5 takeaways from the Weeknd's new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow

The Weeknd's new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, has finally arrived, marking an end to his current After Hours and Dawn FM album trilogy and, potentially, his stage name.

Featuring an array of collaborations with singers and producers including Belly, Metro Boomin, Lana Del Rey, Justice, Florence & the Machine, Travis Scott, Future and more, the project explores themes of heartbreak, fame, faith, isolation and loss.

Fans will be able hear the songs live on the recently announced 2025 After Hours Til Dawn tour, which kicks off in May.

CBC Music has gone through the 22-song album to find some of its most noteworthy moments. From a David Lynch credit to a House of Balloons connection, learn more about the record's influences and Easter eggs below.

1. He pays homage to Michael Jackson

The album's opening track, "Wake Me Up," seemingly interpolates Michael Jackson's "Thriller," a nod to how Jackson has long served as an inspiration for the Weeknd. He has spoken about Jackson's influence on his artistry in various interviews: "I want to make it very clear that I'm not trying to be Michael. He's everything to me, so you're going to hear it in my music," he told the Los Angeles Times in 2016. "Off the Wall was the album that inspired me to sing."

In 2023, when the Weeknd broke Jackson's record for the highest-grossing tour by a Black artist, he paid tribute to his idol.

2. He spotlights the influence of Giorgio Moroder and classic film scores 

The very first thing you hear on "Wake Me Up" is a sample of the main theme from Scarface by legendary composer Giorgio Moroder. Those haunting synths are actually a remix of the piece that Moroder did for the Weeknd back in 2017. The Weeknd has always been a longtime admirer of Moroder, who's considered to be the godfather of modern dance music, and you can hear that influence clearly on Weeknd tracks such as "Blinding Lights" and "Take My Breath." On Hurry Up Tomorrow, the two finally officially collaborate on not one, but three tracks, with Moroder also co-producing "Big Sleep," which features an extrapolation of the theme from his Midnight Express score, as well as "Without a Warning."

"I'm thrilled to continue bridging the gap with Abel between the past and the future, creating something timeless yet innovative," Moroder told Variety of working with the Weeknd, a.k.a. Abel Tesfaye. 

In another nod to classic film scores, the Weeknd also interpolates the late David Lynch's "In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song)" from the film Eraserhead on the title track. Lynch has long been a big influence on the Weeknd's music, with the singer referencing Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks in his work (Laura Palmer's scream in "The Hills" is one of the most notable examples). When Lynch died on Jan. 15, the Weeknd posted a tribute to the director on Instagram with the caption, "everything is fine…," directly nodding to the song that's interpolated in "Hurry Up Tomorrow." 

3. He reflects on a scary, real-life moment behind 'I Can't F--king Sing'

The 12-second track/skit "I Can't F--king Sing" highlights a 2022 low point for the Weeknd: the superstar lost his voice and ended his L.A. concert at SoFi Stadium early after he was unable to continue singing. Over anxiety-inducing instrumentals, the Weeknd sounds panicked as he states, "No, it's my f--king voice, OK?"

Earlier this year, he told Variety that he was "defeated on the world stage" when it happened.

"My body, and specifically my voice, had never failed me before," he said.

In an interview with W, he revealed that playing Tedros, the creepy character on his since-cancelled show, The Idol, could have contributed to the temporary voice loss. "My theory is that I forgot how to sing because I was playing Tedros, a character who doesn't know how to sing," he explained. 

"I may be looking too deeply into this, but it was terrifying," he continued. "As the Weeknd, I've never skipped a concert. I've performed with the flu. I'll die on that stage. But there was something very complicated going on with my mind at that moment."

He eventually rescheduled the SoFi shows, and went on to record them for his first live album, Live at SoFi Stadium, which was released in 2023. An accompanying concert film was also released, and received two prime-time Emmy nominations: one for outstanding lighting design/lighting direction for a variety special and another for outstanding technical direction and camerawork for a special.

4. 'Take Me Back to LA' has a charitable connection

In the wake of the L.A. wildfires, the Weeknd pushed back the release of Hurry Up Tomorrow and cancelled his concert at Hollywood's Rose Bowl. "This city has always been a profound source of inspiration for me, and my thoughts are with everyone impacted during this difficult time," he shared on X. "In light of this, I have also decided to push the release of my album to January 31st. My focus remains on supporting the recovery of these communities and aiding its incredible people as they rebuild."

He donated $1 million to fire relief efforts, and the album's track "Take Me Back to LA" continues this charitable thread: proceeds from the song will support the L.A. Regional Food Bank, which is providing food to victims of the wildfires.

5. There's a full-circle closing moment

In a nice Easter egg to Day 1 fans, the closing notes of the album perfectly sync up to "High For This," the first track on the Weeknd's first mixtape, House of Balloons. The full-circle moment is a touching way to close out what Tesfaye has said could be his final album under the Weeknd name.