So I was scrolling thru ig and found a fan page that posted a theory about The Weeknd's upcoming album (I'll post a link if I can remember the page). As we all know Abel likes to kill himself and be "reborn". So what this theory suggested is that Take My Breath is just a radio friendly pop song to gain the album some traction and isn't going to define the album as a whole. Take My Breath sounds like it could belong right on After Hours. Abel's character is killed by the female character and at the 3:35 mark of the video he is essentially "reborn". There's heavily distorted grunge-esque guitars playing at the last 9 seconds of the video. And we're clearly going to have a sequel song/video to continue the story of The Dawn. The After Hours sound is killed off (TMB/Abel being killed) and the true vibe of the album will be disclosed with the next single. Which will probably be those last 9 seconds of music we heard. A very experimental sound... maybe Republic is finally giving him more artistic freedom after the huge success of After Hours? What do you guys think?

Lol @ the label “giving him more artistic freedom”

Bro can do whatever he wants he’s one of the biggest artists on the planet

Of course, but I'm pretty sure his label still asks to make radio hits.

eh I think he just actually likes making pop music

interesting theory though will be fascinated to see what happens

would gladly take a new sound, this song was mid af

I really hope this theory proves to be right, the 80's sound getting tired af and the song is not that good either

🧢

Good movie scarred me for life

I hope the album sounds like a soundtrack to the Gaspar Noé’s movie.

I think he's gonna double down on the 80's sound, maybe more of a horror / cinematic influence on the new album?

Possibly… He did say every chapter is a new sound, so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Can’t wait for the album tho!

Yeah personally I am a bit tired of the 80s sound and him just using head voice in every song

I think the album will be pretty consistent in its sound. What we hear on the lead single is likely to be what the album is filled with — albeit with a few murkier and lengthier tracks like we got with AH Title Track + Escape from LA.

Well this chapter sounds really similar to the AH one idk
I like the song btw

Which is why this theory exists lol

Either way I'm confident Abel will deliver

single definetly doesn't define the album's sound.

don't agree that it could be on After Hours tho. Imo it couldn't and it's not even close

Hell f***ing nah lmao

The usual record deal with a label is 7 albums. And -- ♪ better believe ♪ -- any label would milk this "biggest artist on the planet". Imagine for a moment you're part of Republic board. In their position, you and I would have done the same. Make him drop as much pop s*** as possible, songs that would sell / gain streams. Milk him dry. And to keep him happy, give him some artistic freedom. A track for him, nine for me. To quote Paul McCartney in the song "Taxman"

"Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxman
Yeah, I'm the taxman

Should five percent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxman
Yeah, I'm the taxman"

Abel's done 4 with republic, KL, BBTM, SB, AH. He's in for at least three more, counting the new one. So you know what the board of directors think anytime they see Abel? "Dance for us, monkey"

Not necessarily bad when done properly, heck I like a handful of his pop tracks, say A Lonely Night, Starboy, SYT, BL, etc, catchy pop songs are great and I don't care if it was his own decision, or the label locked him in the studio with a straightjacket and Max Martin lmao

But he'll only have control/artistic freedom when he goes independent

Meh

This gonna be dark industrial steampunk Weeknd

My theory is the man is 30 and he loves 80s synth music

He has a distribution deal with republic. He owns all his masters, I don’t think he give a f*** about his label. All of this, his decision.