The Weeknd is not only the artist who shone with his song “Blinding lights” on platforms like TikTok, or with his album After Hours on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.
He has also given cause to speak for his non-existent 2021 Grammy nominations -and his subsequent claim through Twitter-, but above all, for being the main -and only- dish of the halftime show in Super Bowl LV.
In the sporting event that faced the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Canadian performed some of his hit songs such as “Can’t feel my face”, “Starboy” and, of course, songs from his most recent album: “ Save your tears ”and“ Blinding lights ”.
A show that showed Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd with his normal face. Something peculiar considering that in recent months he has shown various aesthetic transformations ranging from a bloody nose, to bandages and botox injections.
“This character is having a really bad night, and you can have your own interpretation of what he is,” said the Canadian artist in conversation with Variety before the Super Bowl.
“That bad night starts out with too many drinks and a fight, but then the story becomes more surreal, apparently involving possession of an evil spirit, beheading and more,” the singer explained.
And when the bandaged nose began to look “normal,” The Weeknd appeared with a completely bandaged face at his performance for the American Music Awards in November, where he sang “Save Your Tears” and “In your eyes.”
But then he debuted his official video for “Save Your Tears” and shows him completely undergoing surgery, as if the botox invaded his face.
“It’s all a progression and we see how the character’s story reaches heightened levels of danger and absurdity as the story progresses,” Abel told Variety.
“I suppose you can think that being attractive is not important to me, but a compelling narrative is,” he said, emphasizing how relevant it is for him that both his music and his videos tell a story.