Abel Tesfaye, otherwise known as The Weeknd, has taken the music world by storm for more than a decade. Rising from homelessness in Toronto to becoming one of the biggest artists on the planet, his rise is unlike anything the music world has ever seen. Although he mostly makes R&B music, he incorporates other types of music, including synth pop, rock, EDM and hip-hop, throughout his discography.
On Friday, The Weeknd released his sixth and final studio album under this alias, “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” Not only lived up to its massive amount of anticipation, but exceeded expectations. In my opinion, it is not only The Weeknd’s best body of work that he’s ever released, it also deserves to be in the conversation of being one of the greatest albums of all time. That’s a whole other conversation for a different day, but let that sink in for a bit as we move along.
My last two articles for “The Spark” reviewed Tyler, The Creator’s “Chromakopia” and a ranking of the best hip-hop albums of 2024. So, I thought, why not combine the two ideas? With this piece, I will give a ranking for each and every song off the 22-song project and explain my thoughts. Before we get into things, a disclaimer needs to be mentioned off the bat. Since all of the songs are great in their own way, it was literally like splitting hairs trying to figure out which song went in which spot. All in all, please don’t be discouraged if your favorite song on the album is lower on my list than you think it should.
With all of that being said, here is my ranking of every song off of “Hurry Up Tomorrow” by The Weeknd.
The first of two skits on the album references The Weeknd losing his voice when he was performing “Alone Again” on the standout project “After Hours” in 2022 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. That incident ultimately led to him canceling the show. It’s 12 seconds long and it’s the weakest of the two skits.
21. “Until We’re Skin & Bones”
This is the better of the two skits, as it’s an instrumental that transitions out of “São Paulo” in the first half and leads into a mind-bending mix of loud, punchy synths in the second half. In other words, think of a heavy metal song if you strip down all the rock elements and make it an instrumental with only synths.
20. “Drive”
Here is where we begin ranking the full-length songs. “Drive” is the weakest of the bunch, though it’s still a decent song. It doesn’t pack a punch like some other songs on this project do. If you’re looking to just vibe out to a song that doesn’t have a lot of meaning behind it and you just want to enjoy the song, this is the song for you.
19. “I Can’t Wait To Get There”
This song may be one that grows on me over time, but right now, I have it as one of the weaker songs on the project. However, I do love the backing vocals and The Weeknd’s rapping on this song. There is decent messaging on this song as well, where he ruminates over his homelessness and how he’s successfully survived that dark time in his life.
18. “Give Me Mercy”
This song is similar to a song like “I Can’t Wait To Get There” and “Drive,” where it's a decent song that checks all the boxes of a typical pop and R&B song, but it isn’t as grandiose as the other songs on this project are. In this song, The Weeknd is trying to fight off his vices that he’s fallen into for years and is seeking forgiveness before he reaches heaven.
17. “Big Sleep”
This one’s a rollercoaster to say the least. It starts off with a typical R&B beat with slow pace and hard-hitting drums accompanied by a small verse from The Weeknd. All of a sudden, his voice gets pitched lower and lower, signaling a beat switch. Then, it fully transitions into a synth-based beat where The Weeknd comes in with a chorus. In it, he is regretting his decision that he didn’t choose to be a better person after having many opportunities to do so. In the second and final verse of the song, Italian producer Giorgio Moroder recites a stanza in the lullaby, “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.” This “big sleep” moniker relates to the death of The Weeknd and how he’s ascending into heaven. It’s one of the most well-produced songs on the album, but I feel like there are better constructed songs on this album for my personal taste.
The final song on the final album from The Weeknd lands at No.16 on this list. Like I mentioned about the others, it’s a great song and definitely serves its purpose for being The Weeknd's “swan song” before he retires, but there are better songs on this project. In a way, it felt like the song didn’t need to be a standout on the project. It felt like his intent was to tie up a beautiful bow on a masterpiece in the only way he can, and it didn’t matter to him what other people may think of it.
15. “Opening Night”
It is an outright CRIME that this song is only a minute and a half long. It’s such a catchy tune that’s fit for a late-night drive, but it also has some deep messaging about how The Weeknd has dealt with past relationships. In the song, it seems like he was never on the same page with his past significant others, which ultimately leads to his drug abuse and mental breakdowns. It’s interesting that he is able to make a song that has positive-sounding production, but also write such powerful and raw lyrics that can make anyone emotional. He’s done it at a high level for his entire career.
14. “Given Up on Me”
Similar to “Big Sleep,” “Given Up on Me” is a nearly six-minute masterpiece of a song. The first part is The Weeknd harmonizing over a synth beat with hi-hats tapping effortlessly in the background. Not to mention, the first of two Future features is heard on this song. On most of this song, The Weeknd is saying that it’s too late to save him and that people should just let him go in peace, once again referencing the inevitable end to The Weeknd character. After there is a chipmunk soul-esque instrumental, there is a quick transition to a beautiful sounding beat with angelic piano keys in the background. It feels as if you are sitting in a garden living in pure bliss and just reminiscing on how beautiful life is. Once again, Abel sings about finally getting to be who he truly wants to be and lets go of his drug-addicting persona.
Now, this placement may be a shocker to a lot of hardcore The Weeknd fans. This song was first previewed all the way back in 2020 during legendary producer Mike Dean’s concert. No one knew when the song would be coming out, but all everyone knew at the time was that it was a great song. Within the diehard The Weeknd community, they were eagerly and impatiently waiting for the song to come out, and it finally did Friday night. Although many people connected with it and loved the song, I didn’t connect with it as much as others did. Now, that should not discredit the fact that it is a great song. The song sounds like something straight out of a movie made in the 1980s and the end credits are rolling. In the lyrics, The Weeknd is talking about how he realized that he wanted to run away from who he once was, not Los Angeles itself. He also reminisces on growing up in Toronto and how that shaped him into who he is today. Finally, he details how ashamed and regretful he is of his past self and looks to make amends with himself. It's a beautiful song and it may still grow on me.
12. “São Paulo”
This song was a part of the long rollout that The Weeknd had for this album, and it received polarizing opinions. Some people loved it at the time, and others may not have liked it at first. In fact, I was in the latter group. However, now that we got the album and we are able to see what context the song fits in the album structure, I love it now. It’s a playful Brazilian-funk song that is made for EDM parties and raves all over the world. The hard hitting drums and synths make you want to dance your heart out anytime you listen to it. Not to mention, Anitta adds a whole lot of Brazilian flare to the song.
11. “The Abyss”
Just missing out on the Top 10 is the lone Lana Del Ray collaboration in this album, “The Abyss.” This song starts off with a beautiful piano riff and The Weeknd contemplates committing suicide, which also means trying to let go of what he once was, continuing the ongoing theme of the album. Then, these synths come in and slowly speed up the pace of the production. In the second verse, The Weeknd character actually does commit suicide and tells his significant other that he will be okay and that he will “see you on the other side,” he sings. In the final part of the song, Lana’s vocals come in and become the X-factor of the song. I don’t usually listen to her music that often, so this song was a nice refresher into just how powerful of a vocalist she really is. Overall, if you’re a person who loves alternative pop and R&B, this is definitely a song you should listen to.
10. “Timeless”
There’s a clear and simple reason why this song cracks the Top 10 of this list. If you know anything about my music taste and have read the last two articles on “The Spark,” you know how much I love hip-hop and rap music. When you get The Weeknd and Playboi Carti as the main artists on a song along with legendary producers Pharrell Williams and Mike Dean behind the boards, you know you are about to get an instant classic. It’s this perfect symphony of Pharrell’s drum patterns and Dean’s punchy synths that can have hip-hop fans' heads vigorously nodding up and down in appreciation. The Weeknd and Carti trade catchy bars as well and it makes for a feel good song that everyone can love. It’s a nice break from the heavy themes of the album and it’s the most enjoyable track on the entire project.
9. “Wake Me Up”
This song is the intro track to the album, and it’s one of his best. It starts out with hard hitting synths from Mike Dean once again and The Weeknd is singing at the top of his lungs about how he believes there is no afterlife and that he will be by himself when he passes. Throughout the song, he also sings about how he is scared of these mental demons that keep getting closer and closer to him. At the end of this song, he seems like he is finally about to leave the purgatory that “Dawn FM” created and is finally beginning to reach heavenly rebirth. This song also perfectly transitions into…
8. “Cry For Me”
The second track off the project is number eight on this list. Once again, the synths come back as well as the Brazilian funk drums from “São Paulo” reappear. In the first half of the song, he seems to be going through a complicated breakup relationship, which has also been a recurring theme on the album. “'Cause I tried with you, saw my life with you/End of time with you, now we're strangers,” he sings. But, what makes the song so memorable is the second half, when legendary hip-hop producer Metro Boomin comes into the picture for the first time on the album. Him and The Weeknd have collaborated many times before, including the smash-hit track “Heartless” off of the 2019 The Weeknd project “After Hours.” When Metro comes in with those trademark drums that he’s placed over countless hits over his career, you know you have one of the best songs off the album in your control. In my opinion, if Metro stole the whole show on the song, my ranking for this would be way higher.
It’s ironic that the seventh song on the project is also the seventh-best song on this list. Must be lucky if you ask me (I know, bad joke). Right away, you get these fast-paced synth and drum combos that are as if they come straight out of an old dance record made in the 1980s. The Weeknd sings about trying to evolve and keep moving forward in life. “When I open my arms/It's never еasy falling in love again,” he sings. After the chorus, the beat drops and it feels like you are being transported to an 1980s EDM party with bouncy synths that will be sure to have anyone on their feet and dancing. In a nutshell, it’s as if you combine “Sacrifice” from “Dawn FM” and the soundscape of “After Hours” and have a child. If you’re an EDM fan who loves 1980s dance music, this one's for you.
This song was originally in my top three, but as I listened to it more, I realized something. I felt like the next five songs are more well-rounded than this one. However, this may grow into being my favorite song off of the album. The reason why I connected with it right away on first listen was that it reminded me so much of this new age of R&B, with artists such as Brent Faiyaz and Bryson Tiller. Any one of those artists could’ve hopped on a beat like this and crushed it in their own right. This song is most definitely a callback to his earlier toxic music, from projects like “House of Balloons.” I can’t speak to the lyrics of this song too much or else I’ll get in trouble from the powers that be. However, I will say this, if you connect with this side of R&B like I do, this is a very enjoyable listen.
Starting off the Top 5, “Enjoy the Show” is the fifth-best song off of this album. I originally had this song lower on my list, but I can’t get enough of how amazing this song is. It starts off with a chipmunk-soul sampled beat that seemingly gets plucked out of Kanye West’s “College Dropout” era. Throughout this song, The Weeknd is detailing how he made poor decisions when he was young, including having drug abuse issues throughout his young adult years. He later goes on to say how that basically ruined his chances at just living life and appreciating it for what it is. “You pick me up when I'm low/I'm not violent to my body anymore/But I'm not scared,/f*** it, overdose/No one thought I'd makе it past twenty-four/And when the curtains call,/I hopе you mourn/And if you don't, I hope you enjoy the f***in' show,” he sings. As if the song isn’t toxic enough, the master of toxic romance, Future, is featured on this song. His performance on this song is breathtaking and has one of the best singing performances of his career. He shares the same sentiments as The Weeknd in that he is going through pain in his relationships and masks it with drinking alcohol, taking drugs and having sex with different women. It’s a toxic song, but extremely vulnerable from these two iconic artists.
The penultimate song on this album is a perfect tee-up to the outro, “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” The Weeknd sings about having his final concert and hoping that “the crowd”, or his fans, can understand him for who he is as a person and artist. Not only that, he wants to figure out if they appreciate him for who he is as the complicated main character in this eight-album story. Then, the hi-hats and fast drums come in and it makes for an incredible song. The Weeknd has one of the best singing performances on this album, but the real cream of the crop comes up later on this list. In fact, one of them is coming up right now.
3. “Red Terror”
This song is the best produced song on this album, and let me tell you why in just a few sentences. The song starts out with synths that sound like lasers shooting out into the open air, and then just a short time later, you feel like you are levitating. When The Weeknd sings, “Hush, my child, you're mine,” there’s this loud kick drum knockout punch combined with those laser synths. Then, it gets even better. When he starts to sing, “All my life, I try,” there are four small consecutive drum pounds accompanied by those synths that make the song unlike anything you’ve ever listened to. That part gets me excited every time I listen to it. Not to mention, The Weeknd sings his tail off on this song and gives you raw emotion as if he is crying out for help. It’s a beautiful song and if you haven’t listened to it yet, I hope you connect with it and love the song as much as I do.
Just missing out on the top spot on this list is “Baptized in Fear.” The first part is really emotional from The Weeknd, as he’s talking about how he’s literally consumed by fear as it relates to a baptism. This sentiment can be relatable for so many people because, even for The Weeknd, he’s questioning whether he can choose to go on with the rest of his life or just let himself be taken over by fear and not allowing for adjustments to be made. Where the song really becomes great is the refrain, “Voices’ll tell me that I should carry on” that The Weeknd sings in the middle portion of the album and at the end where it perfectly transitions into “Open Hearts.” It’s an unbelievable track on this album and one of the best in his catalog.
And, finally, the best song of “Hurry Up Tomorrow” is…….
This song is as perfect and well-rounded as it gets. This is the best songwriting on the album, where The Weeknd sings about how he’s scared of his past versions of himself and how they keep lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce at any moment. In the chorus, he is joined by Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine where she acts as the echo and reflections of The Weeknd’s past as he sings his heart out. In this chorus, he talks about giving up the power that he’s held for so long and finally letting go. In the middle, there is a phone call that’s being recorded between a mystery woman and The Weeknd discussing how he hasn’t been the same since his tour started in 2022 and how the woman hopes that he isn’t resorting back to his old ways. And then comes the magnum opus of the album, a pitched down feature from none other than Travis Scott. He raps about how himself and The Weeknd live lavish lifestyles and what they can do to go about their business in the best possible way. However, Scott also has a callback to the theme that it’s too late to change who you are and that you are always going to fall back into your vices. Scott’s flow and ability to match the slow, spacious energy from the productions makes this one of his best features to date.
You can read all of the lyrics of “Hurry Up Tomorrow” here.