Abel Tesfaye, known by his stage name of the Weeknd, has had one of the most successful modern music careers to date, being the first artist to have 25 songs with over 1 billion streams on Spotify and the most streamed song on Spotify. However, the persona of the Weeknd is one that Tesfaye has thoroughly explored and potentially outgrown. His newest album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” closes an iconic chapter of his life, and opens up the possibility and anticipation of what tomorrow might bring.
“Hurry Up Tomorrow” serves as the final album of a trilogy — the sequel of the blockbuster “After Hours” released in 2020 and “Dawn FM” released in 2022. Originally set to release along with the “Hurry Up Tomorrow” film on Jan. 24, both projects were postponed to Jan. 31 due to fires in Los Angeles. The album not only closes off the “After Hours” trilogy but also partly retires his persona as the Weeknd. Although he has clearly stated that he will not be quitting music, he mentions that the Weeknd feels like a challenge he has conquered, and he is ready to pursue a new one.
“It’s a headspace I’ve gotta get into that I just don’t have any more desire for,” the Weeknd said in an interview with Variety. “You have a persona, but then 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.”
Largely inspired by his struggles with fame and identity, the album is deeply personal and vulnerable. The Weeknd mixes smooth synth-pop with pulsing EDM and dynamic funk, leading to songs that are both jarring and weightless.
However, in an album meant to serve as the Weeknd’s final masterpiece, many of the lyrics are shallow and fall flat. In comparison to the emotional and introspective tracks found in “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” such as “Baptized In Fear” and “The Abyss,” many of the lyrics resemble the Weeknd’s previous songs on the classic pitfalls of Hollywood: sex, money, drugs and fame.
“Cry For Me,” which seems to be a fan favorite, is filled with electric composition in -tune with his classic synth-pop sound but is tainted by stale lyrics. With cliché lines like “Been faded on the floor / In this penthouse prison / I’m alone” and “When I needed you the most, you always gave me sympathy / Now you’re over me (Over me) / Now you’re better on your own,” the Weeknd repeats his usual themes of toxic love and toxic fame. “Hurry Up Tomorrow” was intended to stand out from the rest of the Weeknd’s discography for its vulnerability. Yet, in an album filled with exposure and personal discovery, the generic and uncompelling lines take away from the message the Weeknd is trying to sell; the emotional connections that he builds with his own identity are cut short by bland and repetitive lyrics.
Additionally, the album grows repetitive after its 22 tracks. With the same synth beats and overused lyrics being present in almost every song, the individuality and freshness of each track are muddled into one long, redundant album. Although the production quality is undeniable with its well-mixed samples and crisp sound design, unoriginality causes “Hurry Up Tomorrow” to turn monotonous.
“I love his beats and the rhythm of his music,” sophomore Stanley Tan said. “I don’t have a least favorite track on the album because they all sound kind of similar.”
The album is not without its merits, however. “Baptized In Fear” is deeply personal and fragile, describing the Weeknd’s grappling with panic attacks, shown throughlines like “Figure in the corner laughing at me (At me) / Water fill my lungs, vision blurry / Heartbeat slower, heartbeat slower, heartbeat slower.” Paired with crooning melodies and silky instrumentals, “Baptized In Fear” is a heartfelt cry for help.
The album features many artists, including Lana Del Ray, with whom the Weeknd has collaborated with multiple times before. In “The Abyss,” the two sing together, their voices pairing together to create a hypnotic and atmospheric sound. The lyrics illustrate a slow and painful free-fall, asking “Will I feel the impact of the ground? / I tried to be something that I’ll never be / Why waste another precious hour? / Why waste another precious ounce? / I’d rather leave somewhat of a legacy”.
The Weeknd’s doubt about his legacy and the future of his persona is also reflected in the final track, “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” Lines like “I have no more fights left to win / Tie me up to face it, I can’t run away, and / I’ll accept that it’s the end” and “I need heaven after life / I want heaven when I die / I wanna change / I want the pain no more, no more, no more” express his final sentiment of regret and defeat, officially parting ways with his persona of the Weeknd.
The album ends with the sound of wind blowing in an empty void before cutting off into silence. Although “Hurry Up Tomorrow” features some lackluster lyrics, its open vulnerability and excellent production serve as a fitting farewell to the Weeknd and siphons forward the era of Abel Tesfaye.
Rating: 4/5 stars
