughout this piece of labor. Hurry Up Tomorrow may very well be dissected and studied for years to return, and I feel that claims so much about an artist and the work they put into the world, no matter whether or not you’re personally drawn to it or not. I additionally absolutely agree with Josh. I used to be nervous with how lengthy the size of this album is, however with its leisure and power the time handed rapidly and I used to be like “Nicely, now what?”
How does this album examine to The Weeknd’s previous releases – what are essentially the most putting similarities or variations?
Juls: It’s clear he put numerous work into referencing his whole discography. He’s experimenting rather a lot with manufacturing, whereas permitting his lyrics to harken again to his early materials in some ways. As an example, I feel “Cry For Me” suits good on My Pricey Melancholy, and “Opening Night time” might have been on Starboy. I feel this stage of self-reference is each an enormous energy for continuity’s sake and his largest weak point. It’s needed to inform the story he’s telling, however I discovered myself wishing he would reinvent the wheel at factors. Hurry Up Tomorrow is at its strongest when it sounds nothing like what I’ve heard from him but, however that is close to not possible for him to drag off with the idea he’s engaged on.
Bárbara: A similarity in The Weeknd’s albums is that they’re centered on a narrative. In fact, synth-pop or R&B types are additionally a typical think about his previous and up to date work, however there’s additionally a storyline. Every of his albums, at the very least within the trilogy, characterize one thing totally different. A starting, a center, a closure. Moreover, Hurry Up Tomorrow may very well be essentially the most genre-diverse album of the three. The themes of the albums are totally different as effectively. Daybreak FM represents a journey in direction of the “mild on the finish of the tunnel” and it may very well be mentioned that his new album is brighter, with hope and redemption.
Josh: Even earlier than you begin formally dissecting Hurry Up Tomorrow, I feel it’s fairly simply recognizable as a piece by the identical creator of After Hours, DAWN FM, and different entries within the Weeknd’s catalogue. It helps that he’s aiming for a similar stage of sonic grandiosity this time round, and likewise has employed a number of producers he’s labored with up to now (Metro Boomin and Swedish Home Mafia amongst them). So yeah, this one can slide onto the shelf fairly simply alongside the Weeknd’s different albums.
Lauren: The Weeknd has all the time been a storyteller at his core who likes to experiment and create one thing he’s proud to place out into the world. He views music at its depth, a vital type of artwork. When this album from a zoomed-out lens, that’s precisely what I see. One other creative masterpiece so as to add to his assortment. Nevertheless, when zooming in, like my fellow writers have talked about, it does mirror a variety of his earlier work, even earlier than this particular trilogy he’s engaged on. With rumors floating round that this may very well be Abel Tesfaye’s final album as The Weeknd, I feel that’s precisely what this album must be. A journey by way of not solely this trilogy and ending this particular story, however the story of The Weeknd in its entirety. With the themes of demise actually being a middle level all through Hurry Up Tomorrow, all of it is sensible. It’s The Weeknd – up to now, current and future.
Hurry Up Tomorrow is described because the “ultimate and most private chapter” of the trilogy sequence that started with Daybreak FM and After Hours. How does this document shut that trilogy, and what are your takeaways from these three data?
Juls: Very first thing first, I feel it says so much that the rollout for Hurry Up Tomorrow was nowhere close to as grand because it was for the earlier two. It created a precedent that this document can be extra private, an actual ardour mission, and I’m grateful I went in with this expectation. After Hours is all about self-destruction, which is sensible, contemplating the themes of his data prior. Even on the duvet, he’s lined in his personal blood, nonetheless grinning. He’s embracing the hurt he’s inflicting, letting it wash throughout him. Daybreak FM is his second for self-reflection – a number of the first lyrics are “You’ve been in the dead of night for method too lengthy. It’s time to stroll into the sunshine and settle for your destiny with open arms. Scared? Don’t fear.” It’s the thesis of the document. He’s understanding who he actually is, what he’s finished, and the right way to launch these habits. By the point we attain Hurry Up Tomorrow, he’s reached self-acceptance (in any case, he’s dying quickly). I feel this trilogy is probably going a fictionalized model of what he was dwelling within the time of his earlier work, and this document was certain to be essentially the most private, as initiatives about escaping habit and self-harm all the time are. It’s an ode to what he’s gone by way of and who he’s due to it.
Bárbara: The three albums have been good albums that made Tesfaye’s stage identify better and extra famend. I imagine this is among the trilogies I like most, and that I grew up with, so following the story has been an thrilling expertise. I feel it is a good closure to that trilogy, with totally different or creative manufacturing selections and a number of other themes, amongst them redemption. It’s the most private chapter of the sequence, and its true ending (the final track) grew to become spectacular to many, together with myself, as a result of it comes full circle with the transition to his first track ever, “Excessive for This.”
Josh: Like I mentioned in my reply above, I feel you’ll be able to determine the sonic continuity between this new album and his final couple ones simply sufficient. The narrative continuity between these works is a little bit trickier for me, however as greatest I can inform, Juls has completely nailed it of their reply above, so I’d be comfy going with their move on this one.
Lauren: I might fully agree with that assertion. It does feels ultimate and does really feel like essentially the most private chapter but. Actually, I might even argue Hurry Up Tomorrow is The Weeknd’s most private document in his discography. Juls actually hit it spot on! Couldn’t agree extra with that reply.
The Weeknd teased Hurry Up Tomorrow with the singles “Timeless” and “Sao Paulo.” Are these devoted representations of the album?
Juls: Sure and no. I feel they’re undoubtedly very robust songs, a number of the most memorable on the document, they usually’re good advertising materials for the “vibe” of the album, so to talk. Nevertheless, if I went in anticipating an album filled with songs like “Timeless” and “Sao Paulo,” I might have discovered myself underwhelmed by the slower sections on this document, most of which lie within the first half. These two tracks, whereas absolute bangers, would make me itch for a membership document, which Hurry Up Tomorrow shouldn’t be.
Bárbara: I don’t imagine they set up a particular theme or temper, however they do inform the album will probably be numerous in manufacturing and instrumentals. “Timeless” is extra of a rap and R&B monitor, whereas “Sao Paulo” stays within the digital spectrum whereas having its bursts of Funk carioca. Additionally, they function a touch on the excellent options that will additionally are available in the remainder of the album.
Josh: With regards to singles, it’s fairly shocking that “Dancing In The Flames,” already an authorized hit, didn’t make the minimize right here (particularly on condition that the document is already 84 minutes lengthy; would extending that to 88 minutes and making room for “DITF” have actually been so past purpose?). However placing that a lot apart for now, I can nonetheless vibe with “Timeless” and “São Paulo,” as they’re energetic and well-executed numbers, identical to a lot of the remainder of the document. On that basic stage, they’re consultant of the remainder of Hurry Up Tomorrow.
Lauren: I wrestle with this query. At first, I might say no. However with a second thought, possibly? I feel it’s exhausting to think about as a result of every track is its personal a part of the story and no two are the identical. Bárbara’s reply of those two singles not establishing a particular theme or temper however telling how numerous in manufacturing and instrumentals is my thought course of too. I believed to myself, “If I reply this query with no… what would I’ve chosen because the singles?” And I couldn’t reply it. Every track serves its personal function and provides its personal component to the mission.
Which track(s) stand out for you on the album, and why?
Juls: My favourite track on the document is “Open Hearts,” which involves me as no shock. It looks like a sister track to “Sacrifice,” my favourite track on Daybreak FM. On my first hear, when these synths kicked in for the refrain, I turned to my associate and mentioned, “That, by itself, is sufficient to make me purchase a ticket to see him reside.” It’s such an ideal second, and I want extra of the document was crammed with bits like that.
Bárbara: For me, “São Paulo” is a track that stands out for me on the album. It has fairly a mixture of genres since its very starting, in fact combining a mode of Brazilian funk, electropop, and synth-wave. The track deviates from different rhythms within the album, and that makes it particular sufficient for its riskiness in addition to for its which means (Sao Paulo was town the place The Weeknd carried out to debut songs of this album). One other track that stands out is “Open Hearts.” It’s catchy, euphoric, and it reinforces The Weeknd’s standard model as effectively.
Josh: I agree that “Open Hearts” and “São Paulo” have been true bangers, and I additionally assume it’s nifty that he collaborated with Lana Del Rey once more for the primary time in seven years (I feel) on “The Abyss.” Time and repeat listens will inform what emerges as my favourite tracks from this document, however these are a number of the ones that come to thoughts for now.
Lauren: I’ve been hooked up to “Cry For Me” and “Open Hearts” ever because the first hear. They’ve been on a relentless repeat for me. “Cry For Me” jogs my memory a variety of a few of The Weeknd’s starting days. The refrain additionally blends ache and sweetness inside this depth of craving that’s distinctive to take heed to. With regards to “Open Hearts,” the monitor makes me need to dance underneath a disco ball within the ‘80s however the lyrics hit exhausting. “The place do I begin after I open my coronary heart? It’s by no means straightforward falling in love once more/ Cowl my scars after I open my arms,” are some traces that pertain to a really relatable expertise all of us undergo. However I like how The Weeknd contradicts these traces with the upbeat rhythm. It virtually displays the sensation of falling in love once more when the previous comes again to hang-out you.
Do you have got any favourite lyrics to date? Which traces stand out?
Juls: I feel my favourite a part of the document is the by way of line of preferring delusion to actual life, and I favored going together with the persona he performs as he lets go of this idea going into his “demise.” The longer the document goes on, the much less he talks about partying and the extra he discusses ache. About midway by way of on “Benefit from the Present,” he says, “I simply wanna die after I’m at my f*ing peak.” The half that stands out essentially the most to me, although, is on “Pink Terror.” The music dies down, and he says, “Dying is nothing in any respect, it doesn’t rely/I’ve solely slipped into the following room/Nothing has occurred/Every part stays precisely the way it was/I’m I, and you’re you.” It’s a really beautiful sentiment.
Bárbara: The lyrics from “Cry for Me” are heartbreaking and painful, one thing that all the time will get my consideration when singers attempt to transmit that by way of music. The themes of remorse, despair, ache, wanting one thing to be reciprocal, additionally jogged my memory of one among his hottest songs, “Die for You.” But this track shouldn’t be a lot about him, however about demanding or wishing from the opposite particular person the exact same he has felt and given. Traces from the final monitor, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” I imagine stand out, too. As an ending, they’ve to talk masses, and there are a lot of essential ultimate lyrics on this track. “And I hope that I discover what I’m searching for,” “I failed her like I failed myself, I’m sorry,” “And I’ve been making an attempt to fill that void that my father left,” and “I hope this confession is sufficient” are a number of the traces that, lastly, tell us he’s modified the best way he sees his life and himself.
Josh: Oh man… 84 minutes’ value of music means a variety of lyrics to select from! However I admire Juls and Barbara’s analyses of the passages they’ve chosen, and (simply to quote one random instance) I’ll add that I love the metaphorical work at play in “Reflections Laughing”: “I’m trapped inside a gilded cage, a golden blade I’m sharpening.” Oh, the perils of fame….
Lauren: Like now we have all form of mentioned all through this piece, there’s such a connection between this album and the idea of therapeutic and forgiveness in hopes for a brand new life rooted in peace and understanding. With that being mentioned, there have been traces from two songs that caught out to me and actually made me cease in my tracks and mirror upon that idea Tesfaye was drilling all through this document. The primary one being, “I’ve been baptized in worry, my pricey/ Like Paul, I’m the chief of sin/ Washing my soul from inside” from “Baptized In Worry.” The second from “Hurry Up Tomorrow” being, “Executed with the lies, finished with the loss/ Hope my confession is sufficient/ So I see Heaven after life/ I would like Heaven, after I die/ I need to change.” To me, these type of go in tandem. The Weeknd is begging for forgiveness, hoping his confession (this album) is sufficient to land him a spot in Heaven (eternal peace). It’s a exhausting thought to even attempt to absolutely grasp and perceive, however one thing about it wowed me and actually gave an understanding to how heavy every part on this album has been weighing on him. It’s the rawest I’ve ever seen Tesfaye in his music.
The place do you are feeling Hurry Up Tomorrow sits within the pantheon of The Weeknd’s discography?
Juls: I’ve a bias in direction of his earlier work, which is partially a sonic choice and partially nostalgia. I contemplate Hurry Up Tomorrow a combined bag: it holds a few of his strongest tracks, greatest manufacturing, and most fascinating lyrics, however it additionally harbors some actual sleepers. Because of this, I can’t rank it too excessive, however I do discover it to be the cleanest of this trilogy.
Bárbara: I don’t assume it’s his greatest album, however to reveal his creativity and multifarious works, this might maybe be the appropriate album. This album has essential, transcending tracks; but the album as an entire, can’t be on the high of the listing. There are temporary, transitioning bits which might be additionally fractions of the story, but maybe can’t be thought of necessities.
Josh: I agree with Bárbara that it’s possibly not his best album, however that’s primarily simply because the competitors for the highest spot is fairly fierce for an artist with a listing this robust and constant (DAWN FM would possibly simply be atop the rostrum for me, although). Nonetheless, I can definitely applaud Hurry Up Tomorrow by itself deserves and really feel comfy rating it as one among his three or 4 greatest LPs off the bat.
Lauren: Like Juls, Bárbara and Josh have mentioned, I’m unsure if that is my favourite album of his. Nevertheless, the artistry and manufacturing inside this document are beautiful.
Abel Tesfaye has mentioned that this is perhaps his final album as ‘The Weeknd.’ With that in thoughts, how does Hurry Up Tomorrow fare as a swan track? How does it serve to crystallize The Weeknd’s 16-year legacy?
Josh: I imply, I feel the percentages of this really being The Weeknd’s ultimate album are about pretty much as good as The Black Album’s odds of truly being Jay-Z’s final album have been when that “retirement document” got here out again in 2003. 🙂 However let’s play a massively far-fetched sport of “what if” and picture how we’ll look again in a while if that is certainly Mr. Tesfaye’s ultimate act underneath his present onstage persona. It doesn’t matter what, I’m positive we’ll all admire The Weeknd as one of many defining musical artists of the primary quarter of the twenty first century– that a lot has just about already been assured– and we’ll look again at Hurry Up Tomorrow because the document that allowed him to shut out his signature inventive act in stellar model. Once more, I severely doubt we ever have to fret about being in mentioned predicament, however you realize, there’s all the time that “what if,” isn’t there?
Juls: I feel Hurry Up Tomorrow serves as a unbelievable finish to this run, and I might be excited to see what Tesfaye works on sooner or later. For my part, the persona he embodies all through all of those data can solely take him to date, and he’s wrapped up this run on the good time. He’s introduced collectively all the weather of every part he’s labored on, from the polished synths in his latest music to the lyrical stylings of his earliest work. He samples “In Heaven” by David Lynch on the titular ultimate monitor, which looks like an attractive, existential sendoff. The final track additionally transitions fantastically into “Excessive For This,” his first ever monitor. His first lyrics on mentioned track are, “You don’t know what’s in retailer, however you realize what you’re right here for.” His ultimate lyrics on “Hurry Up Tomorrow” are merely, “No extra, no extra, no extra.” All of it feels very meticulous, like a narrative deliberate from the start. If that is it, I contemplate this mission the right finale.
Bárbara: This album is perhaps an ideal goodbye for The Weeknd. Though not his best album within the trilogy, it’s a tribute to earlier work and likewise an ode to his previous and current self. It’s a demonstration of a few of his most vivid traits as an artist: originality, innovation, and imaginative and prescient. We see a distinct, advanced artist, and but there’s nostalgia for the artist from “Starboy” or the After Hours album. Many good issues have good endings, and I’d say this album represents that. The transition to his first track, “Excessive For This,” has been described as an infinite loop. Moreover the query or perception that The Weeknd character is caught within the loop perpetually, it might additionally imply one thing to the listener: The Weeknd’s legacy could also be long-lasting.
Lauren: I can undoubtedly see this being The Weeknd’s final album. However I don’t see this being Abel Tesfaye’s final album. In simplicity, I feel Hurry Up Tomorrow is The Weeknd’s reality. I feel it’s the completion of him telling his story. It takes all the opposite albums earlier than this one and says, “Here’s what I believed. This was my expertise. I’m wanting ahead to the long run.” So, to me, I feel that’s one hell of a technique to say goodbye.
— —
:: stream/buy Hurry Up Tomorrow right here ::
:: join with The Weeknd right here ::
— —
Watch: “Cry for Me” – The Weeknd
— — — —
Connect with The Weeknd on
Fb, X, TikTok, Instagram
Uncover new music on Atwood Journal
© courtesy of the artist
:: Stream The Weeknd ::