“Dawn FM”: it’s time to change the station on the Weeknd
Sara Javerbaum, Staff Writer
On Jan. 7, Abel Tesfaye--known professionally as The Weeknd--released his album “Dawn FM.” Featuring artists Tyler the Creator, Lil Wayne and even Jim Carrey, the 16-song release is a beautiful example of an artist accomplishing exactly what they set out to create, even if it isn’t necessarily a perfect
In an interview with “Billboard,” The Weeknd discussed his vision for the album.
“They’re stuck in this purgatory state, which I always imagined would be like being stuck in traffic waiting to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. And while you’re stuck in traffic, they got a radio station playing in the car, with a radio host guiding you to the light and helping you transition to the other side,” Tesfaye said.
This album is somewhat disappointing for listeners of Tesfaye’s previous album, “After Hours.” While Tesfaye’s creativity in this album shines through in his more thematic songs “Dawn FM,” “Every Angel is Terrifying” and “Phantom Regret by Jim,” almost all of the other songs are lacking in variation. Many of the songs sound extremely similar or are just altogether underwhelming. However, this doesn’t mean that the album doesn’t have some incredible stand-out tracks.
The first track on the album (something-ingly named “Dawn FM”) executes Tesfaye’s vision of a purgatory soundtrack perfectly, utilizing the synth to create an appropriately chilling intro. Jim Carrey narrates the song, welcoming the listeners to the other side with lines like “you’ve been in the dark for way too long/It’s time to walk into the light/And accept your fate with open arms/Scared? Don’t worry.”
Three other standouts on the album include “Less than Zero,” “Here We Go…Again (featuring Tyler The Creator)” and “Out of Time.” The main reason for these songs’ success is their variation. With the majority of the songs on the album sounding so similar, these three more unique songs are a breath of fresh air. “Less Than Zero” almost sounds like it could be featured in an action movie score, while “Out Of Time” sounds more like Tesfaye’s take on an 80s pop ballad.
“Here We Go…Again (featuring Tyler The Creator)” is one of the most successful songs on the album. Its delicate and relaxing melody is a beautiful break from the more heavy-feeling songs. Tyler The Creator’s verse on the song also breaks up the monotony of the album.
Overall, the album definitely showed a new peak of creativity from The Weeknd, and his thematic approach to this album was executed with grace. Though many of the songs fell short and lacked variation, the album did contain some really great music. This album makes for good background music, as the emphasis in Tesfaye’s music tends to fall less on the lyrics, allowing you to focus on and enjoy the melodies.
The Weeknd posing in a promo photo for “Dawn FM.”
