After Hours

After Hours Tracklist

Repeat After Me (Interlude) Lyrics

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After Hours is The Weeknd’s fourth studio album. It was released on March 20, 2020, to critical acclaim, with some calling it his best work to date. The album contains themes surrounding loneliness, heartbreak, withdrawal, infidelity, and recklessness.

The album was first announced on November 6, 2018 at the opening of HXOUSE in his native Toronto, where he said:

I want you guys to be the first to know that I’m working on my new album right now. Chapter 6 coming soon, let’s get it.

After deactivating his Instagram account in early 2019, he finally activated it again on November 20, 2019. Four days later, on November 24, a snippet of a song expected to be on the album, “Blinding Lights,” appeared in a trailer for a Mercedes Benz TV advert.

On November 27, 2019, the album’s lead single “Heartless” was released, along with a message from Abel describing a theme surrounding the upcoming project:

TONIGHT WE START A BRAIN MELTING PSYCHOTIC CHAPTER LET’S GOOOO

On November 29, 2019, he released the album’s second single, “Blinding Lights.” He confirmed the song hours before its release.

On February 13, 2020, Abel took to social media and shared a teaser trailer for the album, also revealing its name.

On February 18, 2020, he revealed the album’s official cover art and announced that a new song would be released that day.

On February 19, 2020, the album’s title track, “After Hours,” was released as the first promotional single. A short film featuring clips of the song was released later on March 4, 2020.

Three days before the album’s release, Abel revealed the official tracklist on social media, disclosing that the After Hours would be Abel’s first album without any features.

On March 24, 2020, “In Your Eyes” was chosen as the album’s fourth single, with a thrilling music video released the same day.

“After Hours” Q&A

Translations
What has The Weeknd said about the album?

You can find love, fear, friends, enemies, violence, dancing, sex, demons, angels, loneliness, and togetherness all in the After Hours of the night.

–The Weeknd, via Apple Music
Is there an album film?

Yes, the short film premiered on March 4, 2020:
How did this album perform on the Billboard charts?

After Hours debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 for the chart week of April 4, 2020 after selling 444,000 album-equivalent units during its first week. This is the biggest debut sales week of 2020 so far.

After Hours remained at the #1 spot on the chart for four weeks in total.
What does the title "After Hours" mean?

After Hours is a 1985 movie picture directed by one of the most influential directors of our generation, and Abel’s idol, Martin Scorsese.

The film narrates the messy and indistinct night of Paul Hackett, a passionate writer of New York, who goes through embarassing and life taking situations, due to wanting to get to his love interest Marcy’s apartment.

Plus asked about the album title in a Variety interview, Abel declared:

Oh, there are so many reasons for it. The main reason is these are all emotions and thoughts and feelings that I had late at night — [like the video] is all one night and I’m going through all the emotions, after the club, after the fight and after a long day, it’s like these are my thoughts from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Has this album received any certifications?

After Hours was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA on March 9, 2021.
How was the album received by critics?

Based on reviews from 100 mainstream sources, the album received generally favorable reviews and an average Metacritic rating of 80. Writing for Consequence, Candace McDuffie said:

After Hours is the star becoming emotionally unraveled, left picking at the remnants of a failed relationship. No, it’s not comparable to old Weeknd material, nor should it be. As he evolves, he continues to reinvent himself, and he knows exactly how to leave fans hooked on havoc. And After Hours is proof that he’s not done with us yet; in fact, he’s just getting started.
What have the producers said about this album?

The producer Oneothrix Point Never tweeted:
Will this album be supported by a tour?

Yes, The After Hours tour will be his eighth tour and is set to start on January 14, 2022, in Vancouver and end on November 16, 2022 in London.

The tour consists of over 100 shows throughout North America and Europe. Sabrina Claudio will open all of the concerts, alongside Don Toliver in North America and Black Atlass in Europe.

This tour was first announced on February 20, 2020. It was originally supposed to be in 2020 but was delayed due to COVID-19. Regarding this, The Weeknd had said:

The tour is still happening — we’re not canceling. We just have to rearrange the dates, which is unfortunate but certainly understandable.
Is there official animated album cover?

Yes, Apple Music features an animated artwork for this release.