If you’re a fan of The Weeknd, then you’re already aware that he’s been working hard on an official follow-up to his fourth LP After Hours, said to be titled The Dawn. After some cryptic tweets, this week saw him get the proverbial ball rolling with a new teaser trailer for a new song. Then, The Weeknd followed that with another clip in promotion of the Olympics and the United States Track and Field team, which sees said song playing over footage of Sydney McLaughlin, Dalilah Muhammad, Athing Mu, and Gabrielle Thomas.
Today (August 6), we now get to hear the single “Take My Breath” in its entirety, which sees The Weeknd delivering funky, futuristic vibes with lyrics about getting it on with his lover:
“Take my breath away, and make it last forever, babe, do it now or never, babe, take my breath away, we’ll make love together, babe, maybe go to heaven, babe…”
After Hours was released during the first quarter of last year, and originally saw 14 conceptual cuts with a slew of matching visuals, all of which depicted The Weeknd as a character inspired by films like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Joker, and Casino. The project also spawned a few special editions, adding on remixes and collaborations with the likes of Lil Uzi Vert, Doja Cat, Chromatics, and Oneohtrix Point Never. After Hours became one of the most commercial successful albums of 2020, landing The Weeknd at the top of the Billboard 200, UK’s Official Albums, and several other charts around the world — the project is certified double platinum in the U.S. alone. Despite this, the project didn’t receive any nominations for this year’s Grammy Awards, sparking major controversy and leading The Weeknd (and others) to condemn the Recording Academy.
Press play on the official video for “Take My Breath” and get ready for a huge rollout from The Weeknd to immediately follow.