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"Too Late"
Song by the Weeknd
from the album After Hours
ReleasedMarch 20, 2020 (2020-03-20)
Genre
Length3:59
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Music video
"Too Late" on YouTube

"Too Late" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd from his fourth studio album After Hours (2020). It was released on March 20, 2020, alongside the rest of its parent album. A music video for the song was released on October 22, 2020. The Weeknd co-wrote the song with its producers, Illangelo, DaHeala, and Ricky Reed, with additional production credits going to Nate Mercereau. [2]

Background and release

The song was first teased in the Weeknd's After Hours short film, which was released on March 4, 2020, during a scene in which Tesfaye adjusts his nose bandage after leaving the Jimmy Kimmel Live! studio. [3] The studio version of the song was then released on March 20, 2020, alongside the rest of the album. [4] [5]

Lyrics

The lyrics of the song depict a dysfunctional and hedonistic relationship the Weeknd had with a former lover, with him apologizing for the mistakes he's made throughout their romance. [6]

Critical reception

"Too Late" received praise upon release, with Billboard ranking the song as the second best track from After Hours, calling its chords "halloween-esque" and saying that its electro-R&B beats "bring the Weeknd' apologetic musings to another level, as he sings the lines "I let you down/I led you on," and further referred to its abrupt end as a "literal unplugging," calling it an "electric" combination. [7]

Music video

The official music video for "Too Late" was first teased by the Weeknd as being on its way (alongside those for " Escape from LA" and " Faith") through his Rolling Stone interview with Brittany Spanos on September 18, 2020. [8] This was then later followed up on October 13, 2020, where he further hinted on its music video being on its way through several posts on his social media platforms. [9] [10] Tesfaye then officially announced its release date through social media, a day prior to its release, on October 21, 2020. [11] The visual was released on October 22, 2020, and was directed by Cliqua. [12] It serves as the sequel to the music video of " In Your Eyes" and features heavily bandaged models Ashley Smith and Kenzie Harr finding the severed head of the Weeknd and transplanting onto the body of singer Ken XY in a gory and murderous manner. [13]

The video begins with an NSFW warning due to its "explicit content" and its depiction of "graphic violence" [14] as well as being age-restricted on YouTube based on the apps' community guidelines. [15] It was named one of the best music videos of 2020 by Pitchfork. [16]

Commercial performance

Following the releasing of its parent album, "Too Late" debuted at number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 dated April 4, 2020. It was the eighth-highest charting track from After Hours. [17]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [2]

  • The Weeknd – vocals, songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
  • Illangelo – songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
  • DaHeala – songwriting, production, keyboards, programming
  • Ricky Reed – songwriting, production, keyboards, programming

Charts

Chart (2020) Peak
position
Canada ( Canadian Hot 100) [18] 38
Czech Republic ( Singles Digitál Top 100) [19] 49
Denmark ( Tracklisten) [20] 33
Estonia ( Eesti Tipp-40) [21] 28
France ( SNEP) [22] 59
Greece International ( IFPI) [23] 23
Iceland ( Plötutíðindi) [24] 28
Italy ( FIMI) [25] 48
Lithuania ( AGATA) [26] 26
Portugal ( AFP) [27] 27
Slovakia ( Singles Digitál Top 100) [28] 19
Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan) [29] 54
UK Audio Streaming ( OCC) [30] 39
US Billboard Hot 100 [31] 28
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard) [32] 13
US Rolling Stone Top 100 [33] 8

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil ( Pro-Música Brasil) [34] Gold 20,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label(s) Ref.
Various March 20, 2020
[35]

References

  1. ^ Jefferson, J'na (March 20, 2020). "Every Song Ranked on The Weeknd's 'After Hours': Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "After Hours / The Weeknd – Tidal". Tidal. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  3. ^ Aswad, Jem (March 4, 2020). "Watch The Weeknd's Disturbing Short Film for 'After Hours'". Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "The Weeknd's 'After Hours' Track List: See Here". Billboard. March 17, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  5. ^ Fitzgerald, Trent. "The Weeknd Drops After Hours Album: Listen to New Songs". XXL Mag. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  6. ^ "The Weeknd's 'Too Late' Lyrics Ring True To Life, As He Hints About New Music". TheThings. October 15, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  7. ^ "Every Song Ranked on The Weeknd's 'After Hours': Critic's Picks". Billboard. March 20, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  8. ^ Spanos, Brittany (September 18, 2020). "The Weeknd's Endless Summer". Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  9. ^ @TheWeeknd (October 13, 2020). "more videos... 🎃" ( Tweet). Retrieved October 21, 2020 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ @TheWeeknd (October 13, 2020). "we're in hell it's disguised as a paradise!!! with flaaaashing lights!!! 🎃🎃🎃" ( Tweet). Retrieved October 21, 2020 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ @TheWeeknd (October 21, 2020). "GRAB YOUR CANDY AND POPCORN CAUSE THE "TOO LATE" VIDEO DROPS TOMORROW 🎃🍿 THE SAGA CONTINUES" ( Tweet). Retrieved October 21, 2020 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ Powell, Jon (October 22, 2020). "The Weeknd unveils gory visual for "Too Late"". REVOLT. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  13. ^ Strauss, Matthew. "The Weeknd Shares New Video for "Too Late"". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  14. ^ "The Weeknd releases highly disturbing graphic video for 'Too Late'". The Independent. October 23, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  15. ^ The Weeknd - Too Late (Official Video), retrieved November 26, 2023
  16. ^ "The 20 Best Music Videos of 2020". Pitchfork. December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  17. ^ Zellener, Xander (March 30, 2020). "Every Song From The Weeknd's 'After Hours' Is on the Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  18. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  19. ^ " ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202013 into search. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  20. ^ " The Weeknd – Too Late". Tracklisten. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  21. ^ Nestor, Siim (March 31, 2020). "Eesti Tipp-40 Muusikas: Selle nädala kangelased on The Weeknd ja AG". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  22. ^ " The Weeknd – Too Late" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  23. ^ "IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 12 2020". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on April 2, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  24. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  25. ^ " The Weeknd – Too Late". Top Digital Download. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  26. ^ "2020 13-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  27. ^ " The Weeknd – Too Late". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  28. ^ " ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202013 into search. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  29. ^ " The Weeknd – Too Late". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  30. ^ "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  31. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  32. ^ "The Weeknd Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  33. ^ "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  34. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – The Weeknd – Too Late" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  35. ^ "Listen to the Weeknd's New Album After Hours". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 21, 2020.

External links

Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Too_Late_(The_Weeknd_song)&oldid=1217289952"