Blinding Lights

Since 2016, The Weeknd, had been M.I.A. and probably enjoying the fruits of his labor after his 2016 album, Staryboy, received billions of plays around the world.

This, however, changed when on November 2, 2019 he released Heartless and then on November 29, 2019 he released Blinding Lights.

Blinding Lights starts off with swirling atmospheric pads and then a melody forces its way through, only foreshadowing what is to come next. The listener is thrown into a story about Las Vegas with a heavy dose of hard hitting drums and spacy pads straight from the 80’s.

This song tempts the shyest of people to sing along with their friends when played during any roadtrip or long drive. This feels like one of the songs you listen to whenever you're sad or just wanting to jam out in the 80’s. I feel that someone disliking this song would be considered sacrilegious and I might have to second guess my relationship with them as this is one of the top played songs in the world as of now.

The song’s catchy chorus uses the title “Blinding Lights” and tells a story about missing a past lover and needing them. This thought of his takes place while, I assume, The Weeknd is walking around the streets of Las Vegas at night.

A song making it on the Billboard Top 100, this one at spot 52, is no easy feat and it seems that a great amount of attention was put into making this song. The attention to detail, quality, and the creativity of this is something very impressive. The variation in the equalization of the different instruments, the catchy drums, and the sweeping trantisitions all come together to make something incredible.

As the year came to an end, I feel that everyone needed some new music to listen to into the new year. This song has, without my permission, infiltrated most of my brain’s thoughts. This song mixes the signature style of The Weeknd’s singing and coalesces it, seamlessly, with signature style of the 80’s. And for that I give it a solid 9/10.