Elton John writes glowing essay on The Weeknd for Time magazine

[Midnight Summer 185]

The Weeknd

Nabil Elderkin for TIME

BY ELTON JOHN

SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 9:34 PM EDT

This year, I met Abel Tesfaye, who performs as the Weeknd, at an Oscars party. He said I would be excited when I heard his new album, After Hours, but didn’t tell me why. That seemed to sum him up. He’s a mysterious figure in an era when mystery is rare in pop. And you never know what to expect next. He plays with personae in his music and presentation: on the After Hours cover, he’s dripping in blood; you’re never sure if he’s singing about himself, or if he’s in character. He’s got an incredible imagination.

It turned out he’d used the chorus of “Your Song” on a track called “Scared to Live”—he was right, I was excited—but he’ll also sample the Smiths and Ethiopian singer Aster Aweke. “Blinding Lights” is 2020’s best pop single, very ’80s-influenced, but it’s from an album that’s otherwise very introspective. He has so many different types of music tucked up his sleeve that he incorporates into his vision. He’s not interested in commerciality for commerciality’s sake, but he’s one of the biggest-streaming artists on Spotify. Like Prince, he marches to his own beat. That’s an exemplary way for an artist to be.

[NORMANDIE 1,586]

[Jose P 23,341]

As he should. Abel is probably the best mainstream male artist at the moment.

[LIKELADYAGAGA 4,080]

Hopefully no hate incoming. One popstars success does not diminish another's. Congrats to The Weeknd! 

[JudasJustDance 1,621]

OMG KING

 

 

[HoneyB 27,926]

Promoting everyone but Gaga!1!1!1

[TheOriginalOne 10,771]

The only interesting male in music! Abel is so talented I had to go out and physically buy After Hours.

[mr.peter 3,555]

Honestly want him to win AOTY ... dont hate me gaga

After Hours, Chromatica or Folklore better take it

[holy scheisse 22,274]

He's so good. I wonder how he will follow-up after hours bc it's just like a masterpiece truly tbh

[Jose P 23,341]

4 minutes ago, mr.peter said:

Honestly want him to win AOTW ... dont hate me gaga

After Hours, Chromatica or Folklore better take it

He deserves AOTY for sure. I hope he doesn’t get relegated to just an R&B win.

[Lextyr97 19,958]

29 minutes ago, Midnight Summer said:

And you never know what to expect next.

I know everyone loves the weeknd, but I see hardly any change in his music or visuals lmao they all seem the same from era to era

Edit: I don't mean this as a bad thing either, just that I don't see him as a mystery. I simply don't agree with Elton's thoughts in that regard.

[Teletubby 149,679]

[Curunir 7,510]

The Weeknd main pop girl confirmed 

[COOOK 76,406]

15 minutes ago, Jose P said:

He deserves AOTY for sure. I hope he doesn’t get relegated to just an R&B win.

SOTY for Blinding Lights / AOTY for Chromatica and that is that!

[RenegAde 19,195]

Whats with everyone calling him abel.  he has a stage name for a reason