“Heartless” signals a physical set change as now that he’s left Los Angeles, it can be assumed that he is in Las Vegas.
This means they either believe all hope is lost, or have realized something that allows them to complete their objective/mission. Source: The Line of Best Fit Midpoint: HeartlessĪ story’s midpoint usually showcases the character shifting from reactive to proactive. This severed relationship also pushes the singer to finally leave Los Angeles (“Well this place is never what it seems // Take me out LA // Take me out of LA” – Escape From LA). Alone with his thoughts, The Weeknd reflects on his upbringing (“I used to pray when I was sixteen // If I didn’t make it, then I’d probably make my wrist bleed // I just signed a new deal with Mercedes” – Snowchild). This track shows the first time the relationship is referred to in a past tense (“When I saw the signs, I shoulda let you go” – Scared To Live). The story is set in motion by what appears to be a breakup. Inciting Incident: Scared To Live – Escape From LA
The weeknd new album list of songs series#
Unfortunately, not all looks well for this love as “Hardest To Love” showcases a series of self-confessions about how Abel has done wrong (“But I’ve been the hardest to love // You’re tryna let me go, yeah” – Hardest To Love). He’s in Los Angeles (We’re in Hell, it’s disguised as a paradise with flashing lights” – Too Late), but misses Las Vegas (“In Vegas, I feel so at home” – Alone Again). It also shows that while The Weeknd may be in a relationship, he feels as if he’s lost himself (“Take off my disguise // I’m living someone else’s life // Suppressing who I was inside” – Alone Again). The story’s introduction establishes the two main characters: Abel Tesfaye himself and Bella Hadid, a model who the singer has had an on-and-off relationship with in the past. Source: Ticketmaster Exposition: Alone Again – Hardest To Love When analyzing the album, I will be referring to the conventional three-act structure that is used in most novels and films. “After Hours” and “In Your Eyes” videos showed The Weeknd transforming into a Michael Myers-esque murderer.
After Hours has already had narrative hints with the music videos for singles “Heartless” and “Blinding Lights” detailing one night in Las Vegas gone wrong. From the dark tales of parties-gone-wrong in his hometown of Toronto in Trilogy, to the heartache and fame-rising adventure told in Kiss Land, Abel knows his storytelling. The Weeknd is no stranger to telling stories in his music. Plenty of drugs make lyrical cameos, the setting changes, and there are songs that seem to represent significant plot points. The songs follow a romantic relationship that turns into Abel’s personal apocalypse. The darkness surrounding the album’s tracks presents listeners with a satisfying yet uneasy (and arguably disturbing) theme of personal destruction attached to what appears to be a loose narrative.
See The Cultured Nerd’s official review of the record here. It was welcomed with critical and fan acclaim thanks to immersive production, immaculate song-writing, and a well-crafted track list. R&B superstar The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) recently released his fourth studio album After Hours. “After Hours” presents listeners with a satisfying yet uneasy (and arguably disturbing) theme of personal destruction attached to what appears to be a loose narrative.