muu

6y

Could be wrong, but I've been feeling that Abel has always wanted to be a pop star. Not an R&B star, but purely a pop star. I'm not too well versed in Abel lore, but isn't the first thing he put out a straight pop album, The Noise? Don't know the details, but that didn't really make any waves or anything I think. Then he linked up with Jeremy Rose and came out with House of Balloons and the other mixtapes, which REALLY grabbed people's attention.

See, the thing is those mixtapes were very different than other music that was being put out at the time. I feel like those mixtapes were kind of like a way for Abel to break out into the music scene, which he couldn't have done if he started out making conventional pop songs, which I believe Blinding Lights, IYE and SYT are. After hearing The Weeknd's performance at the iHeart Radio Jingle Ball yesterday where he performed Blinding Lights, In Your Eyes, and Save Your Tears, the three most undeniably pop songs on the album, it made me realize that this is what The Weeknd has pretty much always wanted to become. Listen, I know that The Weeknd doesn't JUST do pop, as evidenced by the different song types on After Hours. But I get the impression that what he truly enjoys is making pop music. I don't even think Abel will ever really want to make music with an unconventional song structure like how the mixtapes had with songs like House of Baloons/Glass Table Girls, Loft Music, or Initiation (to name a few) did.

Obviously, I'm happy for The Weeknd's success and that he is making the music he's always wanted to make and will continue to listen to him, but it feels just a little sad to realize we will never get "unconventional" songs like the ones from the mixtapes. Interestingly, even though I've said all this about Trilogy, it isn't even my favorite project of his, Kiss Land is my favorite.

So that's how I'm feeling tonight.

Jalen Brunson Fan

6y

You’re not wrong at all. I’ve felt that way for a while now, but I’m personally a huge fan of pop Abel so I don’t mind it.
You’re absolutely right in the sense that he started off making straight pop music, some argue it was just to get some eyes on him but idk. Part of me agrees, but another part of me also thinks that he’s always planned on doing this. He kinda even says that in the Rolling Stone letter.

He says “...I look away from the underground. Even though I don’t want to, it’s a step that I feel I must take in order to evolve as an artist...You will continue to get what you fell in love with, and I will continue to give you what you ask for.”

To me that always felt like him saying he needed to crossover (with BBTM/Starboy) in order to be able to push musical boundaries with such a big platform like he did with After Hours.

Like you said Abel still does make those “unconventional” songs, I think Alone Again and Escape from LA kind of fit in that category. But honestly I think we may see a bit more of that considering how huge he is...I think Abel always wanted to be able to push boundaries of what pop music is, and I think After Hours was our first little taste of that.

muu

6y

Good insight. I'm also a fan of The Weeknd's poppier tracks, and they definitely fit in VERY well in the context of After Hours. I'm a huge fan of After Hours and have listened through it countless times, with my favorite tracks being Faith and Escape From LA, primarily because they have a more "unconventional" song structure like I was mentioning before.

Jalen Brunson Fan

6y

Faith is easily my favorite too, that outro is probably the most cinematic music he’s ever made IMO I love getting lost in it

Is Thursday your favorite project? That seems to be the most “unconventional” of the mixtapes in terms of song structure

muu

6y

Favorite of the mixtapes? Probably, though HOB is close behind. I love the transition from Lonely Star to Life of the Party, the transition from the bridge to the outro of The Birds pt 1. My favorite project of his has got to be Kiss Land though. In the mixtapes it feels like The Weeknd is letting you see his world, but in Kiss Land it's like he's bringing you in to experience it with him. Truly a cinematic experience.

Jozen

6y

The goat on cold war

Sonic Winter

6y

That really him?

Jalen Brunson Fan

6y

@hayabusa can I have a Santa hat when u get a chance

Sonic Winter

6y

Alone again...naturally

Jalen Brunson Fan

6y

Man, that song has been on repeat since the episode. That and the death row Christmas album lmao

Sonic Winter

6y

I'm posting it everywhere and girls thinking i'm depressed

talktohani

6y

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yo the rapgenius staff has added your interpretation of the japanese coming down lyrics, in their webpage

wheezing at the fact that they kept "Watashi ga **something** to tsumi" 🤣🤣🤣

DevilOrAngel

6y

@Nxxkx shoutout to your almanac again this year, can’t believe you still managed to complete it with a shortened offseason

Nxxkx

6y

Ayyyye man. Shouts to you.

Yeah it was tough to get it done this year but I enjoy it so much. Glad you appreciate the work.