Now that a few weeks have passed and I've had the time to listen to the entire album on repeat, it's time to discuss The Weeknd's latest project, Starboy. Sadly, I would be lying if I told you I was as excited for this album as I was for his last project, Beauty Behind The Madness. I was skeptical listening to his first two singles ahead of the November 25th release date, I really couldn't get into "False Alarm," at first. Regardless of my credentials when it comes to reviewing and talking about the work of musicians, I'd now like to go over the album, and give the songs the attention they deserve.
Starboy (feat. Daft Punk): The lead single off the album, it sets the stage with its clever hooks, chorus, and an energetic beat a la Daft Punk, that gets a second helping of bass. I really enjoy this song as a whole, it is a very powerful start to the record.
Party Monster: A Quintessential The Weeknd Song featuring uncredited vocals by Lana Del Rey on the Bridge. He delves into his pursuit of women and party-like attitude towards life. This song feels like a veritable dark hip-hop anthem as Tesfaye sings about waking up next to someone he doesn't know the name of, and thanking god for the day.
False Alarm: Not my favorite songs on the record, but definitely not my least. While I enjoy the verses, the chorus becomes a bit old in my opinion. However, I do recognize and applaud The Weeknd for stepping at least a little out of his comfort zone for this song, and I have come to enjoy pretty much all of the song except the end of the chorus.
Reminder: Possibly the best song on the entire album, but certainly my favorite. This narcissistic anthem finds Tesfaye ruminating about how unforgettable he is, and how quick he is to remind those who attempt to forget his name or legacy in music. Additionally, it quiets any rumors that he has lost
Rockin': An electronic pop song about not having to be together forever, but being more or less together for the moment with less strings than a long term relationship. I love the energy of this song, which seems to be at its height during his falsetto in the pre-chorus.
Secrets: A more somber song than the previous finds The Weeknd singing about hearing his lover whisper her secrets in her sleep.
True Colors: A great song on the album, possibly one of the best finds the artist pleading with a possible new partner to show him her true self, so that they may be together. Amazing song in my opinion.
Stargirl Interlude (feat. Lana del Rey): The only interlude on the album features singer and friend Lana Del Rey enchanting us with sultry vocals over a mellow beat.
Sidewalks (feat. Kendrick Lamar): One of his few collaborations on the work, "Sidewalks," features Kendrick Lamar. The two converse about their respective paths from difficult early lives to now. The sound of this song is surely a departure from what he usually creates, and I like that. However, I can't explain it, but for some reason I always find myself skipping this song to get to the next.
Six Feet Under: I have only praise for this song and it's fast-paced, enthralling structure. In it, he sings about a woman who will stop at nothing to finish her work and earn her money. It is truly a jam worth listening to on repeat.
Love To Lay: This song finds The Weeknd realizing that his approach to love and relationships is not exclusive to him, and that there are people of both genders who relate to to these practices. It also outlines how this can make love difficult. A very interesting perspective from him, I think it's very good.
A Lonely Night: A Lonely Night finds the artist apologizing to a woman for not being honest in his pursuit of her. He seems to only be looking for one night rather than a relationship, and he feels bad for not telling her. Not that the apology makes it any better, if it even is fully one. In my opinion, it's an interesting song, but I'm not drawn to it as much as others on the record.
Attention: This number finds him singing about a partner who felt left out, and like she wasn't thought or cared about. So, she tried and looked for his attention. I think it's a rather sad song, that highlights issues that he may have caring for others. I love the song.
Ordinary Life: This song is a whole-hearted jam about living in excess, partying constantly, and recognizing that one has to pay for it. He implies that he realizes how he is living is not normal, but expresses no wish to cease this path. It's not hard to find yourself singing along furiously to this song, it's so entertaining.
Nothing Without You: The title of this song pretty much speaks for itself. He is saying he would be nothing without whoever he is singing about. I associate mood and style of this song very closely with his previous work. Overall, I find it to be an enjoyable three minutes.
All I Know (feat. Future): Personally I could not get into this song no matter how hard I tried to. Why he chose to feature Future on this I do not know. I feel as though it does nothing for the song, except make me want to listen to it less.
Die For You: This song could have been on BBTM, with its steady but grand beat. Tesfaye sings about having difficulty being able to cope and express his feelings to another, but assuring them that he would die for them if it came to it. I would say it's almost the song you expect him to make, but that doesn't take away from the fact that I constantly find myself passionately singing along to it in my car.
I Feel It Coming (feat. Daft Punk): The closing song on Starboy takes me back to his work on BBTM, which featured a heavier mainstream pop presence than his earlier work. This is in part due to Daft Punk's work on the song. Not to imply that it is a bad thing, in fact I find the song to be the perfect ending to the record, showcasing his evolution as an artist since his last album.
Looking at the album as a whole, there are songs that I thoroughly enjoy as well as ones that I don't so much. There are songs that people aren't going to get, but that's not really the point in creating. Artists don't create for us or in an effort to please us, they create to express themselves. If one of their songs doesn't resonate with everyone, so be it. Overall, I really enjoy and appreciate Starboy as a cohesive work, and going through it with this mindset really helped me to share my honest opinion of the songs. I recommend giving this record a listen, I hope you enjoy it on repeat as constantly as I do.
