The Weeknd, After Hours | 4GEMZ

1. The Weeknd, “Heartless”

After Hours • Republic • 2020

“I’ve been runnin’ through the pussy, need a dog pound / Hundred models getting’ faded in the compound.” The Weeknd remains true to self on “Heartless” – cold as ice!  On this After Hours standout, he sings about the fast life.  He kicks off the first verse singing, “Never need a bitch, I’m what a bitch need.” He doubles down on the second verse: “So much pussy, it be fallin’ out the pocket / Metro Boomin turn this ho into a mosh pit / Tesla pill got me flyin’ like a cockpit.”

Besides those badass, cocky lyrics, The Weekend has an incredibly sleek backdrop to work with courtesy of Metro Boomin and Illangelo.  The beat pummels while they synths are equally potent.  Combine that with confident, distinct, and unapologetic vocals from Tesfaye, and “Heartless” is nothing short of a surefire bop.

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2.The Weeknd, “Snowchild”

After Hours • Republic • 2020

With a title like “Snowchild,” it should come as no surprise that The Weeknd references drug use on this gem from After Hours.  “I was singing notes while my niggas played with six keys / Walking in the snow before I ever made my wrist freeze,” he sings on the reflective first verse.

As evidenced by those lyrics, “Snowchild” is more than drugs, though the Dizzy Gillespie line is pretty rad (“I was blowing smoke, had me ‘Dizzy’ like Gillespie”). He explores his childhood, coming up and becoming famous, and of course, drip and sex. It’s another winning moment from After Hours by all means. 

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3. The Weeknd, “After Hours”

After Hours •  Republic • 2020

“Oh, baby / Where are you now when I need you most? / I’d give it all just to hold you close / Sorry that I broke your heart, your heart.” “After Hours” marks a throwback for The Weekend; it sounds like his ultra-moody music of the past.  It’s long (north of six-minutes), but the vibe, vocal performance, and the production compensate.  The production ( Illangelo, Jason “DaHeala” Quenneville, and Mario Winans) is satisfying to the nth degree: dark and moody (in a minor key) with cutting-edge synths and an infectious groove.  Of course, it’s that potent falsetto by The Weekend atop the backdrop that seals the deal. 

Beyond the sound and vocals, the theme encompassing matters of the heart amplifies excellence.  He thrives on heartbreak.  The crowning achievement is the chorus. Abel Tesfaye is in his zone here, and that’s always a winning formula.

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4. The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”

After Hours •  Republic • 2020

The best song from After Hours, as well as the best song of 2020 is “Blinding Lights”.  The former Billboard Hot 100 no. 1 hit is an epic pop song. It commences enigmatically with a minor key (eventually settling into major) and moody synths.  This is before the groove settles in, one of the biggest selling points. There’s plenty to about this single, starting with its pop/pop-rock vibe. Max Martin and Oscar Holter produce alongside The Weeknd.

“Blinding Lights” features beautiful vocals, the form is straightforward, while the centerpiece should come as no surprise – the chorus:

“I said, ooh, I’m blinded by the lights
No, I can’t sleep until I feel your touch
I said, ooh, I’m drowning in the night
Oh, when I’m like this, you’re the one I trust
Hey, hey hey.”

Thematically, The Weekend focuses on love, relationships, and sex – predictable, but always effective. All in all, “Blinding Lights” is superb, showing his versatility on this sick, utterly infectious, pop record. 

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