Album review: ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ by The Weeknd
With 'Hurry Up Tomorrow,' The Weeknd closes his trilogy and says goodbye to his persona with cinematic brilliance.
SuppliedThe latest release from The Weeknd, Hurry Up Tomorrow, serves as the sequel to his previous albums, After Hours (2020) and Dawn FM (2022), completing the trilogy. Teased as the final album under his stage name, The Weeknd uses the 22 tracks of Hurry Up Tomorrow to showcase his growth and range as an artist. From start to finish, the album impresses with outstanding production, stunning vocals, and compelling collaborations. While these elements are nothing new to his discography, the album carries a sense of profound closure. Hurry Up Tomorrow represents the ultimate and pinnacle form of The Weeknd as an artist.
“Wake Me Up” sets the stage with cinematic synthesizers and a striking contrast between melancholic lyrics and an upbeat instrumental. The first line, “All I have is my legacy,” is especially moving given The Weeknd’s contemplation of retiring his persona. It is followed by “Cry For Me,” which continues the album’s hypnotic and melodic flow. Metro Boomin’s production lends it a punchy and immersive quality that compliments The Weeknd’s signature sound.
“São Paulo,” one of the album’s lead singles released in late 2024, is a testament to The Weeknd’s ability to evolve and explore as an artist. Accompanied by Anitta, the track delves into Brazilian funk for the first time in his career, seamlessly blending genres with amazing execution.
One of my personal favourites from the album, “Baptized In Fear,” is beautifully haunting. Listening to this song feels like a thriller. You’re left in suspense, eagerly wanting to know what is next. While the album revisits some of The Weeknd’s lyrical cliches, this song is an exception and stands apart. The lyrics are fear and guilt-driven with vivid descriptions of paralyzing suffocation and personifications of anxiety and paranoia. “Figure in the corner I can’t quite see / I just know the shadow’s staring at me / It gets closer, it gets closer, it gets closer now.” These descriptions make it one of the most emotionally gripping and beautiful tracks on the album.
Collaborations in the album are plentiful, featuring big artists like Future, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lana Del Rey. Scott in “Reflections Laughing” and Del Rey in “The Abyss” are particularly exceptional. Scott explores a dark and deep vocal tone while Del Rey once again proves her chemistry with The Weeknd. Even Future steps outside his usual formula and delivers an expressive performance in “Enjoy The Show.” Here he stretches his voice to balance The Weeknd’s perfectly. These collaborations, paired with stellar production from Mike Dean, Oneohtrix Point Never, and others, elevate the album’s expansive and cohesive soundscape.
The closing title track, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” is a magnificent finale. It is carried by The Weeknd’s angelic vocals and a poignant instrumental. It serves as a fitting conclusion to the album and, perhaps, to The Weeknd as a persona itself.
With Hurry Up Tomorrow, The Weeknd delivers an ambitious and evolved album. It highlights his growth and willingness to push his musical boundaries. As he bids farewell to his global superstar persona, he embraces his true self, Abel Tesfaye. This marks both the end of an era and the hopeful beginning of another.
