Canadian singer The Weeknd is transitioning into a new era as going by his real name Abel, rather than his artistic name he’s been using for more than a decade. The singer released “Closing Night” on his YouTube Channel, and fans speculate it is part of a deluxe album to his latest and last album as The Weeknd, “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” The song, as its title suggests, was released the same night as his last ‘After Hours Til Dawn’ tour date in San Antonio, Texas.
For fifteen years, The Weeknd has released dark R&B music that has made him one of the top artists, with many songs having more than a billion streams. He went from posting music with no face, staying private, and accepting few interviews to creating a huge ‘XO’ fan base worldwide.
Getting to this point in his life wasn’t easy, as he dropped out of high school to pursue his passion for music and had to heal his own heart from toxic relationships. But now he is known for healing many hearts through his music.
In the chorus of “Closing Night,” The Weeknd sings, ‘How did we get to this place? I don't know what I should say ‘cause you and I have been knowin' the truth. And I know I'm the one that you blame. How did your love turn to hate? You said I made you this way. I'm not tryna argue the truth. I’m used to always takin' the blame.’ He is reflecting on a relationship that eventually became complex. He is left speechless at the situation yet, as interpreted through his music, he is used to taking the blame. The song can also be interpreted as him reflecting on his career and how he has dealt with hate or fans who believe his music isn’t the same or want the same music he made in the beginning of his career.
In the verse he continues with, ‘One last timе, baby, one last time, baby. One last time before we both walk away.’ The other person and him can have one last time together or have one last chance to be together. In this closing era, it’s also one last song or one last deluxe album of his 'The Weeknd' persona.
If he could go back to a relationship or a time at the beginning of his career, he wouldn’t hesitate to relive it. In the ending of the verse The Weeknd sings, 'I just wanna go back to the simple times that made me trust you 'cause the weight of my past doesn't feel so heavy when I'm with you.’ Whether a past relationship or his fans, he feels happy with them, and as for his real ‘XO’ fans that have been with him from the beginning or new fans that support and connect with his music, he knows his past doesn’t define him, and his experiences have resonated with many people.
The thirty-five-year-old singer from Scarborough, Toronto, Canada, may not be ‘The Weeknd’ forever, but he knows the music he created during this era will be listened to and remembered forever. This will be the same for the music he creates in his new era as Abel.
Many fans speculate that his new music will have more gospel-like themes and influences. Regardless, as any human, he is evolving, and that is the same for his music.
“Closing Night” sounds like an accumulation of all his albums in one song and would fit perfectly in a looking back at his career video or photo gallery.
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