Ready for the Weeknd? Celebrate new ‘After Hours’ album with these 5 essential singles
Ready for the Weeknd?
The red-hot singer who went straight from YouTube sensation to a major recording deal debuted his latest album, “After Hours,” late Thursday night. (Just in time for, you know, the actual weekend.)
“Starboy,” his last studio album, dropped nearly four years ago. While the years have passed, the sound we’ve come to know and love remains the same on the RB star’s latest outing.
Fans had already heard some of the 14 tracks “After Hours” has to offer, including radio favorites “Heartless” and “Blinding Lights,” which sits at No. 4 this week on Billboard’s Hot 100 list.
Apple Music said Wednesday that “After Hours” broke an all-time record, with more than 1 million pre-adds. Billie Eilish previously held that record.
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To promote the new album, the Weeknd, 30, has an upcoming global arena tour planned, with a first U.S. stop in St. Paul, Minnesota, set for June 22. (That could change, though, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. A number of other performers have already suspended their tours until further notice.)
To mark the arrival of “After Hours,” here are five essential songs from the Weeknd:
‘Starboy’
Released: 2016
Peaked on Billboard Hot 100 list: No. 1 on Jan. 6, 2017
Sample lyric: “House so empty, need a centerpiece // Twenty racks a table cut from ebony // Cut that ivory into skinny pieces // Then she clean it with her face man I love my baby // You talking money, need a hearing aid // You talking ’bout me, I don’t see a shade // Switch up my style, I take any lane // I switch up my cup, I kill any pain”
‘The Hills’
Released: 2015
Peaked on Billboard Hot 100 list: No. 1 on Oct. 2, 2015
Sample lyric: “I only call you when it’s half past five // The only time I’d ever call you mine // I only love it when you touch me, not feel me // When I’m (expletive), that’s the real me // When I’m (expletive), that’s the real me, babe”
‘Can’t Feel My Face’
Released: 2015
Peaked on Billboard Hot 100 list: No. 1 on Aug. 21, 2015
Sample lyric: “I can’t feel my face when I’m with you // But I love it, but I love it, oh // I can’t feel my face when I’m with you // But I love it, but I love it, oh”
‘Heartless’
Released: 2019
Peaked on Billboard Hot 100 list: No. 1 on Dec. 13, 2019
Sample lyric: “‘Cause I’m heartless // And I’m back to my ways ’cause I’m heartless // All this money and this fame got me heartless // Low life for life ’cause I’m heartless // Said I’m heartless // Tryna be a better man but I’m heartless // Never be a wedding plan for the heartless // Low life for life ’cause I’m heartless”
‘Die for You’
Released: 2016
Peaked on Billboard Hot 100 list: No. 43 on Dec. 16, 2016
Sample lyric: “Even though we’re going through it // And it makes you feel alone // Just know that I would die for you // Baby I would die for you, yeah // The distance and the time between us // It’ll never change my mind, ’cause baby // I would die for you // Baby I would die for you, yeah”
The Weeknd’s ‘After Hours’ tour
- June 22: St. Paul, Minnesota, Xcel Energy Center
- June 24: Chicago, United Center
- June 26: Pittsburgh, PPG Paints Arena
- June 27: Detroit, Little Caesar’s Arena
- June 29 and 30: Toronto, Scotiabank Arena
- July 2: Montreal, Bell Centre
- July 4: Uncasville, Connecticut, Mohegan Sun
- July 7: Newark, New Jersey, Prudential Center
- July 8: Brooklyn, New York, Barclays Center
- July 11: Boston, TD Garden
- July 13: Washington, Capital One Arena
- July 15: Charlotte, Spectrum Center
- July 16: Atlanta, State Farm Arena
- July 18 and 19: Miami, American Airlines Arena
- July 21: Orlando, Florida, Amway Center
- July 23: New Orleans, Smoothie King Center
- July 24: Houston, Toyota Center
- July 25: Dallas, American Airlines Center
- July 27: Denver, Pepsi Center
- July 29: Salt Lake City, Vivint Smart Home Arena
- July 31: Portland, Oregon, Moda Center
- Aug. 1: Tacoma, Washington, Tacoma Dome
- Aug. 3: Oakland, California, Oakland Arena
- Aug. 4: San Jose, California, SAP Center
- Aug. 6: Sacramento, California, Golden 1 Center
- Aug. 8: Anaheim, California, Honda Center
- Aug. 9: San Diego, Pechanga Arena
- Aug. 11: Glendale, Arizona, Gila River Arena
- Aug. 14, 15 and 16: Los Angeles, Staples Center
- Aug. 19: San Antonio, ATT Center
- Aug. 20: Fort Worth, Texas, Dickies Arena
- Aug. 22: Tulsa, Oklahoma, BOK Center
- Aug. 23: Omaha, Nebraska, CHI Health Center Omaha
- Aug. 25: St. Louis, Enterprise Center
- Aug. 26: Nashville, Tennessee, Bridgestone Arena
- Aug. 28: Cleveland, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
- Aug. 31: Toronto, Scotiabank Arena
- Sept. 1: Buffalo, New York, KeyBank Arena
- Sept. 3: New York, Madison Square Garden
