#WEEKND GIFTED LYRICS FULL#

GIFs of Abel running around, frantically searching for nothing in particular, immediately went viral. He performed his breakthrough hit ‘Can’t Feel My Face’ in a hall of mirrors, surrounded by masked doppelgangers. His brand of surreal, existential mania has become our reality. So he didn’t just deliver a recitation of ‘The Hills’, he sang it for what it is - a hit single about a drunken affair, named after a horror film - and it just so happened to be taking place in front of a giant mainstream audience. His music almost always centres lyrics and narrative first, with melodies and production a close second.

#WEEKND GIFTED LYRICS FULL#

Unlike most halftime shows, with their ungainly medleys of hits and clown cars packed full of guest stars, The Weeknd managed to give each song the attention it deserved - even if all but one were noticeably sped up from their studio versions.Īnd unlike most pop artists too, Abel Tesfaye remains a singer-songwriter at heart. The question going in was: How would The Weeknd deliver a family-friendly show while staying true to himself? He may not have sung the most explicit parts of his songs, but remarkably, it never felt like he was sanitising them either. Some fans had to crank their necks to see directly above them, but for the viewers at home, it was the kind of immersive, screen-filling live performance we’ve gotten used to in the COVID era. He delivered most of the set not at ground level, but in front of a 1930s cityscape-themed stage amidst the stands. In 14 minutes, he blitzed through seven songs, including four of his five Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers.

In press statements, Tesfaye envisioned a “ cinematic experience” and he largely delivered on that promise. So, The Weeknd was the only correct choice for 2021. Yet, any attempts to convey normality - that “the show must go on” - would only have made the moment feel more uncanny. Had the NFL chosen a more conventional pick, they would likely have delivered a solid, uncontroversial performance simply aimed at entertaining the global viewership. Inside Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida - one of the worst US states for COVID cases - The Weeknd performed to an audience of one-third masked humans, two-thirds cardboard cutouts. The man who once only sang about sex, drugs, and having sex while on drugs just played America’s crowning concert at the year’s most-viewed television broadcast. The longer you’ve been familiar with The Weeknd, the more surreal it is that the House of Balloons guy just headlined the 2021 NFL Super Bowl halftime show. SOPHIE Shattered The Boundaries Of Pop Music, And It Will Take Us Years To Catch Up

Weeknd gifted lyrics