For years, Abel Tesfaye has held onto the character he calls “The Weeknd,” even speaking in the third person in interviews. However, his new album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” has been announced as his last as “The Weeknd,” with billboard advertisements proclaiming “THE END IS NEAR.” Tesfaye intends to retire the persona, stating that he wants to escape the headspace that has held him captive for so long. “Hurry Up Tomorrow” is his way of doing so.
The album consists of two interludes and 22 tracks, seven of which are features. The order and substance of the project’s songs tell a deep story about The Weeknd’s troubles, assisted by seamless transitions between the tracks. While we won’t dive into every piece, we’ll look into the tracks that define the story as well as the album’s best songs.
“Cry For Me”
Considered by many to be the best song on the album, “Cry For Me” tells a tale of heartache and emotional vulnerability. From a musical standpoint, the track opens with a mix of synths and powerful drums, allowing The Weeknd’s vocals to slide in with the instrumental perfectly. As the song builds, the chorus peaks at an emotionally intense high point.
The chorus plays a total of three times throughout the song, including the line “I hope you cry for me like I cry for you.” This, along with other lyrics, indicate that The Weeknd has experienced heartbreak and is now in a state of pleading.
Going even further, the second verse mentions alcohol use and isolation as coping mechanisms. The line “in this penthouse prison, I’m alone” suggests that The Weeknd’s wealth and fame have only furthered his loneliness. Overall, “Cry For Me” demonstrates Tesfaye’s ability to create a profound story within his musical hits.
“Until We’re Skin & Bones” / “Baptized In Fear”
After a break from the album’s story with the Brazilian-inspired funk song “São Paulo,” the interlude “Until We’re Skin & Bones,” transitions cleanly into yet another powerful track, “Baptized In Fear.” In this song, The Weeknd explores some of his harder experiences in life, ranging from near-death experiences to his guilt and fears.
Tesfaye dives into a near-death experience, stating “I fell asleep in the tub, I was there with paralysis.” One of the next lines, “couldn’t scream for help, I just slowly felt the pressure hit” suggests that he was not able to control his own situation and was rather forced to stay trapped.
Looking directly at the title of the song, being baptized typically symbolizes rebirth in a positive and pure way. Tesfaye puts a spin on this by alluding to the fact that he is being rebirthed into a life of fear, thus being stuck within his anxiety and issues.
“Niagara Falls”:
The first half of “Niagara Falls” presents us with nostalgic R&B vibes, whereas the latter half of the song seems to be more haunting and musical. As the most emotional song on the album, “Niagara Falls” takes us to a world of uncertainty and lost love. The Weeknd explores themes of heartbreak and betrayal, while also showcasing regrets he had in a past relationship.
The main plot line in the song revolves around how The Weeknd messed up that past relationship and how it signified to him that there was still hope for it to thrive. He states that he would like to “go back in time,” but acknowledges that his partner is in a new relationship by stating “I know he really loves you.”
Overall, “Niagara Falls” is an emotional rollercoaster that takes us through the background of Tesfaye’s full journey as the Weeknd.
“Take Me Back To LA”:
“Take Me Back To LA” is a plea for the Weeknd to leave the limelight and enjoy his life in peace. As he utilizes the song to revel in his success, repeatedly talking about the trophies he has won and how the fame affected him, Tesfaye hints at self-destruction and many other themes throughout the song.
What seems to be the underlying tone of the song is about Tesfaye wanting to escape to simpler times. He shows this by directly stating “take me back to LA” and also, “take me back to a place/ where the snow would fall on my face.” Here, the Weeknd could be hinting at his home city of Toronto. He continues on to say “I miss my city lights/I left too young.”
“Take me Back to LA” is a powerful testimony to the Weeknd’s struggles with fame and rising to stardom early on. As he continues through his emotional album—touching on tones of self-destruction—Tesfaye utilizes this song to explain why he struggles.
“Hurry Up Tomorrow”:
The name “Hurry Up Tomorrow” for both the title track and the album itself indicates the future for The Weeknd—or rather, the lack thereof. As this album is Tesfaye’s last under the alias of the Weeknd, Tesfaye is begging for the future (‘Tomorrow’) to arrive as soon as possible (‘Hurry Up’).
The very first lines of the song, “Wash me with your fire/Who else has to pay for my sins?” represent the Weeknd asking to be purified and cleansed of his past, where the ‘fire’ he mentions likely alludes to the fires of hell. Later, in the pre-chorus, Tesfaye sings: “I’m done with the lies, I’m done with the loss/I hope my confession is enough.”
Throughout the album, he has revealed hidden aspects of his character and confessed some of his ‘sins’. Stating that he’s done with the lies and the loss corresponds with Tesfaye’s choice to retire not just the Weeknd, but also the life he lived under that name.
Around two minutes in, the song delves into a more deeply emotional tone by introducing the bass drum. This added layer of music adds gravity to the track, reflecting the weight of the lyrics. The beat backs up Tesfaye’s words on his desire for change by adding a sense of urgency to his words.
Overall, “Hurry Up Tomorrow” represents Tesfaye’s transition from the alias of the Weeknd to operating under his own name. Throughout the project, Tesfaye recounts heartbreak and deep depression he has faced in his past as the Weeknd, and concludes with the title track that he wishes to be purified. While Tesfaye will not be quitting his musical career, we can expect a new style and tone for his work in the future as Abel Tesfaye.
