It’s been a delightful week for music fans, and it seems like this will not be ending any time soon! The Weeknd, who now goes by his birth name Abel Tesfaye on Twitter (or X, for dorks), is set to release the final installment of his critically acclaimed trilogy. Titled Hurry Up Tomorrow, this album promises to be a fitting conclusion to the narrative arc that began with After Hours in 2020 and continued with Dawn FM in 2022.
The anticipation for Hurry Up Tomorrow reached fever pitch when Tesfaye unveiled the album’s cover art – a striking, vulnerable portrait that strips away the elaborate personas of his previous eras. The close-up image, featuring The Weeknd’s piercing gaze and shadowed eyes, foreshadows the raw emotion and introspection fans can expect from this final chapter.
True to form, The Weeknd has been building suspense with a series of cryptic teasers. From CGI-heavy videos featuring a digital toddler to poetic scrolling text, each snippet has offered clues about the album’s possible themes.
The artist’s recent statement speaks of “falling into a shimmering sea in the afterhours of the night” and attempting to “cleanse the wounds with melodies and lights,” suggesting a continuation of the existential and self-referential themes that have defined this trilogy.
Luckily for his Brazilian fans, The Weeknd chose to preview Hurry Up Tomorrow at a special one-night-only concert in São Paulo. The livestreamed event at Estádio Morumbi gave lucky fans the first taste of new tracks like “Dancing in the Flames,” “Wake Me Up,” “Regular,” and “Runway.” Surprise collaborations with Playboi Carti and Brazilian singer Anitta (on a track aptly named “São Paulo”) added to the excitement for those in attendance.
While Hurry Up Tomorrow represents the end of an era, it also marks a new beginning for the artist. The Weeknd has stated that this will be his final release under the moniker of The Weeknd (cue gasps!).
The official release date for Hurry Up Tomorrow has yet to be revealed, but it is poised to be a defining moment in The Weeknd’s illustrious career. It has the promise to cement The Weeknd’s legacy as one of the most visionary artists of his generation. Even the obscene Grammy snub of After Hours cannot take that away from him.
