Released on Jan. 31, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” is the sixth studio album of Toronto popstar, The Weeknd. The project will end The Weeknd’s second trilogy of albums which started with the album “After Hours.” Abel Tesfaye (the real name of The Weeknd) has stated that he will continue to make music, but plans to stop the project of The Weeknd after his 16 years of hard work.
“Wake Me Up” begins the album with the line, “all I have is my legacy.” This sets the tone for the album, opening the ending to what has been one of the most popular music acts in history. The song uses a synth-pop style which has been mastered by The Weeknd. This beat then transitions into one which is more reliant on bass, almost sounding like an old Micheal Jackson track from the 80s.
With the following record “Cry For Me” a drastic change is heard in the style of music. This is a repeating theme throughout the rest of the project, with many songs being extremely unique. “Cry For Me” begins with a sharp sound, similar to an electric guitar, before transitioning to a jersey club sounding beat with synth in the background. This rhythm works very well with the hook and shows the great production which is consistent in the album, with legendary producers such as Mike Dean, Pharrell Williams and Metro Boomin being cited in its credits.
“São Paulo” succeeds the previous track, being dropped on Sept. 7, 2024, it was the first single to be released before the album. The song is named after a one off concert that The Weeknd held in the city of Sao Paulo to gain hype for the album. The track uses a mixture of Brazilian Phonk and synth to match the vocals of The Weeknd. This mixture of styles results in a diverse but catchy sound.
The fifth song in the project slows down the tone, with a much more melancholy mood than previous tracks. “Baptized in Fear” is a fitting name for this record with The Weeknd using lyrics to describe a scene of overdosing in a bathtub, unable to move while water rises and threatens to drown him. This theme refers to the drug problems that Tesfaye has been vocal about having in his past which lead him to being homeless at a young age.
“Open Hearts” transitions from “Baptized in fear” with the line “voices tell me a should carry on” being split in between the end of “Baptized in fear” and beginning of “Open Hearts.” This track is reminiscent of the sound to be expected of The Weeknd, using synth and echoing vocals.
The next song “Opening Night” uses a distorted beat and echoing vocals, this results in the track sounding like a drug trip. This is an intentional decision, with themes of addiction being found in the lyrics, “Give me what I want, then we’ll start the show, Im fixing (I’m fixing).”
This theme is continued on the next track “Reflections Laughing,” with lyrics highlighting that The Weeknd is destroying himself with substances. On the second half of this song is a verse from rapper Travis Scott, this part of the track makes it sound like something from Scott’s previous albums which are also reliant on the themes of addiction, such as Astroworld or Rodeo.
Production is shown at another level on “Enjoy The Show.” A Chipmunk Soul beat is matched with the Weeknd’s singing and an appearance from artist Future. Similar to the previous track, a theme of substances is consistent in the lyrics, with lines from future such as “you my favorite drug.” This verse by Future is one of his best features in recent years, it starts with uncharacteristic but beautiful singing by the Atlanta rapper before transitioning into his verse.
The following song “I Can’t Wait To Get There” showcases The Weeknd getting some frustration off of his chest. With lyrics such as “cause the media hate us, when they can never control,” The Weeknd shows that even with his extreme success, he refuses to give into the industry and will try to remain true to himself.
“Timeless” was released on Sept. 27, 2024. Predating the album’s release, “Timeless” was a hit, debuting at number three on the billboard top hundred. The song begins with a loud synth before transitioning into a vibrant beat. The song’s qualities fit perfectly with the guest feature from rapper Playboi Carti who uses his various voices to match what part of the song he is at.
The style of Chipmunk Soul is brought back with “Niagara Falls. After singing by The Weekend, the beat is transitioned at the end of the song into the beginning of the track “Take Me Back To LA.”
“Take Me Back To LA” uses the style of synth-pop to bring a nostalgic feeling of old tracks from previous projects from The Weeknd. This is supported by lines such as “take me back to a time, when my blood never tasted like wine.” This track has grown in relevance to the album with the release date of “Hurry Up Tomorrow” being pushed forward due to the LA fires.
The song “The Abyss,” provides listeners with amazing background vocals from singer Lana Del Rey. Del Rey and The Weekend match each other’s singing, leading to an increasing pitch until the conclusion of the track.
“Hurry Up Tomorrow” ends the similarly named album, with Tesfaye providing what is likely his last song under The Weeknd. With no features, Tesfaye expresses his feelings on this chapter of his life that he is wrapping up. Lyrics such as “It took a piece of me and I’ve been trying to fill that void that my father left so no one else abandons me,” and “I hope I find what I’m looking for,” show this feeling.
Overall, Tesfaye couldn’t have ended The Weeknd in a better way. “Hurry Up Tomorrow” is one of, if not the best album of The Weeknd due to its diversity of styles and heartfelt message. Tesfaye opens up to listeners about addiction issues and past trauma from growing up without a father. Tesfaye understands something that many other artists never figure out, that sometimes ending a project is better for a career than dragging it on. Despite the End of the Weeknd, a new chapter for the singer will begin.
