On January 31, 2025, Abel Tesfaye, professionally known as The Weeknd, released his final album under this stage name. Entitled “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” it concludes Abel’s music career under his famous stage name.
Fully understanding and appreciating this album requires an awareness of the story that began with “After Hours” (released in 2020) and continued in “Dawn FM” (released in 2022). In the former, we hear the story of a man unhealthily coping with a breakup. He is confused, unable to properly admit and own up to his mistakes, and is ultimately ravaged by separation from the woman he says he loved and still loves. As living post-breakup dawns on The Weeknd, he is unable to cope with the separation. He longs to travel back in time, but cannot come to terms with himself or what happened, and is haunted by guilt. “After Hours” concludes with him despairing of forgiveness and hope in suicide.
“Dawn FM” is named such because it is Purgatory’s radio station. Hosted by Jim Carrey, the album is a guided transition for The Weeknd’s soul into, presumably, Heaven. On it, The Weeknd again reflects on his past life, actions and desires, but with a newfound distance and perspective. He recalls how the relationship started, his coldness, and most importantly, his manipulation. The Weeknd wanted a non-committal relationship – a situationship. However, these things always have hidden strings attached. He begins to project his insecurities, and accuses her of disloyalty. So, the relationship got toxic because of his own reticence and irresponsibility. Nevertheless, she still leaned on him. He can see this now from his distance in death, but restitution is impossible. Will the Weeknd reconcile himself to his regret? Will he find the peace and forgiveness to enter Heaven?
In “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” these challenges confront The Weeknd. Initially denying the afterlife’s reality, he thinks it is a dream to wake up from. Yet, the harsh truth hits him as he hovers over and sees his slowly dying body. He realizes he had lived a lie. He truly did love her, and hopes she will mourn him. Momentarily, the truth burns too much, and he experiences a flashback. He returns to the present, where he recounts his suicide and sees his ex-girlfriend attempting to keep his body alive. Across multiple songs, particular memories of his entire life flash before his eyes. Knowing Heaven is near, he oscillates between resignation, resistance and an attempted resuscitation. Finally, he accepts the reality of his death. Comforted by this understanding, memories of his mother and music career console him. In the final song, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” he finally accepts what he learned in Purgatory. He pleads for forgiveness, purification, expresses contrition of heart, and presumably enters Heaven. Or does he? This last song samples and seamlessly transitions into his first ever song “High for This.” Has he found eternal rest or simply been reincarnated? Either way, “The Weeknd” rests in peace and only Abel Tesfaye lives on, in both narrative and real life.