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The Weeknd conquers SoFi Stadium with an immaculate performance before retiring his all-consuming pop moniker

BBG News

Among contemporary pop artists, none have a more complex connection to a venue than The Weeknd does with SoFi Stadium.

Initially, he selected the prominent stadium in Southern California as the location for the climax of his critically acclaimed HBO series “The Idol” during one of his performances. Regrettably, halfway through the concert, he unexpectedly lost his voice and was forced to cancel the remaining songs, sending fans home early. This setback would have been a significant disappointment for someone as meticulous as him.

He bounced back a couple of months later, making a triumphant comeback and releasing the concert documentary “The Weeknd: Live at SoFi Stadium.” However, the nerve-wracking incident left an impression on him. This memory resurfaced in his recent movie (and album) “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” where a fictional character representing the Weeknd encounters a predicament where he loses his voice onstage, triggering a surreal, violent night with Jenna Ortega. A brief break from that record is named “I Can’t Carry On Singing.

Abel Tesfaye likely experienced a mix of emotions as he stepped onto the stage at SoFi Stadium on Wednesday evening, a venue that has witnessed some of his biggest successes and most painful setbacks as a live artist. In a short email to The Times prior to the performance, he said, “This is more than just me – it’s a testament to the influence of music and its ability to move people.

In an impeccably delivered 2.5-hour performance spanning his iconic discography, many wonder if these upcoming SoFi concerts signal the farewell act for one of history’s most prosperous musical ventures?

Ever since he first appeared as a mysterious singer over gothic, drug-infused R&B beats in a series of 2011 mixtapes, The Weeknd’s musical preferences and his surprising commercial triumph have developed side by side.

A hidden group of fans initially supported the somber vibe of “Wicked Games” (“Bring the drugs, baby, I could bring my pain.”) However, collaborations with Max Martin and Daft Punk propelled him into mainstream pop stardom. His distinctive Ethiopian melodic tone was unique in Top 40 charts, and he retained a certain avant-garde eccentricity that allowed him to headline the Super Bowl halftime show with dancers wearing full-face plastic surgery bandages. His ’80s film noir single “Blinding Lights,” released in 2019, continues to hold the record for the most streamed song on Spotify of all time.

Darryl Eaton, representing him at CAA, informed The Times that the 200,000 tickets sold for the SoFi run were equivalent to filling up an entire American city.

Lately, Tesfaye has suggested he might be stepping away from the Weeknd persona. He explained to Variety, “I need to get into a mindset that I no longer seem to have the desire for.” He added, “The Weeknd will continue until you decide it’s over.

Is it possible that The Weeknd, known as Abel Tesfaye, may be nearing the end of his live performances in Los Angeles? This SoFi show might serve as one of the final chances for local fans to witness him. Although he’s likely to continue creating music and films, it seems fitting that he would return to the stage where he experienced some of his most painful moments to conclude this pop phenomenon.

Following a short and turbulent performance by his recent collaborator Playboi Carti, Tesfaye appeared on stage dressed in black and gold, his eyes illuminated with LED spots against a backdrop of a destroyed cityscape. Kicking off with the “BoJack Horseman”-inspired “The Abyss,” he somberly declared, “I made every effort not to lose you / I don’t like the perspective from halfway there … I strived to become something that I can never be.” It seemed as though he was bidding farewell to this particular artistic identity.

The performance started off dynamically as Tesfaye was accompanied by a lean live band and dancers resembling moving sculptures dressed in rosy attire. With such an extraordinary voice, he barely needed any additional support to fill the entire venue. Known for his exceptional dedication as a live vocalist on the stadium circuit, it’s noteworthy that any vocal issues might lead to the cancellation of the show. Despite his elaborate visual concepts in music videos and films, there was an undeniable sense of raw, personal emotion that has kept fans captivated by this music across various styles.

In a more relaxed phrasing, for all the times The Weeknd has spun Michael Jackson’s singles like “Can’t Feel My Face,” he doesn’t typically display an overtly physical style onstage. However, he possesses a unique knack for immersing himself within and staging this music to create an eerie and monumental feel, even at its most pop-influenced.

After Hours” presented a persuasive argument for rekindling a relationship with a man who was clearly harmful (“Various women on the dancefloor, diverting my thoughts towards you.”). Removing his metaphorical mask, he performed “Take My Breath” as a pulsating, modern disco track that retained a hint of the more intense, edgy elements from his previous music.

When The Weeknd increased the fire effects during the mid-career song “The Hills,” the first rows at SoFi Stadium were given a stark reminder of how explosive this genre can be, despite its popularity on streaming platforms. Collaborating with Carti on tracks like “Timeless” and “Rather Lie,” The Weeknd added a dark beauty to his friend’s gritty Atlanta sound. There’s something about his voice that feels trustworthy, even when it leads you towards self-destruction.

If the tour really marks the end of The Weeknd’s tenure, it certainly lived up to its farewell with over 3 dozen songs. Each aspect of goodbye was beautifully expressed – the pulsating extravagance in “Often,” the heartfelt plea in “Die for You” and “Is There Someone Else?” The newer tracks like “Cry for Me” and “São Paolo” demonstrated that, despite any fatigue he may feel about this phase, he’s overflowing with fresh, surprising ideas.

Back in February, when Tesfaye made peace with the Grammys, it was a kind gesture to an organization that mysteriously denied him recognition for “Blinding Lights”, a song he undeniably should have been nominated for. And as he performed that fast-paced, modern New Wave track near the end of his show on Wednesday, it seemed like a unique gem – one of the greatest pop songs ever, played by an artist whose music originated from a haze of MDMA beats and sad love trios.

Apart from his debonair and skeptical film career, he consistently found his unique voice. SoFi Stadium marked both the Weeknd’s most crushing defeat and some of his most triumphant moments as a performer. Now it seems to be guiding him towards Valhalla, wherever that may lead Abel Tesfaye.

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2025-06-27 00:31

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