The Weeknd vs. All Time Low | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 33^rd edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2022), The Weeknd and All Time Low contend for the best rendition of “Blinding Lights.” 

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing their performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 33^rd edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2022), 🎙 The Weeknd and 🎙 All Time Low contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Blinding Lights”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. 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 by 🏆 Grammy-winning, Canadian R&B artist, 🎙 The Weeknd (🎙 Abel Tesfaye).  Shockingly, “Blinding Lights” and After Hours, arguably The Weeknd’s best work to date was snubbed by the Grammys.  Of course, you can’t cry over spilled milk, so, let’s continue to rave over this musical excellence despite the fact it was WRONGED. “Blinding Lights”  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 Tesfaye.

“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.

Appears in 🔻:

• 11 Awesome Songs: December 2019
• 51 Best Songs of 2020 (So Far): Year in Review
• 100 BEST SONGS OF 2020
• The Weeknd, After Hours: 4GEMZ 💎 4 (2021)
• Light: 5ive Songs No. 75 (2021)
• Blind: 5ive Songs No. 46 (2022)

2. All Time Low, “Blinding Lights”

“Blinding Lights” • 🏷 Fueled By Ramen • 📅 2022

Given the pop/rock sensibilities of 🎵 “Blinding Lights”, a modern synthpop record, it’s not far-fetched or shocking that the record can be transformed into a full-blown record.  Alternative collective 🎙 All Time Low recorded a cover of the dominant 🎙 The Weeknd classic in the summer of 2022.  All Time Low retain select features of the original recording, easy to do given some of its natural pop/rock cues, and even a dash of punk influence.  What 🎙 Alex Gaskarth and company add is guitars to accompany those keys and sparkling synths.

The big takeaway from the All Time Low rendition is how natural it feels – it’s not the least bit forced.  Alex Gaskarth doesn’t have the same distinct, ripe, tenor that The Weeknd possesses, but he holds his own.  He’s adept at the ad-libs and commands from start to finish.  Furthermore, ATL keeps things faithful to the original for the most part.  It was such a big hit, arguably ‘changing it up too much’ might be, well, offensive.  Essentially, there are enough differences given the timbre of Gaskarth’s voice, slightly slower tempo, and a different key (the All Time Low version is a step lower, in D-flat major).

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

🎙 The Weeknd or 🎙 All Time Low?  Give Alex Gaskarth and company a lot of credit for a spirited cover of 🎵 “Blinding Lights”.  That said, it should come as no surprise that the original, by The Weeknd, reigns supreme.  It was a huge no. 1 hit for a reason and a big reason are those awesome vocals by Abel Tesfaye.

The Weeknd vs. All Time Low: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 33 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Fueled By Ramen, Kool Shooters, Layers, Mario Aranda, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay, RODNAE Productions, Republic, Valentin Tikhonov]